Offerings

Church of Christ offerings

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.

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.

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

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 ONESWHO 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

more here.