This is a common complaint about churches.
In fact, I just heard this criticism the other day.
Is it true?
No.
Well, at least not in most of the churches I’ve attended.
Giving and tithing is biblical, and it’s a subject that is brought up at least once during each Sunday service, usually in prayer just before the offering. And money is important to churches. So, yes, in terms of frequency (every Sunday), it gets a lot of attention.
In fact, in many Protestant churches tithing and giving gets more “pulpit time” than the Lord’s Supper.
For some people, I guess, the phrase “It’s time for the offering” can be as offensive as “You’re going to hell.” Giving is deeply personal and, for some, can evoke a feeling of judgment — the thought that the less one gives, the less valuable he or she is.
No matter how biblical something is, there are subjects that need to be addressed with delicacy. This is one of them.
I believe you can lose visitors based on this part of the service. All visitors know it’s coming, and they’re all waiting to see how tithing is addressed and presented. So, the way you present the tithe can be an important church marketing tool.
Here are some suggestions:
Find people in the church who are great at introducing the tithing portion of the service. These people should know how to educate the congregation and pray for the giving. Rotate those people. I remember listening to a deacon who once prayed for the tithe for 15 minutes and turned the prayer into a sermon against gay marriage!
Demonstrate tremendous stewardship. Be transparent and willing to show exactly where the money is going. If people see that more money is going to effective ministries than interior designer for the lobby, then they might not bristle as much.
Show how the money is being used. During the service, give specific examples of how people were fed, how people were housed, how you’re able to keep the lights on and the doors open so people have a place to pray after work. Show photos. Share testimonies. People want to know that their giving is actually impacting God’s kingdom.
Educate the congregation. Pastors are usually pretty good at this, and it seems to be an annual sermon for most. But maybe you need some sort of document that you can show people that outlines, scripturally, why tithing is a command and how you collect and distribute the money.
If you’re the pastor know that people are watching you. Is it wrong for you to drive a Cadillac and live in the richest neighborhood in town? No. But know that people are watching and judging. There will be people who say, “I’m not giving that church my money just so he can drive a Cadillac.” And those are the same people that say those things out loud.
Does your church do a good job of educating the congregation on tithing and giving? If so, please share so others can learn.