LCMS Offering Plates

[jonmolby]

Just wondering if passing offering plates are a part of all LCMS churches or if it is a church by church issue. Also if it is a part of all LCMS churches I am curious why they do it. My understanding is that offering plates go back to traveling evangelists whose reputations were less than upstanding (swindlers) and I have always thought that churches should just have a box in the back that you drop your money in there as you leave or come in.

 

[DaRev]

Just wondering if passing offering plates are a part of all LCMS churches or if it is a church by church issue. Also if it is a part of all LCMS churches I am curious why they do it. My understanding is that offering plates go back to traveling evangelists whose reputations were less than upstanding (swindlers) and I have always thought that churches should just have a box in the back that you drop your money in there as you leave or come in.

The offering is a part of our worship. That's why it's done during the Divine Service. All of our worship is a response to God's gracious gifts to us. The giving of our tithes and offerings is simply one way that we respond to God's love for us in the worship service, along with our prayers and songs and thanksgivings. St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." The word 'cheerful' is the Greek word 'hilaron' which means "exceedingly joyful". Our giving is a joyful part of our worship. Thus, we don't relegate it to an afterthought with a box in the back of the church, but make it a joyful part of our worship service.

 

[jonmolby]

Ok that makes sense. Thank you

 

[Aibrean]

The true church doesn't have swindling traveling evangelists. We have missionaries.