Cash vs credit card proabably impacts discretionary spending, not necessary spending (i.e. Mortgage, utility bills, car payment, etc). My sense is that if I needed to go to the ATM machine and get cash each time I wanted to purchase clothes, go out for dinner, etc., I would likely spend less.
Dan, I like the direction of your comments very much. I have always liked the phrase that " the tithe is a great place to start, but a terrible place to stop". My sense is that many Christians have gotten too caught up in the mathematical calculation and missed the point of giving back to God. Many people can and should give significantly more than a tithe.
I also think that most families go through various financial stages in their life when the cost of raising children (including Christian Education) is significant and the ability to give may be reduced for a time. There are then other times when families can give significantly more than a tithe financially. This could also probably be applied to giving of our time.
We have been encouraging our deacons to offer electronic giving options for our congregation. The reality is that most younger people (and increasingly others as well) handle finances differently in this increasingly electronic age we live in. As a church we want to make it easier for people to support the church financially, not harder.
Mavis: Our church is putting a section of the website to allow for members to initiate a one-time or recurring gift directly from their bank account. Our deacons are concerned about the challenges some people have with credit card debt, so they do not plan on allowing gifts by credit card at ths time.
Posted in: Should Christians Use Credit Cards?
Cash vs credit card proabably impacts discretionary spending, not necessary spending (i.e. Mortgage, utility bills, car payment, etc). My sense is that if I needed to go to the ATM machine and get cash each time I wanted to purchase clothes, go out for dinner, etc., I would likely spend less.
Posted in: OK to Use Tithe for Christian School Tuition?
Dan, I like the direction of your comments very much. I have always liked the phrase that " the tithe is a great place to start, but a terrible place to stop". My sense is that many Christians have gotten too caught up in the mathematical calculation and missed the point of giving back to God. Many people can and should give significantly more than a tithe.
I also think that most families go through various financial stages in their life when the cost of raising children (including Christian Education) is significant and the ability to give may be reduced for a time. There are then other times when families can give significantly more than a tithe financially. This could also probably be applied to giving of our time.
I enjoy the discussion!
Posted in: Electronic Giving to Church
We have been encouraging our deacons to offer electronic giving options for our congregation. The reality is that most younger people (and increasingly others as well) handle finances differently in this increasingly electronic age we live in. As a church we want to make it easier for people to support the church financially, not harder.
Posted in: Electronic Giving to Church
Mavis: Our church is putting a section of the website to allow for members to initiate a one-time or recurring gift directly from their bank account. Our deacons are concerned about the challenges some people have with credit card debt, so they do not plan on allowing gifts by credit card at ths time.