A Theology of Giving and Generosity
Money is important in the world we live -- often inappropriately so. As we continually learn about what it means to serve God, we approach it as a holistic pursuit. We cannot compartmentalize any avenue of our life as irrelevant to our spirituality. And because we are human beings who have an economic life, having a healthy and biblical relationship to money is critical to live life fully in the way of Jesus. We encourage financial responsibility by encouraging people to live within their means, avoiding massive debt. Money was never an “unspiritual” subject for Jesus. He emphasized the link between our spirituality and our generosity, usually being very blunt about it: “You can’t serve God and the Bank” (Luke 16: 13).
As people who are learning what it means to serve God, we believe Christ followers are called to a life of ever-increasing generosity. Without generosity, ministry to children, students, the poor, or any other people group falls by the wayside. With inconsistent giving, ministry as defined by the Bible simply becomes an afterthought.
For followers of Jesus, giving away 10% of what we have control over has served as a healthy measurement of our financial life. While this number is not set in stone, and some may choose to give more, we believe the giving away of 10% of what we have control over has served as a starting point for followers of Jesus, taught in the Bible and practiced by Christ followers throughout history.
To get started - pray about it. Decide on a weekly or monthly amount. Pray that God would use your faith and contribution in significant ways. Be prepared to be amazed at what happens, then regularly and prayerfully evaluate your giving.