{"id":{"repo_id":"zulu","oai_identifier":"oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/429"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/zulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/429","repository":{"repo_id":"zulu","name":"University of Zululand","base_url":"https://uzspace.unizulu.ac.za/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Tithes and offerings in the South African context: the bible and reality","abstract":"No in-depth study has ever been undertaken with respect to the practice adopted by urban, middle-class, South African Christians in response to the Biblical approach to giving to God's work. This study surveys and interrogates traditionally held views about the Biblical approach to tithes, offerings and giving to God's work, and then compares them to the findings of extensive research I conducted amongst South African Christians from a variety of denominations, backgrounds and settings. It examines the relevant Old Testament and New Testament references, and compares them to the current practice of the target group. The study reveals that much of what is being taught and practised in South African churches with regards to giving to God, is based on the prescriptive patterns of the Old Testament Law, particularly those pertaining to the tithe. As a result, Christians in these churches are being denied both the correct interpretation of the Biblical approach and the joy it brings. Were Christians to be taught the principles of grace giving, they would be freed from the legalism which is so clearly evident in many churches and their resulting giving, rather than being less than the tithe, as some church leaders fear, would actually increase. Pertinent recommendations are made to the churches in this regard.","abstract_html":"No in-depth study has ever been undertaken with respect to the practice adopted by urban, middle-class, South African Christians in response to the Biblical approach to giving to God's work. This study surveys and interrogates traditionally held views about the Biblical approach to tithes, offerings and giving to God's work, and then compares them to the findings of extensive research I conducted amongst South African Christians from a variety of denominations, backgrounds and settings. It examines the relevant Old Testament and New Testament references, and compares them to the current practice of the target group. The study reveals that much of what is being taught and practised in South African churches with regards to giving to God, is based on the prescriptive patterns of the Old Testament Law, particularly those pertaining to the tithe. As a result, Christians in these churches are being denied both the correct interpretation of the Biblical approach and the joy it brings. Were Christians to be taught the principles of grace giving, they would be freed from the legalism which is so clearly evident in many churches and their resulting giving, rather than being less than the tithe, as some church leaders fear, would actually increase. Pertinent recommendations are made to the churches in this regard.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["van Rensburg, David Reuben"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Song, A."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2002,"date_issued":"2002","date_published":"2002","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:17:06Z","subjects":["Tithes","Offerings","Bible and reality"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/cbf1f81b-85c6-41ef-8567-f04f3e088a05/download"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Song, A."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["van Rensburg, David Reuben"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2002"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10530/429"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Tithes","Offerings","Bible and reality"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/cbf1f81b-85c6-41ef-8567-f04f3e088a05/download"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/12c9e5fc-6607-4f66-ac5b-c2ab3b15fa6c/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["No in-depth study has ever been undertaken with respect to the practice adopted by urban, middle-class, South African Christians in response to the Biblical approach to giving to God's work. This study surveys and interrogates traditionally held views about the Biblical approach to tithes, offerings and giving to God's work, and then compares them to the findings of extensive research I conducted amongst South African Christians from a variety of denominations, backgrounds and settings. It examines the relevant Old Testament and New Testament references, and compares them to the current practice of the target group. The study reveals that much of what is being taught and practised in South African churches with regards to giving to God, is based on the prescriptive patterns of the Old Testament Law, particularly those pertaining to the tithe. As a result, Christians in these churches are being denied both the correct interpretation of the Biblical approach and the joy it brings. Were Christians to be taught the principles of grace giving, they would be freed from the legalism which is so clearly evident in many churches and their resulting giving, rather than being less than the tithe, as some church leaders fear, would actually increase. Pertinent recommendations are made to the churches in this regard."]},{"key":"dc:format.checksum.md5","label":"Dc Format Checksum Md5","values":["9483176b61d8fc0d6f45d059536148c9","a0060b0e94984e6fdb0e53c6aa8b14c8","30157d616d940a44df88f3d49967ce0b"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Tithes and offerings in the South African context: the bible and reality"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Song, A."],"dc:creator":["van Rensburg, David Reuben"],"dc:date.issued":["2002"],"dc:description.abstract":["No in-depth study has ever been undertaken with respect to the practice adopted by urban, middle-class, South African Christians in response to the Biblical approach to giving to God's work. 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Were Christians to be taught the principles of grace giving, they would be freed from the legalism which is so clearly evident in many churches and their resulting giving, rather than being less than the tithe, as some church leaders fear, would actually increase. Pertinent recommendations are made to the churches in this regard."],"dc:format.checksum.md5":["9483176b61d8fc0d6f45d059536148c9","a0060b0e94984e6fdb0e53c6aa8b14c8","30157d616d940a44df88f3d49967ce0b"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/12c9e5fc-6607-4f66-ac5b-c2ab3b15fa6c/download"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["http://hdl.handle.net/10530/429"],"dc:rights":["https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/cbf1f81b-85c6-41ef-8567-f04f3e088a05/download"],"dc:subject":["Tithes","Offerings","Bible and reality"],"dc:title":["Tithes and offerings in the South African context: the bible and reality"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:17:06Z"}