The Sunday Morning Collection – Trivial or Important?

 

These questions concern the topic "The collection on Sunday morning." Why is the collection part of the breaking of bread? If it is an offering, doesn't it also include devotion and silence? Can the offering in the collection also be replaced by specific donations? What about tithing? Is that part of the collection? Should the sisters still keep their heads covered when collecting?

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Reply:

Even if some questions are not answered in detail in the Bible, we can still get to know God's basic thoughts and apply them to such practical points – with due caution and respect for the thoughts of others.

1. Why does the gathering belong to the breaking of bread?

When Christians come together as an assembly to break bread, they commemorate the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and proclaim His death (1 Cor 11:24-26). This could be done "mechanically". But when the assembly is healthy, they will thank their Savior and God from the heart, "offering" praise to Him through prayers and songs and praising His name (Heb 13:15). Now, this exhortation – because this is what we are told to do in Hebrews – is directly followed by the next one: "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (verse 16). In God's mind, these spiritual and material sacrifices simply belong together, and this is how Christians have always practiced it. In some countries, for example, the collection is even carried out directly after the actual breaking of bread, and the meeting is then continued. God's Word does not set any rules here, but the idea of combining these two "types of sacrifice" should be recognized in the way the collection is carried out. This is probably one of the reasons why 1 Corinthians 16:1 ff speaks of the "first day of the week" when people gather to break bread (Acts 20:7).

2. If it is a sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More, does it not also include devotion and silence?

Even though we should certainly examine before the Lord how much we can provide "sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More" for Him and His work, the idea of "sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More" in the collection is more that we "offer, present" something to God because, ultimately, it is the case that everything He has entrusted to us belongs to God anyway. Paul even describes such financial gifts as a "fragrant aroma, a pleasing sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More" (Phil 4:18). If we consider this, everyone present should feel the need to spend these moments of sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More in silence before God – and not be disturbed by all kinds of whispering and rustling.

3. Can the offering in the collection also be replaced by targeted donations?

There are always special needs among God's people or in missions that become known and where it is important to us personally or collectively to provide money (or material goods or time, etc.). For example, Paul specifically collected money for the poor Christians in Judea in many meetings (Romans 15:26). The collections dealt with in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 are probably also to be classified in this area – as a kind of "special collections" as they are also practiced here and there today.

In contrast, in the general collection of the assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More, money is made available for many needs that are often only known to a few or for which discretion is required (servants of the Lord, care for widows, social emergencies, etc.). The brothers entrusted with the administration of these funds (2 Cor 8:19.23) endeavor to pass these funds on in a Godly manner. The joint collections, therefore, have a very special significance without making personal donations superfluous (cf., e.g., 1 John 3:17).

4. What about the titheThe tithe is a one-off or regular offering to God, to kings, or for the sanctuary of God (Gen 28:22; Lev 27:30). It is given 1/10 of one's possessions (e.g.,... More? Does it affect the assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More?

The tithe was a divinely ordained task or "tax" for the provision of the Levites (Lev 27:30-32; Num 18:21) among the people of Israel, of which a tenth was intended for the priests (Num 18:26-28). Christians are saved on the basis of grace and are always called upon to persevere in this grace of God (Acts 13:43) and under no circumstances to place themselves on the basis of the law (Gal 5:1-4). Thus, the tenth is not even up for debate as a possible "contribution" for us Christians today. We are those whom God has given to the Lord Jesus as a gift (John 17:6). Wouldn't we then like to make our whole life available to Him as a "sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More pleasing to God" – including the resources entrusted to us – both of which belong to our Lord anyway? Depending on our prosperity or wealth (1 Cor 16:2; Acts 11:29), we may give "cheerfully" (2 Cor 9:7) – without legal obligation or restriction through tithing.

5. Should the sisters still keep their heads covered when gathering?

If the time of the gathering should take place in conjunction with the meeting, the same applies to this time as to the meeting itself. There is no specific instruction to cover the head during assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More meetings (remember: these verses in 1 Cor 11 are about personal life). And yet we can say that it seems to be spiritual and in line with the teachings of Scripture for the sisters to cover their heads in the place where we deal with the highest spiritual things and are consciously in the presence of God/the Lord Jesus. Even if women do not participate audibly, they still attach importance to the fact that it is precisely in this place that the glory of God becomes visible. Still, not the glory of man – cf. 1 Corinthians 11:7. Thus, spiritual insight points this way even without an actual command into the thoughts of God about the positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More of man and woman.