That is a problem. But I wonder if there's more to it than it being a "requirement" or lack thereof. I remember hearing Jehovah's Witnesses talk about how all their Kingdom Halls were built on donations. I don't know the details of all that, but they do seem more passionate about their witnessing. Right motives or not, correct doctrine or not - you don't see many Christians going out of their way to do that, and some even criticize them for their desire to see people accept Jesus.
I'm not saying they all do it for the right reasons, but it seems that that sect, and Mormons, are far more passionate about spreading the message - but Christians are not. Perhaps there's a correlation between giving, and passion.
Perhaps many Christians are in church because it is fashionable, or expected. And if they can get away with it, they probably won't give a lot to something they are only doing to appease society or friends/family.
I have told people that if they refuse to give to God's house generously and with cheerful heart, they will never go anywhere with God that inconveniences them.
I am not talking about salaries here at all. I am speaking about giving to the church as a whole.
Today it seems that most just do not understand that it takes money to run a church or a ministry. I think sometimes people just think that churches/ministries are exempt from resource burden.
To be fair there is a lot of debate on programs, worship, etc. I am not going there. I am speaking in the simplest general terms of giving.
For example, we are in a traveling ministry. I am invited to speak at revivals, camp meetings, Sunday services, etc.
I remember one person in a church we were the guest speaker in throw a fit with me. He siad there is no reaosn his church should be burdened with giving me a love offering. I am called to serve the church and such had no business receiving offerings from churches as payment. I should have a part time job to pay my way, blah, blah, blah...
I asked him if it even occurred to him that it took me $120 in gas one way to get to the church.
it made him think really hard. He walked away thought about it and came back over a while later and asked me, you really have to fill your tank to get here? Yes, I replied. and on an average month I put easily 800-2,000 miles on our "new" 2013 Car. oh wow, I never thought about those things.
I was not mad and it sounds silly and border line unbelievable, but it really is how many Christians think.
When we had a church, I remember the same tired old arguments about my pay and church bills.
I remember one board meeting that got real heated up because a board member had many in the church come to him and tell him to tell me, we do not believe giving towards the church is Biblical. I do not beleive in asking for tithes, so please do not get confused. I was not asking them for tithes.
SO I decided to do something about it. We started service on a sunday morning in the dark and without microphones or AC, or any form of electricity and it was summer.
When the board members and people asked what was going on at the beginning of service, I said, well the board told me you did not think any form of giving to the church was Biblical, but I have to remind you all, that the light bill still has to be paid at the same time every month and just so were are clear the water bill, which runs the restrooms and water fountains also has to be paid every month.
When the offering time came, people gave like never before. I turned on the power and we had one of the best moves of God in a very long time in that little church.
People came up to me after service and made similar statements like the man above. WOW, I never realized my giving was keeping lights on or water running.
We are debt free and our ministry is debt free. I believe strongly churches should be debt free. If God is behind it, he will line up the resources to pay for it. Churches taking on debt is simply bad business.
Sure, I'm a Pharisee (minus all that stuff that actually made one a Pharisee).
