Recently, I was asked: Do you take up a collection during the worship service? If so, please, what is your Biblical basis for doing so? In answering these questions, I believe that it is important to acquaint oneself with the subject of giving. In doing so, the above questions can be answered on a Biblical basis.

     We lay by in store per the commandment given by Paul in 1 Cor. 16:1-2. Verse 2 {On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. (NKJ)} is a direct command given by the apostle Paul to the congregation that met in Corinth. Paul used his authority as an apostle to command the Corinthians to give back a portion of their income to the work of the Lord. This was a practice that he had set into motion in other congregations. Notice the Corinthians were to do as the Galatian brethren were doing. Since the Bible is relevant to all generations of mankind, Christians are under obligation today to follow this command so that when a need arises a "collection" will not have to be taken.

     We lay by in store on the first day of every week. (1 Cor. 16:2 - NASV) 1 Cor. 16:1-2 is the only passage in the New Testament commanding that the collection be taken at a specific time: the first day of the week. There is strong evidence in the New Testament that the church regularly met on the first day of the week. In Rev. 1:10 John referred to Sunday as the Lord's day. The first day of the week (Sunday) is of great significance to Christians:

    When one makes proper application of the above, then he will realize that a collection taken for the work of the church on any other day of the week is unscriptural. Many churches take up a collection every time there is a service - be it Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday. All present, whether members or not, are subjected to sometimes great pressure to give something every time "the plate" is passed. I have heard of collections being taken in denominational churches where after the amount contributed was given to the
preacher he ordered the pl ate around once more saying "there wasn't enough!" The attitude of compelling or pressuring people to give is unknown in Scripture. Instead, Christians are to have the kind of heart in which they are motivated to give out of a sincere love for the Lord. Fundraisers,  rummage sales, raffles, etc. are often utilized today by many in the religious world to finance various efforts and/or programs "for the Lord." There is no scriptural authority for taking up a collection on a day other than the one specified, and in any other means except that which is specified in Scripture.

     We lay by in store so that the church may do its work. Christians in the first century gave of their means so that the needs of evangelism, edification, and benevolence could be met. In 1 Cor. 16:1-2 the Corinthians were giving to support the work of benevolence. 2 Cor. 8:9; Rom. 15:25-27; Acts 24:17 speak of the need of the saints in Jerusalem. Christians are also expected to support the work of evangelists and teachers who have dedicated themselves to the work of the Lord. Paul spoke of this in 1 Cor. 9:3-16.

     Christians, not non-Christians, are expected to give as they have been prospered. Notice 1 Cor. 16:2 specifies who has the responsibility to do the giving. Observe, ...let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper... Paul is writing to Christians at Corinth. No Christian is exempt from this command regardless of their age, sex, marital status, etc. God expects His people to be a giving people! Each Christian should give in proportion to his income. The larger one's income, the larger one's giving
should be. Unlike the widely held view of giving 10% and 10% only, the New Testament nowhere specifies an amount that the Christian should give. Jews under the Old Testament were commanded to give tithes (10% of their income) plus numerous offerings and sacrifices. Tithing was a requirement under the old law, and is not applicable to Christians today who are under the law of Christ. The word "tithing" has been adopted by the religious world to refer to giving. Christians are simply told to give as they have purposed in their heart. (2 Cor. 9:7) When giving, the Christian's attitude is to be cheerful in nature. (2 Cor. 9:7)

     In 2 Cor. 8, Paul encourages the Corinthian brethren to excel in their giving. What is given to the Lord proves the sincerity of our love for Him (v. 8). In 2 Cor. 9:6 one finds that those who sow bountifully will reap bountifully. The key to giving back to the Lord, is one's attitude. If the Christian has the attitude desired of by God, then returning a portion to the Lord will not be a problem.

     Non-Christians are not expected to support the efforts of the Lord's body. Anyone who compels someone outside of the body of Christ to support the work of the Lord has gone outside of the authority of the Scriptures. All references in the New Testament concerning giving reflect upon the individual responsibility of each Christian to support the work of the church. Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom created a church that is to be sustained by those who are part of it.

     How "the collection" is to be taken up on the Lord's day is not specified in Scripture. Each congregation of the Lord's people (in order to fulfill the command in 1 Cor. 16:1-2) must provide a convenient means for Christians to give freely to the Lord's work. Giving to God is part of worship - just as much as the observance of the Lord's Supper, singing, praying, or teaching. The word "collection" in 1 Cor. 16:2 was commonly referred to as a religious collection, and in the normal sense meant a "collection in a formal way." One may conclude that Paul was commanding Christians to a regular, public collection.

     The method of laying (depositing) funds into a collection of the church is not specifically stated, so one must find an expedient method by which all members can fulfill their responsibility to the Lord. Congregations today do this in a number of ways. The most common method is to pass a "collection plate" around the room, wherein each brother or sister can contribute. Other congregations may sing a hymn, have the members get up, march around, and lay their gift on the table. Some have placed a box in a convenient location so people could place their gift therein. It is up to each individual congregation as to decide the most expedient means to them to keep God's statute. The method of how the funds are collected is not as important as fulfilling the commandment of the Lord to lay by in store as we have been prospered.

     The Lord's plan concerning giving and the pattern set forth by Christians in the first century stand in stark contrast to the practices of the majority of denominational churches today. As mentioned earlier, many "churches" elevate the contribution to the most important element of the service where people are pressured into giving when they would rather not. This should not be the attitude in the Lord's body! Churches of Christ stand apart and away from the majority in that in many places visitors are reminded that they are under no obligation to give. Personally, I have had denominational people remark to me that they are amazed that they were not pressured to give during the worship assembly while visiting the Lord's church.

     As  ne grows spiritually, his love for the Lord will only increase, and as a result, so will his giving. Let us make sure that each one of us are fulfilling the commandment given through Paul by the Lord in that we give consistently, bountifully, and cheerfully! Robert Harkrider has said, giving is not God's way of raising money; it is God's way of raising children! We cannot buy our way into heaven, but we can be so stingy as to not be allowed in. How are you giving?