Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: johnw@stew.ssl.berkeley.edu (John Warren) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: "Money: it's a gas. Grab that cash with both hands . . ." Message-ID: Date: 4 Apr 91 06:19:10 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Space Science Labs Lines: 45 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article kilroy@gboro.glassboro.edu (Dr Nancy's Sweetie) writes: >At the front of the sanctuary, there are two tables on either side of the >pulpit; when it is time to collect the offering, they set up a big (at >least 10 gallons) basket on each table. Two people stand behind the >baskets. Everybody walks to the outside aisle by their pew, goes to the >front, walks by this basket, tosses in their money (with the person behind >the basket, and the entire congregation, watching closely), and returns to >their seat down the center aisle. > >There are no envelopes on the pew racks, which means that there is no >discreet way to put something in the basket: not only does your left hand >know what your right hand is doing, _everybody's_ left hand knows what your >right hand is doing. (At least, the Official Money Watcher does.) > The lack of envelopes sounds a bit fishy to me. Jesus said let your giving be in secret (Matt. 6). However, in Jesus's day, they had a public collection basket, or something, and Jesus actually watched people put money in it. (Sorry, don't have the reference.) He said that the woman who put her two pennies in it gave more than the pharisees who gave a lot more (numerically). I guess it's safe to say that Jesus (i.e., God) has the right to watch. But members of the congregation? I don't know. But I do know this: giving is not just a necessary evil. It is a sacrament, as powerful as the Eucharist. Indeed, in I Cor. 8 or 9, Paul calls it a eucharist (or was that II Cor?). It is not only our responsibility to give; it is our privilege. Why not make it more central to the worship service than it is? (I'm not a minister, so I have nothing to profit, in the earthly sense, by advocating this.) Does this mean that ministers, who should encourage people to give joyfully, won't abuse the money you give? No, but the giving action is between you and God; he knows your attitude. >kilroy@gboro.glassboro.edu Darren F. Provine ...njin!gboro!kilroy > >[When I was calling on members of our church, one indicated that in a >former church (not Presbyterian), the amount of money given by each >member was published. --clh] This practice is also repulsive, and against what Jesus said in Matthew 6. John Warren "... Into the narrow lanes I can't stumble or stay put." -- Robert Zimmerman