I’m about to start reading Zac’s book, and I’ll be looking forward to your review, Sandy.  I agree Zac ( a friend) will have much to teach us.

Perhaps you will think I’m pedantic, but I really don’t think we should use the word ‘pragmatism’ to describe the astuteness and shrewdness (note: with innocence!) the NT commends. 

Pragmatism carries with it concepts that are foreign to the New Testament.  I realise the term has often been qualified by the adjective ‘principled’ but in the current climate of rampant unprincipled pragmatism (see Mark Thompson’s excellent Anglican Church League AGM address) I think we need to abandon this word altogether.

I’m always drawn to books on leadership because I feel my need for any counsel I can get in this area. I’m looking forward to Sandy Grant’s on-going interaction and review of the book.

Since I’m so interested in this topic and don’t have ready access to the book here in America, I went over to the Youthworks website where I was able to read a sample chapter that dealt with electronic giving. I was very disappointed. What I found in that one chapter was the kind of pragmatism that harms the church. Does electronic giving work? Evidently it does, but it takes away from a vital dimension of our worship. If we believe giving is an act of worship, then shouldn’t the offering be taken during our corporate worship services? If we can worship by giving online, can we also download a sermon and worship via preaching online? That would be convenient and possible increase the “attendance” at our services.

Vernon also believes electronic giving will make it easier to invite visitors to our services. If no offering is taken, they won’t be uncomfortable having the plate pass in front of them. But that is also problematic. The old Southern Presbyterians used to say that taking the offering was one way God uses to wean us from our covetousness. If people are unwilling to give, the offering plate may become a means of conviction. The fact that their wallet stays in their pocket or purse may be used by God to show them where their priorities lie. If our worship makes people uncomfortable, they will just have to be uncomfortable. Perhaps if visitors saw God’s people giving generously, emptying their wallets into the plate, they would fall down and say, “Surely God is in this place.”

I realize that Mr. Grant is just getting in to this book, and I hope to follow all of the reviews. Perhaps he will come to the same or similar conclusions regarding this or other aspects of the methods Mr. Veron suggests. When I hear the word “pragmatism,” I become concerned. This sample chapter is a good example of why.

Rhett Dodson
http://www.RhettDodson.com

Sandy,

Thanks for your gracious rejoinder. Obviously this isn’t a fundamental of the faith, but I do think the practice of taking an offering in corporate worship is important. I’m going to make just a few brief points in response. You can find a fuller discussion of these points on my blog at http://rhettdodson.com/blog/?p=128.

1.  It’s common practice in church, at least in the Presbyterian circles I’m in, to fence the Lord’s Table. This explanation lets the unconverted know what’s going on and why they shouldn’t participate. Churches can, and probably should, do something similar with the offering. “We’re going to worship God with our gifts. If you’re a visitor, were not asking you to give. We’re just glad you’re here, but this offering is a way that we express our gratefulness to God, etc.”

2.  Your point that Paul didn’t receive money from the unconverted or newly converted is right on target. But new mission situations are different from established churches.

3.  My two “assumptions” are based on what I see to be apostolic practice, especially 1 Cor. 16:1-4, but also Acts 2:42. This practice, I believe, provides warrant for our church practice today.

4.  I agree that our giving should be spread across all of life and not limited to an offering on Sunday morning, but I don’t believe that takes away from the necessity for a corporate expression of worship via giving.

5.  You would “prefer to reserve ‘vital dimension’ for such central matters as hearing the Word read and preached and prayer, as well as the expression of fellowship and love for one another,” but in my understanding (again, see the blog for fuller discussion), the offering is a part of fellowship and an expression of love to fellow believers in need and the poor outside the church.

I look forward to your continuing review of Leadership on the Front Foot. Let me reiterate that I don’t think public offerings are the end-all and be-all of worship, but I believe they’re important. I’m grateful for the leadership that Zac Veron has given and continues to give to the church in Australia. May his tribe increase! But when they increase, I hope they’ll buy some offering plates!