With the rise of online giving in the church will we even have an offering in the coming years? By “offering,” I mean a dedicated time in the service when a plate or other collection device is passed by attendees. So, back to the question. Some church leaders that I ask that question to would say no. Others would stare at me like I had a third eye for even asking a question like that. I think the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. That is what I want to probe in this post.
First, here is my two cent answer to the question.
I think the majority of churches will in the coming years continue to take up an offering. Before I state why I hold this view let me share why some would say the offering is on its way out.
The key of their argument lies in the first few words of my first sentence. The rise of online giving would seem to make the time of passing the offering plate irrelevant. Online giving has exploded. Many of my clients see from 50% to 70% of their giving coming through some type of electronic process. That percentage increases every year. The church I attend, that runs almost 20,000 a weekend, sees 75% of all giving coming electronically. The percentage of giving online continues to increase in churches all across our nation.
This is a powerful argument that has not just their experience behind it but a host of studies and data that shows the continual rise of online giving.
Despite all that, I still believe in the offering time AND that it will be with us for many more years. Why? Let me give you my practical reasons for believing this.
- Tradition. There are over 300,000 Protestant churches in America and 50% of them run less than 100 in worship weekly. I don’t mean to be crass but I think we would all agree that most of them are very traditional in terms of methodology. Even in larger churches you will find many that hold a very traditional view of the offering. One expert stated on this issue that, “Giving is considered an act of worship – and clicking on a mouse may not feel as holy as putting your offering in the collection plate.”
- “The survey says…” Lifeway Research did a study on giving in early 2018. They found that 6 in 10 church goers give to their church by check. That includes 59% that say they give a check AT church. Half say they give cash AT church. To get those checks and cash we need to pass the plate.
- 20%. Let’s say that online giving at my church rises to 80% of all giving. That still leaves another 20% to be collected to be fully funded. Could your church lose 20% of your overall revenue and still do what you do? Of course not.
Here is my number one reason for contending that the offering time will continue in our churches for at least my life time…
The offering time is worship. Giving is biblical. Paul in I Corinthians 16:2 says, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” That’s just one of many versus that speak of giving as a means of worship.
Yet the Bible states THAT we should give it doesn’t tell us HOW we are to give. Online gifts are just as meaningful as putting a check or cash in an offering plate. The vehicle of collection is not stated. So, you can give online at the office or at your seat or pew at church. Just give.
So, in my mind the question is not WILL we take up the offering in the coming years. The question is HOW will we take it up? My contention is that whether it is electronic or real cash we must set up the offering. To do that you need to always help people see what their gifts will accomplish for Kingdom work. I call that connecting the dots.
If you want to increase giving give people multiple options by which they can give. Yet understand that you will always need to help them understand why giving matters and what their giving will accomplish. If I were you I would spend some time thinking of how you are going to set up this weekend’s offering.
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach