I have to be honest… when we began Crossing Community about 6 years ago I hated the idea of ‘passing the plate.’ I thought it communicated that we were too focused on taking people’s money and that we might offend a newcomer to the church. As happens often times, you begin doing something one way and then you continue because that is way it has been done. You become comfortable. For any idea to be above constant evaluation in the faith is dangerous. With the exception of the Bible being the foundation of everything, we must constantly evaluate our purposes, strategies, and vision. Some things will never change. However, if we are truly growing in our understanding of the scriptures and our relationship with Jesus then other things MUST change.
Worship is a response to God for who he is, and what he has done and continues to do in our lives. We respond in worship through every aspect of our lives. That includes all of our resources from time and spiritual gifts all the way to our MONEY (gasp!). Those who are shepherds at the church (elders) are the ones who should be teaching us how to think about worship. They should be teaching us how to participate in worship. They should also be modeling worship for us. With the Sunday gathering being a culmination of our worship, it must include all of these elements.
Are you worshipping with this?
Through continued study of scripture and constant prayer, our elders were convicted by the way we approached giving. We preach the entire bible in a way that is unashamed and unapologetic because it is the truth. We don’t alter anything in our approach to ministry in order to make it more palatable for those who do not have a relationship with Jesus. We understand from scripture that our calling is to proclaim the truth through engaging, equipping, and empowering homes for gospel transformation and then depend on God to change hearts.
The way we approached giving, honestly, was not consistent with all of our other biblical convictions. So, we made the change. We began creating a time in our Sunday morning gathering to ‘pass the plate’ (baskets, actually). Yes, it felt really awkward when we began and it still does a little bit. However, worship includes the giving of our finances. Adding that time in our worship gathering has allowed us to shepherd our people in a biblical way. We are now able to talk about worshipful giving each week and model that act of worship for everyone who is present.
Last, it also provides those of us who are parents the opportunity to demonstrate this act of worship to our children. This is a very tangible act of discipleship for our church leaders and for our parents as those little minds and hearts are learning what it means to worship in a biblical way.
Over our 15 years of marriage, learning to tithe to God’s church was one of the most faith-building obstacles for us. It demands true faith in our homes because it is a practical way we communicate that our Savior is more important than our own desires. It also communicates faith in God’s perfect and sanctifying provision in our lives.
We wrestled through this as a young married couple and have seen God bless that faithfulness in ways that are quantifiable, as well as in ways that are deeply sanctifying. We have countless stories of God’s miraculous provision through those moments of faithful obedience.
Has this been a struggle for you and your home? Would you be so bold as to share how God has worked on your heart (or your children’s hearts) in this area of worship?
Matt Powell serves as teaching pastor at Crossings Community Church, a body of believers whose mission is to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation in Katy, TX.
It certainly helps when you saw your parents model sacrificial giving. I was fortunate to see that and also saw God’s provision during that time. When you come to the realization that you don’t possess anything beyond what God gives, obedience is much easier. This definitely runs counter to the culture, though. So, it requires me to preach truth to myself over and over again.
This is a good encouragement to us as parents… we can disciple our children in this area and give them a foundation for understanding giving as worship. Awesome.
I love that it has become part of our worship service, it helps to remind me that it is not an act of duty, but worship that we are privileged to joyfully participate in.
Me too! Also, not only for me but for our children as well…
By the way, do I limit my worship by recurring giving online?
Good question… I’ve wrestled with this within our own home.
It depends on a lot of different things. If someone is just beginning to tithe to the church and they do it through online giving it doesn’t take away from the act of worship.
However, if giving is done without a second thought then yes it can become a habitual task that isn’t worshipful.
I see Jesus calling us to sacrificial giving in the gospels. My study of this issue has led me to believe that the tithe (10%) is a starting place. For some giving 10% is not sacrificial and in those cases they have to discern what is sacrificial for their home.
If we are truly engaged in sacrificial giving then I believe it is worshipful regardless of how/when the resources are given. If it is sacrificial then it will be on our minds throughout the month or pay period. It will change the way we make choices… how much we eat out at restaurants or if we have cable or what cable package we have, etc…
Lori and I tithe online every two weeks. Anytime my pay changes we adjust the amount accordingly. It is worshipful for us because throughout the pay period we are very aware of where our money goes and how much is available… also aware of God’s various miracles of provision. So, it is a worshipful for us not just at the moment of giving but throughout our days.
As Daniel mentioned above… including giving in our worship gatherings has helped that idea remain on our minds. Also, it has allowed us to talk about giving with our children as they see/hear about worshipful giving on a Sunday mornings. They too are learning that it is an act of worship.
Last, we have gone so far as discussing if we (the Powells) should switch from giving online to giving on Sundays. I think this is a good conversation for families to revisit from time to time and will have different outcomes in different homes.
This is a good post Matt!
I have noticed that before I gave online, my giving was pretty scattered. I would typically forget to write a check and not give as much as I wanted to. Or I would be away for a couple weeks and, once again, not give like I needed to. Giving online allows me the consistency of regular giving.
Although I must say that I think I need to spend the time of “passing the plate” with more worshipful thoughts. Just because I am not physically putting money in the basket, I am giving, and I probably should set my mind toward that more.
Serge, thanks so much for the comment and the encouragement.
I know what you mean… although giving is worship it is also a spiritual discipline and just like every other discipline in our lives we need to put some structure in place to keep us disciplined.
Good word!
Instead of the dreaded offering plate, Crossings Community has the joyful basket…..just sayin’!
I love that… we need to incorporate that into our language on Sundays!