We encourage all members of the church to give of their substance, regularly, purposefully and generously. Knowing the church emerged from Old Testament tradition which emphasized the proportionate “tithe,” and freewill offerings above it, we encourage members to give proportionately, that is, a percentage of their income, using the Old Testament tithe as a good place to start. [See also some thoughts on storehouse tithing.] However, Pastors and Evangelists (missionaries) from our church do not receive any salary from the church, nor any funds other than what is specifically designated to them by the original giver. This follows the instructions and the examples in the New Testament of ministers of the gospel “living of the gospel,” that is, receiving freewill offerings from the people of God to allow them to minister.
1 Corinthians 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
This also facilitates the principle that members of the church who receive spiritual things personally minister to their teachers out of their carnal things.
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Romans 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
This New Testament Church principle also allows spiritual evaluation of the teachers by them who are taught, rewarding spiritual diligence with material sufficiency, under normal circumstances at least.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
In our church, funds received that are not specifically designated are received into a “general fund” which pays for the necessities of the church building and other regular obligations. Our church does not sell anything, not even for cost, nor do we pass an offering plate. An offering box is located near the door to receive all offerings. Appropriate members of the church take turns as stewards entering the gifts into the accounting books into appropriate funds and making bank deposits. Records of the different funds maintained by the church are made available, usually posted above the offering box.
All of this is a lot of work, and it takes a lot of the financial power of the local church out of the control of the local leadership. But this gives control not just to the givers in the church, who know what they are giving to, and become personally invested in their gifts, but to the Holy Spirit, who through the church determines which ministries to increase, and which to decrease. This is the scriptural way, not only protecting the church from becoming a house of merchandise, and ministers from becoming hirelings, but honoring to God and maintaining the focus on the gospel.