by Ekim Seyer

Created on: June 04, 2008

As far as "responsibility of businesses supporting local churches" goes, there is no rule for it or against it. Businesses have no business supporting local churches; unless the business is owned and operated by a practicing member of the church. A person associated with any company that donates to churches must have the authority to be able to give the business' assets away. That person should be preferably the owner, CEO, or head accountant. But it should not be done for tax credits. If one goes about donating to church's with the sole purpose of getting tax breaks, that form of giving is out of GODs will and is considered a sin because it is done not to serve GOD, but to serve self. With that said, the bible tells us to support the body of Christ cheerfully, gregariously, do it unto the Lord and only between you and the Lord. If you go about telling others how much you are supporting your church, you have your reward in full from the acclamations you receive of those you tell.

The church is not in the community to receive help from business' but to help the members of the community. Therefore, when the community attends the church services, they should give with cheerful hearts to the church so the church can help others who are not so fortunate, or help other churches who are in need or missions who are extensions of the church. When business gets involved in church, there is never a good outcome. The business starts to creep in on the everyday goings on of the church business and pollutes the very being of the church.
A good Pastor who heads the church should never allow a donating business to involve itself in church policies, mostly due to conflict of interest differences.

The church welcomes all donations, but they are taken without any regards to the one who donates, and without special interest returns to the giver. Once the donation is made, that money or items (whatever was given) is now the churches property and can be doled out as they see fit. No one can come to the church and complain as to how the church is distributing what is donated.

The church is there to be of service to those in need, spiritually first, and physically thereafter. The church sustains itself on the donations of the congregation. The salaries of the leaders are taken from the donations, as well as the utility bills, upkeep on the church building and the grounds. The equipment needed to do the work to keep the church viable, printing services, paper to distribute their service bulletins. There is a lot of expense in running a church, but the majority of the funds need to come from the congregation, not outsiders looking for tax alleviations. If any business is looking to donate money for tax write-offs, give to charity organizations like hospitals, or special interest groups, then you can get the notoriety that you are looking for. When you give to a church and let it be known, you are just giving that church a black eye, folks will look in disdain at GODs house of worship, because the non believers impression of that church will be "That church is bought by so and so business". GOD does not need fair-weather friends or special interest givers.

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