Watch the video above and talk about it with a friend or mentor.

Giving is not mainly about funding a church, but about your relationship with God. Don’t give up on generosity, as God leads.

The LDS Church expects a lot from its people financially, so when people leave Mormonism, they often feel they are done with contributing to a church. But Christians view financial giving in a different way – not as tithing to a church, but as giving to God.

[Related: God’s Generosity to You]

Video Highlights:

  • Latter-day Saints are held accountable to give 10% of their income to the church. In a Christian church no one will bring attention to how much you give. It’s between you and God. So make a decision prayerfully as God leads.
  • Giving is about a relationship with God. The local church is important, but God can direct you to give to any number of causes along with your church. You’re accountable to him.
  • Reasons to give financially as a Christian.
    • God already owns everything (Psalm 24:1). Our money is not really ours to begin with. God has generously blessed us with it to use for his purposes.
    • Jesus gave generously for us (2 Corinthians 8:9). Giving is an act of worship back to him in response to his sacrifice for us.
    • Our financial choices have power to shape our hearts. (Matthew 6:19-21). Our attitude will shift toward what matters most as we begin to invest in God’s kingdom.
    • God gives us the opportunity to share in his work. (verse). It’s exciting to see how God uses our small investment to further what he doing in the world.
  • A public offering can make former Mormons cringe. The LDS Church does not pass a giving basket, so this practice can be off-putting to former Mormons. An offering is simply an act of worship, but to ex-Mormons, it looks people are giving in order to be seen. It makes the church look greedy. Thankfully, most churches have other ways to give as well.

[Related: A Heavenly Perspective – The Story of LeTourneau]

As you transition into the life of a new church, don’t quit giving. Rather, embrace a different understanding of giving. Generosity is not about funding a church. That’s a byproduct, but it’s really about your relationship with God. God can work in your heart as you give. Will you trust him and honor him with your money? How can you begin to re-engage giving with a new attitude and perspective?

[Related: Three Metrics for Giving as a Christian]

[Related: Five Reasons to Give Away 10%]

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Key Points:

  • Latter-day Saints Are Held Accountable to Give 10% of Their Income to the Church
  • Giving Is About a Relationship with God
  • Reasons to Give Financially as a Christian
  • A Public Offering Can Make Former Mormons Cringe

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Talk About It
  1. Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
  2. What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
  3. If you are a former Mormon, what was your reaction when you first observed a church take a public offering?
  4. Has your perspective on public offerings changed? Explain.
  5. The video says that giving is not about tithing to a church, but giving to God. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  6. What are some obstacles that have kept you from giving more consistently or generously at your church?
  7. Read Matthew 6:19-21. What is the relationship between how you use money and what happens in your heart?
  8. Read 2 Corinthians 8:7-9. How is generosity an act of grace? How was this exemplified by Jesus?
  9. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. What factors might encourage us to be cheerful givers?
  10. Since leaving Mormonism, how have you decided where and how much to give?
  11. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This is part of the Church Life After Mormonism series.