During our first sermon on the topic titled "Wanted: Worshipers - Lab Time, Part 1" using John 4:4-26 our pastor was speaking about how giving is an act of worship. He mentioned that a recent survey showed that only 6% of born again Christians give 10% of their income. Continuing, he said that if all born again Christians were to give 10% of their income then all there would be enough for all starvation, poverty and lack of health care would be solved with around $70 billion left for the the preaching of the Gospel.
Christians, please ponder. I actually don't believe a tithe (10%) is required based on the New Testament (NT) but I do believe the NT stresses giving as part of worship and sacrifice. CS Lewis said (paraphrase) that how much we should give is giving until it hurts and is to a point where it feels like a sacrifice.
UPDATE: I found the article that sites the statistics, Ron Sider - The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience. Go down to the section marked "Materialism and the Poor". Very disturbing. Many Evangelicals who are to the right believe that the Church should be taking care of the poor and let the government not be so involved. I hope we are all consistent in our beliefs and actions.
UPDATE 2: Audio and notes now available from last weeks service.
Posted by Tim at January 16, 2005 08:41 AM
