So last week I was in church and I had an interesting experience.
I arrived a few minutes late and missed the announcements. During the offering call the pressure was on to give money for the new church roof. I'm a bit sensitive to strong offering calls, but I was especially appalled when I saw the bulletin insert for this project!
It stated that we needed money for the project and then showed an artists rendering of the proposed new roof. It was nothing like I would imagine for a modern conservative church. Multiple tall spires, ornate window treatments. How could they ask church members to donate money for such an excessive roof!
I was considering an email to the pastor or someone else at the church where I could voice my concerns, but I decided to ask the person sitting next to me about this roof project. "Do you know what's wrong with the roof?" I asked, uncertain if anything was actually even wrong with the current one.
"It's leaking," was the response. And suddenly I had a new perspective on the bulletin insert. It was a random close up of part of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. It wasn't an actual artist rendering.
It was a joke.
And I was considering an email about this!
So, my takeaways are this: Before you combine a joke and a call for money, ask yourself if the joke is obvious and if not, if it could be offensive. And before you allow yourself to be offended, make sure you understand the situation. Don't be quick to scatter disapproval or criticism.
A couple thoughts from the Proverbs in closing.
"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps." Proverbs 14:15
"The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of the fool feeds on folly." Proverbs 15:14
