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Giving to the Church(Matthew 10:8) |
Our congregation members and friends are our biggest supporters. They improve the life and health of our church in how they support our mission, services and students, volunteering their time in so many ways and with their financial contributions.
Light for Life New Church is alive with a compelling vision for the future and a strategic plan to focus and direct our decisions. There is a renewed will to work hard to improve our Church and help make the teachings of the New Church more accessible to the world.
Thank you for all you to do improve the vitality of Light for Life New Church!
Theological passages related to financial giving
Biblical stewardship is based on the belief that God is the rightful owner of everything (Psalm 24:1) and that we are caretakers of his creation. Biblical stewardship includes many aspects. But of all the various aspects of stewardship, the Word frequently singles out financial generosity as one of most representative of a person's heart (Matthew 6:19-21). "Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the samemeasure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)
The New Testament does not give us a mandatory percentage for giving. The apostle Paul says, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
In the work Secrets of Heaven penned by Emanuel Swedenborg, we read: "to tithe," in the Word, signifies to gather remnants, and to "gather remnants" is to gather together what is good and true, and to store it up in a person." (Secrets of Heaven 5291) In other words, this is a term that actually applies to the internal work the Lord does in cooperation with us to forge our spiritual character. This does not render external giving unimportant. Rather, it then becomes a natural outgrowth of a person's developing relationship with God, out of gratitude for His many blessings.
As a church therefore, we believe in free will offering. (You will find the collection plate at the back of the church). The purpose of this freedom is to cultivate voluntary (true) generosity by God's people.
Therefore, Light for Life New Church does not suggest donations of any amount or percentage, but leaves members and friends in freedom to give according to their hearts and abilities. The Church then has the responsibility to use the generous gifts of it's donors wisely in the service of the Lord.