Why do churches collect money? I think in some ways we've tried to spiritualize it. God doesn't need our money. We do. That said, something that we do with our money is use it for the communal good. Like paying for all the stuff the church does. Before I go too far, let me just say that I'm not advocating for not giving to the church. I give, cheerfully, even. The way that we do "church" nowadays very much depends on it having a bunch of money to spend. Big buildings to sustain, paid staff and "ministries" to support. In some ways, I wonder how things came to be the way they are. Did the need for all this church stuff cause the church to develop a reliance on money, or did the fact that people give enable the church to do all this stuff?
I've been a "church staff", and I liked it. There is something to be said for pooling our money so some of us can devote our time the way pastors should. That's the whole idea behind missionaries. We give to them so they can be freed up to do whatever it is they end up doing wherever it is they end up doing it. But I don't think our churches and ministries need to be as financially strapping as they are.
I kinda think our churches should be smaller. More of the load should be on the lay people. I don't think God intended for the bloat of modern churches, but I'm sure He works with it. I can still do the things I did as a pastor while not actually having an official title. (I admit I wouldn't be as capable if not for that role I had for that time, but perhaps there are other ways for people to gain that experience.) Ministries are easy, but loving people is hard. Perhaps we could use our time and money better by being involved in the community. If I use my money to take an art class in order to make new relationships and hopefully help someone to know God better, is that any less using my money for God's kingdom?
Hope that wasn't too harsh, it wasn't meant to be.
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