According to studies by John & Sylvia Ronsvalle in The State of Church Giving Through 2004, the average percentage of an individual's income that was given in 2004 to the church was 2.56%. According to the book, “had giving been at an average of 10% in 2004 rather than 2.56%, there would have been at least an additional $164 billion available for the overseas and domestic mission work of churches.” Estimates are that $5 billion a year could stop most global child deaths, $7 billion a year could provide primary education for children around the globe, and $1 billion could fund world evangelization. If the church contributed only $70 to $80 billion of the $164 billion, they could have ended poverty worldwide. This includes food, water, clothing and shelter.
The heart of God is for His people. If those of us who are Christians in America alone would just give 10% of our income as a tithe to the church, the American church as a whole would be able to end poverty across the globe. This is the heart of God.
My husband and I never tithed like an actual 10% of every paycheck kind of thing. We tithed, but it would be giving money to random people or to random causes. I think we were part of the problem because we didn't organize our giving. We now want to be part of the solution. I'm doing that by not only organizing my giving, but also encouraging others to tithe to the church if that is what they believe is right. It feels good, it really does. At this point, I'm seriously going through everything I own to see what I don't really need and could give away. You don't have to give everything away. 10% of your income could do amazing good for your community and even possibly worldwide.
Just think about it. Make a change.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Church Giving
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3 comments:
dang im with you!!!
sometimes i don't have anything to tithe at all.
sometimes all i can tithe is my time.
so i do what you are doing... i go through all my things and give what i do not need. though it doesn't go directly through the church (sometimes it does... this week they need hangers and i have millions of them)
it goes through goodwill and salvation army.
i keep being reminded of that story about the woman who gave only a little because that was all she had and how people looked down on her because what she could give was so small...
but christ loved her because she gave much more than what the others were giving. she gave everything she had.
so when i see people writing checks and putting $20 bills in the offering plate and i wonder what they think when it passes right under my nose and they watch me put a few dollars or nothing in... i remember.
i'm giving all i have.
Our churches are quite capable of helping more people out. but instead we have the pursuit of happiness in our minds and the chase of the american dream. What makes us think that God will bless the church and the world if we can't give up the 2.65% we do have? instead pastors garnish our buildings and pews, and say, "if only everyone gave a tithe, then we can pay off our refurbishing, and help more of the poor." But then again its just like the congregation that says, "if only God gave me a better paycheck then i can pay off my fancy car, and give to the Church". It's funny that the pastor and the people are in the same boat, but we don't want to admit it. http://churchtithesandofferings.com
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