These are the thoughts of a potential member who visited your Church last Sunday, a first-timer with doubt about whether to fellowship with you next Sunday or not.
To the angel of the church in Ikeja (let’s keep your name safe from trolls), I write:
I know your church upholds the banner of the gospel and you fan the flame of faith in your area. Your population is small (not bad for a district location), but you’d like to increase it. I see that you’ve embraced technology to enjoy fellowship and your gadgets are impressive.
It pleases that you treat first-timers like special guests and offer them gifts (though I didn’t receive any because I didn’t identify with first-timers). I see that your members are loyal and you’re all like family. I know that you’re passionate and you’re doing what you can to manage the church…
Yet I hold these against you (Well, not really against you, but using that line sounds cool to get your attention as it was used in Revelations 2:4 NIV. The NLT version is more like what I’d like to use “But I have these complaints against you”:
Let’s go!
Bible Reading
I like that your church incorporates bible reading because it helps your members, especially those who only pick up the bible on Sundays, to keep the Word in their heads and hearts. Faith comes from hearing the message (Romans 10:17 NIV).
Let’s not judge those who only pick up the bible on Sundays. It is what it is among Christians of these days and the reasons you’d hear why they only pick up the bible on Sundays would baffle, while some don’t even have a reason. Let’s not judge them still.
We’re all a work in progress.
I tell you, there are so many distractions in all our lives, and it is becoming difficult to keep up with some of those routines that strengthen our faith – routines such as morning quiet time, studying the Word and meditating, attending fellowship with other Christians, among others.
Making money and that terrible “thief” of time we carry with us gives us access to entertainment, motivation, news, and the latest gist, but hardly inspires us to consume more content that increases faith. We can learn and stay informed with the device, but it takes a ton of discipline and intentionality to use it in building faith, which without faith, it is impossible… (I think you know the rest).
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So, here we are, anticipating the bible reading section on Sunday and it was to my dismay to realize the person who anchored the section only read John 3:1-16. Wait, I had to confirm if my bible was the same as everyone else. Mine had John 3:1-36. What happened to the rest of the verses in the chapter?
Don’t tell me we couldn’t read the remaining verses because of time. I get it, every section is timed, and we must stick to the script. But there I was, thinking, why are we in church? Of course, there are a thousand and one reasons why we’re in church, but to starve your members of the Word, especially the ones who only pick up the bible on Sunday?
Well, I think the church should do better and remember 1 Timothy 4:11-13 NIV.
Offering Collection
I have nothing against offering by members. Not at all. It is necessary that every member contributes to the growth of the church, and offering is an opportunity to do so. You should know the Scriptures so well to justify with verses why the offering is necessary, but we won’t go there.
The concern for me is how offerings are collected. I’ve been around the church environment for a while and I am aware of the plate passing to collect offerings (this is old school, but still relevant for a small local church). I agree that times changed and the church has evolved to offering boxes, and online payments, but if you must choose collection boxes, why must they be placed in the front close to the pulpit, then members would have to queue and be compelled to dance before giving offerings.
Imagine if your population is like 500 members (to be reasonable with numbers) at your district church…
I know you’ve been doing it for a while and no one is complaining about it. You could say it’s one of the church’s unique styles of fellowship, so I ask, now that your population is small, what happens when it increases?
Don’t bother to answer, I can imagine your reply to the question – you’d invent a better collection approach, but why not invent now so it becomes a culture and part of the church? This is called thinking long term and I don’t mean to say you’re not or can’t think long term. Just saying.
One female member was so joyous that she stopped to dance at intervals before giving her offering, which delayed the queue… as though her offering was purer than ours… Lol! (Just for the laughs).
But check this out, I read about Harbor Community Church which invented the “Joy Box” system alongside online payment, instead of plate passing. Each Sunday, a black box is located at each exit of the worship center called a “Joy Box.” Anyone can walk up and drop money in it at any time before, during, or after the service. Now, isn’t this convenient?
I guess you want to consider your approach to collecting offerings.
Prayers for Tithers
Tithe and tithing are controversial topics in Christendom and that is not the emphasis here. Let faith and conviction guide the givers to do what they think is right. But I find it new to witness a special call to those who have their tithes and would like to offer them, then you single them out for prayers in front of the whole church.
If we call it a strange practice, there’s no justification for the assertion. So let’s leave it at that, but may I call your attention to this bible verse that I think is somewhat relevant: Matthew 6:1. I know verses 2 to 4 of the same Matthew 6 give more context to verse 1, and these verses may not apply here (left to your interpretation though), but the point is:
You may call and remind members to offer their tithes, and if they have it with them, they can offer by any means convenient to them or as specified by the church authority. The concern is calling the tithers to pray for them specially.
It’s not a question of right or wrong. It’s an observation of a first-timer and whether you’d give it some thought is your choice.
I think as we don’t make a show of collecting offerings (I can’t say about other churches yet), the same approach should apply to tithing. Call or remind members to offer their tithes; make available a separate box for it where those with cash can pay and those who prefer online payment could go ahead to do so, and that is it.
No special prayer. No special anything. Just giving with cheerfulness and willingly!
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Conclusion
To the angel of the church in Ikeja, I’ve seen your hard work and perseverance to keep the congregation together in love, peace, and harmony. I know your desires to see the church grow and the population increase (let God take charge of that), but continue with the good deeds and remain steadfast and faithful.
Don’t be afraid of the adversity you face or the ones that may arise in the coming days, and remember that the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV).
Don’t renounce your faith and always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. He who has called you is faithful and will never forsake you.
Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things (Philippians 4:8 NIV).
Thank you!
P.S.: I still doubt whether to fellowship with you next Sunday or not.
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