I read with interest the letter written by Hulda Weems in the July 20 issue of The Alabama Baptist. I do agree that Christians are “becoming known as people who will tolerate anything.”
However, I disagree with the point regarding the Widow’s Mite. When the widow gave her mite, she did not stand around and question the temple staff as to how her mite would be used. She gave it as an unselfish gift.
Many people today seem to think that ministers and their families should be paid with a gift of a weekly chicken and a bag of green beans, much like pastors were paid in the early 20th-century farming communities. They certainly do not seem to want them to live comfortably. While I, too, have been discouraged by potential ministers who will not come to a church unless they are paid a certain amount of money, I certainly do not think that most pastors are in it for the money. I do not feel that I have the right to know how much my pastor earns. I do not wish to waste time reading how much his house payment is, how much his utilities cost and how much he spent out of his travel allowance this month.
I am reminded of a past business meeting when a dear lady was upset that the monthly budget report was not available. I remember her saying, “I have the right to know how my money is being used.”
That remark felt like it stabbed my heart. I wondered, “If the dear lady gave me a toaster, would she come to my house to see that I was using the toaster properly?” I believe that if she showed up on my front porch wanting to see how her toaster was used, I would give it back to her. Obviously it was not a gift. When tithes and gifts are given to God, they cease to remain ours. For that matter, none of it belongs to us anyhow.
Mrs. Weems’ letter is a wake-up call for us all. She reminds us that Christians are losing some integrity because of too much tolerance. However, I would also point out that Christians are losing much more respect because people in the world watch how we treat each other.
Jeff Gilbreath
Auburn, Ala.
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