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Since my hearing is bad I am not a 'fan' of the practice in many sermons of:Turn to your neighbor and say........ or 'repeat after me' OR SAY ... some phrase of word. I once told my pastor if I turned to my neighbor and repeated what I had heard i might get hit or smacked.I have attended two churches now as a visitor where the minister receiving the offering has the congregation stand and repeat after him a VERY LONG list of things the giver expects, as they hold up their tithe and offerings, i.e. finding hidden money, unexpected money in the mail, rising stocks and bonds, money from lost friends, homes paid off, debts resolved, etc. the list is a few minutes long as the congregations repeats each expectation. I do not give to get, never have. I believe when I give to the cause of Christ, that is my reward. I am one who believes HE will meet my needs and HE has, and exceeded my need. I would feel sorta awkward holding up my offerings before putting it in an offering sack or plate, so I quietly do not comply.Is there any new testament teaching or incident where this is practiced or encouraged. For some reason I always thought donations, gifts etc were personal and unheralded. I am willing to learn, I do not like to appear as a stick in the mud. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

There is the right hand/left hand scripture in Matthew 6:3, which says, But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (NIV). Some might argue this has to do only with how you help the needy. Like prayer, closet and public, there is room for both types of giving. Barnabas was noted (Acts 4:30) for his donation from the sale of land (perhaps in Cyprus where he was from), but in the next chapter of Acts public giving did not go so well for Ananias and Sapphira. It would help us know how to handle giving if a few transgressors were struck down by God, but grace seems to get in the way (or I would have been done in a long time ago). Did they do that offering thing on Resurrection (Easter) Sunday morning?

Re: There is the right hand...

Thanks Mat, yes those scriptures ran thru my memory. Very good comment. One never knows what is in the heart with gifts.And yes Easter Sunday morn the pastor did receive the offering in that manner. This is a new pastor (8-10 weeks) We attended this church and finances/money was mentioned mostly in passing and God blesses a cheerful giver etc... What I consider normal COG receiving offerings.The new pastor mentioned finances quite often in the 2-3 services we have attended. That is such a loving church I am amazed at someone Stressing robbing God a lot...I have had a lot of the blessings of God in my life (both physical and spiritual). Driving down the road I never fail to look over at my girl and say we must be His favorites He has done so much for us. I have never felt the need to challenge God about finances.... HE is soooooo Good to me! Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/