I have been trying over the past couple of weeks to answer the powerful questions raised by The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi in a paper entitled Seven Questions Every Church Should Ask Itself. You can read his entire article by clicking here. Your response to my posts has been encouraging. So, I press ahead with Question #6 which reads: If money were not an issue, where would you like your church to be five years from now?
Nicolosi offers these additional insights: "Here is an invitation to envision a new kind of church for a new kind of world. Remember George Bernard Shaw’s observation famously quoted by Robert Kennedy: “Some people see things as they are and ask ‘Why?’ Others see things as they could be and ask, ‘Why not?’” Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, says, “Vision is a set of guiding principles and practices and shared pictures of the future that provide energy that draws us into the future.” Any true vision will deal honestly with reality, no matter how brutal or unpleasant, but also give us hope that tomorrow can be better than today. Think of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and you have a fine example of vision. In developing a vision for your church, it needs to inspire and motivate people to sacrifice, serve and give generously. The end result needs to be worth the present effort. Above all, people must sense the purpose and will of God for the future of the church."
If money were not an issue, where would you like your church to be five years from now?
My immediate reaction to Dr. Nicolosi’s questions is that first and foremost the Church needs to deal honestly with the "800 pound gorilla" in the room. Money in the Church IS the issue. Before any congregation can begin to fulfill the dream of God, the leaders of a congregation need to face up to the demanding challenge of leadership and have a frank exchange regarding how we manage our money.
I have been working in the Church for twenty-three years and have served in four different parishes. With the exception of Saint Patrick’s Mission in Mooresville , North Carolina
The problem lies first at the feet of the spiritual leader. If the pastor is not tithing, he or she has no right to ask anyone else to tithe. Bill Easum writes in his book Go Big: “It’s been my experience that too many church leaders don’t tithe, including pastors. That’s some messed up stuff. Leaders need to tithe but give above a tithe.
“You may be saying to yourself, ‘I don’t have the money.’ And you never will until you begin to get honest with your money. But when you begin, God will give you the resources to tithe and beyond. He really will. Begin to tithe and you will be amazed at what God can do” (Go Big, page 110).
So friends, I make a confession. There was a point in my life when I was tithing. But I stopped doing it primarily for selfish reasons. Then the excuses came - house payment, credit cards, college tuition, car payments, taxes, church issues. Every one of those excuses is utter rubbish and nonsense. There is no excuse. I am robbing God!
Until I get back into the discipline of tithing, my life will not receive all of the blessings. This way of living means a change in priorities and spending. It means being about clarity instead of vagueness. And it is worth it for I have never met an uncheerful tither.
Meet an inspirational example of a tither:
In the same chapter of Go Big, Bill Easum goes further in his belief about a faithfulness to the tithe: “No matter how vocal a person is about their commitment to your church, if they are not giving a tithe, they aren’t committed. They can be as vocal as they want but they are not in the boat. Jesus told it like it is – ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (Matthew 6:21 NIV). If one on your staff does not tithe, warn the person. If he or she doesn’t change, fire them. If one of your leaders isn’t tithing, ask them to step down until they are willing to tithe. Don’t be afraid to hold people accountable. Too much is at stake to do anything else" (Go Big, page 115).
Bill is correct in his belief about tithing. In the Episcopal tradition of which I currently serve, money is a taboo subject for too many persons, except during Stewardship season. Very few congregations that I know of (there may be an exception) are engaged in a sincere, candid and healthy discussion about money and how the Church with its invaluable spiritual teachings can guide members to more vibrant and financially balanced lives.
Let’s at least be honest with each other – the financial crisis currently facing our country is the fault of every one of us! Too many members of our congregations are in serious financial jeopardy: overspending, living way beyond means, double mortgages, and existing off the credit cards.
It is estimated today that the average credit card debt in America
I have experienced this problem in my own life and have sought through the 12 Step program to have God help me overcome the addiction. But, I have heard too many stories in those meetings and in private one-on-one sessions in my office with people sinking into massive debt. And what does the institutional Church do about it? It stands silent as we watch our members drown.
I thought the Church was to be a Life-Saving Station?
The faith community of God must be willing to accept people where they are (in debt and in sin). The next step is to help folks overcome their struggles and become what God wants them to be. When I once again lead a parish, I can guarantee you that I will structure the Christian Formation ministry very differently.
First, I would choose a financial planning course that fit the needs of the congregation (that means that as the leader you have to listen and know where your folks are in life). Second, I would insist that every member of the core leadership and staff go through the program. Third, the course would be offered every quarter. Four, the classes would be a component of any new-member training. Five, I would invite a participant to give a testimony in a worship setting soon after their participation in the program.
Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). He was right. Until congregations get serious about these conversations and the leadership models with the example of the tithe, all of our pious talk about “if money were not an issue” is idle chatter and utter nonsense.
Some excellent sites and superb resources for you: Click on the link to see more.
Tomorrow, I am going to put forward the three motives why people give to institutions but not to the Church and the faith community’s ignorance to such logic. Wednesday, I will answer Nicolosi’s question and paint a dream about the mission of the Church. I hope you will join me.
Love One Another - Brian
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