I Am Uncomfortable With How My Church Handles Money

Official answer 2026-08-22

Your discomfort is reasonable, and Scripture supports asking. First on giving itself. The New Testament does teach believers to give, but the wording is worth noting: each should give what they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Three qualifiers there — decided in their heart, not reluctantly, not under compulsion. Any practice that leaves people feeling pressed runs against that sentence. Then transparency, which is the heart of your question. Paul deliberately arranged for several people to travel together when handling a church collection, and wrote the reason: we take pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. Clear accounting is something Scripture explicitly cares about, not a worldly demand imported into spiritual matters. So a church that cannot say where the money goes is, by the Bible own standard, not normal. Practically. Ask directly — gently but specifically: may I see a summary of annual income and expenditure. A healthy church is not defensive about that, and many volunteer it. Watch a few concrete signals: whether more than one person handles funds, whether there is external review, whether leaders set their own pay, and whether giving amounts are tied to spiritual standing. If the platform links giving directly to blessing, healing, or financial improvement, be cautious; Scripture contains no such transactional structure. And you may choose to give directly to a specific use you trust — a particular worker, a particular relief effort. That is still giving. One last thing: if asking gets you evasion, hints that you are unspiritual, or accusations of rebellion, that reaction is itself the answer.