Dear Friends,
I have often wondered whether how you give in church makes a difference
in what you give. Is giving impacted by whether you drop your gift in an
offering box as you enter or leave the church, or place it in the offering
plate as it is passed during the service?
As a Presbyterian pastor for over 30 years, I was always
accustomed to introducing the offering from the pulpit, usually with a quote or
a brief story on some aspect of stewardship. The ushers would then come
forward, receive the plates, and pass them among the people as the choir sang
what was called the Offertory. When the offering was completed, the ushers
would march to the front of the church as the congregation sang the doxology,
“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.” Then a prayer was offered for the collected
gifts, and the service would resume.
This is the more formal style of the offering celebrated in most
denominational churches today. But then I discovered a new way of
receiving the offering, a lot more informal than I was used to, and I confess
while I liked it better, I wasn’t sure why. Maybe being less formal and less traditional,
(one who in the early 90’s riled up some of his members by going robe
less when leading worship), I liked the informality of dropping my gift in
a receptacle.
But I confess there was always a part of me that missed the
opportunity to participate in the more formal offering presentation where I
would offer a brief lesson on stewardship before distributing the plates.
When I left the Presbyterian denomination and headed to Calvary
Chapel churches, both in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. and Old Bridge, N.J. the
offering was simply dropped in wooden receptacles that were scattered
throughout the church.
As a bottom-line thinker my thoughts turned to the question: Does
how worshippers give have any bearing on how much is given?
I wondered if there was any statistical information on how the
manner of our giving impacts the total amount given, results, and so I e-mailed
Bob Whitesel who is my church consultation mentor with the question.
He indicated that because there are so many variables to the
offering, not a lot of statistical information exists. Such variables as how
much does the pastor emphasizes giving, if others are giving to the plate, and
the church’s theology of giving, make it hard to analyze the impact. Dr.
Whitesel concluded with these words. “My hunch is that there is a reduction of
maybe 15-20% through giving in a receptacle versus giving in a plate. This is
because there’s some research that shows there is a guilt factor when the plate
is passed before a person.”
So, if you are a bottom-line person you might prefer the formal
offering. However, if you are the visitor who comes to church, and having
the tired old refrain of “all the church cares about is my money,” you might be
attracted to the low-key method of receiving the offering.
When all is said and done, the bottom line in collecting the
offering is not how you give, but that you give. If your heart is right it
matters not whether you drop your money into a box or a plate.
When Paul was preparing the Corinthian church to receive an offering,
he reminded the church that, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give
what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For
God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
So, whether you sow into a plate or into a box, be sure and first
check your heart. Why, because only your heart knows whether your giving makes
God smile or frown, and that is the most important factor in counting up the
money.
Yours in faith and friendship,
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