WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT TITHING
Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
We want the people of Antioch Bible Fellowship to become generous givers. This is an important area of Christian discipleship. We regularly teach the importance of giving. We believe a good place to start is to give regularly using the Biblical model of the tithe (Malachi 3:8-11; Matthew 6:20).
For our participation in Jesus’ command to “make disciples of all nations,” funds are needed to support local ministries, pay staff salaries, provide, and maintain facilities, buy educational materials, support outreach activities, meet emergency personal needs, support missionaries, help with service projects, send teams from our church for short-term ministries and demonstrate Christ’s compassion for the sick and needy. We consider it a joyful privilege to participate together in this work.
We do not want to hinder spiritual growth by a type of fund-raising that places people under pressure or implied compulsion.
Rather, we want everyone to have the opportunity to give voluntarily and with full freedom (1 Corinthians 16:1-4).
WHAT ABOUT TITHING?
Tithing is giving 10 percent of my income to the Lord. It is a moral obligation. It is a matter of love, not Law. We give tithes rather than pay tithes.
THE PATTERN OF TITHING
• Commenced by Abram (Genesis 14:19-20).
• Continued by Jacob (Genesis 28:20-22).
• Commanded by Moses (Leviticus 27:30-33). “Bring the whole tithe…” (Mal. 3:10)
• Commended by Jesus Christ (Matthew 23:23)
• Commended by Paul (1 Corinthians 16:1-2):
•Personal: every one of you.
•Periodic: upon the first day of the week.
• Proportional: as God prospers you.
THE PURPOSE OF TITHING
It is an act of worshipping God. It teaches that God owns, and man owes. It is the Biblical method of financing God’s work.
It is to develop man’s sense of responsibility to God. Thus, it is more concerned with the giver than the gift (Matthew 10: 8; Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 9:7) “They first gave themselves to the Lord “(2 Corinthians 8:5, 12).
The tithe was established before the Law in Old Testament times. It was the minimum of giving under the Law. Under grace the believer may be compelled by love and gratitude to give more.