The coronavirus has changed the way some congregations are doing the contribution on Sundays and the way some individual Christians are giving on Sundays. As in all things, we must ask, “What does the Bible say about our giving on Sundays?” A modern-day practice or even a long-time tradition should never cause us to do something that is not authorized.
Let’s examine first what we know about worship itself. First, worship involves purpose. Just as Abraham (Gen. 22:5) and the wise men (Matt. 2:2) planned ahead to “worship,” so also our worship must be intentional. Interestingly, the Bible uses that very word to describe our giving—“let each one give as he purposes” (2 Cor. 9:7). Second, worship involves action. The word “worship” is used throughout the Bible as an action verb, to emphasize something that was being done (Deut. 12:4; Psa. 95:6; Matt. 4:10; John 4:23-24). Third, worship involves the heart. There must be emotion in our worship. It is not merely “going through the motions.” Worship is to be done “in spirit” (John 4:23-24), which emphasizes the engagement of one’s mind, one’s heart, one’s emotions in worship, as seen in giving as one “purposes in his heart” (2 Cor. 9:7; see also Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 11:28, Matt. 15:8-9). Fourth, worship requires authority. We are not permitted to do anything in the name of “worship” that is not authorized by the Lord. Thus, “truth” must be the authority for all that we do in worship (John 4:24), as we “give” and “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psa. 29:2).
So, back to the matter of giving. What do we know? First, giving is a command of God. There are “orders” that we have been “directed” to follow in giving (1 Cor. 16:1). Thus, it is not optional or left up to the elders to authorize. Second, giving is a universal responsibility (orders were given to all churches, 1 Cor. 16:1; 4:17; 7:17) and a personal responsibility (to be done by “each one of you,” 1 Cor. 16:2). Third, giving is specified to be done “on the first day of the week” (1 Cor. 16:2), when the Lord’s church would “come together” to worship Him (1 Cor. 11:17, 18, 20, 33, 34; 14:26).
Thus, giving is a part of our first-day-of-the-week worship, just as much as singing or the Lord’s Supper. It is not an appendage or a compulsion, to make sure that we can pay the light bill. Even if I cannot “assemble” with the church on Sunday and put my contribution “in a basket” and “set it before the Lord” in “worship” (Deut. 26:1-11), if I am seeking to “worship” the Lord on the first day of the week, I need to (1) find a way for my contribution to reach the church and be “put aside” (1 Cor. 16:2) for the work (either by mailing a check or online giving), and (2) still worship with purpose and with my heart on Sunday when the church participates together in the fellowship of giving in worship (2 Cor. 9:7).