Generosity & Christian faith

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. James 1:17a

Generosity and giving have been a part of lived Christian faith since the church was founded. Many of us will be familiar with the story in Acts 2:44 where the new Christians are said to have held all their resources in common, but the Letter of St James also tells us that true worship is be found in the love and humility that cares for those less fortunate than ourselves: the poor, the orphaned and the widowed.

Three hundred years later St John Chrysostom reminded his congregation that generosity towards those in need is an indispensible part of Christian life.

God does not want gold vessels but gold hearts. I am not trying to prevent you from using gorgeous vestments but only asking you also, and first, to give alms. The Lord accepts the ornaments, but he is much more eager for the alms. Only the offerer profits by the adornments; both the giver and the receiver profit by the alms. Sermon 50 on Matthew[1]

In the 21st century the Church of England still holds to this idea of generosity committed to the church and to those in need and to the church, recommending that half of your financial giving going to charity and half to your church, or, if you can afford to tithe, 5% of your post-tax income to charity and 5% to church.

This is why we encourage Christians to think of Generous Giving as a part of their personal discipleship. The act of giving locates one within this tradition of generous faith that goes right back to the foundation of the church. It is an act of personal discipleship because it is an attempt to live an active Christian faith and, through that, to develop and grow one’s own spiritual response to Christ.

What next?

If you are interested in giving to your church, why not look them up on the Parish Giving Scheme website or find them on A Church Near You.

If you are a church leader who like to know more about encouraging giving to your church you can find information on regular giving here or online giving here.

 

[1] From Benedictine Daily Prayer, ed. Maxwell E. Johnson and Monks of St John’s Abbey (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2005), 743-44

Page last updated: Thursday 20th October 2022 12:54 PM
Powered by Church Edit