Corporate Status
MountainView Bible Church is applying to organize as a Section 21 NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) under South African law. We will then apply for not-for-profit status under applicable laws such that contributions to MountainView Bible Church will be tax-deductible, provided the laws don't change.

Current & Future Expenses
At present, all of our collections go to missionaries, the needy, and a few odd expenses. The first Sunday of each month, we take up a collection of food and goods for needy people in our congregation and in the community. Our pastor is a missionary church-planter entirely funded by churches in the USA, so we have no salary component to our budget . In time, and by God's grace alone, we would like to buy property, build a facility for a church of about 250, and retain a pastor full-time.

Our Philosophy of Giving
In Western culture, the two main reasons people give for not liking church is because "churches are full of hypocrites" and "they always asking for money." At MountainView, we're working hard on the first objection, and we also try never to ask for money. This ministry, by God's grace, will be built on His provision through the free-will offerings of His people. We are not out to build some mega-ministry or a church-kingdom.

Below are notes from one of Dave's messages a while ago, so that you can see what is being taught about giving here at MountainView.

Passage #1 - Philippians 4: 14-19

1. My giving provides an income for God's servant-leaders (pastors and church-planters) - When I help support them, in God's eyes I receive part of the credit for the fruit of their ministry!
2. My giving is an act of worship (worth-ship) - We don't offer up sheep like the Jews did; a financial offering is my "sacrifice" … I am giving something to the Lord because He is worth it!
3. God promises to supply all of my needs when I give

1. My giving meets the needs of needy believers - The offering here was for famine relief of believers in Jerusalem
2. I should give regularly - "On the first day of every week … storing up … that there be no collections when I come" - it isn't good to put a congregation under a huge and sudden need (crisis giving). As I receive my salary periodically, even so I should give periodically
3. I should think about this in advance, and give purposefully and proportionately: "Each of you is to put something aside and store up as he may prosper." We tend to "store up as we may prosper" to buy things for ourselves and our kids. Notice that no percentage is mentioned (e.g., not a tenth or a fifth of my income), but the idea is that we're not to offer pocket change.

Passage #3 - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 13-15, 19-21

1. Sometimes God will call on me to give sacrificially - The test of "sacrifice" is not how much I give, but how much is left for me after the giving (widow's offering - Mark 12:42-44)
2. I should be passionate and insistent about giving - As a general rule, poor country folks give more sacrificially than wealthier city people (back then and now).
3. God doesn't want my money instead of me, but in addition to me. If I give money from a cold heart, or to be noticed by others, it can help the cause, but it won't benefit me (Matthew 6:1-4)
4. God's plan to care for the poor isn't government, but believers like me - He is looking for fairness and equality among believers so that no one is lacking; I need to voluntarily redistribute some of my wealth to the needy (see also Proverbs 19:17)
5. Our leaders should make sure that offerings are wisely handled - At least two should be involved to stay accountable

Passage #4 - 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

1. I should give liberally - Give little = reap little; give much = reap much - This applies to time, talents and treasures. You cannot out-give God … BUT what He gives you back will not likely be cash or cars. What God normally gives you back is:
   • A huge blessing in your heart, because it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)
   • Treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20, 1 Timothy 6:17-19)
   • A supply of all your needs, such as food and clothing (Matthew 6:33, Phil. 4:19)
     
2. I should give as I have made up my mind to give - With my spouse, I should set a definite figure or percentage to give each week/month
3. I should give cheerfully - God doesn't need the gift, but is most concerned with my motives when giving (see also Matthew 6:3-4 - when you give to the poor, don't let your rational mind know what your heart is giving)
4. As I give, God will supply my financial needs

Old Testament Principles of Giving
One of the big errors made by modern churches is teaching Christian principles from promises made to the Jews in the Old Testament. Back then, Israel was under different "house rules." The Jews' home was Israel; the Christian's home is heaven. God rewarded Jewish obedience with material rewards - the people God blessed were rich (Deuteronomy 28); God rewards Christian faithfulness with heavenly rewards - the people God blesses are often poor and persecuted here, but they can't even imagine what's coming to them in heaven (Matthew 6:19-34, 1 Corinthians 2:9).

What About Tithing?

• Tithing means giving a tenth of "your increase" - income/profit made from work or investment
• Tithing was an ancient custom to give a tithe to priests or holy men
  • Abraham gave 1/10th of things taken in battle to a priest named Melchizedek - Genesis 14:20
  • Jacob committed to give God a tenth - Genesis 28:22
• Israel was commanded to tithe in the Law of Moses to support the priestly tribe of Levi (Numbers 18:24), but the total giving to the Lord, counting additional feasts and offerings was 23-25% of their income.
• Tithing is a good "rule of thumb" but is not commanded of believers in our time (the rule is never repeated in the New Testament writings about offerings). Many leaders suggest that because we have received so much more through Christ, we should give far beyond a tithe.

Firstfruits - The first crops of the first harvest (the best of the best) was to be brought to the Lord, not leftovers (Exodus 23:19). From this, we learn the principle that giving to the Lord is "off the top" - that is, our proportionate giving should be based on our gross income, not our net, or what we have left at the end of the month.

Robbing God - Israel's failure to give was seen by God as "robbing God" (Malachi 3:8-12), and financial blessing was promised if the Jews would again bring abundant offerings to the Temple.