L2MF Post #03: On Church Offerings and Charitable Donations

Dear Dad,

I listened to the sermon in Mum’s church two weeks ago and the topic was about giving offerings (i.e. tithes) to the church.

According to church doctrine, one of the duties of a church member is to give offerings. Though this is a feature that is common to all Christian denominations, I would like to concentrate on the giving of offerings within my Mum’s church.

You know that in the early years of your marriage, Mum persuaded you to listen to the doctrines of the church through regular Bible studies. However, you have decided to stop attending those studies because you found that her church and its doctrines were not to your liking.

In one of our family dinners, you have mentioned your opinion about the church’s finances. (I’d rather not mention it here.) Thanks to you, I have felt the urge to question church doctrines and take them with a grain of salt.

In this letter, I will mention the Biblical bases of giving offerings (according to how the sermon was delivered).

Why give offerings?

"Therefore, through him let us always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

 Do not neglect to do good and to be generous, for God is pleased with such sacrifices."

— Hebrews 13:15-16 ISV

But isn't it just a doctrine written by man?

"For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin.

For I did not receive it from a man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned!"

— Galatians 1:11-12, 8 ISV

How should one give offerings?

"Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver."

— II Corinthians 9:6,7 ISV

Where do the collected monetary offerings go?

1. To provide for the needs of the ministers

"In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who proclaim the gospel should make their living from the gospel."

— I Corinthians 9:14 ISV

The ministers are not allowed to have other means of earning money (e.g. job with a salary, business) except through preaching and other church work. In local church jargon, it is called “tulong” (financial assistance). It was based on a law made by Moses.

"For in the law of Moses it is written, 'You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.' God is not only concerned about oxen, is he?

Isn’t he really speaking on our behalf? Yes, this was written on our behalf, because the one who plows should plow in hope, and the one who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing in the crop."

— I Corinthians 9:9-10 ISV

However in the next verse (which was not mentioned by the minister during the sermon), I have read:

"If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?"

— I Corinthians 9:11 ISV

It was then backed up by another verse:

"For everyone must carry his own load.

The person who is taught the word should share all his goods with his teacher."

— Galatians 6:5-6 ISV

2. To provide for the needs of the church and the ministry

"For this ministry you render is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but it is also overflowing with more and more prayers of thanksgiving to God.

Because of the proof that this service of yours brings, you will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and because of your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else."

— II Corinthians 9:12-13 ISV

According to church doctrine, the monetary offerings are used to provide for the needs of the church, for the administrative expenses, and for evangelical missions. In this era of technological advancement, the church uses print media, radio, television, and the Internet to spread the gospel, and that needs money. (Yes Dad, they have a radio and TV station.)


3. To build houses of worship

"Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the LORD."

— Haggai 1:8 UKJV

The church buys an area of land where a building (or buildings which include offices and houses for resident ministers) will stand. The church also buys building materials, pays the laborers, and provides for the maintenance of the buildings and the things used in the church.

I asked myself, “Why would God, a being who had the power to create planets and galaxies, need a man-made house here on Earth?” There are a lot of homeless people due to poverty and natural and man-made disasters. They do need houses.


The “carrot and stick”

"For he will repay everyone according to what that person has done:

eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing good;

but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead.

There will be suffering and anguish for every human being who practices doing evil, for Jews first and for Greeks as well.

But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who practices doing good, for Jews first and for Greeks as well."

—Romans 2:6-10 ISV

The “good” being referred to is, again, the duty of giving monetary offerings.

And finally, the last reading of the sermon:

How to show devotion?

"Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer.

Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers."

—Romans 12:11-13 ISV

This only means that church members should always do their duties, which includes the giving of monetary offerings.

My Conclusion

Being a cheerful giver is nice, but I’d rather give to those who really need the money. God does not need money and houses, people do.

There are a lot of people who lost their homes and livelihood to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng and they are in need of help. For me, helping them through donations and volunteer work is the way to go. The church can thrive even if I choose to divert my charity pesos or dollars to worthy causes.



(J) The Freethinking Geek

L2MF Post #02: On Courage, Industry, and Honesty

Dear Dad,

I am already in my mid-twenties and still searching for meaningful things to do. I can still recall the things that you have told me during my childhood.

Do you remember when you gave me some advice on having courage? I got involved in a fight with a classmate of mine when I was in grade school. It was when you have arrived from a team adventure in Utah. You told me that courage is not just about using physical strength in resolving conflicts, nor is it about ostentatious displays of power. Rather, it is about resolving conflicts with the least amount (or without the use) of force. Courage is also about facing your fears and overcoming them. You even used your team’s adventure in Utah as an example. You guys have traversed the rough terrain and even faced the rapids.

Now in my mid-twenties, I am facing my fears of not being understood by a few people who still hold on to Iron Age ideas that are no longer in tune with my thought processes and practical spirituality.

When I was a small boy, I wanted to have what other kids had (e.g. toys, ice cream, etc.) and even asked you to buy me this and that. Well, you gave me some of them but you also told me that I should not just wish for things to be given to me. When I grow up, I have to work to get what I want in life.

Dad, I still believe in that advice, and I can now mention my netbook as an example. I did not ask Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, or The Old Man Upstairs to give me a netbook. I worked hard for months, saved just enough money and bought it at a discount from a supplier.

Another important thing that you have shown me was honesty. Though you did not give me a lecture about the matter, you have shown it to me through your career as a military serviceman. In a world filled with so much deceit, I have found hope that there are still a lot of people who hold on to their principles and do a great job without getting involved in something unethical or immoral. Though you are not well-known or influential, I am still proud for having a father who is honest.

Right now I am having an issue with honesty and deceit. Oftentimes, I have to lie to myself just to please somebody or to avoid being scolded for not conforming to some religious dogma. I kept on asking myself, “How can I be honest to God when I can’t be honest to myself?”

Dad, I am soulsearching as I write this letter. I am still building my identity and I need to excise some of the not-so-useful ideas crammed into my head by those who want me to become “one of the herd”.

Thanks for the guidance.

The Freethinking Geek

L2MF Post #01

This shall be my first post on a series of Letters to My Fathers, my real Dad and God. (Well, most of the faithful acknowledge God as the Father.)

To give you a background, the series shall feature my views about the natural world, religious beliefs, scientific inquiry, and the human condition. My posts shall be in the form of open letters addressed to the aforementioned entities.

About a year ago, I planned to write letters to my Dad to tell him about my frustrations about being inside a box called "organized religion", but I felt a little cautious about leaving pieces of paper that can be read by my Mom later on. (She's a person who took her church's teachings to heart.) I figure that through blogging, I can share my thoughts not only to my Dad but also to other people who are in similar circumstances.

This series shall be one of my serious attempts to tell my parents (and society) that I can be a moral and spiritual person without subscribing to religious dogma and without discarding Reason.