I see and hear so many convoluted ideas surrounding the offering/collection plate that's passed around every Sunday in most Christian congregations. Many people associate it with tithing. Literally, a tithe is a tenth. Hebrews 7 refers to the spoils given to Melchizedek, king and priest of Salem, by Abraham as a tithe:
Some churches acknowledge that the tithe has been abolished and instead refer to the monetary collection as an offering. In the OT, there were many types of offerings stipulated in the Mosaic Law: the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering (Leviticus 7). There is also a fellowship offering mentioned (Leviticus 9:22 & 2 Kings 16:13) and a drink offering (Numbers 29). These also were not monetary, but were tied in with the sacrifices and closely associated with the tithes:
There is no mention of an offering/collection plate being passed around during a worship service in the NT. There were offering boxes in the temple, mentioned in the account of the poor widow whom Jesus watched placing 2 coins into the treasury (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4). The point Jesus was making was the stark contrast between the proportion of means given by the poor widow compared to the proportion of means given by the rich people. Jesus chastised the scribes just preceding this passage for "devour[ing] widows' houses" (Mark 12:40). So, these passages are very noteworthy regarding the collection for the saints. There were other collections for needy saints described in Acts 4:34-35:
Where and when did the offering/collection plate originate? It originated in early 19th century America after state support for churches ended (Passing the Plate). So, it is a tradition of man which many see as a necessity because the collection/offering funds church buildings, plus the furnishings, maintenance, utilities and programs associated with church buildings, and pays the preacher's salary. While Paul acknowledged that the Law gave those who sow spiritually the right to reap material things from those they minister to (1 Corinthians 9:11), he didn't make use of that right but preached the gospel free of charge (1 Corinthians 9:15-18).
Also, the early NT Christians didn't build places of worship. They did use the temple courts for large assemblies, and the apostles utilized the synagogues and school of Tyrannus to teach the gospel, but those buildings were already in existence and would not have cost the early saints anything to use. Eventually, Christians were cast out of the synagogues. There are more instances recorded of the early Christians assembling in homes (Acts 5:42, Acts 12:12, Acts 17:5, Acts 20:20, Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15 and Philemon 2). In Matthew 24:1&2, Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, which occurred in AD70. He did not commission the building of any other place(s) of worship. No church buildings existed during the first 200 years of Christianity. As they were in the 3rd century, Christian buildings of worship continue to be modeled after the Jewish temple and pagan temples.
Today, most Christians tend to think of a "church" as a building. That's because the word "church" is derived from the Greek work "kuriakos" which means "belonging to the lord," referring to the master of a household and particularly to the lord's household. While this could describe the Lord's people, it doesn't accurately reflect what the scriptures intend to convey. The word traditionally translated throughout most of the NT as "church" is "ekklesia," which means "assembly" or "congregation." A congregation in the NT was never defined by the building where they met, but by the people who gathered for a specific purpose. When William Tyndale translated the NT scriptures into English, he correctly translated "ekklesia" as "congregation" but the word was changed to "church" in the KJV and has been retained in subsequent English translations.
This difference is critical because worship in most Christian congregations today centers around the building where they assemble. People may think of their "church" as simply a meeting place, but it becomes the focus when an offering/collection plate is passed around to solicit financial support for the building (and for a preacher). That is a misapplication of the gift specified for the needy saints in the NT scriptures! See what Jesus said in Mark 7:9-13 about the Pharisees and scribes "rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish [their] tradition" because they said whatever their mother or father (whom they were commanded to honor) would have gained from them was given to God, "thus making void the word of God by [their] tradition..." That is a very powerful statement by the Lord himself and it's applicable to "churches" today, considering that support intended for the needy saints is redirected to building funds, building maintenance, utilities, furnishings, programs, paying a preacher and such -- all under the pretense of giving to God!
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.....
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
So, we see that the practice (as a commandment) of giving a tithe to the priests continued through the descendants of Levi, but was abolished with the introduction of a better hope through Jesus.4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.....
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Some churches acknowledge that the tithe has been abolished and instead refer to the monetary collection as an offering. In the OT, there were many types of offerings stipulated in the Mosaic Law: the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering (Leviticus 7). There is also a fellowship offering mentioned (Leviticus 9:22 & 2 Kings 16:13) and a drink offering (Numbers 29). These also were not monetary, but were tied in with the sacrifices and closely associated with the tithes:
Exodus 22:29
Numbers 18:24, 29 & 32
Deuteronomy 12:6, 11 & 17
2 Chronicles 31:12
Nehemiah 10:37; 12:44
Ezekiel 20:40
Amos 4:4
Malachi 3:8
Another term used for the practice of passing around a plate every Sunday, and the money gathered by doing so, is "the collection." We do find the apostle Paul using this term in his first letter to the Corinthian saints (1 Corinthians 16:1-3). He again made reference to this gift in his second letter (2 Corinthians 8:3-15; 2 Corinthians 9:1-13). It was a contribution taken from several congregations to be distributed among the needy saints at Jerusalem. Paul urged those who had ample means to give generously, but the contributions were not compulsory. The saints in Macedonia, who were also poor, were not expected to give but they voluntarily gave what they could. Many preachers use 1 Corinthians 16:1 (only ONE verse where Paul discussed this collection for the needy saints) and often part of verse 2 to justify passing around a collection plate every Sunday (and sometimes on other occasions). I urge you to read the remainder of verse 2 and verse 3, as well as the above passages from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians to get the whole picture. Note who the collection was for, who was urged to contribute, and its duration (2 Corinthians 8:10) -- noting it was only temporary, until Paul arrived and could send someone to Jerusalem with the gift. Paul also addressed this ministry of "bringing aid to the saints" at Jerusalem in Romans 15:25-28. Numbers 18:24, 29 & 32
Deuteronomy 12:6, 11 & 17
2 Chronicles 31:12
Nehemiah 10:37; 12:44
Ezekiel 20:40
Amos 4:4
Malachi 3:8
There is no mention of an offering/collection plate being passed around during a worship service in the NT. There were offering boxes in the temple, mentioned in the account of the poor widow whom Jesus watched placing 2 coins into the treasury (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4). The point Jesus was making was the stark contrast between the proportion of means given by the poor widow compared to the proportion of means given by the rich people. Jesus chastised the scribes just preceding this passage for "devour[ing] widows' houses" (Mark 12:40). So, these passages are very noteworthy regarding the collection for the saints. There were other collections for needy saints described in Acts 4:34-35:
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Where and when did the offering/collection plate originate? It originated in early 19th century America after state support for churches ended (Passing the Plate). So, it is a tradition of man which many see as a necessity because the collection/offering funds church buildings, plus the furnishings, maintenance, utilities and programs associated with church buildings, and pays the preacher's salary. While Paul acknowledged that the Law gave those who sow spiritually the right to reap material things from those they minister to (1 Corinthians 9:11), he didn't make use of that right but preached the gospel free of charge (1 Corinthians 9:15-18).
Also, the early NT Christians didn't build places of worship. They did use the temple courts for large assemblies, and the apostles utilized the synagogues and school of Tyrannus to teach the gospel, but those buildings were already in existence and would not have cost the early saints anything to use. Eventually, Christians were cast out of the synagogues. There are more instances recorded of the early Christians assembling in homes (Acts 5:42, Acts 12:12, Acts 17:5, Acts 20:20, Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15 and Philemon 2). In Matthew 24:1&2, Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, which occurred in AD70. He did not commission the building of any other place(s) of worship. No church buildings existed during the first 200 years of Christianity. As they were in the 3rd century, Christian buildings of worship continue to be modeled after the Jewish temple and pagan temples.
Today, most Christians tend to think of a "church" as a building. That's because the word "church" is derived from the Greek work "kuriakos" which means "belonging to the lord," referring to the master of a household and particularly to the lord's household. While this could describe the Lord's people, it doesn't accurately reflect what the scriptures intend to convey. The word traditionally translated throughout most of the NT as "church" is "ekklesia," which means "assembly" or "congregation." A congregation in the NT was never defined by the building where they met, but by the people who gathered for a specific purpose. When William Tyndale translated the NT scriptures into English, he correctly translated "ekklesia" as "congregation" but the word was changed to "church" in the KJV and has been retained in subsequent English translations.
This difference is critical because worship in most Christian congregations today centers around the building where they assemble. People may think of their "church" as simply a meeting place, but it becomes the focus when an offering/collection plate is passed around to solicit financial support for the building (and for a preacher). That is a misapplication of the gift specified for the needy saints in the NT scriptures! See what Jesus said in Mark 7:9-13 about the Pharisees and scribes "rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish [their] tradition" because they said whatever their mother or father (whom they were commanded to honor) would have gained from them was given to God, "thus making void the word of God by [their] tradition..." That is a very powerful statement by the Lord himself and it's applicable to "churches" today, considering that support intended for the needy saints is redirected to building funds, building maintenance, utilities, furnishings, programs, paying a preacher and such -- all under the pretense of giving to God!
