“No Strings Attached”

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

My friend said it would be wrong to use our church's projector for my block party's movie night.  I can't afford to rent one, and I DO pay into the collection basket, so don't I own a share of this projector anyway?  It isn't stealing because it's kind of mine.  I know it is wrong to offend my friend's conscience, so I will make sure he doesn't know.  I'll take good care of it.  If he does happen to find out, what verse can I point to, so he sees reason?

Sincerely,
Host With The Most

Dear Host With The Most,

It would be hard to give you a verse to show your friend he is wrong because he is right.  The moment you place your money in the collection plate, it is no longer your money.  You are setting the money aside and taking up a collection to further God’s work (1 Cor 16:2).  That money is a gift that you are giving back to God, not an investment in future entertainment plans.  By your logic, the preacher’s car, home, clothes, etc. are also “kind of” yours.  Maybe you can drive his car (which is paid for from the collection plate) on Tuesdays at three o’clock, and others can use it at various times convenient to them… kind of like a timeshare.

The point is that our offerings to God should be gifts, and we should be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7).  Once you give the gift, it belongs to the church, and the church has very specific rules that govern its use of money (see “Blow Out The Candles” for further details on the specific responsibilities of the church).  So go ahead and avoid offending your friend’s conscience by leaving the projector where it is.

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