“You Have To Pay To Go To Church?”

Our adult Sunday school classes have a system where the members usually put a dollar or so into an offering each week. This offering allows the class to buy flowers or cards for members that are sick or if the family loses a loved one. The Sunday school class also uses the money to help meet other needs that may arise.
          One Sunday one of the grandchildren of one of the Sunday school members saw him pull out a dollar and put it into the Sunday school offering basket. The youngster asked, “You mean that we have to pay to come to church?” The grandfather did his best to explain to the young man about the offering and all.
          I think that we should start teaching the children at a very early age about tithing and special offerings lest we lose the importance of this commandment for the Bible. The Bible reminds us to, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse (Church)”.  If we don’t teach our children the importance of this principle then they will not know or understand why we give money to the church.
          I think that we should approach the subject not with the mindset that we have to pay to come to church but rather – It pays to come to church. When we come to church and are committed to all aspects of the church then the rewards are greater than the cost (Tithes & offerings). When a person is a member of a church they are loved (agape) like family. There are resources, and connections that cannot be found in other places.
With a relationship with Jesus the believer will have the promise and hope of making Heaven their eternal home when they pass away. The Bible reminds us that if we don’t tithe then we are robbing God and thieves don’t inherit the Kingdom of God. We don’t PAY to go to church or to Heaven, we tithe and give offerings in obedience to what God has called us to do.
A true believer of Jesus Christ will want to give of their tithe and offerings not out of obligation but out of a thankful heart for what Jesus has done for us in paying our sin debt by His death on the cross. We give the money as a love gift and offerings to help the church keep functioning and thus increase the Kingdom of God.
The Bible also reminds us that, “God loves a cheerful giver”.  So be cheerful and generous in what you give to the Kingdom of God. It is not some sour puss effort we do in order to appease an angry God. It is a joyful investment in Christ’s church and the Kingdom of God.
In love with Jesus – Gary Mimbs