Money in the Church: How do you know there's not enough?

By Dave Crittenden
Transitional Synod Executive        

I don’t get it. Why don’t we talk about money in the church?

More than half of our pastors don’t know what their members give to their church or where their members yearn to invest their time and money. Yet the same pastors often know everything else there is to know about those same members because it helps with pastoral care.

Sessions, presbyteries, synods, the Presbyterian Mission Council and the Office of the General Assembly don’t talk about money with each other and only talk about money themselves when it is absolutely necessary.

The whole system believes there isn’t enough money to do what we believe God has called us to do.

Didn’t we just finish talking about money? There was that budget thing and salaries. Wasn’t it only the expense side of the budget because we can’t imagine there being more income? Most everyone I know cut ministry because we are convinced there is not enough money and won’t be for the foreseeable future.

How do you know there is not enough? Did the leadership and the congregation look at all of their assets as ways to enable ministry? Did you ask those who give to you what they really want to do with their money – did you invite them to be partners in your mission? Did you ask members to financially join in your vision by inviting them to be long term collaborative partners? Did you show them how it could be done rather than outlining the reasons why failure is inevitable? Do you personally believe there is enough?

If we don’t talk about faith and money we won’t know if there is enough.

We yearn to follow Jesus. Jesus talked more about possessions and money than any other single topic. For the most part we stopped talking about it, what happened to us?

The people of the Exodus got manna every morning as part of God’s promise there would always to enough. They complained bitterly every day, but at least they talked about it. When there were more than five-thousand mouths to feed Jesus said feed them – even after hearing it was impossible with the resources available at first glance.

I choose to believe those gathered shared what they had brought, but intended to hide. They shared everything they first had decided to keep. God in Christ believes we will share what we intend to keep and that there will always, always be enough.

“Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work”  2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (Common English Bible).

 

Let me know if you want to talk about it.