No matter what we say or do, this is what we think of you. Amen.
(A Pastor’s prayer over the Sunday offering)
I’d like to talk to you about faith – yours, mine, ours – in Jesus Christ. It is going to sound like I am talking about money but, in fact, I am not. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Do you believe that? And by believing, I do not mean nodding your head as the creed is read on Sunday morning. No. What I mean is “Do you believe in Jesus with your whole life?” Has Jesus become your way? Your truth? Your life?
An accurate gauge of what people actually believe is how they spend their resources of time, energy, and money. We probably don’t even mind being preached to regarding time and energy – but when it comes to money: Whoa! Now the preacher’s started meddling! No matter: Let’s meddle a little bit. Here follow five favorite fables held dear by (some) church members:
(A Pastor’s prayer over the Sunday offering)
I’d like to talk to you about faith – yours, mine, ours – in Jesus Christ. It is going to sound like I am talking about money but, in fact, I am not. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Do you believe that? And by believing, I do not mean nodding your head as the creed is read on Sunday morning. No. What I mean is “Do you believe in Jesus with your whole life?” Has Jesus become your way? Your truth? Your life?
An accurate gauge of what people actually believe is how they spend their resources of time, energy, and money. We probably don’t even mind being preached to regarding time and energy – but when it comes to money: Whoa! Now the preacher’s started meddling! No matter: Let’s meddle a little bit. Here follow five favorite fables held dear by (some) church members:
All they ever talk about in church is money.
What I give is just between me and God.
The church spends too much.
My little offering doesn’t make any difference.
Nobody tithes anymore.
Each of the above is demonstrably false. Think about it for a moment. Can you spot the mistakes?
Here are my responses (in agreement, by the way, with some very wise stewardship gurus):
All they ever talk about in church is money.
(No we don’t – except for some TV ministries. Ministers are very timid about money talk – unlike Jesus who talked about money much of the time. Check it out in the Gospels.)
What I give is just between me and God.
(No it isn’t. The matter is certainly a very personal one. However, what you give to the mission and ministry of the church is between you, God, your fellow members, and every person served by your gifts.
The church spends too much.
(No we don’t. In fact, our church needs to spend more because there is so much more that we need to accomplish in the name of Jesus Christ. We do probably spend more than we have – but this is a giving problem rather than a spending one.)
My little offering doesn’t make any difference.
(Your offering, large or small, matters a great deal! Most stewardship gifts are on the smaller side. Many small gifts – plus some larger ones – accomplish the church’s mission.)
Nobody tithes anymore.
(Yes, many Christians do tithe – give 10% of their income. And in growing, passionate-for-mission churches, a majority of members are tithing.)
That’s a lot of “money talk” – but as I said before, it is not really money we are talking about but faithfulness; we are thinking about being faithful with all that we have and all that we are. Christ our Savior deserves that kind of faithfulness from you and from me.
Fisk Memorial is a wonderful church with wonderful members. I admire your enthusiasm, your love for one another and passion for the mission of Christ’s church. You have treated me with great kindness. But I have noticed that there are two things our church is particularly shy of: Presence and resources for ministry. Our pews should be – could be full. . . and likewise our offering plates. What’s stopping us?
I am praying, in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord, for great things at Fisk Memorial.
Peace and joy,
Pastor Mark
RSS Feed
