The Bible tells us, in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Linguistically and historically, “tithing” goes back to an old English word meaning “tenth”. Another similar definition comes from the Hebrew “asair” which, translated, means “to give a tenth part of”. It refers to the idea of joyfully giving 1/10th, or 10%, of one’s time, talent or treasure to the church.

We encourage members of the First Baptist Church of Dinuba to follow in the Biblical teachings of Christ, including those that speak to joyful giving, or tithing. Joyful giving not only nurtures a mature relationship between Christ and his children but allows us to grow in our Christian faith.

Many people tithe because they feel an obligation to do so as opposed to doing it happily and gratefully, grateful for the abundance given us by God. We believe tithing should be done in celebration and encourage members of our community to give prayerful consideration to tithing. As a means of building a closer relationship with our Lord, while 10% is a guideline, we encourage joyfully giving whatever your hear says to give.