It’s quite common when churches have announcements about giving, whether or not a collection bag is sent round, for someone to say, almost apologetically “We don’t want/are not after your money.” The sentiment is sound, too often religious groups are seen as primarily looking to get hold of people’s wallets.
It is important, that a church doesn’t get focused on money. It’s also vital that new people know that they are welcomed for themselves not for what they have to contribute. Furthermore, we want visitors to discover the free grace of God.
However, there might be two ways in which the claim is not quite right. First, in an unhealthy way, it is possible to say “we don’t want your money” from the front whilst people feel under constant pressure in other ways to give. They get conflicting signals.
In a more healthy way, we want to say that we do want people to give. This is because we want them to be fully with us, to join the church and commit to its vision. One way in which they do this is through giving. But also we are reminded that “it is more blessed to give than receive”. We want them to give because we believe they will benefit spiritually as they do.
Faithroots 