Online tithing is a practice that embraces the timeless biblical principles of giving and allows givers to utilize today’s technology to keep current with their obligations. Nonetheless, God does outline expectations and requirements of His children. As we give to our modern-day “Caesar” through our taxes, we must also give regularly and faithfully to God. Of course, here at E Giving Systems, we realize that pleasing God is not something that we want to do purely out of duty, but out of delight. Regardless, duty still does play a part. When givers neglect their responsibilities, the domino-effect can be disastrous.
For instance, in your church, you probably have staff members that rely on someone’s sense of duty to process and deliver their pay, each pay period. The individual who’s responsible to make sure the payments are made might be convinced of the staff member’s worthiness of pay and be happy to contribute. Regardless, if that person simply forgets just one payment, the staff members could be direly affected.
Not only would the people who weren’t paid be affected, but so would their families and ministries. Perhaps rent or a mortgage payment would be late, or groceries would be meager. Those issues could make their practicing hospitality and otherwise giving to others, difficult. If the lapse in pay continued, perhaps family members would have to pick up extra work, making them less available for ministry. Feeling tired and unappreciated, they could easily be tempted to give to the ministry without the kind of cheerful enthusiasm they once had.
As much as this scenario is hypothetical, the kinds of issues it represents are real. While a pay check’s being neglected may be unusual, under-budget ministries cut and skip the already-low pay promised to staff members all the time. Missionaries return from the field, too, often with no replacement ministry leaders until much later. As members of the same body, we need to realize that even a single sin of omission can have far-reaching results.
As much as each individual needs to wrestle through attitudes and motivations behind giving, tithing is something that should be automatic. Your church can help foster this kind of responsible commitment by making online tithing options available to your congregation. E Giving Systems offers secure EFT recurring giving solutions, as well as options for other types of online giving. Our services are provided through many partnerships with other ministry-minded organizations, and all our staff members are believers who will provide you with training and support, along the way.
We’re always finding ways to make our tools more user-friendly and effective, and we can give you tips on how to implement them strategically, along with your other giving and technology goals. To learn more about our services, you can visit eGiving.com and download this brochure, which gives an overview of our basic services.
Believe me, and you’ve probably experienced this yourself, but it is so incredibly hard trying to pursuade a church board to even consider setting up a cashless giving system for a church. Maybe my church is just the solitary exception, but the board of wise gray haired men just live in a different world than us young whipersnappers! Lol I wish there was a way to somehow get them to realize that times have changed. It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee and “progress”!