QUESTIONS ABOUT LORD'S DAY CONTRIBUTIONS

Dear Bro. Waddey:
Thanks for all your lessons on maintaining the purity of the Church of Christ. I've been a member for over 20 years. We've always used 1Cor.16:1-2 and 11 Cor.9:6-7 when discussing the weekly contribution but we had a minister from the states visit us and he said that those scriptures are used out of context and we shouldn't use them on the regular contribution. He went to say that members should give a tenth or more back to God and he used Matt.5:23 where it says that our righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. What do you think? Is this scripture taken out of context?  Herbert

Dear Bro. Herbert:
Thanks for your letter. You are certainly following God's pattern when you cite I Cor. 16:1-2 and II Cor. 9:6-7 in teaching Christians about their privilege and duty to give to God on the first day of the week. We freely grant that Paul was specifically instructing them about gathering funds for the needy saints in Jerusalem when he wrote these words. But in so doing he was laying down spiritual principles that would govern God's people throughout the ages in the matter of supporting the things of God's kingdom. I would be interested in asking the visiting brother if his congregation takes up a contribution on the first day of the week? If he says yes, I would ask him on what Scriptural basis he does so? For if he believes these passages have no relevance to a weekly offering, then he has none other to appeal to. I would also ask him if he is supported financially by a church to do his work? If so, are the funds taken on the first day of the week so he can be paid for his labor? If the answers to these questions is yes, he is being supported in a way that has no Scriptural basis....if his teaching on the passages is correct. You should feel perfectly confident in teaching your brethren give to God on the first day of the week in light of Paul's inspired instructions in First and Second Corinthians.

As to his saying that we should give a tenth of our income based on Matt. 5:23, I offer two observations.
One, it is entirely reasonable for Christians to give a tenth of their income to the Lord as a token of their gratitude and appreciation for all He has given them.  That was the standard that righteous men gave to God  from earliest times (See Gen. 24:20; Lev. 27:30).  The difference is that we do not have a specific command to give a particular amount. We are to give cheerfully, purposefully, bountifully and generously (II Cor 9:6-7). Since God has given us so much more than the saints of the Old Testament ever enjoyed, it would seem unreasonable that we should give less than they. We have a better High Priest, a better Savior, a better covenant, a better sacrifice and a better promise (Compare the contrast of the Old and New systems in  Hebrews).  I have always felt that I should give no less than a tenth of what I earn back to the Master.

Two. The verse he cites, Matt. 5:23, has nothing to do with how much we should give. The verse is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and he is teaching us that we must be genuine and sincere in our practice of our religion, and not practice pretense and hypocrisy like the Pharisees. Chapter 6:1-18 shows just how hypocritical the Pharisees were. To be properly understood verses must always be interpreted and used in their correct context.