I have heard, or seen in action, each of these bad reasons for giving in my time as a Christian, and every time I have head one of them I’m cringed inwardly.  I still do here these at Central occasionally, but over the six years I’ve been here they’ve become rarer and rarer.  So much so that they used to be sadly common among the fellowship, but now they look about as out of place as a happy Mets fan at The Bank.  This says a lot about Central – the people who give to it now, by a overwhelming majority, give because they believe we can do something to expand Jesus’ Kingdom together.

Soon I’ll give my five best reasons for giving to a local church – but until then here’s my five worse reasons to give to a local church…

• Because that’s what “good people” do: Folks. let’s be honest – there are a ton of organizations out there that are a heck of a lot more efficient than a local Church at handling a lot of the societal problems that call “good people” to give.  Sure, many of them are “para-church,” but they still aren’t “local churches.”  If you just want to feel good about yourself, feel free to give to them.
• Because you want to keep to keep your membership active: In my time as a pastor I’ve never heard a more insane point argued among church goers.  Yes, we acknowledge the fact that there are such things as “shut-ins” who can’t come to worship, and those folks should never be forgotten by a fellowship (though too many are). Moving six hours away and sending back occasional checks to the congregation doesn’t fit into that category.  What’s worse is when people who move hours away then decide that their children or grandchildren have a “right” to get married in the sanctuary.  Folks, find a fellowship near-by, and give to it.  They need it as much as we do, and you need to be part of a local group of believers.
• Because you want to get your way: This is just typical fallen human behavior, but it’s still a terrible reason for giving to a church even if we understand that we’re all still being sanctified.  The phrase, “Well I give a lot of money to this church and I think/expect/demand that we do what I want,” ought cause the immediate closure of any meeting.
• Because you want to keep “them” from getting their way:  This is actually a terrible reason not to give, but we’ll include it here anyway.  Look folks, I understand that you may not like a form of music, a presentation system, the color of the carpet, or the print in the new hymnals – but withholding your giving to “punish” a congregation that dared to make a decision that you didn’t like is just plain stupid.  Look, if the congregation votes to declare the Trinity optional for a pastor, or starts reading the newspaper as a religious text, feel free to stand up and say, “You know, I don’t think I can support this mission anymore because we’ve walked away from Jesus.”  But damaging the fellowship because you don’t like another’s stylistic preferences is despicable.
• Because you want to collect services for payment: Giving money to a local church is not like purchasing an iTunes gift card.  You don’t get so many “pastoral care credits” for every dollar given.  First, this turns your pastor into nothing more than an employee (which makes them impotent as a shepherd).  Second, that mind-set absolves the giver from their own obligation to care for their neighbors (both church member and otherwise).