At Grace Church of Marin, we believe all of life can only be properly understood when viewed through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is only when we understand our material possessions in light of Christ's sacrificial love for us that we can truly have a healthy relationship towards our material possessions.

Only by seeing that Christ gave up everything so that we could inherit the riches of heaven will we be transformed into individuals who are both joyful and generous. Paul summarizes this idea in 2 Corinthians 8:9: "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".

Understanding the riches we have already received in Christ liberates us from the need to make an idol of our possessions and motivates us to invest our wealth, talents, and time in the eternal kingdom of God.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the basis for the tithe?

In the Old Testament, believers were required to give a tenth of their income to the support of the ministry and the needs of the poor. Although the New Testament does not specifically mention the tithe, it does teach that we should give as we are "able and even beyond (our) ability". (2 Cor. 8:3). Jesus himself teaches that our relationship to wealth should be far more radical and generous than that of the Old Testament when he reminds his followers that God was "pleased" to give us the kingdom (something God's followers in the Old Testament longed for) which, Jesus says, should liberate us to "sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:33-34). Therefore, the tithe (10%) is seen as a kind of minimum guideline for giving for those of us who 'have been given the kingdom'. Of course, there are seasons to economic life that sometimes strain our ability to give. In many cases, good planning over time will be necessary to move our giving into Biblical proportions without reneging on legal and personal financial obligations.

Do I give 10% of my gross or net income?

Scripture teaches that we are to give back to God our "firstfruits" (Exodus 23:16, 19). Proverbs 3:9 encourages us to 'honor the Lord with (our) wealth, with the firstfruits of (our) crops'. This is consistent with our understanding that we are first and foremost citizens of God's kingdom, seeking to invest our resources (time, talents, money) in ways that are consistent with God's values and priorities. This is what Jesus meant when he asked us to think first of investing our wealth "where no thief comes near and no moth destroys". Therefore, it is Biblical to calculate your tithe and offering on your annual gross income.

Should I give all of my tithe/offering to Grace Marin?

The answer to this is a qualified 'no'! Your gift is an act of personal worship to God in response to his grace in your life. However, if you consider Grace Marin your 'home church', then you might consider allocating a significant portion of your tithe and offering to the community where you invest most of your time and talent, and where others are investing in you. Also, the Church is that community established by God through which ALL aspects of his kingdom values are to be lived out. At Grace Marin this means our budget goes to: church planting, the financially and socially marginalized, teaching and worship, the deepening of community through Community Groups, counseling, cultural renewal, and many other areas. Having said that, your tithe and offering should be a byproduct of prayer and consideration as God works on your conscience.