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?
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’.
How about online giving? We are going to implement that soon. So, I am curious what people might think of that.
Both the churches I have worked for use that too.
In our church plant we started off having boxes in the back and not passing anything. Our desire was to not have money be an in-your-face-issue. But we changed to taking an offering because we had people who weren’t Christians aware of our need to pay the bills, etc. and they kept telling us we need to take an offering. It was actually only Christians for us who felt differently about how we took up an offering.
We pass the plate, plus I get envelopes mailed to me every month. I personally think people get a little to hung up on the money thing. We are supposed to do it, so if you want to be “faithful” you better start giving. Pastors need to preach on tithing and not just the minute before the bags are passed and not during a building campaign, but when it’s just a lesson to learn not a need to fill.
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.
It comes directly out of my paycheck. Ah… the benefits of working for the church. :) There are no worries about making sure it’s my first fruits. Plus I don’t have to worry about forgetting or just plain being selfish.
We celebrate! Music is playing and everyone comes to the front, both kids and adults alike.
I like it being a private thing. I don’t mind going up front or passing the plate, though for me, it’s always been a plate thing. I’d like for as few people to see it as possible, therefore, electronic giving has a lot of merit.
Is is possible that people don’t like control exercised over anything in their lives and we limit our estimation in the church to the giving topic? Many hate authority, being told what to do, how to live…until they learn God’s ways are best.
Kids don’t want to be “told” to eat their veggies, and we don’t want to be “told” we need to work out or lose weight.
When will we learn that God has the best plan and just be done with it? [ahem...speaking to self]
Doesn’t change the need for the message, right?
You got a haircut! Looks great.
It’s amazing how many people are! I know a girl who hasn’t gotten her corrected because she would have to have the top palette of her mouth broken, her jaw wired shut, and then braces. Ryan’s comes out in his body, he keeps a shoulder down when he walks to compensate, he says pain radiates from his jaw into his shoulders and neck, and it even comes out as sinus problems (so says the expert). Just amazing to me how many people deal with this and how many ways it affects them.
E-giving. No muss. No fuss. No pomp and circumstance. No embarassment to visitors. No Pharisees.
There should be boxes present for those who don’t do on line to drop envelopes in.
It is so bizzar to me how many people don’t give at all. We read a thing not too long ago that like only 8% or something like that of regular church goers actually give. WHAT? No wonder we are in such crisis. I personally enjoy it when there is a place to pray and then give…like a little cubby where you can worship and place your gift without much hoopla. But whatever. Online, box, plate…whatever. God is faithful to us; we need to be faithful to HIM. Amen and goodnight.
We pass the plate most of the time. We do have online giving which is good for people who travel a lot; however, I have 5 kids and I want them to see that we put money in the offering plate each week. They’d never see us give if we did the online thing.
When people say “all churches talk about is money” I respond by saying “That’s funny, every time I go to the grocery store, gas station, doctor, dentist, etc., they always ask me for money too.”
it’s a tuesday night! i have work the next morning! (plus i am BROKE.) :/
PINGBACK [...] [...] Official Seal Generator (via 43 Folders) – See above, too much fun. Apricot and Roast Pistachio Jam – There are so many excellent food blogs out there! Art and Activism Exhibition in Sweden – Vaticano.org looks fun and amusing, but the feral trade project caught my eye – trading coffee across social networks. “Street Legal” Jet-Powered VW Beetle – “Hmmm, the car has two engines making the car a hybrid so maybe we can drive in the commuter lanes along with the Toyota Priuses.” India, 1947. Iraq, 2006 – refences this WSJ piece by Peggy Noonan The Suburban Christian – I’ve had this book on my to-read list for too long now China’s Massive Foreign Currency Reserves (via Simon World) – A lesson in trade and economics! I Aint Saying She’s A Gold Digga – Honest discussion of church giving practices Zvex Box of Rock demo video – Cool guy and cool guitar effects – check out the other videos especially the ringtone, wah probe and the subharmonic demo for the iMPAMP Escape From Woomera – owners of the game Half-Life can play the role of refugee held in an Australian detention centre II-V or Not II-V? That Is the Question – ideas for writing melody-driven harmony [...] [...]