1.1 Introduction
Church Growth is a movement within evangelical Christianity which focuses on developing methods to grow churches based on business marketing strategies (Hunter, 2005; David et al., 2003). Church expansion and the influence of Christians’ philanthropic mindsets are interconnected and nuanced. It entails investigating how Christians’ worldviews, the function of tithing in local congregations, and the expansion of religious institutions are affected. The variety of Christian perspectives on philanthropy is a significant obstacle to research. When it comes to giving financially to the church, the beliefs and practises of various Christian denominations and individual Christians might differ widely. It’s possible that some Christians consider tithing an essential part of their religion, considering it as a means by which they may show their appreciation to God and further the church’s mission.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Church growth begins with church health and not the other way around. Pastoral Counselling implies church leader gives direction, motivates, reprimands and develops a set objective along with his group and resolves individual or group needs within the church. This is perceived as the only way towards the church growth and survival. In the New Testament it was more often used as Christological title for the exalted Jesus. The results of semasiological and lexicographical investigation of secular Greek indicate an extremely polyvalent spectrum of meaning for the word “church leader”, the basis being he who is the first, who stands at the head of, who leads. What distinguishes pastoral counseling from other forms of counseling and psychotherapy is the role and accountability of the counselor and his or her understanding and expression of the pastoral relationship (Hunter, 2005; David et al., 2003).
Church growth has been defined as the movement within evangelical Christianity which aims to grow churches based on research, sociology, analysis etc. The church growth movement started with a passion for the Great commission, and seeing people come to Christ. Similarly, according to McGavran stated, It is God’s will that women and men become disciples of Jesus Christ and responsible members of Christ’s church.
Therefore, when church members faithfully pay their tithe and offering as commanded in the scriptures, there will be money to cater for the minister of the gospel and the church will be able to organise crusade, seminar, outreach and other programmes that will lead to church growth. In some churches today, people are pressured and manipulated to give whereas giving in the church should be given without sadness or compulsion because God loves a cheerful giver (Proverb 22:8-9).
However, the negative attitude of Christian towards giving is having negative effect on church growth as money is needed to propagate the gospel which will eventually lead to church growth. According to Albert Aina, dwindling church finance has put a brake on the drive of pastors and congregation for church growth and expansion, the purse drive the pulse for church growth. Currently, less than three percent of Christians are paying their tithes. Salary cuts and job losses have worsened the financial fortune of most churches.
The early church in Acts of Apostles gave all they have and it was shared among the believers and no one lack among them. (Acts 4:34-37). The Philippians church gave out of their poverty to support the ministry of Paul and he prayed for them that God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19 NKJV).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Christian Attitude to Giving towards Church Growth.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that ministry without money will face a lot of challenge and this can equally affect the church growth because there will not be money to finance outreach and other programmes that will bring about the growth of the church both numerically and spiritually, that is why Bible says A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers everything (Ecclesiastes 10:19 NKJV).
The effect and impact of the church will be limited and minimal without financial sufficiency hence, the wheel of gospel moves slowly without money. Since most of church income is generated from members tithe and offering, that is why the effect of Christian giving will have impact on church growth.
There has been a lot of false teaching about giving going on the social media and traditional media where people have been discouraged from paying their tithe and offering in their church. On the other hand, the case of pastors and other church leaders who have been embezzling church funds is not helping matter either as some Christians are no more faithful in their giving towards the work of God and these are also having negative effect on church growth.
In the same vein, the issue of economic recession is another reason some church members are not giving bountifully towards the work of God. Many people have lost their job while some workers salary are no more regular while other have their salaries reduced to halve hence, the attitude of such categories of Christian towards giving may not be positive and that may eventually affect church growth.
In the light of these enumerated problems, the burden of this research work is to state the right attitude of Christians towards giving and to proffer solutions to the challenge of wrong attitude of Christian towards giving.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Effect of Christian Attitude to Giving towards Church Growth. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To encourage church leaders and members to have a right attitude towards giving in church;
- To examine the effect of Christian attitude on giving towards church growth;
- To state the right attitude of Christians towards giving;
- To establish the relationship between giving and church growth;
- To analyze the biblical concept of giving; and
- To proffer solutions to the challenge of wrong attitude of Christian towards giving.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is there any relationship between giving and church growth?
- What is the effect of Christian attitude on giving towards church growth?
- What is the right attitude of Christians towards giving?
- What is the biblical concept of giving?
- What are the impact of encouraging church leaders and members to have a right attitude towards giving in church?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between giving and church growth
- H1: There is a significant relationship between giving and church growth
1.7 Significance of Study
The research work is expected to be valuable to many categories of people and organization which include the Ministers of God, missionaries, church leaders, Christian families, church planters and generality of Nigerian Christians. This study will be of immense benefit to seminarians and other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Effect of Christian Attitude to Giving towards Church Growth in Nigeria.
