Digital Donations

"Does giving electronically still worship God?" This is a question that I have wrestled with for a number of years. For the last 10 years, I have been against the idea. In my mind I found it difficult to imagine people sitting at their computer screens singing "Shout to the Lord" while making on-line donations to their church.

However, in recent years the role of debit cards and other digital payments have roared to the front pew of society. Fewer people are carrying cash and even fewer people are carrying checks. For a majority of the 20-30 something generation, their financial world is entirely electronic. However, within the church giving is generally in two forms: cash or check. Is this shutting out a generation of desiring givers? Is the methodology preventing people from applying theology. Is it more godly to write a check than punch in a pin number?

I am unwaivering in several areas:

1. For the Christian, the local church is to be the place where finances are dispersed to collectively accomplish God's purposes.

2. Giving to God is to be from the "firstfruits" not from the leftovers (top-priority).

3. Giving is an expression of worship and not merely a religious exercise or check-box.

4. The base-line for giving is 10%, and the goal is sacrificial giving.

Above all, isn't the essence of giving to be a prioritized expression of worship that collectively accomplishes God's agenda through the local church to carry out where He is working throughout the world?

So help me out here -let's articulate worship-driven giving in a digital age.

Please share your thoughts.

bnall