Radical Generosity
We are continuing our look at the book by Bill Easum - Unfreezing Moves - Following Jesus into the mission field The other posts in the series can be found here
Unfreezing Move #9 - Radical Generosity
The final unfreezing move is said by Easum to be the last because money “seldom plays a large part in transformation or innovation” (p143). If only we had more money is a common cry amongst church leaders seeking to implement change and yet as Easum says - “The abundance of lack of money is usually directly related to the way a congregation approaches the first and fourth unfreezing move” (p143). To clarify the first move is “a solid community of faith” (pp80-86) and the fourth is “mobilizing the congregation for ministry” (pp104-110).
Easum sees a change in the way the issue of money is handled in newer missional congregations. He says that unstuck congregation “define stewardship as a way of life rather than a method of raising money.” (p143). Instead of having annual giving appeals the approach has moved to see giving an integral component of the mature Christian. Accountability about giving is then built around discipleship practices.
I resonant with this change in emphasis. At Northern - managing our money is one of our seven spiritual disciplines. It is deliberately not simply about giving to the church (although that is apart of it), but rather about cultivating an environment that sees the management of our finances as a spiritual issue and a discipleship practice. Easum notes that unstuck congregations “are abandoning the use of once-a-tear, hard-sell, stewardship programs and drives” (p143). There is a shift from modern response of “what is the best way to give?” to “why should I give?” (p143). I found this statement challenging as I don’t think at Northern we have done enough work in the area of “why should I give?”.
Money is obviously a sensitive issue. It is an issue that causes great debate and heat. It is also an issue that is open to abuse, both in the way the money is used and the way giving is encouraged. Yet it is an issue that Jesus spent a great deal of time talking about and one that if we are serious about our discipleship we need to be prepared to counter and to talk about it with others.
Easum has some guidelines for what he calls “radical generosity”:
“the more owned and managed the mission, vision and values of the congregation the more generous the giver.” (p144)
“Trust between the congregation and the leaders” (p145)
“Relevancy of the mission - Doners give to big dreams much more than congregational needs.” (p145)
“Personal involvement in the mission to which the person is giving” (p145)
“A person’s values: if the gospel does not shape them then the giving will be low. Focus on disciple -making rather than fund raising.” (p145)
“Leaders who are role models of stewardship of money. (p145)
“Don’t be afraid to talk or preach about money” (p145)
“Make an explanation of generous giving a regular part of new participants orientation” (p145)
April 22nd, 2006 at 8:54 am
Phil and Dan,
I would agree with you regarding your synopsis.
It is interesting that he writes:
That there must be “Trust between the congregation and the leaders” (p145)
That is so true.
Now that I know that Leaders in many large Churches have been intentionally misleading their own people and now stonewalling questions surrounding doctrine, accountability and transparency so my question remains:
“how can we trust spiritual leaders with teaching about things of eternal importance - if we cannot trust them to teach us properly about things of earthly importance such as money”.
St Paul and the early Church too the issue of accountability and trust much more importantly than the Contemporary Church.
Trust surrounding money is critically important when dealing with money. St Paul and the early Church knew its and put the right processes in place.
“And when I arrive, I will send on those whom you approve and authorize with credentials to carry your gift [of charity] to Jerusalem”. (1 Cor 16:3).
Ministries that have burnt my own trust such as Riverview Church in Perth, Pat Mesiti Ministries, Hillsong, some AOG and some COC will never see another cent of my hard earned $cash.
If they were open and accountable - like a traditional Church congregation then they would not have a problem and I would freely give.
Mind you the way they operate reagrding money is more like the behaviour of a cult than a Church.
April 22nd, 2006 at 2:21 pm
It would require radical generosity to follow Jesus’ instructions, “Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.” and “lend, expecting nothing back” (Luke 6 30 & 35).
Would any Christians care to follow Jesus by depositing all their cash into my bank account? Jesus did say anyone who asks, not just Brian Houston or Phil Baker.
April 22nd, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Donald Duck …
I admit that I am a Christian failure as I can’t fully live up to Jesus’ commands or his ideals.
Few apart from St Francis of Assissi can…
Thank God for Calvary.
April 22nd, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Are you willing to publicly list your account details on the world wide web? I have a large deposit from a Nigerian bank account for you DD.
April 22nd, 2006 at 7:35 pm
“i have a large deposit from a Nigerian bank account for you DD”. :)))
:))) Many thanks for the grin!
April 22nd, 2006 at 9:56 pm
It really doesn’t take that much, Jesus asks for everything, so give that. Everyone else that asks…
Sorry, I don’t have anything
Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, I will give to you.
I actually heard a guy teach that what they really meant was that they had a lot of silver and gold, but what the guy really needed was healing so they gave him that instead.
the rev
April 23rd, 2006 at 12:38 am
I have felt like a total loser for being an adult male with no mortgage, no car, no career, no long term relationship… I have never seen Christians in my context who have not gone after these things… And looked at you funny for not having them…so now i have a ten thousand dollar debt which makes me feel a little better… Oh.. and a sponsored child in Haiti.. I guess Im now officially part f the http://www.christianity.com that is;world wide western christianity.)
There was only one guy I ever met who wasnt really part of this crew. He was living in the back room of a Church,had been in prison for armed robbery, overcome addiction to speed and heroin, once beat up a pastor, ( youd like him rev) and he taught me to play the guitar.. probably the only useful Christian discipleship Ive ever had…
April 23rd, 2006 at 12:41 am
Can you believe that I typed in that wbsite as a joke? Ahh… The irony..
April 23rd, 2006 at 1:30 am
Urbanmonk, you’ll find atheists are a better class of people to associate with.
“No mortgage, no car, no career, no long term relationship” sounds ideal to me, how do you do it?
April 23rd, 2006 at 1:46 am
What can I say, I am blessed beyond measure…
April 23rd, 2006 at 2:00 am
I meant that the ex crim was a good example of Christianity.. Hed *&cked up, and he knew it. he had nothing to share with me but humility. A humility wrought in the fires of a life that looked to be wasted. Maybe thats why I actually learnt something from him.: )
April 23rd, 2006 at 2:22 am
$10, 000 could buy me my dream Roland keyboard, keyboard amp, and a BR16 Roland recording equipment. Maybe new clothes also!
Anyone!!? I promise to only play Christian music… hehehe!
The bassist from Hillsong United has a really yummy 5-string bass… Christians have great taste in musical instruments
I also love Gretch guitars… chunkay, but funkay! For acoustic guitars.. Well
Maton, or Taylors… Aussies have the best guitars too though Corts are soo nice..
April 23rd, 2006 at 12:30 pm
great taste in musical instruments but s*** taste in music as soon as they walk thru a church door…