WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY WE SHOULD PUT OUR NAMES IN THE OFFERING ENVELOPE?
We can not find word for word every practice that we have today in the Lord's churches. Neither should we require it of every pastor or deacon or church, that before we vote or implement certain matters, we should first find the exact word for word in a book, chapter and verse.
There are many things that we can do, that we can say it is BIBLICAL, even without finding the exact "word". The definitions, the meanings, the principles, the implications, the analogy, the exegesis are there and very plain.
Take for example the use of Musical Instruments. Where do we see that the New Testament Apostles used a guitar, a piano, or a drum? Well, we would never use live drums in our congregational worship, but we have used the Piano, and we still use the guitar. So have we violated Scripture? Have we become an unscriptural church?
NO!
You can take water direct to your mouth from a flowing stream, you can also use your hand to scoop water and bring it to your mouth, or you can use the modern cup. What is important is the water, the hand, the cup, are just means to take the water to your mouth.
So also the Musical Instruments are just means to let our mouths Praise our God.
Let's go to our main topic now:
WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY WE SHOULD PUT OUR NAMES IN THE OFFERING ENVELOPE? Or where do we find that the Apostles ever put their names or decreed that the members should put their names?
Let me answer by saying this:
It is not sinful, it doesn't reduce your humility, it is not pride, if the brethren knows how much you gave.
In fact, it is even endorsed somewhat by the Holy Spirit, when He caused to be written these verses:
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
(Act 4:35-37)
The whole church knew, who was poor, who lacked, who does not have any land or possessions, (net worth), and who are those who having land or property sold it. The giving was not in secret, keeping it anonymously in an unmarked envelope. But it was very public, because those who had the large sums of money, came forward where the Apostle's where, and put the sum in front of them.
So although, we can not find chapter and verse, that they used offering envelopes, and put their names there, we have an example that the identity of someone who gave was published to the whole church.
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