I get this question all the time and the essential answer is no. Let me introduce to you the concept of the tithe and the offering.
The tithe is the Biblical standard of giving, a word that means “tenth.” Tithing essentially means giving back to God 10% of the financial resources He has given you. Put another way, living off of 90% of what God has given you, and giving a tenth back. The prophet Malachi is clear in chapter 3 that the tithe is to keep the local ministry of the church strong. So, the tithe is for the ministry of your local church.
The offering is beyond the tithe. This is where such wonderful charities and ministries come in, like the United Way, Water Missions, and the Star Gospel Mission. The offering is over and above the local church support we call the tithe.
The first offering ever recorded in the New Testament is found in Acts 11:27-30. A man named Agabus came as a guest speaker to the church at Antioch. Agabus predicted a famine would come and that it would affect primarily the people in Judea. The Christians of Antioch took this prophecy very seriously. They took up an offering beyond the tithe for their church in Antioch, to give to the people of Judea. In Galatians 2:10, Paul gives thanks for this special offering when he wrote to the Galatian churches.
St. Michaelites need to know that over the years we have benefitted from the offerings of others. As a result of the 1886 earthquake to hit Charleston, our sanctuary of St. Michael’s was nearly declared “totally destroyed.” Trinity Church Wall Street (New York City) took an offering (asking folks to give above their tithe) to help restore St. Michael’s.
So, as you consider your tithe for St. Michael’s, remember the Biblical foundation. It certainly makes sense doesn’t it? If the local parish is strong, then other ministries will be blessed out of that!
I make this distinction for two reasons. As you pray about your tithe this year, and your charitable giving in general, make sure you separate the two. What you give to the symphony, the orphanage, and other great organizations comes from your offering.
Secondly, and for the first time, St. Michael’s is approaching our mission giving differently. This current fall stewardship ministry is about tithing to keep St. Michael’s financially sound (all operating income comes only through tithing, there is no other fund or financial source). Then in February, we will be hosting the Global Impact Celebration (GIC). The goal of the GIC is two fold: First to relationally connect you with our missionaries from the Holy City, Hurting Coast and Hungering World. The second goal is to take up an offering that will go exclusively to missions in those 3 H’s listed above. Having the GIC will mean no more letters or cards from St. Michael’s asking you to give to this mission or that. The GIC consolidates all financial mission requests into one so we can be strengthened and hopefully double our missions giving!