Dear Pastor;

I’m confused… You just used 2 Cor 9:6 as a basis for your teaching today…

“My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.”

…then you turned around and said we should commit to giving regularly.

Ummm… What about “under compulsion” am I not understanding???

Giving is good but Scripture is clearer than your sermon.

I appreciate that you want what’s best for me and that’s why you’re running through a long list of stuff our money goes too, but as you continue to talk the less I’m interested in giving. Mostly because the majority of the money we give goes to your paid staff and buildings.

It seems that it would be more fruitful for me to identify a mission that I really want to benefit and give to that. Or if I give to the church, that I would see my money stay there.

We should give of our money or time or talents. No doubt. Maybe even all three but its for me to decide. And to decide to joyfully do and not by pressure.

But do not say in the same breath that I should give of one of those three and then try to commit me to tithe 10%. (Okay maybe you did breathe…)

And again about the pressure…. You’ve included an insert in the bulletin that your challenging me to commit to use. Ummmm…. Thanks for the confusion and the obvious misinterpretation of Scripture.

Sincerely,
Sean

PS
(READERS: Please don’t just start chiming in on the general idea of giving and how evil it is. Or send me negativity about the church. I have enough of my own. Besides I do believe that if everyone gave time, talents, and cash, no matter what their religious background the world would be different. Better. I believe that.)

Hi there! It’s been awhile.

You’re always there of course, I’m reminded regularly as I see you around in the lives of other friends and other happenings. In fact, not a day goes by that you aren’t there. In the morning, during the day, in the evening, and even while I sleep, but I still manage to forget you—my oldest of friends.

You are the one that brings me joy, happiness, fun, and excitement, but it’s usually at these times that I forget about you. Sort of. I realize logically that you are the reason that those happenings and the feelings are there, but for some reason I only occasionally remember to acknowledge you. I’m not really sure why I do it…

I also don’t know why, when you teach me something, that I don’t remember what you taught. Every time you teach me, I say to myself “Oh yeah! I remember that. This time I’ll get it!”

…And then I remember it for a time…

Eventually disregarding the lesson taught and having to be be reminded again. But my oldest of friends, you are so patient with me even when I’m frustrated, and angry, and feel so beat up that I curse at you. You continue to teach me the same lessons. You are a good teacher.

The day will come when I will learn your lessons. I am dedicated to it and frankly I have no choice because I know that if I don’t learn them, you will continue to teach them to me.

Your have so much to teach about everything. You are wise beyond the years of this world and can teach about family, relationships, cars, money, jobs, politics, government, wars, plants, trees, management, design, photography, martial arts, and anything else. I don’t know how you got so smart, but I’m thankful and I vow to continue to pursue learning what you can teach me.

The truth is my friend Life, you have taught many your lessons. Some many more than others, but you teach us all. You are not just my friend, you are my existence and I can choose to try to learn from you are I can fight you all the way to the grave, where you will teach the greatest of lessons and introduce me to the friend that I will have indefinitely. Help me continue to learn so that when it is time to give you up, I will have learned what there is for me to learn. Help me also to share what I learn with others so that they will benefit from what you teach without having to have you be their teacher.

Sincerely,
Your Student for Life

P.S. Can you please tell me again why you insist on giving me so many lessons at once? It can be a bit overwhelming…