I’m going to try to keep my thoughts relatively short on this issue and let the scriptures speak on this topic, as God does a much better job then I, in relaying His perspective. As always I would encourage any reader to really delve into the scriptures.
Disclaimer: I want to be clear, to those readers who attend the same church as I do, that my opinions are based on conversations with other brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as my own personal experiences in several different churches. I am not specifically addressing concerns I have with my current church. I’m addressing concerns I have with the current American church, in general, and the mega churches more specifically.
I’ve heard so many sermons about money and many times it seems as though Jesus gets lost in the fray. I am told to be a good steward of my money, but not really taught how to use this to glorify Jesus. I am told to tithe as much as I can, and sometimes beyond, but not told why. I am told all this by pastors who lead churches which are cranking in the money without seemingly any accountability. Where is this money being spent? Expansion projects? A big new church building with the churches web site plastered all over it? Better bulletins, or should I say programs (Nice programs so we can all feel like we just attended a very entertaining sporting event, but that’s another article)? Hipper/louder concert/worship music? How much money do these pastors make, in total (book sales, speaking engagements, church salary)? What is the biblical model for how we should spend our money?
I checked two mega church’s websites to see if I could readily find some information on how much money the staff, primarily the senior pastor, receives. Nothing! I believe every church (especially the mega churches) should clearly publish where the tithes and donations are going and how much is going to the staff wages, especially the senior pastor. I also believe the senior pastor should willingly publish his total yearly income. This is to everyone’s benefit. If the pastor is leading a righteous life, with regards to the stewardship of his money, then it is an encouragement to the congregation to do the same. For example, if a senior pastor has a total yearly income of say $100,000 and gives away ½, or more, of it (tithing and charities), this will be an encouragement for the congregation to do the same, especially when he gives the ‘tithing’ sermon. A legitimate case could be made against this particular opinion of mine, however, at the very least, any believer should agree the senior pastor NEEDS to be held accountable by several folks (preferably the unpaid elders of the church) and these folks need to know his total yearly income and how he’s spending it (1Tim 3:2). Also the following scripture comes to mind:
1 Peter 5: 1-3
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
The verses at the end of this article clearly point out how evil the love of money is. If you notice the prophet Balaam is mentioned in 3 separate books of the NT (listed below) and none of these references are good. Balaam is used as a model for the false prophet who seeks wealth and not God. Balaam was wicked because he believed in God, but directly disobeyed Him and didn’t hold to His teachings or His will. This brought destruction, not only to himself, but to those who sought his counsel and/or services.
Concerning false prophets and their love of money, God has given us all a brain, but more than that He’s provided His word which is full of all things good (joy, encouragement, instruction, love and wisdom). I encourage all believers to read His word. Read about our glorious Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Read His teachings. In light of these teachings and in light of the love of the Father expressed through His son Jesus Christ, humbly pray for discernment enough to tell the man of God from the Balaam’s of this world. However, pray for Jesus’ bride (the church) and pray for humbleness and love in your heart so that you can pray for these men once you’ve recognized them. That God may yet reveal to them that He is the Lord. That He may yet have mercy on them, as He did with Nineveh (Book of Jonah) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:33-37).
An interesting email I received:
Subject: Consider before you donate
As you open your pockets for yet another natural disaster, keep these facts in mind:
Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross salary for year ending 06/30/03 was $651,957 plus expenses.
Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits.
The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.
No further comment necessary
Pertinent scripture:
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (New International Version)
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Mark 10:23-25
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 8:14
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear (the word), but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
1 Timothy 6:3-12
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Concerning Balaam
For reference see Numbers 22-24
2 Peter 2 (concerning false prophets/teachers in the likeness of Balaam who sought material wealth for his prophecies)
Jude 1 (concerning godless men, also in the likeness of Balaam who sought material wealth for his prophecies)
Revelation 2:12-17
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
Encouragement:
Isaiah 55:1-2
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Matthew 6:20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
5 comments:
I can sympathize with your frustration here, Bill. I whole-heartedly agree an emphasis should be placed on teaching a biblical model of stewardship. Expansion funding should be in favor of close-knit, well-taught bodies of disciples - not gold-plated cathedrals.
I haven't really pondered enforcing the accountability of the leadership. You're right, though - change must always start with the leaders. So long as it doesn't stray into "big brother"ish legalism, it may be a good thing.
Leaders need to be handsomely rewarded (the laborers are few enough as it is!), though a reasonable standard should definitely be agreed upon. Just the capitalist in me... Idealism can be approached only with realistic steps you know.
Internet monk has an related article that he posted recently that shows the opposite extreme of the accountability problem:
http://www.internetmonk.com/index.php/archives/th-look-at-me-offering-trying-to-hear-what-jesus-says-about-public-compassion
Greg,
To comment on your comment. I guess I should write another article on my vision for a church, as compared with scripture to help flesh out my beliefs on this.
Regarding your opinion on leaders being handsomely rewarded, I agree, however I don't believe this is in a material form. The rewards we are promised are spiritual in nature. A closer relationship with the Lord far surpasses any material reward in this life. I believe, the more we are given (monetarily) the more we are expected to give it away. We are stewards, so the money, or for that matter our very souls, aren't really ours anyways.
Bill, I can tell your ideas are well thought out. I see that your exeperiences of living in different parts of the country and going to different types of churches has allowed you to see things that perhaps someone who grew up in one church wouldnt see. The problems are obviously real issues and have contributed greatly to the current state of the Church in America. I believe that we have lost our "first love" and in a sense what has happened is the gods of the land have influenced us. Look at Isreal they were always influenced by the "gods" of their day. I think alot of what has happened to our country is not seeing the false gods that have kept us from serving the true living God. Ultimately what God seeks in us is Absolute Surrender to the Holy Spirit and not holding on to other things that have in a sense become "false gods" in our hearts. Good job with your blog and keep it up. Your bro' Tom.
"Ultimately what God seeks in us is Absolute Surrender to the Holy Spirit"
I'm not sure I agree that this is what God is ultimately seeking in us. Can this be backed up bibilically? That the best 'ultimate' expression of God's desire for how we are to relate to him is "surrender"? Faith, I can see. But faith and Surrender, I think are two very different things. Faith is active and expresses itself through love. Surrender is passive and... what does it do? Does it turn us into a glove for the Holy Spirit, who controls our every move? I can see where somebody may come to that idea, but we WALK by the spirit (something that I very experiencially do), and we WORK out our salvation with fear and trembling. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." But we are imploring and living and believing. Surrender is an element of faith, particularly as it comes to giving up your love of sin and idols, but the REPENTANCE that God calls us to is to not merely GIVE UP things, but to PUT ON CHRIST. It is active, not passive. It is actively done by the power of the spirit who enables us to DO these things.
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