This is born out of my perceptions, not only of the impending recession and credit crunch, but out of attitudes I’ve observed over the years to “giving” (offering of any amount or kind) and “tithes” (an offering of a tenth part of some personal income).
I’ve always looked with a somewhat critical eye at tithing, not because I presume to have knowledge that others don’t, but simply the way it’s implemented.
There’s a system of pressure and expectation, with people eyeing you carefully if they don’t see you contributing financially to the church. Of course this is something of a conundrum, in that you’re not really contributing to the Church (i.e the assembly of the saints, the body of Christ, the collective of all followers of Jesus), but to the institutional church building. Because to be contributing, paying or tithing into the Church is surely to be paying into the Kingdom of God? And the Kingdom of God isn’t something you see with your eyes, because it is inside of you. (Luke 17:20 – 21)
The Kingdom of God is referred to in scripture as the Kingdom that was, that is and that is to come (as is Christ and one of the Beasts of revelation. Beasts in prophetic/apocalyptic revelations have always represented earthly kingdoms). I perceive these states of the Kingdom as follows:
1) (That Was) The initial Kingdom of God, as established through the creation of the universe and mankind. Earth became an extension of God’s greater, eternal, heavenly kingdom, with Adam as His representative and the first born of His new family.
2) (That Is) The current Kingdom of God, as established through the first coming of Jesus, before being realised in His resurrection. Through faith in Jesus, we are brought into God’s family as His adopted, and inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven.
3) (That Is To Come) The future Kingdom of God, to be announced through the second coming of Jesus prior to the judgement of mankind. Following this, a new heaven and a new Earth will be created under the Lordship of God with us as joint heirs with Jesus as sons and daughters of God.
It’s important to note that all three manifestations of the Kingdom are defined not by material things or by one place, but by relationships.
The first Kingdom was defined by the relationship between God & Adam, Adam & Eve. This is summed up in the scriptures where God is described as walking with them in the cool of the day.
The second Kingdom is defined by our restored relationship with God the Father through Jesus, by our relationship with our fellow brothers & sisters, and expressed in the way we treat our neighbours.
The third Kingdom is defined by our being in fellowship with God forever, summed up wonderfully in Revelation 21:3 where it says God Himself will dwell with us, we will be His people and He will be our God. The temple, or focus of worship is directed to Jesus and God the Father rather than a building because God’s home is now with His people on the new Earth!
Put simply, the point is that the church is defined by people not property. By relationships, not real estate. By brotherhood, not buildings. Blessings, not business.
So the question naturally arises, when people tithe and give offering, how much of the offering is actually being invested in people? In relationships? In brotherhood and in blessings?
Now I’m not about to imply that we shouldn’t have church buildings and facilities, because that would be adding an unnecessary law and sanction that would be a burden to some and chains to another. What I’m putting forward is simply a question:...
Has anyone ever considered how much money there would be if the church wasn’t tied down by the costs of maintaining buildings and the resources that go with them?
Because it’s easy to say “We have this expensive equipment because it’s for the Kingdom’s cause.” Or “When people come, our church needs to be presentable” and in many cases, this works wonderfully, I’ve seen it happen and no one likes a disorganised church. But they also don’t like dishonesty, and whether anyone would agree with me on this or not, I see a lot of the “glamour” as dishonest. We use these things as a “sign” that we are blessed and that God is with us and yet the main push of the Good News was always, is always, and shall always be about the internal.
Let me just paint a picture for a second to bring the point home...
Say that an assembly of disciples were out doing the work, and by the work I mean meeting the needs of the needy, being a light and representing Jesus through conduct. We wouldn’t even need to bring them to our fancy building and show them our great sound system and projector, or the well designed tracts we hand out...Because we would be bringing what’s most important, the true treasures of Heaven, TO them. All the “signs” of God’s favour, all the initiatives and events we plan would go unseen. And of course this wouldn’t be a waste, because lives would be in the process of being actively saved.
The church may think it’s free from coveting because it’s not coveting the “things of the world”, but coveting is coveting. Intended good can turn to bad very easily.
I’m gonna sum it up like this:
From the time you can’t divorce the scriptures that imply material prosperity from the reality presented by Jesus, you are Materially Minded.
God an mammon. Nuff said.
What it comes down to is, if disciples are out there fulfilling their purpose, to be to others what God has been to them, spreading His righteousness through imputing that righteousness onto others (that is, using the way God has cared for us as inspiration to care for others), all the other stuff becomes needless, y’know why? Because if we do it right, those people we bring the Good News to will go right out there and do the same.
I’m going to say something radical...I’m going to say there should be more empty seats on Sunday because we should be spreading out as servants and shepherds. Sowing and spreading the seed, serving the sorrowful and sheltering the sheep.
I’m not saying abandon gathering together because that is against scripture, but I’m saying after gathering to strengthen and encourage each other, we should be going OUT! Spending less time in the building and more time building relationships!
The house warming has gone on enough. We’ve warmed the seats so much that no one else wants to sit on them. The air is getting stuffy.
So how does this all relate to my so called financial vision for the church? Well, now I haven’t looked into this properly myself, I’ve only heard whisperings but I’m assuming they are reliable. But what I’ve heard is that the solution to the financial crisis of today, being proposed by some in the church, is that the church (as a global whole) should have its own bank or banks. This is something I immediately just didn’t think was right, it just doesn’t seem to sit right with the spirit of scripture.
What business does the church have in having its own bank?
There are various other religious groups and other institutions that have their own banks, but they also have something else in common... I believe something like this only encourages segregation. And I’m not talking about segregation of motives and purpose, as in not being how the world is, I’m talking physical segregation and alienation.
We aren’t meant to be segregated in that sense. We’re in the world but not OF the world. Our ways and agenda are different but we should still be found in appearance to be people! We must above all else remain relatable, and one thing segregation does is breed ignorance, arrogance and prejudice. It just feeds our fears and follies, without allowing us to see things from a more God’s eye perspective, seeing people as God sees them. Segregation from other people dehumanizes them in our minds.
We’re called “strangers in a foreign land” according to scripture. Now, when the Jews were exiled to Babylon, they were told by the prophet Jeremiah to do business, live and seek the peace & prosperity of Babylon! They were told to seek the best for those who had taken them from their land and home. They were meant to be a blessing to ALL nations. We are also called to be the same.
We shouldn’t be seeking to usurp power by upsetting the economical balance, hording up treasures for ourselves, but be seeking to BLESS. Part of the reason for this economical crisis is that people aren’t essentially paying into the economy, whether through capitalism or through investments. Like it or not, we are part of the circular flow of income and that flow helps to maintain the lifestyles we live now. I’m not saying dive full on into capitalism, but I am saying we should seek what’s best for the country we live in and our neighbours. If we don’t want to feed into that system, we could possibly at least bless someone who may in turn pay into that system. Alternatively, we could be purchasing so that we can then give those purchases to others.
Now it would be wonderful to set up banks that don’t seek to just make money but to actually provide an interest free service to people, but this should be offered to ALL, not restricted to Christians. Furthermore, with the way the church spends money these days, can we be trusted with our own bank?
So what do I propose? Well, an example has already been set for us in scripture and in the reality of the church. Going back to an earlier point, the church is not a building right? It’s people, it’s connections, it’s relationships, all united in one body under Jesus, the head of that body. So it stands to reason that any kind of “church bank” should follow that model. We all have our own personal accounts and funds, and together they form as much a church bank as we individually form the body of Christ.
What if people simply just paid into each other’s lives when they felt led by the Spirit? If, knowing their account details, they just paid an amount in whenever without word or just handed someone an envelope. They don’t need a reason save they just want to bless. They see a need and see they have the resources to meet that need. And then, what if this were extended to those outside the body of disciples? Where ever there is a need, there would be ample resources to sow into that need by gathering together out of what we have.
If there should be any form of “bank” it should be this. It should not be visual or fully physical (in the sense of one building, one place, one account etc.). It should be a unity of diversity and something that can’t be reduced to one locale. It should be like the Holy Spirit, blowing like a wind and no one knowing where from or where to.
It shouldn’t have a name, it shouldn’t have a status, it should just be. Our God set an example for us through His very name...Yahweh, I AM THAT I AM...
If this is going to be anything, that’s what it should be. It is what it is. If it just IS, it’s just being DONE. It never stops, and it never fails.
Wow - thought-provoking reading! I'm going to enjoy following your blog.
ReplyDeleteDon't stop now, bro!