Why we’re changing how we talk about our offerings

Posted by on Aug 24, 2010 | Comments Off

If you’re a Bridger there are two things you may have noticed that changed recently (besides Alan Hood’s toenails).

  1. On the “New Here?” tab of the website we removed a section called “A note about guests and tithing” that discouraged guests and non-members from giving.
  2. During our worship gatherings we’ve stopped giving that same disclaimer before our offerings and started communicating that the offering is a continuation of the worship we’ve already begun through singing.

It’s a really high value to our church leadership that we never try and do something “under the radar” and are forthright with the church body at all times so I wanted to take a post to explain this.  Now before you get all “SEE, HE’S JUST ANOTHER MONEY-HUNGRY PASTOR” on me, let me say a couple things…

  • Though we’re still a fairly small church The Bridge has grown dramatically this year and isn’t remotely close to a financial emergency.
  • I think my track record will show that I’m anything but a money-pastor (Can I get an “amen” from a Finance Team Member… or my wife?)
  • I cut my own hair, don’t have cable, and drive an ’02 Sentra with the paint chipping off. I’m not climbing into a church-funded G5 at the end of the day.
  • These two changes literally had nothing to do with our financial status as a church… because we’re doing well!

We made these changes because we were convicted about portraying generosity for Jesus’ mission as an unfortunate obligation rather than the source of worshipful joy the Bible describes.  Consider this statement from 2 Corinthians 8…

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

These people were in “extreme poverty” and literally BEGGED to give because they saw it as an act of worship and knew it came with blessing.  Listen, this will probably make some people nervous but The Bridge doesn’t need your money.  God has provided for us in silly awesome ways in the past and will do so again.  We wanted to change how we talked about giving because giving is Biblical worship and if you’re not giving you’re missing out both on the deep joy of sacrificial worship and on God’s provision in response.  I know many people will read this post and roll their eyes… I just don’t know how to say it any other way that “Biblically, you’re missing out!”

Bottom line:  we’re not making these changes because we want more of your money.  We’re making these changes because we want to be a church that richly worships and want you to experience the joy of generosity.  We want our communication about giving to be an extension of Scripture’s communication about giving.

Love you, Bridge Family… now I’m off to the Lamborghini dealership ;)

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