You can always mail your gifts to the following address:

Cahill Methodist Church
8501 E FM 917
Alvarado, TX 76009

Giving & Tithing

Throughout church history there have been debates about giving vs tithing and if collecting an offering should be included in the formal worship service. I will lay out my thoughts below as clearly and concisely as I can.

Old Testament tithing is the equivalent of our modern day tax system. Israel was a theocracy and the money required by the temple was distributed and used to run the temple and to apply the law. Giving in the church today has no connection to Israel’s tithing.

So how much do we give? We give what we are led by the Spirit to give. The church is called to generosity throughout scripture. The definitive scripture on this is found here:

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV - Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Should collecting an offering be included in the formal worship service? The reason this is debated is because of the *Regulative Principle of Worship*. The principle argues that God's revelation in Scripture is sufficient to guide us in all aspects of worship, including its content and form. It highlights that worship should be centered on God, not on human preferences or traditions.The principle emphasizes that Scripture is the ultimate guide for worship - both direct commands and those that can be reasonably inferred (this idea is where the offering falls). The reason for this principle is to protect the worship service from adding man-made additions that could devolve into sacrilege. We don’t want to offer “strange fire” to God (Leviticus 10).

We find these elements of worship clearly presented in scripture: public reading of scripture (1 Tim. 4:13); preaching the Word (2 Tim. 4:2); singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16); prayer (Acts 2:42, Matt. 21:13); and Baptism and The Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38–39; 1 Cor. 11:23–26; Col. 2:11–12).

I would argue that we can reasonably infer that giving should be included from passages like 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Corinthians 9 and:

Acts 4:34-35 ESV - There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

There was definitely a regular collection that was made among the churches. I think it is safe to assume they would collect these offerings when they were all together - which would often have been for formal worship. Because the church should be marked by generosity I have no qualms with highlighting the church’s commitment to share resources for the good of the church and the care of the poor.

Liturgically, I think giving should be considered under “consecration” in the worship liturgy - we are prepared to give all we are and all we have.