Friday, January 23, 2009
The Economy and "Professional" Christians
The Church Geek had an interesting reflection on the current economic downturn.
OK, now to the primary point. The Geek is right on, way too many people throw money at church to "get it done." We talk about tithing out "time, talent and treasure" but we have of late seemed to emphasize the treasure a bit much at the expense of the time and talent. The net results is that church becomes just another charity, albeit one with weekly get-togethers, not the sort of life-altering institution Christ intended.
What makes me sid is that way to many "professional" Christians have been way too willing to encourage this state of affairs. Admittedly, it may be "what the congregation was calling for," or is it? Christ said:
You know how when your baby is tired it cries at the slightest provocation. You remove the provocation, but something else almost immediately causes the bawling to begin again. The real need is a nap, not whatever it is that is provoking the crying. As Christian leadership, should we not be able to see through the congregational "crying" to the genuine need. Should we not be finding a way to provide for that genuine need, instead of simply bowing the crying?
Of course, the hard part is, unlike the baby, these people "control" the paycheck. If they ask for X and we give them Y, they might take the money and go elsewhere. That's scary stuff.
So maybe the bottom line problem is not even their unwillingness to look their genuine need in the face, maybe it is our lack of faith that God will provide.
Which brings me back to the mini-rant I started this post with that seemed a bit off topic. In this recession, what are we being asked to give up? Yes, some are losing their jobs and their homes, and they have my complete sympathy and support, but most are not in that particular pickle. Most of us just have to tighten the belt a little. Maybe postpone that new high def home entertainment center a couple of years, or vacation by car instead of fly this summer. Most that are losing their homes are still employed and will be able to get into apartments. Yes, they lose a pile of money on paper, but the have food, shelter, and each other. Those that have lost their jobs will find new ones.
GOD PROVIDES. - especially for those that serve Him.
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One issue of concern we talked about was the ‘pastor’s salary.’ The question we asked was whether or not churches would continue to be able to afford to employ full-time professional ministers. We didn’t really come up with an answer to that question, but we both agreed that if they could not, then it would be up to the congregation to pick up some of the slack.I agree with this post a lot, but before I proceed, I want to pick one minor bone. Our economy is not broken, the end is not nigh, this is not another "Great Depression." We are in a recession, deeper than any since Carter, which means most people cannot remember it, but that is all it is. We really need to tone down the rhetoric here, confidence, in the end, drives our economy, and if we insist on the language of failure, the crisis of confidence such reflects will create a self fulfilling prophecy. Economies are cyclical, we are in a down cycle - hardly the end of the world. Besides, some people are doing quite well, still - THANKS BE TO THE LORD, I am one of them. If you still have your job, and most people do, you are one of them. Enjoy it for crying out loud.
[...]
Kim, a friend and fellow Presbyterian colleague, wrote an excellent reflection last week about her particular struggle with a related attitude that often prevails in the church - that of just wanting to ‘get it done.’ What I hear in her explanation is that many folks often see the Pastor as the one who gets paid to say the magic words - at the wedding, funeral, or baptism - and once that’s been done then they can get on with their lives.
OK, now to the primary point. The Geek is right on, way too many people throw money at church to "get it done." We talk about tithing out "time, talent and treasure" but we have of late seemed to emphasize the treasure a bit much at the expense of the time and talent. The net results is that church becomes just another charity, albeit one with weekly get-togethers, not the sort of life-altering institution Christ intended.
What makes me sid is that way to many "professional" Christians have been way too willing to encourage this state of affairs. Admittedly, it may be "what the congregation was calling for," or is it? Christ said:
Matt 7:7-11 - Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!Is not the desire to just pay someone to do ministry another reflection of our sinful state? And is not our sinful state the ultimate reflection of our need? So should we not meet the genuine need, not the stated one?
You know how when your baby is tired it cries at the slightest provocation. You remove the provocation, but something else almost immediately causes the bawling to begin again. The real need is a nap, not whatever it is that is provoking the crying. As Christian leadership, should we not be able to see through the congregational "crying" to the genuine need. Should we not be finding a way to provide for that genuine need, instead of simply bowing the crying?
Of course, the hard part is, unlike the baby, these people "control" the paycheck. If they ask for X and we give them Y, they might take the money and go elsewhere. That's scary stuff.
So maybe the bottom line problem is not even their unwillingness to look their genuine need in the face, maybe it is our lack of faith that God will provide.
Which brings me back to the mini-rant I started this post with that seemed a bit off topic. In this recession, what are we being asked to give up? Yes, some are losing their jobs and their homes, and they have my complete sympathy and support, but most are not in that particular pickle. Most of us just have to tighten the belt a little. Maybe postpone that new high def home entertainment center a couple of years, or vacation by car instead of fly this summer. Most that are losing their homes are still employed and will be able to get into apartments. Yes, they lose a pile of money on paper, but the have food, shelter, and each other. Those that have lost their jobs will find new ones.
GOD PROVIDES. - especially for those that serve Him.
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