The OFFERINGS in the Church of Christ

Lets see the another ignorance of this bias Catholic Defender, where in his article entitled Our common knowledge about Felix Manalo, INC founder.

He said:

"Usually, about $200,000 cash and money orders are collected which represents a third

of the total thanksgivings. Manalo does not want to lose any monies from possible stickups.

"There is a very big shocker that affects many members. Because of the excessive thanksgiving increase

that members have given, they are required now to deposit the same amount next year plus corresponding increase. For example, if a member's total thanksgivings (deposits plus supplementary cash) is $5,000 this year, the member must deposit this same new amount next year plus additional... and etc."

He is just one of the thousands of nonmembers who's ignorance are evidently seen. But the fact that their myths and whatsoever are only their opinion, therefore only a propaganda to the church. Its very funny to know that those nonmembers always estimate the "income" as they say, of the INC are billions. And that those were only goes to the Manalo Clan and its ministers that brainwashes members, as they say. Im just wondering why, especially their church take donations, they have also foundations and organizations who's purpose is to help others. They have also expenses in their churches, and etc. But if the topic is the INC, its a diff. talk, they attack what is written in the bible. And they do not join where these offerings goes, they just think that the said people in the INC just have richness and sk money to its members. Very poor and unschooled thinking! Tsk. Tsk.

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FACT:

Members of the Church of Christ have offerings like this, we are not forced or dictated on how big we will give…

#1 Thursday and Sunday (worship services) offerings

#2 “Tanging handugan” (local or/and district) offerings [optional]

#3 Anniversary(July) or/and Yearly(December) thanksgiving offerings

The thing is, where do those offerings go? The primary purposes (above) were:

#1 For evangelical works like the television, radio and magazine expenses and etc.

#2 These are optional: (district offerings) helping other local congregation on their renovation/repainting and etc. of their house of worship. (local offerings) for the expenses of the house of worship like telephone, electric, water bills and etc.

#3 For the building and buying lands for houses of worship

THE WHOLE THING

(where the offerings goes/expenses):

HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Building houses of worship

(Lot + Constructors + house of worship itself)

Lots costs millions, the house of worship costs also millions, plus the constructors.

A single house of worship can be estimated from P30-70 million, depends how it is big.

REVIEW: pic. from resbak.com

See? Where does our offerings goes? Is it hidden by the ministers? or the church administration?? See the completed houses of worship last year 2009, increased and whopping 98 houses of worship, CONSTRUCTED and DEDICATED TO GOD in just only that year!

Maintenance of the houses of worship

(changing light bulbs, and etc.)

Like replacing/buying/fixing electric fans, light bulbs, chairs, tables, and etc.

Expenses in the house of worship

(electric bills, telephone bills and etc.)

Electric, telephone, water bills and etc.

Renovation of the houses of worship

(repainting, remodeling and etc.)

Repainting/remodeling/renovating house of worship costs thousands and thousands.

Forms

(paper works, and etc.)

Weekly forms, and etc. costs thousands for there are many paper works that should be submitted from church officers, ministers and etc.

MISSIONARY WORKS

Renting of venues

(evangelical missions, assemblies and etc.)

Assemblies, evangelical missions, socializing activities rent costs thousands for just one event.

Propagation of God’s words

(Television, radio, Magazine expenses and etc.)

Television and radio broadcasting I know costs millions, many knows it. And the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine prints and leaflets I think cost thousands and thousands even it is sold for P10.

Employees

(Crews on television, radio and etc.)

Salary for crews who works in television and radio networks of the INC.

“TULONG” not salary

(for the ministers, house of worship care takers and etc.)

Housing projects

(for the ministers, volunteer workers and etc.)

We should know that ministers spent their time evangelizing and etc. so, they have no time for jobs and businesses. And what I know is that they are encouraged not to go on business. Why? See how nonmembers accuse the INC that its ministers ask money to members or the offering of the members only goes and corrupt by the ministers. If the ministers have no jobs/businesses and have no “tulong” and housing projects from the church admin. How will they live? They have no home? How about their own expenses, like foods? Especially they have family to support, how about the tuition or for the schooling of their kids? Their own needs? House expenses? For transportation? (Especially they have weekly meetings I think on districts, they have to go elsewhere where the church admin. Told so, and many more) Do they have magic to create their own money? Analyze it and don’t give prejudgment!

Transportation expenses

(ministers and etc.)

Church admin. sends ministers overseas, around the country and outside the country to be trained and for religious purposes. It costs thousands and thousands, imagine how many ministers and evangelical workers does INC have. Is those transportation expenses free of charge if you are an INC member? HUH?

District offices

(employees and etc.)

It also have employees, how about their labor, is it free?

CHARITIES

Expenses

(Lingap sa mamamayan, and etc.)

For those members and NONMEMBERS who are in need, giving free dental services, check ups, medicines and relief goods.

RESSETLEMENTS

Lands

(for the members who’s become a victim of natural calamities, religious persecution and etc.)

Like the bagong buhay resettlement project for the victims of Mt. Pinatubo, the hacienda luicita and etc. Lands costs millions and millions.

CIVIL PROJECTS

Expenses

(in building schools and hospitals and etc.)

Like the New Era university/highschool/elementary with branches across the country, for the members and NONMEMBERS whose the church admin. Is concern for, especially to have people education. It costs millions and millions building those civil projects.

INFRASTRACTURES

Building Projects

(museums, district offices, and etc.)

It costs millions especially when buying property for district offices outside the Phil.

And Many More…

These are just SOME and what I know, the common things which our offerings go.

BUT THE QUESTION IS:

WHY DO CHURCH OF CHRIST MEMBERS GIVE OFFERINGS? IS IT FROM THE BIBLE? OR JUST INVENTED BY THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATION?

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For the bible states:

“Each one should give, then, as he has decided,not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly” II Cor. 9:7

While speaking to the early Christians, Apostle Paul stressed in the form of a command the important truth about the GIVING OF OFFERINGS to God. First, he said “EACH ONE SHOULD GIVE”; secondly, the giver ought to decide what to give with no regret; and then concluded that “GOD LOVES THE ONES WHO GIVES GLADLY”. To show that the commandment to offer that he wrote about was not based upon his opinion only, Apostle Paul said on I Cor. 14:37:

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

Apostle Paul said that giving an offering or sharing what one has is “WELL PLEASING” in God’s sight. This is stated:

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13:15-16

MANY CRITICS AND DETRACTORS OF THE CHURCH may find it DIFFICULT to UNDERSTAND WHY its members still give OFFERINGS at this time of DIFFICULTY and want; nevertheless, God’s people are known for their generosity in giving their offerings, as they FULLY UNDERSTAND that it is GOOD and PLEASING in the sight of the LORD.

Why offerings please God

But God does not need anything like MONEY. So where do the offerings go? Apostle Paul said:

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. … For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,” II Cor. 9:7, 12-13

Through the offerings that each member gives, the Church is able to send ministers and evangelical workers to different parts of the world to attend to the spiritual needs of every member. And many more (see above).

FACT:

It also should be know that members offerings were VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. We are not dictated or no fix amount we are following. Myths, accusations, allegations of nonmembers to this are all but a big LIE. Those contributions by each members were used properly and can be evidently seen that’s why no MEMBER does complain about these, the only one who COMPLAIN about these offerings were the NONMEMBERS! In all of the expenses in the church, we should know that the only money used were the voluntary contributions of the members, the church administration does not accept MONEY from the POLITICIANS (as what others accused), or want a BIG DONATION from a member (like what others does in building their chapels, a member will give a hundred thousand or will go on a contest on tv and the money will give to chapel), or does have tithing (THE INC HAVE NO DOCTRINE LIKE THIS) or from the profit of its business (INC have no other business and itself is not a business!) and etc. in building houses of worship, and etc… It is all about the offering/ contribution of the church members. The OFFERING for us is an OBLIGATION, it is not like just a DONATION, like when you see a beggar, you will just give a peso, or an excess to your money. NO, that’s not what the bible says, and so nonmembers cannot blame us for giving importance to it for we OBEY and KNOW what is written in the scriptures. That even though they malign what we do, like saying INC is just a business and that the money of the members were just go on the Manalo Family or to the Ministers.

Back to the topic…

The usefulness of the offerings can be seen in the beauty and elegance of the house of the Lord built for his glory. Where can one intimately commune with God and aptly make supplications when feeling down or weary? Where can one praise and glorify the name of God as he mandated? The book of Haggai stated:

“Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD.” Hag. 1:8

Hence, for God/s people, a fine way to please and glorify him is to build beautiful and magnificent houses of worship. Thus, the offerings of the church members go to an immensely valuable endeavor that glorifies god.

Given in earnest

Considering the fact that giving contributions is for God’s glory, members should prepare beforehand their contributions. They SHOULD SET ASIDE a certain PORTION of their earnings for their offering (I Cor. 16:2). They should not give just what is in excess or what is left of their income.

Offering to God should be done reverently, for a delicate matter such as this cannot be done too lightly, as indicated in this teaching of the bible:

“Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, onyx stones, stones to be set, glistening stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble slabs in abundance. Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:” I Chr. 29:2-3

BECAUSE OF HIS AFFECTION OF THE HOUSE OF God, King David of Israel prepared the best for it. He offered wholeheartedly to God. The fact of the matter is that the source and owner of everything is God:

““O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.” I Chr. 29:16

No giver is a loser

It is an outstanding faith of God’s people that no giver is a loser.

Actually, they understand that all things come from God and they are just giving back a part of what is already his:

“Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: “ Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all.Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” I Chr. 29:10-14

FACT:

That’s why we have “PASALAMAT”(Thanksgiving) Yearly(December), where more big amounts where offered. Why? Like the verse mentioned above, it is to BRING or GIVE BACK what he GAVE TO US. So, don’t be surprised if we offered big amounts also because that what’s we saved(church check, the green cards) for a year. We just gives back what God gave us, like he saved us for all the danger, he gives us what we wanted and etc. But is GOD WANTS MONEY? Does God glorified because of Money? Answer? NO! so, what glorifies God? It is the works, the result of the offerings of the members. Like building houses of worship, evangelizing people all over the world (as god wanted) and etc. All of these works is to glorify God! (Not for the ministers or the Manalo family become rich!) How can these happen if there are no offerings in the church to be used? Is it magic, the solution? Haha NO!

A continuing duty of God’s people

Any house on earth—and the house of worship is no exemption—is subject to gradual deterioration and values depreciation. In view of this, foreseen eventuality, only prevention and maintenance can remedy this unwanted situation:

“Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD. Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly.” However the Levites did not do it quickly.” II Chr. 24:4-5

The INC houses of worship in various countries are well maintained edifices. These are well furnished and equipped with valuable facilities and articles being used for worship. Hence, members of the church bring offerings to fill these needs at any given time just like what the early servants of God did for the temple (II Chr. 24:8-12, 14).

Do not be offended

Servants of God should examine themselves when their livelihood is a failure and their life is in misery beyond expectation. This is because THOSE WHO ARE OFFENDED with the DUTY to help by means of giving OFFERING will incur the curse of the lord. Their hard days and nights work will only bring a little and they will continue to live and suffer a life of misery and want:

“You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” Hag. 1:6

Diligence, therefore, will not pay off if one is under the curse of the Lord. God is capable of putting a man’s life into trouble as he indignantly points out the condition of his house, thus, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Hag. 1:4

Blessed are those who honor God with their possessions

God’s capability in PROVIDING NEEDS of his PEOPLE is UNLIMITED. However, he will not just dole out these blessings to his servants without satisfying his requirements: “Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.” Prov. 3:9-10

Though confronted by the grim realities of poverty and want, God’s people will live a life of satisfaction and have nothing to worry about.

God himself challenged his ancient people, the Israelites, by BRINGING THEIR OFFERINGS AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES HIS ABILITY TO DELIVER AND FULFILL HIS PROMISE:

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” Mal. 3:10

The greatest of all blessings

NOBODY CAN BUY A TICKET TO HEAVEN as nobody can buy his own IMMORTALITY. However, Apostle Paul inspiringly teaches that the generosity and willingness to share can earn God’s servants a good foundation for the time that is to come so that they may lay hold on a life of immortality:

“Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” I tim. 6:18-19