Like many others, I give to my church online.
There are several reasons why I like online giving. It’s convenient, safe, helps reduce my churches administrative costs, and eases church budgeting.
Online giving is a method that helps me align with God’s design for my money—to be a conduit through which His generosity flows. For me, setting up automatic giving was an act of commitment and discipline.
But not everyone has this same experience with online giving. In fact, there are some that probably should not give to their church online.
Here are three signs that online giving may not be right for you:
1. You no longer think about giving.
Even though you do give, automatic withdrawal has eliminated any thought of it. The money is taken from your checking account and you rarely stop to even consider its departure. It has become more like taxes taken from your paycheck. The end of the year contribution statement is alive, but the spiritual act of worship that giving should be is dead. If this is you, online giving may not be right for you.
Giving is a spiritual act of worship. And whatever method you use for giving, there must be heartfelt, spiritual involvement.
2. Your giving feels disconnected from the church’s mission.
Giving to your local sure should make you feel more connected, not less. Yet, you do not feel that you are contributing to the mission of the church. The click of the mouse has become cold and isolated. If this is you, online giving may not be right for you.
3. You feel that it hurts your ability to lead by example.
I hear this most from pastors. They feel they are missing an opportunity to lead by example by giving during the church service. If this is a significant concern for you, online giving may not be right for you.
Online giving is a method of giving that works for some but not others.
I would never advocate someone use a method of giving that they feel hinders their spiritual life. Simultaneously, I would not stand against a method that does not contradict the giving principles found in the Bible.
Giving is a spiritual act of worship. And whatever method you use for giving, there must be heartfelt, spiritual involvement. And if ever a method eliminates that component of giving, run from it.
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