What We Believe About Tithing

In regards to a recent question I was asked, I'm posting what New Day believes about tithing. This is just a summary. For a further look into what we believe on this subject you can listen to a message I preached called The Generosity Ladder.

1. Jesus didn't come to abolish the law so we can't throw out what it says about living or giving (Matthew 5:17-20).

2. On the contrary, the Old Testament sets an example for us to follow (1 Corinthians 10:11, 2 Timothy 3:16).

3. In the Old Testament we have the example of tithing 1) before, 2) during and 3) after the law was given (Genesis 14:20, Genesis 28:22, Leviticus 27:30, 2 Chronicles 31, Nehemiah 10, Malachi 3).

4. To be free from the law (Acts 15, Galatians 2:19, 3:25, 5:1, Hebrews 8:13) means to stop looking to it to provide something it can't (salvation). It isn't a license to stop giving or drop our giving below the standard set by the law.

5. According to Jesus, to apply grace to our giving means you actually raise the baseline standard set by the law, not lower it (Matthew 5:21-22, 5:27-28, 5:33-34).

What We Can All Learn From Bill Gates

Today I saw on the news that Bill Gates is giving away another $100 million. Apparently he's donated $100 million more than once!! This time around he's planning to eradicate polio worldwide. I found this interesting because Bill Gates understands the biblical concept of stewardship, whether or not he realizes it. He has leveraged his resources to do the most good he can in the time he's been given. And that's exactly what we're supposed to do as stewards of the time, talent and treasure God has given to us. The goal is to leverage what God has given us in order to make the biggest difference we can for the kingdom of God. What am I doing with my time? How am I using it to advance God's kingdom? What am I doing with the talent God has given me? How am I using the gifts God has given me to advance his kingdom? What am I doing with the treasure God has given me? How am I using my wealth to see God's purposes be accomplished on this earth?

Giving Creates Financial Margin

Giving money away is the number one way to create financial margin. Here’s how. Your lack of margin isn’t really a money issue. It’s a heart issue. Because your heart is materialistic, greedy and selfish - you spend and spend and spend to try and satisfy your insatiable appetite for stuff. And in doing so you use up any financial margin you had - and when this heart issue is really bad it results in negative financial margin (what you may know as debt). It’s a heart issue, not an issue of how much money you make. Now, here’s how giving money away actually helps you to create MORE margin. When you give money away it breaks the power of money in your life. That is, when you give money away God changes your heart. When you give...the GRIP that materialism, greed and selfishness has on you begins to loosen - a little bit at a time. And when you aren’t so materialistic you don’t spend as much on stuff you don’t need. When you aren’t greedy, you don’t have to buy every single thing you lay your eyes on. When you aren’t selfish you don’t need to consume all the money you have to indulge yourself. And in this way you CREATE MORE MARGIN by giving your money away.

Here is something you need to learn about God...Everything he asks us to do IS FOR OUR GOOD. He’s such a loving and caring God and when he tells us to do something it’s because we’ll be better off if we obey. We don’t honor God with our finances because we think we’ll be worse off instead of better off if we follow his ways. We don't obey God by giving to the local church because we mistakenly think that if we do there won't be enough left for me. That’s not true. You want to be in the best financial shape possible? Follow God’s instructions related to money.

Debt and the Church

Will New Day save until we have the money we need for the things we need and want to buy? Or will we use debt as a means to get the things we need and want for the ministry? That's the decision I'm facing right now. Below are some of my thoughts after reading the chapter on debt from Money Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn. I'm 100% undecided at this moment (although I'm leaning towards not going into debt).

1. I teach my kids that "money comes from work." I don't teach that "money comes from borrowing." Would going into debt set a bad example for my kids? Is debt our means of short-circuiting the God-created means of acquisition - including work, saving, planning, self-discipline, patience, and waiting for divine provision.

2. I teach my church that "debt is not a sin, but it is usually unwise." Would going into debt set a bad example for my church?

3. As a Christian I believe that where God guides, God provides. If the provision isn't there, is God really guiding? Is not having enough resources to pay cash for what I want God's way of telling me it isn't his will for me to buy it?

4. Debt often results in financial pressures strong enough to break up marriages. Would borrowing create financial pressure of any kind in my life? Stress experts say that the bigger a person's mortgage (or any debt), the bigger the stress. Debt is a serious enemy of mental health.

5. I believe the government should limit spending to available revenues. Is it right to hold New Day Church to a different standard?

6. Proverbs 22:7 says "...the borrower is servant to the lender." And 1 Corinthians 7:23 says "...do not become slaves of men." Do I want to be servant to the bank or servant to the Lord? Do I want to be my creditors slave or Christ's slave?

7. Romans 13:8 says "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another..." (NASB) Does this verse prohibit debt? The NIV reads "Let no debt remain outstanding..." which allows debt but only under conditions that it be paid off. However, if going into debt is always sin it's difficult to understand why Scripture gives guidelines about lending and even encourages it under certain circumstances. If debt is always sin, then lending is aiding and abetting sin, and God would never encourage it.

8. Because of the interest you pay when you go in debt, if New Day went into debt we would have to pay a certain amount of money in addition to what the items cost. For example, if I wanted to buy $15,000 of equipment valued at $15,000 - but had to pay 15% interest on the loan, then I would be paying an additional $2,250 for the equipment. Am I a good steward when I pay several thousand dollars more than something is worth just so that I can have it before I can afford it?

9. Being a borrower is listed among the curses that would come upon the children of Israel if they disobeyed God (Deuteronomy 28:44-45).

10. Nehemiah 5:3-5 describes being in debt as NOT a good thing. In a time of famine, the ultimate act of despair was to mortgage fields, vineyards and homes. Should such things take place under normal circumstances? According to the Bible, is debt reserved for desperate situations or everyday use?

11. The Old Testament shows a strong connection between debtors and slaves. Both debts and slavery were canceled in the year of Jubilee. More often than not, the person was a slave because he was a debtor (Deuteronomy 15:2,12). Unable to pay back debts, he was sold into slavery.

12. In the Year of Jubilee debts were cancelled. If debts were a good thing, why would God establish a time where people could become debt free? I don't know that this means debt is always wrong, but I do think it at the least puts debt in a negative light (in my opinion).

13. Is the money I will be obligated to repay, and the bondage it will create, worth the value I'll receive by getting the money or possessions now?

14. Is debt a vicious cycle? Once I pay off the debt, what new needs and wants will I have? Having used debt to get what I need and want for the church, will I be tempted to use debt again as a means to get what I want? Would this violate the principle from Nehemiah that debt is for dire circumstances?

15. Do we believe God knows best what our needs are? Debt spends money we don't have. So isn't our decision to go into debt proof that we believe we need more than God has given us?

16. If we don't have the resources to buy something, and if we feel such need for it that we're borrowing to get it, are we saying God has failed to meet our needs? Is going into debt saying "God has failed to provide for our needs, so I'll just take matters into my own hands"?

17. Is debt presuming upon the future finances of the church? It's one thing to trust God to provide for our present needs (Matthew 6:33). It's another to presume upon him by dictating (via a decision to incur debt) the terms of his future provision. Is going into debt an act of faith or presumption?

18. Is debt our way of getting around depending on God?

19. James 4:14 warns that we cannot know what will happen tomorrow. And if we don't know and cannot control all that the future holds, how can we be sure that we can pay off new debts? We can be certain that God will provide for our basic material needs if we seek first his kingdom (Matthew 6:25-34), but where does the Bible promise that God will provide for all the debts we incur through our own impatience or presumption?

20. Scripture mentions three major building programs. Each was financed directly by up-front giving. There were no tabernacle bonds, no borrowing, no pledges - just straightforward giving. People gave more than enough and had to be restrained from giving to the tabernacle (Exodus 36:6-7). In each of these three building projects (the tabernacle, the temple, the rebuilding of the temple) the work didn't begin until it was obvious that the project could be completed without borrowing.

21. In Luke 14:28-30 it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Jesus taught that a project should only be undertaken with the certainty of having sufficient funds for completion (i.e. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?).

22. In the Old Testament building projects, future ministry was paid for with present money. But churches that borrow pay for present ministry with future money. Which philosophy is God in favor of?

23. Would NOT borrowing create a greater dependence on God and allow God to show his faithfulness to our church?

24. If we sang hymns at New Day (we usually don't) would we be able to sing this one if we went into debt: "All I have needed Thy hand hath provided - Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"

25. Does debt tempt us and allow us to pursue what God hasn't provided and doesn't intend for us?

I don't have answers to all these questions, but I'll be thinking about and praying for insight as to the best path for New Day to take. Debt or no debt? Any thoughts? Please pass them along!

Biblical Giving

At New Day we believe biblical giving is systematic, proportional and sacrificial. We talk about money at New Day because stewardship is part of discipleship. And our mission involves making disciples. Check out the explanations given by Aubrey Malphurs and Steve Stroope in their book "Money Matters for Church".

Systematic

It's systematic in that we want our people to decide how often they're going to give and then to give, without the church always having to plead for it. In the same way that they pay their mortgage, rent and car loan on a regular basis, they should give faithfully and regularly to the church. In other words, biblical giving is consistent giving. If people are paid once a month, we suggest that they give once a month; if they are paid weekly, they could give weekly, as the Lord blesses them. The important point isn't so much when to give but that giving should be a regular habit. That way, we don't have to waste precious time in a worship service pleading for funds that our people should be giving on a regular basis without being asked.

Proportional

Proportional giving teaches that if God has blessed you with much financially, then you should give much financially. If he's just blessed you a little financially, then you should just give a little. And if God has not blessed you financially at all, then you're of the hook!

Sacrificial

Biblical giving is sacrificial. It should change your lifestyle. If we give a convenient gift that can be given without much thought - without any prayer - if we can reach into our wallet or purse or write a check and it doesn't really change anything in terms of our values or our lifestyle, then it doesn't meet the criteria of being sacrificial.

Wait 24 Hours

Any financial advisor worth his/her weight in gold will tell you to wait at least 24 hours before making any significant purchase. I decided to apply this knowledge to a recent purchase and I'm so glad I did. It literally saved me over $400.

Kristin has been looking for a kitchen table that seats six because of all the hosting we do. Our current table only had 4 seats and it was never enough. Anyways, we went to the mall (just because) and while we were there found a good deal on a 6 seat kitchen table for about $550. We wanted to get it right then and there but decided it wouldn't be prudent to walk into the mall, not having even intended to look for tables, and then buy one for over $500. We decided to wait 24 hours and then come back and get it if we still wanted it.

Within about 12 hours I received a phone call from my mom (who is a hardcore tag saler) who had found a 6 seat kitchen table for $120 at a tag sale. We showed up, talked them down $5 and walked away with a beautiful used kitchen table with 6 chairs for $115!

We were so glad we decided to apply the good financial practice of waiting at least 24 hours before making a major purchase. I'm not promising that if you do you will save over $400, but YOU MIGHT!

Wait at least 24 hours before making a major purchase. You'll be glad you did!