We are generous because He is
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly of under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
Why We Give
Our God is a God of abundance who blesses and sustains us. We desire to be generous to honor that and further the mission of His church. Every dollar is used on spreading the Gospel message whether through our local efforts, national denominational efforts, or our global missions.
Carson Oaks Community Church is a 501(c)3 organization and financial gifts are tax-deductible.
Biblical Basis for Giving
Tithing was originally part of the Levitical laws in Leviticus 27:30:
"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."
and was referenced in Malachi 3:10 which says:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
Further spoken of in the New Testament, Luke 6:38 says:
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Paul also adds further context in 1 Corinthians 16: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem."
While "tithing" was part of the old covenant and isn't demanded in the New Testament, we firmly believe in providing resources for the church to function, fund ministry efforts, to provide for benevolence funding, and we also believe that God blesses those efforts when we trust Him with our personal funds. Not necessarily with millions of dollars, as some say, but in tangible ways He knows appeal to our individual needs, desires, and gifting.