Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout, online, or search ‘The Stewardology Podcast’ in your favorite podcast app.

Does My Tithe Have to Go to My Church?

A growing number of Christians are asking an important question: does my tithe have to go to my local church?

Recent research from Lifeway Research shows that most believers are open to broader giving than just their home church:

  • 55% say tithes can go to a Christian ministry
  • 42% say tithes can go to an individual in need
  • 34% say tithes can go to another church they don’t regularly attend
  • 25% say tithes can go to a secular charity

Each of these categories has increased since 2017, suggesting a growing openness among Christians to more flexible giving.

Still, while about 90% of churchgoers believe tithes can go to their local church, fewer are convinced they must.

So what does biblical stewardship actually say?

 

Why Tithing Should Go to the Local Church

At the center of this discussion is a foundational question: What is the purpose of the tithe today?

 

Giving Principle #1: Giving Goes First to the Local Church

The primary place for your regular, covenantal giving is your local church.

Why? Because the local church is God’s chosen instrument for:

  • Preaching and teaching the Word
  • Shepherding and spiritual care
  • Accountability and discipleship
  • Gospel presence in your community

Your pastors carry real responsibility before God for your spiritual well-being. They are the ones who counsel, disciple, and often walk with families through crisis at all hours of the night.

Supporting the local church is not merely institutional funding, it is participation in the ongoing ministry of the gospel in your life and community.

While Christians should absolutely be generous toward other ministries, those gifts should not replace or dilute what is given to the local church.

 

Giving Principle #2: Giving Goes to the General Fund

Whenever possible, your regular tithe should go to your church’s general fund.

The general fund supports the core functions of ministry. Everything from staff support to discipleship to outreach and care for the congregation.

Designated giving (missions, building funds, special projects) can be a meaningful way to give above and beyond, but it functions best as offerings, not as a replacement for the tithe.

In other words:

  • Tithe → supports the whole mission of the church
  • Offerings → support specific initiatives and generosity beyond that

 

Giving Principle #3: Giving Should Be Regular

Biblical generosity is meant to be proactive and consistent, not reactive.

Whether you are paid weekly or monthly, your giving should follow a regular rhythm that reflects stewardship, not impulse.

Practical wisdom includes:

  • Giving as soon as you are paid
  • Aligning giving with your income cycle
  • Automating contributions when possible
  • Reviewing your giving annually as income changes

Consistency builds faithfulness. Irregular giving often leads to delayed or diminished generosity.

 

How Much Are Churchgoers Actually Giving?

Research from Lifeway Research highlights a gap between belief and practice:

While many Christians affirm the importance of tithing, fewer consistently practice it. A significant portion of churchgoers give below 10%, and only a portion exceed it.

The takeaway is not about guilt…it’s about awareness. Many believers want to be generous, but struggle with consistency, planning, and prioritization.

 

What If I Want to Give Elsewhere?

Christians are called to be generous beyond themselves. That includes ministries, individuals in need, and organizations that serve others.

But generosity in Scripture is ordered.

A helpful framework is to think in terms of financial priorities:

  1. Give (Local Church-foundational stewardship)
  2. Save (protect your household from future debt or crisis)
  3. Pay obligations (honor creditors and commitments)
  4. Offerings (additional generosity outside the church)
  5. Live (wisely enjoy what remains)

In this structure, generosity to other ministries is encouraged, but it is best understood as overflow of generosity, not replacement of the tithe.

We should absolutely care for other churches, ministries, and people in need. But that generosity should flow in a way that does not undermine the priority God has placed on the local church.

 

Closing Thought

So does your tithe have to go to your church?

In a biblical and practical sense, the clearest pattern is yes. Your regular tithe is meant to support your local church through its general fund.

That doesn’t limit generosity. It puts it in order.

We want you to be generous to other people and organizations outside of your local church, but only if it makes sense and the other priorities are met.

 

 

Next Steps

 

Material presented is property of The Stewardology Podcast, a ministry of Life Financial Group and Life Institute. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, create derivative works, or exploit any content without the expressed written permission of The Stewardology Podcast. For more information, contact us at Contact@StewardologyPodcast.com or (800) 688-5800.

The topics discussed in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations.  Investing and investment strategies involve risk including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Securities and advisory services offered through GWM, Inc Member FINRA/SIPC