Matt. 6: Charitable Deeds

actually the verses you used are not connected at all with what or how to give in the church.
Christ was teaching the attitude of giving to those that had no way to repay, & also the basic principle for giving.
when Christ stated "they have their reward" the word reward is misthos, which basically means to pay for service. In other words you give expecting something in return. anything from praise to being paid back.
The second use of the word where He say the Father would reward thee openly is apodidōmi which means... to give away, that is, up, over, back, etc. You do it looking for nothing
in return, out of a pure & loving heart.
The reason I don't believe it's connected with church giving is that its hard for someone not to know that you gave something. Don't let your left hand know what the right is doing...no one should know but you & God. Not just the amout, or the deed...but that the recipiant wouldn't know who their benefactor was.

 

I think people ought to police themselves on the envelope matter. I know that when I accidentally put our envelope in the basket face-up, my wife simultaneously turns it over so nothing shows while giving me a sharp elbow to the ribs...maybe next time I'll remember!

As for folks that write the numbers real big, they have truly already received their reward if their purpose was to draw attention.

 

Dianne,

We got around this by stopping Sunday School Offerings. We give our offerings in Worship Service as an Act of Worship.

 

Diane, I've always been uncomfortable with the envelopes. I used to hold out my tithe in cash, and put it in a plain unmarked envelpoe.

The church we belong to now uses the personalized envelopes with your name printed on the front. I'm not comfortable with it, but I use them since they spend the money to print them.

 

Larry,
That sounds like someones idea to be able to keep up with who gives & who doesn't.

 

Preacher, I think the idea is to make the church treasurer's job easier when doing end of the year individual reports for tax purposes. I know my church's treasurer finds it much easier for the purposes of that job.

 

I'm not against it, but how many people on this board believe that to use your tithe as a tax writeoff is wrong? I've met some people who do, and I just don't agree with them.

 

I understand about tax purposes, that why if I wanted a reciept at the end of the year I would either put my name on the envelope myself, or use a check. That way it's my choice not the churches.