As a pastor and a Christian, I often hear people say this kind of thing: "The Church is always asking for money". Have you heard it? Said it? Sometimes it is intended as an excuse by those who actually have some other complaint about the Church they are not willing to talk about. Sometimes it expresses real pain on the part of those who cannot afford to give as much as they want to. Often those who complain the loudest are themselves giving much less than they could.
I think it is high time to expose this myth for what it is -- an outright lie. The Church is not always asking for money. In fact, the Church asks for money much less than any organization I can think of.
I used to belong to a nationally chartered civic club. I enjoyed the fellowship and was proud of the good things we did as a club -- sort of like church. Every month, the club treasurer gave me a bill for the dues. THAT is asking for money. When I stopped paying my dues, my name was removed from the roll without a second thought. Does the Church do that? Of course not!
Where else can you go to a nice air conditioned building, hear wonderful music and an inspiring message by a highly trained speaker, and then walk out without paying? You need a ticket to attend the symphony. Colleges require tuition. Everything costs money -- EXCEPT the Church. Free Sunday School for you and your children. Free youth activities. Everyone else would ask for money to provide these things. But if you choose, you can go to Church all your life and never pay a cent.
Try going to the doctor, the grocery store, a lawyer and see if they ask you for money. Sure they will. But you can receive counseling from your pastor, get married, get visited in the hospital, have curriculum in your Sunday School class -- and never get a bill for any of it. Your Uncle Sam will ask for your money, plenty of it. Your Father God is much more interested in all the things He constantly gives you than in what little you can give Him.
Perhaps you have helped make funeral arrangements for a family member. The funeral home will provide an itemized bill. See if it includes any charge for the pastor's message, the use of the church building, the meals provided to your family by Christian friends. Do you get the picture? This old adage that the church is always asking for money is pure rubbish.
Of course, the Church does require money to operate. Someone must pay for the services it offers free and for the missionaries and orphanages it operates around the world. So yes, the Church does give everyone an opportunity to give. We may describe what the needs are and even encourage sacrificial commitment. Is that so bad? No one is admitted to Heaven because they contributed, and no one is kept out because they couldn't or didn't. The thousands of Christians who give beyond their means have done more good through the Church than every government, charity, and civic club combined. I can't think of any place I would rather have my money go, can you?
Next time you here someone say (or are tempted to say yourself) that "the Church is always asking for money", chuckle to yourself and realize how foolish that statement really is. Then get out your checkbook and participate joyfully in the privilege of joining with others to help extend God's kingdom in this world through the only institution in the world which does it all without charging a price.
Copyright © 1996 Steve Rogers Ministries