When the offering plate comes around, how and why are we giving back to God?

Congregations in 2020 certainly seem smaller than they have in the past, depending on the church and its surrounding community.

With smaller numbers of attendees, the view of an offering can change from that of a gift to God to seeing it as more of a collection. But should the act of giving an offering be only viewed as a financial obligation to the church?

"With the decline of people in the pew, I have increasingly noticed in the smaller congregations that I visit a more 'selective' passing of the offering plate along the pews after the sermon," says Harold Ristau, a Lutheran pastor, retired military chaplain and associate professor at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary.

The issue that comes with only passing the plate to known givers while avoiding children, first-time visitors, and electronic givers, however, is the plate takes on a more financial meaning.

Ristau says the intent of passing around the plate, bag, or bucket is to collect money from those who are grateful for the sermon and want to see more of it continue, but it has much greater meaning.

"The passing of the offering plate ... is better viewed as a wonderful liturgical act rich with meaning, than as an opportunity to get money from people," says Ristau.

The Old Testament shows offerings were first used to support the priests, Levites, and the poor. "In some sense, it is a symbol of us giving back to God out of gratitude for what He has given to us," Ristau explains. "After all, nothing we own belongs to us. It is all God’s and just 'on loan' to us."

Since the money we give isn't ours in the first place, a different meaning than us supporting the church financially must be woven into the giving act. 

"He desires that we give, not because he benefits from it, but because we do," says Ristau.

"In that sense, you could say the offering plate is a worthwhile act to pass to each individual, even if it comes back empty. It symbolizes us putting our very selves into the plate, and no amount of money that we give can do the image justice."

The illustration of the widow who provided two pennies, an amount that would hardly cover any cost of the church, is told with great favour by Jesus, simply because of the heart of the giver (Mark 12:41-44).

This innocence of giving can come in more modern forms, equally simple and equally pure.

"I recall as a pastor in an inner-city church, how some of the attendees who struggled with mental health issues and financial poverty would sometimes place household objects in the offering plate, such as old jewellery," Ristau remembers.

"The question isn’t about what amount of money one is willing to give up, but who has faith and who doesn’t."

The offering plate isn't passed, then, to collect from congregants in the church, but for congregants to offer back to God our own sinful hearts, Ristau says.

Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart."

It is because Christ gave himself to us, says Ristau, that we now give ourselves to him.

This realization brings with it the understanding that the church is not a business, nor was it ever intended to be one.

"When we understand the purpose of the offering in this biblical manner, we find ourselves repenting of viewing His church as a corporation, business, or even bank, in which God functions as the CEO," Ristau illustrates.

And with that realization comes a freedom of financial worry for the church. "The church is in no other business than giving, by the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus’ death for us on the cross. And an empty bank account means that the congregation is doing what Jesus wants them to do: supporting the pastor and his family, spreading the Gospel through missions, and feeding the poor," says Ristau.

Financial security is not a sin, but financial worry is not the priority of the church. Ristau offers the reminder that God will always provide.

"The Holy Spirit moves people to give to the church for certain clear purposes laid out in Holy Scriptures; by not using it in those ways we are misusing that which has been entrusted to us by God through them."

What does this look like, however? It is the act of following through on God's plan - of our churches continuing to grow in ways that spiritually support the global church.

"When our efforts are focused there, driven by faith instead of doubt, in repentance for all dependence on our human efforts towards ensuring 'success,' then the result will never disappoint," says Ristau, "even if that includes poverty or even the closure of some buildings."

Consider this as you pass along the offering plate next Sunday, perhaps. Keeping the lights on is important, but more so is the giving heart of each believer in the eyes of God.