Empty Offering Plates
I remember an ATM-like gadget that caught my attention at a conference earlier this year. During my brief discussion with the giving kiosk’s exhibitor, I congratulated her for zeroing in on an opportunity I have often pondered myself. I shared how I have suggested to church leaders that they begin utilizing some method of electronic giving in their church; and how, oftentimes, I encounter resistence to this suggestion.
I suspect the reason church leaders are hesitant to adopt electronic giving methods is somehow wrapped up in their theology of giving - or lack thereof. For some reason or another, church leaders associate so much of the giving experience with an offering plate and a checkbook. Frankly, I have yet to find Scriptures that imply that, “Thou shalt not give online,” or that “The offering plate is the way, the truth…” (I will refrain). I suspect that even some of the most hesitant church leaders secretly enjoy the convenience of having their utility bills automatically debited from their checking accounts each month.
Whether or not church leaders like these sorts of electronic transactions is not the issue. Online giving and other methods of electronic transactions have become the norm; many people complain that the church is the only place where someone expects a paper check. The day is fast approaching when the checkbook will be obsolete, cash-on-hand will be completely unecessary, and the offering plate will thus find itself empty.
Church leaders need to understand that the electronic transaction is just that - a transaction. It is the process by which one individual or institution exchanges funds with another. Christian stewardship is not about transactions. Christian stewardship is an understanding that everything belongs to God and that we have been entrusted with these things for His glory. Generous giving is an outward expression of our faith and an inward discipline of trust and commitment to God. The outward expression and inward discipline of generous giving does not rely upon pen strokes in a checkbook any more or less than it does clicks on a keyboard.
It’s been at least 4 years since my giving was automated, with X amount withdrawn from my checking account automatically, twice a month. Works great, and it’s giving, no less than putting cash/check in the offering plate. Your investments advisors will say, “pay yourself first,” and recommend automatic withdrawals toward 401Ks or IRAs; but for the believer, God comes first-first.
God wants us to give without fanfare (kind of implied in Mark 12:41-42, the widow’s offering), and wants us to make giving a priority (the automatic withdrawal process never forgets its checkbook at home!). So in some ways, auto withdrawals are preferable.
It will always be a little weird passing the plate without putting anything in it. But the plate brings to mind the the process I have set up with the church, and in my heart I give it to the King. For me, it’s an act of worship; but we do lose the corporate act of everyone contributing.
It will be some time, though, before everyone can do automatic withdrawals. Lest the affluent part of the church forget, some of our brothers and sisters do not even have checking accounts. Then there are visitors who may be led to give at that one service – the plate gives them a chance to do so.
I think the plate is with us for the long term, even as it is less and less used, but churches should definitely be facilitating automatic withdrawals for membership giving.
Perfectly said. I agree and, I wish there was a method of giving at our church that didn’t involve me using checks. Actually, the only time I use my checks is for church offering.
Use the bill pay service at your credit union or financial institution, and you don’t need to write checks or worry about it. My church still gets the paper check (althought they could switch to electronic if they wanted for no cost), and I don’t have to worry about it.
Most financial institution’s bill pay service can send a check to any address, so there are no issues, because the receiver is getting a check.
It is great.
” Generous giving is an outward expression of our faith and an inward discipline of trust and commitment to God. ” exactly it is an outward expression meaning something you do in fellowship with your brothers and sisters. And the comment about church leaders secretly enjoy bill pay, come on brother an offering is not paying a bill but rather a way of worship to our Lord and Savior.
I have seen allot of dialogue about this lately. I don’t think you can make a reasonable comment that “I have yet to find Scriptures that imply that, “Thou shalt not give online,””.
Really were there ATMs, electronic/online banks, or the internet back then.
The over all point I am trying to make and I hope this comes across right. Is that tithing is an act of worship that was meant to be shared in fellowship. Its is important for a younger brother or sister to see a mature christian faithfully tithing. Talk about the norm what happens if the norm becomes nobody giving back to God. Were would we fellowship then? I think there can be a combiniation of both. I feel God meant for it to be done this way, until he comes back for us. Yes times are changing but do we need to change evrything he has set up for us, just for mere convinence.
Sorry I was so late responding to this I just now saw it.
God Bless, just throwing my thoghts out there.
Shawn