Scribd
Upload
222 views

Giving

This document discusses Christian principles of giving, including: 1) Giving is connected to one's relationship with God, and Christians should be willing to give whatever amount God asks, from 1-100% of their resources. 2) Giving to support God's ministry should not be viewed as burdensome but rather a privilege enabled by God's grace. 3) While some argue Christians should no longer use the term "tithe," the document supports the idea of "graduated tithing" where higher percentages are given as income increases.

Uploaded by

Goran Jovanović
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
222 views

Giving

This document discusses Christian principles of giving, including: 1) Giving is connected to one's relationship with God, and Christians should be willing to give whatever amount God asks, from 1-100% of their resources. 2) Giving to support God's ministry should not be viewed as burdensome but rather a privilege enabled by God's grace. 3) While some argue Christians should no longer use the term "tithe," the document supports the idea of "graduated tithing" where higher percentages are given as income increases.

Uploaded by

Goran Jovanović
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

GIVING

The principles of giving stated above all require one key element: a relationship with God. In the
end, obedience in giving comes down to our relationship with the Father. Christians need to be
23
willing to give whatever the Lord may ask, whether it be one percent, five percent, ten percent,
twenty percent, or one hundred percent.116 Radical obedience to his guidance is required.
Each one of the principles above is associated with our relationship with God. Far from
being emotional and mystical theology,117 these sound principles from the teaching of Paul
will greatly test and grow our faith and dependence upon him. Carson demonstrates wisdom in
saying that, rather than quibble over some of the questions concerning tithing, we should ask,
How can I manage my affairs so that I can give more?118
Giving our resources to aid the ministry of God should not be viewed as burdensome.
According to Blomberg, Christian giving is a gift from the grace of God, which he enables
Christians to exercise.119 With the proper perspective, the more one gives, the more joy one can
find in giving.
While some have argued that Christians should no longer use the word tithe because of
the inherent Old Testament connotations, Blomberg supports the notion of a graduated tithe.120
This is defined as the more money one makes, the higher percentage he or she gives.121 The
context of these comments by Blomberg is the overarching topic of poor Christians having their
needs met.
Blombergs testimony regarding how he has been led to give is inspiring. However,
Blomberg is not altogether clear in Neither Poverty Nor Riches on whether or not Christians are
required to give a minimum of ten percent.122 Many tithe supporters seem to assume that those
arguing against tithing are simply trying to find a way to keep more of their money. For example,
[n]on-tithing Christians quite often seek to exonerate themselves by saying that tithing is
legalistic and that Christians are no longer under the Law,123 or [t]his writer cannot see how a
116Note Brandenburg, Die Kleinen Propheten II, 153, who says, The Law demands that we give ten percentbut
the Spirit of God makes us one hundred percent Gods possession, with all that we own. All is his! And we are his
stewards, who must give an account to him for every penny we spend. The translation is that of the present authors.
117See Mizell, The Standard of Giving, 36. It is difficult to understand how this criticism is attached to grace
giving. Mizell himself says that, after the tithe is rendered, the believer is free to give whatever God lays upon his
heart. Therefore, he apparently only utilizes emotional and mystical theology for himself after ten percent has
been paid.
118Carson, Are Christians Required to Tithe, 94. Of course, we find this subject important enough to justify a
certain amount of quibbling.
119Blomberg, Neither Poverty Nor Riches, 191.
120Ibid., 19495. The phrase graduated-tithe is, in one sense, nonsensical. If one understands tithe to mean ten
percent, than the phrase graduated-ten percent does not make much sense. If one understands tithe to mean a set
percentage of religious giving, then graduated-percentage giving makes sense.
121Ibid., 194.
122However, it appears that he would deny the requirement of tithing as defined in the present essay. For example,
Blomberg, Neither Poverty Nor Riches, 198, says that a ten percent tax on all Christians would lead to great
inequality between the very rich and the very poor.
123Davis, Are Christians Supposed to Tithe, 86.
24
born-again Christian, who has been saved by the grace of God

You might also like