kiosk
Originally uploaded by ericblauer.
Some churches are installing these type of giving kiosks in their buildings where the church gathers. The idea being, that many people dont cary cash or write checks that often, so a debit card system of giving would be easier for giving. Step up, swipe the card and enter an amount you want to go to your church. I dont see any reason why it would be a negative, there are many times I have wished I could give but I only carry a debit card and at various conferences or events its cash or check only. Just some thoughts, curious what other people are thinking about it.
5 comments:
unfortunate, inevitable. ~matt
I don't really see the unfortunate. For a guy like me who never carries cash, this would be perfect. This or something like it.
I can see how some could percieve it as a negative. Much the way passing the offering plate can be seen as a negative. But if the church doesn't get money from it's own congregation...where will it get it at all?
I'm all for it. If not one of those, some form of electronic payment option. I'd rather give in binary than not give at all.
"unfortunate, inevitable"
Thanks for sharing your opinion but could you elaborate more than that. If you do feel that it is "unfortunate" than could you share why.
We are trying to work through the dynamics of a cashless society, a consumeristic culture not raised with the values of giving. Trying to figure out the biblical tension of teaching and faith as it relates to giving, figuring out how to walk in new testament grace giving without resorting to some of the easy old testament scriptures on giving that are tired and beaten like a stubborn donkey. Trying to find godly wisdom on how to care for the needs of a growing community in needy area, there are people to feed, clothes to share, households to furnish, homes to repair, children to support, drug users that need programs and qualified people to serve them, tutors to pay, resources to purchase to train people effectively on the issues we face in an urban center. Workers to support and fund as they follow Gods heart. Its all easy to spiritualize, fantasize and theorize from the outside but in the end...LeeElla and I have to make out checks. Real money for real people to meet real needs.
Many Christians treat money like they treat their weight...they say they want to be thin and pray about it, trust God, cry and moan but in the end...they dont want to discipline themselves to do what they are supposed to do, to get thin. In the end grace givers often give less than law givers...I want to find the way to turn that around.
And a side note: I received $50 from a young man in california for the Karen refugees last week...he paid it via "paypal" on the internet.
That's $50 that helped get a homeless refugee into an apartment. I think that is fortunate, dont you?
I meant no offense. Sorry to be vague.
I think it's unfortunate in the same way that fast food restaurants are unfortunate. You eat and have obliged what you have to do, but it's done in a synthetic plastic like way. The experience of the home is missing, and you are mostly in the company of strangers. As is the same with standing in front of a machine to tithe, punching in numbers and such. I would prefer to be in the pew with the gentle passing of the offering. I'm not saying the ATM version is wrong, but I would say unfortunate, yet inevitable. Inevitable in that we live in a world that is become more and more driven by bits and bytes. I don't think it's necessarily good, but it's what it is and we are in the middle of it. I'm not saying we should go to live in the woods, but if possible we can try to live a little bit like we still know the woods exist and were a fine place to live once upon a time. ~Matt
I guess as long as I don't have to scan my forehead it's okay.
Love Dad
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