What About Money?

What do we at True North Church believe about money, tithing, giving?  The answers may surprise you!

1. Please be our guest. We are honored to have you join us.

2. We don't expect you to give a certain percentage of your income.  That would be totally missing the point!

2 Corinthians 9:7

I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

In other words, if in your heart you feel that a tithe (tenth) is for you, great! If not, just listen to your heart. God will speak to you. Your budget may be so overflowing that you want to give a 20 or 30 percent offering. Your budget may not be so overflowing, and you feel that a 2 or 3 percent offering is for you.

Again, the amount is not the point.

The point is your heart.

2. We don’t really own anything—we are only here for a lifetime. God owns everything.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12:

Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father
  from of old and forever.
   To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might,
  the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor;
   Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth;
  the kingdom all yours! You've raised yourself high over all.
   Riches and glory come from you,
  you're ruler over all;
   You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand
  to build up and strengthen all.
   And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you,
  praising your splendid Name.

We believe that we are to be stewards (managers) of that which God has given.  He wants us to be generous with His money as a way to give thanks to Him. When we give thanks and we are generous, He wants to bless us!

3. Think about this...anything that receives without giving ends up functioning poorly. A balloon that continues to receive air will pop. A body of water that receives constant inflow without an outflow will become stagnant.

A person with knowledge who doesn't share that knowledge - well, what good is that?

God has designed The Church for giving and receiving:

^40-42"We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

5. There is no way to earn God's favor!  If you want to conform to a code or system of deeds and observances, hoping to gain God's blessing, it doesn't work. He's already blessed and favored you!

He's already extended His GRACE (un-merited favor) and MERCY (kindness, clemency, forgiveness).

Jesus Christ—God's only Son—earned the grace and mercy for us! They are free gifts. We can only accept them.

 

So...why give?

Because you love God, and you want to cheerfully say "Thank You" to Him!

2 Corinthians 9:11-15

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. 12-15Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

If you decide to give any amount to True North Church, your gift will be used help others in our community, our nation, and our world.  We invite you to join us in extending grace and mercy to others in the measure we have received from God.