Theological Reflections on the Offering
The following was written by The Rev'd and Dr. John Westerhoff, a member of St. Benedict's Advisory Council.
When we hear the word "offering", we usually associate it with the collection of money at some point in a service of worship. Typically, those worshippers who contribute monthly or yearly to the church through the mail do not put anything in the offering plate unless there is an announced special cause. And those who do not pledge or make other forms of yearly contributions may put cash in the plate but rarely a significant amount. Such practices are consistent with a secular understanding of the offering, its meaning and purpose.
But from a theological perspective, the offering serves a very different purpose. For example, traditionally the loose offering went to meet the needs of the poor and needy through the priests' discretionary funds, diocesan outreach programs, the national church's programs of relief and development, and so forth, but never for the budget of the congregation. For this reason, even those who pledge and contribute to the church need to make a substantial weekly cash gift as well.
Symbolically, the offering is intended to be a sacrificial gift of ourselves. Along with our financial gifts, the symbols of who we are and what we have, we bring bread and wine for the Eucharist. They represent all the gifts of God and the work of our human hands, which we intend to become our spiritual food and drink. As brothers and sisters, we bring our lives, all that we are and have, in our brokenness and incompleteness, a sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, that God might take our lives and transform them and give them back to us made whole, infused with the life of Christ, that you may go forth to love and serve in His name.
Symbolically, the offering is an act in which we give ourselves to God. Insofar as in our culture money is the symbol of our lives, it is appropriate, and we might say necessary, that each of us make money offerings beyond our weekly pledges in our pledge envelopes, to demonstrate our understanding of our lives lived faithfully in relationship to God, our true selves, and all others, especially the needy and nature.
Nevertheless, great as is the need of our gifts for the church and the poor, we Christians have an even greater need to give with grateful and generous hearts. Recall the words of Jesus: "To whom much is given, more will be required." (Luke 12:48)
