February 06, 2015
What You Need
The topic of discussion on a
Christian web site was about those who withhold financial gifts from the
church. The writer, a preacher, listed nine concerns about the practice. One point said, “The practice is divisive. One of the most
precious resources of any congregation is unity. The withholding
of financial gifts is an act of disunity and divisiveness.” Aside from the fact
that a gift is not a gift until it is given, I don’t see how not giving gifts could be divisive — unless
of course you were trying to talk others into following your lead. Certainly
pastors do worry about tithes and offerings being diverted to areas other than
the general fund. However, it seems to me that Jesus’ teachings on worrying
about life, food and clothing could be applied to the church finances, as
easily as it is applied to the individual. “Look at the birds of the air; they
do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds
them” (Matt 6:26 NIV).
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----I remember a preacher who once said any particular need of a congregant should not matter to the church, “You don’t come to church to have your needs met.” This is like a muscle cell being a part of the body not to receive any oxygen or nutrients or immune system protection from the body, but only to labor in giving motion to the body. I don’t know how that would work; maybe it came to the body’s muscle with its own lunch packed.
-----There is a definite unity in the church. Every member of the body has needs, and the body is there to be needed assistance. Church leaders can’t schedule and appropriate what that assistance is and proscribe what it is not. It’s not their business. In fact, much more need meeting goes on between congregants without the leaders ever knowing it as congregants communicate, fellowship, and help one another financially, emotionally, and conceptually throughout the rest of the week.
-----No wonder people cop such bad attitudes towards the church. The very most spiritual men (as Paul defines they should be) given the duties of leadership are not even spiritually minded enough to recognize that the church exists 24-7, not just a couple hours Sunday mornings? Doesn’t it seem a bit arrogant to think the only gifts to God are those that clank in MY offering plates at MY church?
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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