Stewardship and Tithing
As taught in the Baptist tradition
Teaching that all resources belong to God and should be managed for His glory, including generous giving.
The question of stewardship and tithing within the Baptist tradition is not merely a matter of financial administration or ecclesiastical survival; it is a fundamental question of Lordship. "Who owns the life of the believer?" This is the central inquiry that the doctrine of stewardship seeks to answer. In the Baptist understanding, rooted firmly in the "Believer’s Church" tradition, stewardship is the natural, voluntary, and joyful response of a soul that has been redeemed by grace.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the biblical distinction between ownership and trusteeship within the Baptist theological framework.
- **Distinguish** between the Old Testament legal requirement of the tithe and the New Testament principle of grace-based, cheerful giving.
- **Explain** the "storehouse" principle as it relates to the local church’s role in receiving and distributing tithes and offerings.
- **Articulate** the relationship between heart alignment (Matthew 6:21) and the management of material possessions.
- **Trace** the historical development of Article XIII of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and its impact on Baptist missions.
- **Defend** the practice of "proportionate giving" as a baseline for Christian discipleship against the critiques of modern secular materialism.
- **Apply** the "Treasure Principle" to personal financial planning, prioritizing the advancement of the Gospel over earthly accumulation.
- **Compare** the Baptist view of voluntary stewardship with other traditions that utilize mandatory church taxes or centralized fiscal control.
Scripture
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