PASS THE PLATE

Minister to congregation: I’ve decided to increase my weekly contribution. Now it’s time to up yours!

What’s so funny about this? What do ministers and street entertainers have in common? No, this is not a riddle. When you think about it they actually have a lot in common, both speak to large and small crowds of people, trying to influence their behavior. A minister wants their behavior to change for the better while the entertainer wants them to experience the pain or pleasure of their performance message. Furthermore, when they are finished both minister and entertainer will pass the hat or the plate in hopes of collecting a financial contribution from their respective audiences. The street entertainer might well depend on these funds to make a living; and while a minister usually gets a salary, the church is quite dependent on a steady flow of weekly cash offerings by the congregation. In the photo we see a minister at the end of his sermon where he has moved the congregation to co