Money can be a hot topic in Christian churches and the Namibian church is no exception to that. While many traditional mainline denominations struggle to raise the funds they need for their various ministries, prosperity type churches and Pentecostal church bodies seem to flourish financially in Namibia. Some people are quick to point out that the main reason for this phenomenon lies in the churches’ differing attitude towards the concept of tithing. While tithing plays a central role in Pentecostal and prosperity churches, most Protestant denominations rely on other ways of funding.
In his paper, Thorsten Prill gives a critical overview of the various methods Namibian churches use to raise funds. These methods include collections, membership fees, fundraising events, commercial activities and investment trusts as well as encouraging members to give a tenth of the income to the church.
In a second paper, Johann van Wyk examines the concept of tithing from a biblical perspective. He demonstrates that New Testament teachings do not support the claim that Christians are obliged to tithe. There are, however, a number of helpful biblical principles of giving which Namibian churches should apply. Most importantly, van Wyk argues, that giving in Namibian churches needs to become a matter of the heart; giving must be driven by love and grace.
Contents
Namibian Churches and Funding: A Critical Introduction
To Tithe or Not to Tithe? Biblical Principles of Giving for the Namibian Church
Objectives and Themes
This book explores the multifaceted relationship between the Christian church in Namibia and the management of financial resources, specifically addressing the tension between traditional funding models and the rise of the prosperity gospel. It critically examines various fundraising methods, such as membership fees and investment trusts, while providing a rigorous biblical analysis of tithing to determine its relevance for contemporary Christian practice.
- Analysis of diverse church funding methods in Namibia, including collections and business investments.
- Critical investigation into the prosperity gospel and its emphasis on mandatory tithing.
- Biblical evaluation of Old Testament tithing laws versus New Testament principles of grace-driven giving.
- Theological framework for sustainable and ethical church stewardship based on love and voluntary participation.
- Examination of 2 Corinthians 8:8-15 as a model for reciprocal and fair Christian financial support.
Excerpt from the Book
The Principle of Proportional Giving (Verses 11-12)
While in verse 10 Paul is reminding the Corinthians that they once had the desire to participate in the collection for the Jerusalem church, he is now asking them in verses 11 and 12 to put that desire into action. Commenting on verses 10 to 12, Kioulachoglou (2008:34) writes:
This passage deals with desires about giving and realization of these desires. The first part of the passage shows how important it is not only to give but also to desire it. It is desire plus realization of this desire that God wants from His people. None of these two alone works. God does not want you to desire to give but to never act upon it!
Verbrugge and Krell (2015:173) point out here in verse 11 Paul’s word is straightforward: ‘Now finish the work!’ Paul reminds the Corinthians that they began with the collection a year ago and he now calls on them to bring their desire to fulfilment. Whatever it was that came between and stopped them from finishing the task must now be set aside.
It is noteworthy that, again, Paul does not mention a specific amount of money or percentage which he expects the Corinthians to contribute; let alone mentioning the tithe. Stegman (2009:199) concludes that, in God’s eyes, a person’s motivation is more important than the actual sum he or she gives.
Chapter Summaries
Namibian Churches and Funding: A Critical Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the financial landscape of Namibian churches, discussing various methods such as membership fees, collections, and investment trusts used to sustain ministries.
To Tithe or Not to Tithe? Biblical Principles of Giving for the Namibian Church: This chapter analyzes the biblical concept of tithing throughout the Old and New Testaments, ultimately arguing that tithing is not a command for modern Christians but that giving should instead be motivated by grace, love, and proportional stewardship.
Keywords
Namibia, Christian Church, Tithing, Prosperity Gospel, Stewardship, Biblical Principles, 2 Corinthians, Giving, Church Funding, Grace, Financial Ethics, Voluntary Giving, Proportionality, Reciprocity, Church Management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this book?
The book provides a critical analysis of how Namibian churches raise funds and whether tithing is a biblical mandate for contemporary Christians.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The core themes include the financial challenges of Namibian churches, the critique of the prosperity gospel, and the establishment of biblical guidelines for church giving.
What is the primary research question?
The authors investigate whether tithing is a binding obligation for Christians and what alternative, biblical principles should guide church financial practices.
What research methodology is applied?
The book uses a combination of sociological observation of Namibian church funding models and a rigorous theological and exegetical study of biblical texts, particularly 2 Corinthians.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers a range of methods from collections to investment trusts, followed by an in-depth exegetical look at tithing in the Pentateuch, Malachi, and the New Testament.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include tithing, Christian stewardship, prosperity gospel, grace-driven giving, and Namibian church history.
How does the book evaluate the prosperity gospel?
It presents the prosperity gospel as a movement often characterized by manipulation and the promise of wealth in exchange for giving, contrasting this with the New Testament focus on self-sacrifice and grace.
What does the author conclude about the relevance of tithing?
The author concludes that tithing as a mandatory legalistic practice is not supported by New Testament teaching and encourages churches to shift toward voluntary, cheerful giving based on the gospel of grace.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Thorsten Prill (Author), Johann van Wyk (Author), 2020, The Namibian Church and Money, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/704282
