Church Funding
30th May 2005
I visited Calvary Chapel this Sunday and wanted to make a quick comment on something I found interesting.
They did not pass around a plate and ask for donations and/or a tithe during the service. They had a box or something where you could drop your money in before or after the service or during the week or whatever. I thought the service flowed much better and it is the first church I have been to that had such an approach on giving.
Now this is a bit of a rant, but, I never really did like it when a church would give a big spill about tithing and then pass around an offering plate.
I have always taken the stance that God is our provider and He is the provider of the church as well. Does the church really need to remind people to give money every single Sunday? Won’t God provide for the church just as He provides for his children?
By no means do I advocate skipping over any doctrine on giving. However, I do question some of the doctrine being taught today on tithing…as I question some of the manner in which giving is taught.
At any rate, feel free to comment with your thoughts on the subject.
February 18th, 2006 at 21:39
I just came accross your blog and have been happily commenting on things that seem to get my attention. I have been involved with churches that pass the plate and churches with a box in the back of the sanctuary where givers can make thier contributions. Initially, I liked the idea of the box in the back but it bothered me over the course of time. I think the box was giving me a bad message, that money didn’t belong in the worship service, and perhaps this part of the church life was evil or unspiritual. It didn’t feel good to stick my contribution in box. It actually felt like I was doing a bad think and I didn’t want people to see me doing it. I think that gving is part of the celebration of worship and people should be allowed and encouraged to to give joyfully as part of the service and bringing honor to God.
As an aside, I have noticed that wildly successful churches pass bigger and deeper plates than those churches that struggle. I don’t know that there is cause and effect here, but, as the treasurer or our church, I always encourage the pastor to get bigger plates.
February 19th, 2006 at 13:38
heh, I like your comments Greg
I think about this subject now and then and I have to say that I don’t have a huge problem with passing the offering plate…on the other side of the coin…I don’t have a problem with the box in the back either.
I do have a problem with churches that give a big spill on “tithing” every time they pass around the offering plate. The tithing is taught today (at some organizations) is questionable to say the least.
A short comment about giving or quoting some New Testament verses on giving should suffice. I don’t think I could stay at a church too long that tried to pound “tithing” into the congregation.
On the plate comment…I wonder if it has anything to do with people not being able to see the money on the plate…
AMDG