Does Your Statement of Faith Include an Article on Tithing? Why Not?

bgwilkinson

bgwilkinson

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The current thread on Tithing got me thinking about Statements of Faith and if they included an article on tithing.

http://www.fundamentalforums.org/the-fighting-forum/tithing-'buying'-god's-blessings/

So far I have not found even one where the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine is mentioned.

Here is a link to one of the most famous Baptist Statements of Faith.

http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/pctoc.htm

So, I am not looking for an argument, just wondering if anyone had any knowledge of a group of believers that felt strongly enough about the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine to include it in their codified set of beliefs.

If not why not?
 
bgwilkinson said:
The current thread on Tithing got me thinking about Statements of Faith and if they included an article on tithing.

http://www.fundamentalforums.org/the-fighting-forum/tithing-'buying'-god's-blessings/

So far I have not found even one where the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine is mentioned.

Here is a link to one of the most famous Baptist Statements of Faith.

http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/pctoc.htm

So, I am not looking for an argument, just wondering if anyone had any knowledge of a group of believers that felt strongly enough about the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine to include it in their codified set of beliefs.

If not why not?
Click to expand...

As far back as I can remember, most church statements of faith including something about giving.  In the earlier days, I seem to recall a statement like "We believe that the church should be supported solely be the freewill offerings of its members."

I looked up our church web site, and it does have a statement about tithing.
 
Walt said:
bgwilkinson said:
The current thread on Tithing got me thinking about Statements of Faith and if they included an article on tithing.

http://www.fundamentalforums.org/the-fighting-forum/tithing-'buying'-god's-blessings/

So far I have not found even one where the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine is mentioned.

Here is a link to one of the most famous Baptist Statements of Faith.

http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/pctoc.htm

So, I am not looking for an argument, just wondering if anyone had any knowledge of a group of believers that felt strongly enough about the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine to include it in their codified set of beliefs.

If not why not?
Click to expand...

As far back as I can remember, most church statements of faith including something about giving.  In the earlier days, I seem to recall a statement like "We believe that the church should be supported solely be the freewill offerings of its members."

I looked up our church web site, and it does have a statement about tithing.
Click to expand...

Is that part of your statement of faith? or is it just a general statement of what your church practices?

For example FBCH does not have an article in the statement of faith but monetary income tithing is pushed weekly not using scripture but by using personal experience of how God blesses when I give, etc. The pretense of a scriptural basis is not used to push it.

You might call it prosperity gospel not based on scripture.

Monetary income tithing is not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament, it isn't even mentioned in the Old Testament.

The tithe was always the fruits of the harvest, never money.
 
bgwilkinson said:
Walt said:
bgwilkinson said:
The current thread on Tithing got me thinking about Statements of Faith and if they included an article on tithing.

http://www.fundamentalforums.org/the-fighting-forum/tithing-'buying'-god's-blessings/

So far I have not found even one where the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine is mentioned.

Here is a link to one of the most famous Baptist Statements of Faith.

http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/pctoc.htm

So, I am not looking for an argument, just wondering if anyone had any knowledge of a group of believers that felt strongly enough about the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine to include it in their codified set of beliefs.

If not why not?
Click to expand...

As far back as I can remember, most church statements of faith including something about giving.  In the earlier days, I seem to recall a statement like "We believe that the church should be supported solely be the freewill offerings of its members."

I looked up our church web site, and it does have a statement about tithing.
Click to expand...

Is that part of your statement of faith? or is it just a general statement of what your church practices?

For example FBCH does not have an article in the statement of faith but monetary income tithing is pushed weekly not using scripture but by using personal experience of how God blesses when I give, etc. The pretense of a scriptural basis is not used to push it.

You might call it prosperity gospel not based on scripture.

Monetary income tithing is not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament, it isn't even mentioned in the Old Testament.

The tithe was always the fruits of the harvest, never money.
Click to expand...

I'm not attempting to argue about tithing; I'm just answering the question of whether or not our church's Statement of Faith had a statement about tithing.

I went to our church's web site, and they have a link for "Statement of Faith" that includes a short paragraph on giving: that tithes and offerings through one's local church is how the work of that church should be funded; that people should tithe on the first day of the week; that the tithe is the Lord's, and that people should cheerfully give other offerings.
 
No. It is a teaching that would be considered a subset on membership which would be a subset of the Doctrine of the Church. Our Statement of Faith is not that detailed.
 
FSSL said:
No. It is a teaching that would be considered a subset on membership which would be a subset of the Doctrine of the Church. Our Statement of Faith is not that detailed.
Click to expand...

I didn't know our Statement of Faith was that detailed.  I guess it's because we want people to know upfront what kind of church we are.
 
It is very common to have a short section about tithing or giving in a statement of Faith.

My church does not mention it.

Here is the SBC 2013 Resolution on giving.

http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1234/on-tithing-stewardship-and-the-cooperative-program

Resolution On Tithing, Stewardship, And The Cooperative Program
Houston, TX - 2013
WHEREAS, Biblical stewardship is a generous response of loving obedience that constitutes an essential part of our worship of God (2 Corinthians 9:6?7); and

WHEREAS, Tithing predates the Law of Moses (Genesis 14:20; 28:22; Hebrews 7:2) and is affirmed in the Old Testament (Numbers 18: 21?24) as well as in the New Testament (Luke 11:42); and

WHEREAS, The Scripture equates failure to tithe with robbing God (Malachi 3:8); and

WHEREAS, Christ affirmed the tithe (Matthew 23:23); and

WHEREAS, Proportional giving of at least a tithe is expected by God throughout Scripture (Numbers 18:21?24; 1 Corinthians 16:1?2; Hebrews 7:2); and

WHEREAS, Tithing is essential for Kingdom work through the local church and ministries around the world (1 Corinthians 9:13?14); and

WHEREAS, According to the Great Commission Task Force Report, Southern Baptists give just 2.5 percent of their annual income to the local church, demonstrating the need for Southern Baptists to teach and faithfully obey the biblical command to tithe; and

WHEREAS, The current economic climate and other factors have resulted in financial challenges for many of our churches and mission entities; and

WHEREAS, Faithful stewardship is a privilege and an honor for all Christians; and

WHEREAS, The Cooperative Program is funded solely by tithes, offerings, and gifts through the churches; and

WHEREAS, Cooperative Program giving from the churches has declined significantly from $548 million in 2007?2008 to $488 million in 2010?2011, reducing our support of missions and ministries by $60 million; and

WHEREAS, Frank S. Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, has challenged Southern Baptist churches to increase their Cooperative Program giving by at least 1 percent; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Houston, Texas, June 11?12, 2013, exhort all Southern Baptists to tithe cheerfully and give sacrificially as good stewards of God?s blessings to their local churches; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Southern Baptists and Southern Baptist churches evaluate the faithfulness of their stewardship to financially support missionaries and ministries at home and abroad through the Cooperative Program and Great Commission Giving; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commend those who tithe faithfully in loving obedience to God.
 
Here are a few examples of Statements of Faith with Tithing Included.

https://www.foursquare.org/about/what_we_believe
 
http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/what-we-believe.html

one full page on giving
 
http://www.churchofchrist-tl.org/basicBeliefs.html

Church of Christ
Basic Beliefs
Articles of Faith and Practice

17. We believe that all men are stewards of their worldly possessions and goods and answerable to God both for how they are used and the manner in which they are secured. We believe that all men are also stewards of their time and talents and are accountable to God for how they are used. We are to pay tithes and offerings to the Church as required by God with the promise of His blessings. We define tithes as 1/10th of our increase. Offerings are donations above and beyond tithes. These tithes and offerings are to be used for the building up of the Kingdom of God in all nations, bringing all people to Jesus Christ through Baptism. (Mark 12:41-44; Malachi 3:8-12; Genesis 28:20-22; Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:4-6; Acts 10:1-4; 3rd Nephi 11:11-15; Mosiah 2:37, 42-44; Matthew 28:18-20; Jacob 2:22-24; Alma 10:8; Deuteronomy 14:22)
 
http://calvarybaptistpa.org/about-calvary/our-statement-of-faith/


O. Give freely our tithes and offerings for the establishing of the Gospel.
 
http://www.perryfirstbaptistchurch.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180059786&sec_id=180001866

Tithing
?A tithe of everything you produce belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.? Lev. 26:30

At First Baptist we practice tithing for the support of Christ?s Body, the church, as God  commands.  We recognize that giving 10 % of our income is the Biblical standard of giving.
 
http://hiberniabaptist.org/about/beliefs

4. Tithing
"And all the tithe of the land...is the Lord's." (Leviticus 27:30 NKJV)

At Hibernia Baptist, we practice tithing for the support of Christ's Body, the Church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard of giving.
 
sword said:
It is very common to have a short section about tithing or giving in a statement of Faith.

My church does not mention it.

Here is the SBC 2013 Resolution on giving.

http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1234/on-tithing-stewardship-and-the-cooperative-program

Resolution On Tithing, Stewardship, And The Cooperative Program
Houston, TX - 2013
WHEREAS, Biblical stewardship is a generous response of loving obedience that constitutes an essential part of our worship of God (2 Corinthians 9:6?7); and

WHEREAS, Tithing predates the Law of Moses (Genesis 14:20; 28:22; Hebrews 7:2) and is affirmed in the Old Testament (Numbers 18: 21?24) as well as in the New Testament (Luke 11:42); and

WHEREAS, The Scripture equates failure to tithe with robbing God (Malachi 3:8); and

WHEREAS, Christ affirmed the tithe (Matthew 23:23); and

WHEREAS, Proportional giving of at least a tithe is expected by God throughout Scripture (Numbers 18:21?24; 1 Corinthians 16:1?2; Hebrews 7:2); and

WHEREAS, Tithing is essential for Kingdom work through the local church and ministries around the world (1 Corinthians 9:13?14); and

WHEREAS, According to the Great Commission Task Force Report, Southern Baptists give just 2.5 percent of their annual income to the local church, demonstrating the need for Southern Baptists to teach and faithfully obey the biblical command to tithe; and

WHEREAS, The current economic climate and other factors have resulted in financial challenges for many of our churches and mission entities; and

WHEREAS, Faithful stewardship is a privilege and an honor for all Christians; and

WHEREAS, The Cooperative Program is funded solely by tithes, offerings, and gifts through the churches; and

WHEREAS, Cooperative Program giving from the churches has declined significantly from $548 million in 2007?2008 to $488 million in 2010?2011, reducing our support of missions and ministries by $60 million; and

WHEREAS, Frank S. Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, has challenged Southern Baptist churches to increase their Cooperative Program giving by at least 1 percent; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Houston, Texas, June 11?12, 2013, exhort all Southern Baptists to tithe cheerfully and give sacrificially as good stewards of God?s blessings to their local churches; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Southern Baptists and Southern Baptist churches evaluate the faithfulness of their stewardship to financially support missionaries and ministries at home and abroad through the Cooperative Program and Great Commission Giving; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commend those who tithe faithfully in loving obedience to God.
Click to expand...
This is why we give Tardheel a hard time...

earnestly contend

 
bgwilkinson said:
The current thread on Tithing got me thinking about Statements of Faith and if they included an article on tithing.

So far I have not found even one where the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine is mentioned.

So, I am not looking for an argument, just wondering if anyone had any knowledge of a group of believers that felt strongly enough about the Modern Monetary Tithe doctrine to include it in their codified set of beliefs.
If not why not?
Click to expand...

There are 1000's of churches throughout the U.S. that believe tithing is biblical for this age and have included it in their statement of faith.
 
It would seem that tithing as a part of ones statement of faith is a modern development in the last 100 years.

Does anyone have access to statements of faith that are from the 1800s?

The Philadelphia Confession is from 1742 and seems to be the standard used by churches in the 1700s.

The Philadelphia Confession 1742 is highly detailed and does not make any mention of tithing.

The ones I have been finding are Highly detailed and from before 1900 without mentioning tithing. Everything cited looks to be modern.

Thanks so much for all the responses. If you find more please post them. Thanks.

 
Of those Statements of Faith that get so detailed as to reach all the way down to tithing... Then are they also including statements on prayer and fasting?
 
FSSL said:
Of those Statements of Faith that get so detailed as to reach all the way down to tithing... Then are they also including statements on prayer and fasting?
Click to expand...

I have found with a simple google search you can find statements of faith that include about anything.

Each church is made up of believers with different ideas about what they believe. Who am I to question what other churches choose to believe & practice.

 
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