A church tax? (part 5 of 6)

It is easy to be critical when people try to raise money in the church. But we do need money. So if a church tax is not the answer, how should we encourage people to give?

Again, the answer is the Gospel of God's grace.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

"The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it by sharing generously with God's people and with everyone else... Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!" 2 Corinthians 9:13, 15

God freely gave us his son. When we experience God's grace, it changes us. God's grace makes us gracious and generous. We want to give to those in need and we want to give to help people who are preaching about Jesus.

So if people are not giving to the church, I can see three main possible causes:

1. They have no money.

2. They have not been changed by the gospel of God's grace.

3. They don't think the church is doing a good job of preaching Jesus, or they don't think people are in need.

I think our problem is 2 and 3.

The answer is not a church tax. That will make the problem worse. The answer is to faithfully preach and teach and proclaim the good news of God's grace. That is what will change people's hearts and bring greater generosity through Christ.