Where does it say in the New Testament that offerings should go to the local church?
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Where does it say in the New Testament that offerings should go to the local church?

Q: Just read the Tithe page you have on your web site. It didn't address a question I have. Where does it say in the New Testament that offerings should go to the local church? Also what does this then tell people who are called to attend military chapels? There are no expenses for military chapels so literally all my offering is simply passed on to missions and other good causes.

Inquiring minds want to know.  :>)

A: In the Old Testament, in Malachi 3:10, God says that He wants the tithe brought to the "storehouse" (this is mentioned by Larry Burkett in his article on The Tithe). The closest equivalent to the "storehouse" in our day would be the local church.

Are there any New Testament Scriptures which show where offerings were to go? The key Scriptures in the New Testament that I know of are in Acts 4:34-37 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.

The Acts passage tells us that offerings were brought and "placed at the apostles' feet" and then distributed by the church as a body.

The Corinthians passage tells us about a collection being gathered for the believers in Jerusalem. The Corinthians are told to bring their offerings on each Sunday to their meeting place, so that when Paul arrives he will not have to wait to receive everyone's individual collection.

The New Testament pattern seems consistent with the Old Testament pattern, i.e. offerings were brought to a central location and decisions were then made by the collective church or by church officers concerning how to distribute the funds.

If you are called to attend military chapels, then your offerings aren't used for the upkeep of the chapel or the chaplains. Praise the Lord! All your offerings are being passed on to missions and other good causes! Keep giving!

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