THE HARD QUESTIONS!ANSWERED

COMMENTS - QUESTIONS - TESTIMONIES

OBJECTIVES

To provide Biblical insights and principles that may assist us in our delivery of stewardship education, and respond to real questions raised by church members.

To increase our learning capacity in the area of financial stewardship and education.

QUESTION ONE

Does it matter which Conference Mission or I send my tithe to - as long as I am returning the Lord’s tithe?

• Background: An expatriate sending his tithe back home and giving only offerings locally.

QUESTION TWO

Is the giving or a returning of a second tithe mandated by the church or scripture?

• There are church members around the world who consider the giving of a second tithe biblical, and would therefore see this practice as a sign of spiritual maturity.

QUESTION THREE

Am I obligated to give tithe only to the church, or can I give to assist a poor neighbor or needy students?

Members assume that tithe is their money, and they have the right as owner of the money to do as they wish including who or where to give tithe to.

QUESTION FOUR

Should I give my tithe to supporting ministries, or return it to the local church?

• Based on what I thought (the GC President) said, I heard: that tithes should be given to the local church & not to supporting ministries..." I was an active church member for years & due to several things that occurred I slipped away from attending or keeping the Sabbath. Approximately a year & half ago I came across 3ABN & the local (Oregon) Better Life Broadcasting Network. I felt compelled to send my tithes & offerings to BLBN, Light Bearers Ministry, AWR & Maranatha. I am not attending any church at this time but am keeping the Sabbath at home.

QUESTION FIVE

•Can I continue to return tithe if I’m in debt. Is it wise to give offerings while I’m in debt or is it wise to pay off my debts, and continue offerings from positive money rather than debts?

• The member assumes that meeting personal financial obligations first is the priority, and not spiritual responsibility like faithfulness to financial stewardship.

QUESTION SIX

Are fundraising activities disallowed/discouraged by the church, or unbiblical?

• Does resorting to fundraising not show that our understanding of systematic benevolence is falling short?

QUESTION SEVEN

Is it church practice for the local congregation to loan money to church members?

• A sister’s father who was not a believer committed suicide. He had a big loan from a financial company. she and her mother were not able to settle it, therefore, she borrowed money from the local church and payed by installment without interest.

• There are two deacons who wanted to start a business but they did not have enough money.  As they didn't want to pay any interest they borrowed money from the local church. They payed by installment to the church without interest.

QUESTION EIGHT

Why is there very little mention of tithe and tithing in the New Testament?

Hebrews 7:1-10; Luke 18:12; Matthew 22:23, Luke 11:42; 1Corinthians 9:13.

QUESTION NINE

Is tithe used exclusively to pay ministers, or are there other uses for tithe?

• Unmotivated question from a church member.

QUESTION TEN

How should I calculate tithe on the sale of a property?• I BOUGHT A HOUSE ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO FOR $120,000 (MORTGAGED). LAST MONTH I SOLD THE HOUSE FOR $140,000. THE BALANCE OF THE MORTGAGE WAS $103,000, SO I RECEIVED $33,000.  SHOULD I TITHE BASED ON THE DIFFERENCE OF $20,000 OR BASED ON THE $33,O0O THAT I RECEIVED? OR, SHOULD I TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THAT I PAYED THE AMOUNT OF AROUND $750.OO MONTHLY FOR THE MORTGAGE (PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST) FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS WHICH IS ABOUT $72,000?

QUESTION ELEVEN

What should I do with unpaid tithe? Should I add an interest (additional money) to make up for failure to return to the Lord as I should’ve in the past?

This is an honest admission of human failure and neglect to return tithe, and to give offerings at the time we receive His many blessings.

QUESTION TWELVE

Do we pay tithe on gross or net earnings? Do we deduct rent/mortgage, health insurance and groceries before tithing?