I need to know how does the Church decide where the tithes go poor offering and such. Is there a formula for the dispercement of these monies or does each Church make their own determination of how these monies are spent. Thank you very much in advance. ~ Anthony Watson, Brookshire, Tx
Rather than “tithes” or a strict ten percent, the New Testament commands freewill giving upon the first day of every week. This giving ought to be representative of one’s prosperity.
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
This giving is further regulated to be according as one purposes, but liberal giving is encouraged.
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Some of the reasons for which collections are to be taken include benevolence (Romans 15:25) and the support of Gospel preachers (1 Corinthians 9:3-14). Any endeavor that corresponds to the biblically designated mission of the church may be the recipient of expense money derived from the weekly collection. Essentially, the mission of the church is three-fold: edification (1 Corinthians 14:12), benevolence (Galatians 6:10) and evangelism (Mark 16:15-16).
Each New Testament congregation of the church was independent of every other congregation, and when fully organized, led by qualified elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5-9). Since the Bible does not specify any particular amount or percentage to be applied to any mission of the church, each congregation has the discretion to apply those funds as it chooses as long as those things on which money is spent correspond to the biblical mission of the Lord’s church. Things that are not the mission of the church of the Bible (e.g., entertainment, commercial enterprises, etc.) should never receive funding with the Lord’s money because there is no divine authority for them regarding the mission of the church.
