One of the most frequent complaints I hear about some churches is how they’re always asking for money. Teaching about money and what the Bible says is important, and there is definitely room for some churches to do more of that. But you also have your extremeists who are all about money and how they need more…and more.
I’ve been part of three different churches who collect offerings in three different ways. One, we would take our offerings to the front during the service. Another, boxes were located by all the exits so you could drop it off whenever, but mainly as you entered or exited. And lastly, the traditional passing the plate.
There were benefits of each one. The first church was a small church and they were full of faithful givers. For the size of the church and the demographic, how far their money went didn’t make logical sense. The second church, it was easy to see that they cared about not being all about money. The third (and my current church), honestly, at first it was weird for me to get back into passing a plate, but the more and more it happens, the more and more I see it as an expression of worship and setting an example of how we do worship through our finances.
So, what is it for you? Do you pass a plate? Drop it off? Bring it up to the front?
Comments
16 responses to “I Ain’t Sayin’ She’s a Gold Digga”
i also see it as an expression of worship. the tricky part is often in the set-up. striking a balance between teaching stewardship for Christ followers – but not creating an atmosphere of guilt or obligation as you do that — especially for the skeptical who are just waiting for you to ask ’em to take out their checkbook.
we do pass the plate and i would say we attempt to teach the biblical ideal w/out piling on too much ‘agenda’.
Our church does the boxes by the exits.
Personally, my family tithes through our online banking. That’s how I get paid and that’s how we give back to God whether it’s tithing to our church or giving to missionaries. The conversation, the praying, the giving all happen as a family in private and then we send it electronically.