Money, Mission, and Faith — A Biblical Challenge About Tithing
Nobody denies that churches need money. Buildings cost money. Missionaries cost money. Helping the poor costs money. Any worldwide church must have resources to function. But the real issue is not whether money is necessary. The real issue is whether financial requirements match the teachings of Jesus and the early Christian church. This question becomes especially important when examining the practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church teaches what is often called the fourfold mission of the Church: Proclaim the gospel. Strengthen the members. Perform temple work. Care for the poor. These are good goals. No serious Christian would object to them. Yes, these missions require resources. But Christianity is not built on efficiency. It is built on truth. And that raises an uncomfortable question: Did Jesus or the apostles ever require believers to pay a fixed percentage of their income in order to fully participate in worship? The answer from the New Testa...