About Tithes and Offerings
Because of many televangelists' abuses, a lot of people are
uncomfortable discussing the giving of money to the church. This
problem is magnified by many preachers who regularly preach sermons
about giving when the dollar amount of the church's weekly offering
goes down.
At Calvary Chapel, you will never hear us telling people, "the
tithes and offerings are down, so please dig deep." You will never
hear pleading, begging, or compelling. You will never experience
harassment or manipulation about money. As far as Calvary Chapel is
concerned, your giving to God is exactly that:
giving to God.
On the other hand, we are not afraid to discuss this subject as we
come to those areas in Scripture that warrant the explanation and
exposition of giving, stewardship, tithing, and offering to God.
At Calvary Chapel of Marysville, we don't pass around the offering
plate, but rather allow the Holy Spirit to move in the believer to
give cheerfully by placing their tithe in what we call the Agape
box. The Bible instructs us that giving is a sacrifice of
thanksgiving. In Deuteronomy 26, we are told that we take the
firstfruits of God's blessings, put them in a basket joyously and
thankfully, and place it on the altar.
We believe the following in regards to giving to God:
You're never too poor to give to Jesus Christ. People don't give
according to how rich God makes them, they give according to the
grace of God. The more a person experiences the grace of God, the
more they give to God (2Cor 8:1-5).
If you give generously, then you will reap even greater blessings
(Prov. 11:24-25; Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 16:10-13; 2Cor 9:6). However,
you should never give TO God to get FROM God.
You should give exactly as much as you have purposed in your heart
to give (2Cor 9:7). Don't ever give under compulsion or because
you've been made to feel guilty.
When you give to God, give to Him cheerfully and hilariously (2Cor
9:7). Otherwise, it's best if you just keep your money.
When you give to God, give sacrificially. David said, "I will not
offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing." (1Chronicles 21:24)
The widow who put two mites into the temple treasury was applauded
by Jesus for giving all she had (Mark 12:43). God is blessed when we
offer Him a true financial sacrifice.