Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I hate it whet people twist the arms of others to give. If there is a need, it should have been stated and no amount suggested. Gage the situation from your own way. If the spirit moves you to give, do so. If you don't wish to give then don't. You shouldn't be asked to give a reason why you don't either. Most churches had funds for situations like this. I have seen too many times where people have given money to others when they needed it more than the person receiving it.
At my church a few of us are very close as friends and have grown up together. This past sunday the estranged husband of one of the girls in our little group was shot and killed. Last summer they were working on getting back together and from what I saw it seemed that everything was going good between them. Come to find out they split up again some time later in the year. They have a few kids together who are mostly grown, 18, 19 years old and one of them has a baby of her own. Well, these kids hardly come to church. They may come once every 6 or 8 months or so. Today we get a group text from one of the girls asking if each of us could give $10 each as a donation for the kids. Had we been collecting money for the mom, our friend, I probably wouldn't have a problem with that. You know, to get a flower, to buy some food to take to the house, or just to put in a card. No, the text was specifically for the kids. Yes, the mom is an active member of the church but the kids have gone off on their own and hardy show their face in the place. Am I wrong to not want to give money for this purpose?
Then again, maybe I'm looking at it from the standpoint that about 4 years ago my grandmother passed and it really hit our family hard. There was no donation taken up for me or my kids or mom. Over the years a number of us in the group have experienced loss but this is the first time that we've been asked to give a donation. Why now? Does that make me a bad person?
I wouldn't give the kids anything, especially since they are old enough to have jobs and go to work. More than likely the wife is the one who needs the money, since she's the one who had to bury him.
Sometimes it really IS about the principle of the thing.
I usually agree.
But this isn't kids collecting money to go on a vacation. And it is not a self inflicted emergency.
It is a church member collecting money for others in needs - church goers or not, who cares, they are HUMANS - to help pay for BASIC expenses because their dad suddenly died.
And yes, they are old enough to have jobs, but let's be realistic. A teenager doesn't earn much yet and funeral expenses are $$$$ even if you keep it cheap.
Calling yourself "Christians" but giving $10 to somebody who really needs it is too much? Get out of here!!!!
Church people should be the first ones helping other "brothers" and "sisters."
I worked in a church before and have to say that I keep getting proof that non-believers are often more helpful than the ones preaching it.
I think EVERY church should collect money for such events if the families are hit hard by funeral expenses.
Then again, maybe I'm looking at it from the standpoint that about 4 years ago my grandmother passed and it really hit our family hard. There was no donation taken up for me or my kids or mom. Over the years a number of us in the group have experienced loss but this is the first time that we've been asked to give a donation. Why now? Does that make me a bad person?
A) So that means nobody else can ask for help either? Ever?
B) Why now? Why not ask? You have the right to ask where your money goes.
No, you are not a bad person for not wanting to donate. It annoys me when people pressure others into giving to a cause. I prefer choosing my own charities and do not feel badly when saying no, especially in a situation like this where someone is telling you how much to give.
It's the expectation of the 10 dollars, and why these people over others?
And why 10 dollars? Why not "please give what you want to give"?
You see it the way I do. Why now do we need to take up a collection for kids who are grown and hardly ever come to the church? We all have lost loved ones over the years and there was no collection taken up for anyone else. Sometimes it is the principle of the issue. If these kids were active in our church or even if they attended on a regular basis that would be one thing. Had the collection been for the mom that too would have been another thing. No, the money was/is for the kids.
Financial stress tends to soar at times like these
Christians - so unlike Christ
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
