Answering questions concerning the "Building Tax"
As to how much should we give:
That would be based on how many your congregation starts with, assuming you don't yet have a building. With established churches, this practice will take some time to develop. It's like convincing Americans to stop eating cheeseburgers.
The practice of tithing was advocated by the Council of Tours in 567 and the second Council of Macon in 585, and it became obligatory (by law) in the Carolingian empire (in 765). So we've been doing this for a long time.
Implementing this idea would be best for a "NEW" congregation.
You would start by having a house group who would bring 5 or 10 dollars per week to support the ministry. John Wesley started this idea in the early 1700’s, when he required a penny and would pay the penny for anyone who literally couldn’t.
As the small groups grow, you would need to make a decision as to where you will worship corporately.
A group of 1000 people giving $10 each per week would raise $520,000.00 per year. This would be enough to build a chapel and maintain salaries and the building every year, with some left over. My church costs around $200,000 with building and cost of leadership. We could minister to 1000 people on Sunday with 3 services, which is quite common.
Also, it is not uncommon for a "small group" based ministry to grow to 1000 in the course of 3 to 5 years. Patience is required.
With the biblical model of giving, an individual in a church of 1000 could give no more than $15.00 per week to his or her “church” and with all of those people giving the same $15.00 the church would raise over $750,000.00 per year. Therefore, if someone were to ask, “How much do I need to give?” my answer would be, “$15.00 to maintain the place of worship, which will also allow for a $250,000.00 per year “help the poor” fund. Then any giving after that would be up to the giver for helping people in the community and oversees.
There is no reason why a church should require its people to give 10% of their income just to the “church.” There is no biblical justification for a building any longer, but if we choose to have one, then we should be willing to pay a “Building tax.” The Building tax should be something that everyone can pay, just as it was done in biblical times. $10 or $15 is a fair cost in today's economy.
Forever learning,
Johnny
8 comments:
Help for the poor fund is good. But what about the evangelism budget, training of leaders, continuing education, etc. . .
When new people come to the church how do they learn about the $15.00 rule? (I guess the same way they learn about the 10%. . .)
What's the difference between a $15.00 rule and a 10% rule? The 10% rule seems more far to the poor. That way, everyone's giving the same amount. . .
What do you think?
Giving $10 for church admin and five dollars per person to have an anual $250,000.00 giving fund is just a start.
When people learn that they no longer have to feel guilty for not giving 10% of their income to the church administration alone, they will be relieved and more willing to give, knowing that they are actually giving practical, physical help to needy people.
Many people with whom I have spoken, in regards to their unwillingness to tithe, give me the same answer, "I don't want to give 10% to the preacher and the building.
Ten or fifteen dollars is strictly for the building and administration costs, along with an initial fund to help needy people in the community.
Offerings, beyond the "building tax" will be taken and will be much easier to give as the people have not already given 10% of their income to the administration of the church.
God does not require ten percent of everyone's income to manage a building and its employees, especially when we are effective at bringing others into the Kingdom and providing them with a reasonable cost for maintaining a place of worship and leaders.
The place of worship was never meant to be a burden to God's people, but a place to honor him and come together as a body.
The true monetary cost was and is the money we give to help the poor and reach the lost. That will be what we receive in offerings.
I, for one, would be more than happy to give my part to take care of the administration, and give much more, knowing that it is used to reach and help God's people.
Hey Johnny,
I don't disagree with you. . . and I think I understand your point. . . but what about those that can't afford to give $15? Won't people feel guilty if they don't give? And as far our tithe (or $15). . .did not Paul say that those who preach the gosple should make their living from the gospel?
Giving to help cover administration/salaries is biblical. . . if someone doesn't want to give to the preacher and the building they should (1) leave the church and find one that they do want to support (2) faithfully pour themsleves and their money into the minisrty God is calling them to. But either way, they should not complain about what the church does with money that they didn't give.
What do you think?
I agree with you that people are to support the leadership and administration costs. That is what the $10 in a church of 1000 would cover.
As for those that can't afford the "Building Tax" that is why we are a body. Just as John Wesley practiced, someone who can afford it should cover for those who can't, but everyone should be represented by payment.
It's not easy, but we need to consider losing the idea that giving to the church is a spiritual act. This was not the case with the original Temple Tax, rather it was a practical way of keeping up the repairs and administrative costs of the Temple.
Neither was giving to the poor a spiritual act, but a practical way of helping the poor, although God does bless his children who give.
Neither was tithing by the farmers and Levites a spiritual act, but a practical way of feeding the Levites and priests.
The modern church, after 765, has added the idea that giving is a "spiritual act of worship."
When we put it back in its rightful utilitarian place, giving becomes a natural extension of being a Christian, rather than a blind offering with the hopes of greater blessing, though we may indeed be blessed by our giving.
The blessing comes from having no one do without and a building and leaders which do not financially drain the body of believers who give support.
Hey Johnny,
I really don't have time to dig out all the biblical references. . . but I'm struggling with your ideas just a little. . .
1. When God commands us to give is not our giving a "spiritual act?"
2. Does not the 10% rule cover those who can and can't give?
I agree that giving should not become another form of legalistic religiosity. . . yet giving is clearly a biblical and spiritual practice. . .
What we do with our money and possessions is a matter of stewardship. As Sarah so rightly put it, “everything you have is a gift directly given to you by the creator of the world.” It all belongs to God.
Final question: So what's the answer? Should we go back and revise our budgets and inform our people that they're giving too little, too much, or what?
Blessings,
Giving is a responsibility of believers. The only issue that is being debated is whether we are to give 10 percent to the administration and building.
The fact that giving is practical and not spiritual is based on the fact that giving to help the needy is not to be an ambiguous gathering of funds, which are administered by the "church." Christians are to help the poor, pay their leaders, and support their properties.
I'm not suggesting we tell Christians they are paying too little or too much, but to reevaluate the areas in which we place our monies.
Jesus would never have said, "Everyone give 10 percent of your money to Peter."
Instead, as in the book of Acts, he would have said, "Give what you can, bring it to the leaders for accountability, and give as the need arises."
Instead, we have implemented a ten percent administrative cost to everyone and said, “Once you give ten percent, then you can help the poor.” Administration should not cost ten percent of Christian's income. If we choose to give ten percent, to match the biblical farmers and Levites, then the majority of it should go to helping the needy, not to pay light bills and maintenance on a building.
Thanks for challenging me to think through all the angles.
Read the article I sent you on Lotus Notes and that will help you to see the picture more clearly.
Grace
Thanks for permission to challenge. . . I hear what you're saying. . . I'll read the article. . .
Blessings,
Bret
PS Appointments come out in 19 days!
Post a Comment