Sometimes it is downright disturbing how folks in ministry beg for offerings.
It remains one of slimiest aspects of religion today. Most of what any of us could see sickens me, but I worked behind the scenes to see how donations were wasted on every petty and gross vice you can imagine. Some you can’t imagine. God help me; I want no part of that.
In the past few months, one person in particular has posted a couple of contributions to my PayPal account. I used it to buy a shop-vac — been wanting one for years — and then a regular carpet vacuum cleaner because our old Dirt Devil was working poorly. Got them through Wal-Mart’s online store because they take PayPal. When you tell folks how you spent their money, it’s called “accountability.”
It’s getting rough on everyone. I suspect the next PayPal contributions will be spent on groceries. No, we aren’t starving, but it is tight. I’ve changed my “Donate” page here to reflect this new reality. If I knew how reach out there and clip that guilt wire in your brain, I would do it right now. The last thing I want is someone trying to assuage false guilt by donating to my work. You can’t buy God off like that, nor your own conscience. Don’t try it.
Find some other motivation. Participate on any basis that moves you, but I refuse to beg. Give because it blesses you and me. I’ll be glad to explain where the money went, but I’m willing to bet you’ll find me pretty responsible, if that matters to you. But you can’t give what you don’t have and I would be deeply disturbed if I saw some of slavish crap I’ve seen elsewhere. Don’t do that to me.
Do what’s right. I’m just letting you know the real situation.
