A Contextual Study of Paul's Teaching on Giving in Ethiope Delta Baptist Conference

Abstract

Many individuals question or inquire what the primary biblical foundations are for Christian giving. As a result of the clear teaching of God's word in the Bible, the answer to that dilemma causes Christians to reflect on their attitude toward donating to the church. It is pertinent to evaluate and recreate such concepts in order to participate in theological inquiry on giving. Giving has been shown to lower blood pressure and stress, in addition to its spiritual and physical benefits. This decreases or increases human lifespan and improved health. The objectives of this study are to assess the status of local Baptist church members on giving for mission support; address the problem of non-adherence of Baptist church members to basic Biblical principles of giving as well as examine giving in the sense of tithing, offering, free-will donations, seed offerings, as means of supporting the financial and material needs of local Baptist churches and the Conference. This study is significant in that it eschews the anti-mission’s mindset that discourages Christians from endeavouring to carry out the Great Commission which is the hallmark of Christian mission.  The study employed the historical, hermeneutical, exegetical, phenomenological and analytic methods to achieve its objectives. It adopts the use of oral interviews to achieve its main objectives. This study demonstrates that Paul’s purposes in writing to the Philippians was to console and commend them and these consolation and commendation purposes are crucial to a proper understanding of the meaning and structure of the letter in relations to giving. It shows that tithing is a legalistic, Old Testament standard, it should be retained as the biblical foundational and traditional basis for giving. The study shows that outside its spiritual rewards, giving generously enhances human mental health and longevity through the reduction of blood pressure and stress.

Keywords: Contextual, Giving, Paul’s Teaching Ethiope Delta, Baptist Conference.