Should a Church .....

I rarely have more than a few bucks in my wallet.
I don't use checks.

FOR ME: It is an easy way not to forget to give - it's taken out automatically each month. I can always give more.

FOR THE CHURCH: It gives them an idea of what they will receive each month and helps them budget expenses.

Rob

 

I'm in favor of it. Why not make it easy for people to give? At my church you can text your offering, use a check, give online with a credit card, or put cash in the offering plate.

 

We don't use "plates". Instead we use a "bag". It's a velour bag about 10" deep that is connected to a circular brass ring about 10" in diameter. No one can see what's in the bag unless they stop passing it and actually peer down into it. Pretty slick.

 

Some churches accept Paypal/other credit cards. Some will do autodraft if you sign up for it. It's a new world.

 

There shouldn't be someone holding a credit card reader at the end of a pew. It get that the church is hurting for money but that's just to crass. It would be better if the church just gets a paypal account on their webpage and wifi in the church. Then people can just hit an app, make a donation during the passing of the plate. Though that might be overkill since most people who got to church routinely usually make up the next Sunday if they forget. I once went into a church and they had two ATM in the entry way and turned right around because a church isn't suppose to be a bank or a business.

 

I have been in a Church that does not even pass the plate. They just have a place where you can put your donation. I have also seen many on the web that have a place for their members to pay their offerings with a Credit Card, or PayPal.

Having the card reader out during the offering time just doesn't seem right to me, but maybe it is just me showing my age.

 

I use a regular check for my offering, but hardly ever have cash in my wallet if something else comes up.

We did attend a church that had paypal, and it sure made things a lot easier.

 

I think churches so all over choices that make it easier for people to give to their church, whether it be by paypal or credit card. It doesn't matter how the money is give as long as it is. They can still have the offering plate for those who want to contribute that way but there should also be other alternatives.

 

Cards are still inclusive in most church transactions, if we don't talk about church days. Donations are still acceptable through bank accounts which at least every church has. If am planning to travel on a church day (Sunday) and I donate on a Friday through my bank check, will that count?

 

credit card readers at the end of the pew? - I think this is something else. I get the point that at this day and age, people want convenience, but I think having this kind of set up is much of an overkill to me (but that's probably because i'm old age, haha!).
I've tried donating to churches thru their websites, though - NOT at the church itself. I know credit card use is credit card use regardless. In my mind, however, to have credit card readers at the end of the pew or at the church itself somehow encourages 'debt accumulation' not so much the 'heartily giving of what you have'. Credit is using money you don't have (in a sense).

 

I suppose this teaching from Jesus is hard to do nowadays, let alone preached from the pulpit.

Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. KJV

If a man purposed in his heart what he is to give, then it is nobody's business, but between the giver and God.

Better for a church to rely on God to raise up cheerful givers than to seek pledges and tithings from her flock, because if the church cannot apply faith in God to provide, then where is that faith in God's Providence for each church member when they go home for their household?

Is that not what James was talking about in the 2nd chapter where a church fails to lead by example of their faith in God's Providence to the poor?

I wonder how many church members even consider how they do not have faith in God to provide because the church doesn't when they rely on tithings and pledges rather than on God unspeakable gift of raising up cheerful givers to provide just what the church needs for the ministry?

But I guess a credit card donation seen by men will do. It is not a sin to give in that way. It's just that Jesus taught a better way to give. Not sure how any one can give the way Jesus taught to give any more.

 

We set up a wire transfer from our bank instead of a credit card. That way, the church does not incur any transaction fees. And we don't have to worry if we left the checkbook at home or trying to catch up if we are out of town. I have a visited a Baptist church in the area where they have a credit card machine in the lobby. Personally, I thought this was a bit tacky.