Jul 01 2008
If your church disappeared–would anyone notice?
President Bush said Saturday that religious charities, partly financed with federal money, have helped reduce homelessness, found jobs for former inmates and helped combat malaria and HIV/AIDS overseas. Your can read more about that here. I think it is great to hear that faith based ministries are making a difference in parts of the country. That should be a given.
Last week Cassandra and I were in Uptown Charlotte celebrating our 20th Anniversary. I was going to get our van after dinner to pick Cassandra up. While she was waiting on me a “homeless” man in his 20’s started a conversation with Cassandra. You have to understand that Cassandra has a “gift” or “curse” depending on how you look at it to make people tell them their life story in a short period of time. Anyway, this young man has a college degree but has hit hard times. He needed $6 to stay in a “homeless shelter.” Since when did it cost to stay in a homeless shelter? Is that typical? We gave him a gift card to McDonalds and said it was from our church and a few dollars from us.
When a non-believer thinks of church what kind of thought comes to mind? (I’m curious what Ask an Atheist thinks) Do they think of large buildings? Do they think of stained glass windows? Do think think of lots of traffic on Sunday mornings? Do they think of cheap signs of a churches selling BBQ, Fish Fry’s, Yard Sales, Car Washes or just plain hand outs? I think it is sad when churches sit outside Wal-Mart begging for money or even ask Wal-Mart or Target to give them money. If we can’t make it on tithes, then maybe God doesn’t approve of what we are doing.
Churches get “tax-free” perks that other organizations don’t receive because we are suppose to be beneficial to the community. But are we? Do we give back to our communities more than we take? How sad when Wal-Mart and Chick-Fil-A are known more for giving back to our neighborhoods more than the church.
I wonder what would happen if some of our churches closed their doors. Would anyone notice?
What do you think?
5 responses so far
Man, you have asked a loaded question! I think every church in the nation would like to believe they would be missed for one reason or another. “Yes, because we take care of the environment.” “Yes, we include all people (emphasis on all).” “Yes, we hold to the ancient (very) truths and are the one and only bastion of truth is this godless town.” (That’s how you win friends and influence people). I would like to think the church I pastor would be missed because of the impact for change and the impact for reaching out that we try to do. You ask a good question K. One that I don’t think is easily answered here.
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..Bringing it Home!
This is certainly not an easy question to answer, but one that is worthy of discussion and should gather plenty of that here.
I’m afraid that too many churches would not be noticed if they closed. How can I say that? Simple. Many of those churches aren’t noticed even though they are open! Why should they be noticed? What are they known for? They are known for big crowds, maybe. Traffic jams at noon on Sunday, definitely. They may be known for fish frys or bingo on Friday night.
What difference do those things make? None whatsoever! None!
I’m with you. Churches need to survive on the tithes and offerings of the people who are members. I always believed that God placed the people in the church to serve Him. I believe He places the people in the right place at the right time to teach, witness, lead, serve, and yes, to give to the ministry of the church. Maybe, just maybe, if we focused our church members on ministry and not other things, we would use our monies more wisely and more for the community.
I always despised when our members wanted to go to Wal-Mart or another store to ask for donations. I know they were willing to donate, but I always thought the church should be the one setting the example on giving back, not local businesses!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..High Price of Gasoline is Taking A Toll
Kevin, the more I read about your wife, the more I know you are a blessed man! Cassandra is a godly woman! I appreciate her listening to the man’s story. Who knows how long it had been since anyone really listened to his story. Especially without condemning him! Great job Cassandra!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..High Price of Gasoline is Taking A Toll
Great post Kevin.
I struggle with myself, not my faith, but myself, when we put a day of working with Habitat together and I get more non beleivers to help than fellow church folk
We do several “steak outs” a year, benefiting abused kids, pregnancy centers or anyone who needs a hand, I always have the same volunteers and the same donors and ticket buyers.
We recently hung out and cooked with a ministry for adult addicts and I invited our whole mens minsitry….I got three other men to show up from a church with a few thousand members.
But these are our crowns and I (try) to concentrate on the blessings of these events. One example, I bought and cookded 125 steaks for a kid needing a transplant. A charity we hooked up with matched us “dollar for dollar” that night with a maximum donation of $10k. The Lord gave us exactly $10,100 in donations that night, and the family received 20,100. Now that was a God thing.
But I concede, it is hard to keep initiating these things within the church, no matter how many times I remind myself to “be the church and not just go to church”.
I get weary and ask for prayers for steadfasteness and how to handle my frustrations. Sometimes I fear that my church going and my mission fields are opposing one another, fighting for my time and resources, when there should be a balance.
I think a lot of people are just so time-constrained with work, school, kids, things around the house, etc., that they can’t (read: don’t) want to get out of the routine. I find myself like this from time to time. I have to remind myself that NOTHING should be more important that my relationship with God, and that that relationship isn’t just developed one hour a week on Sunday mornings. It is easy to spend a Saturday watching 5 hours of Law & Order than to go work at the church or attend some sort of meeting during your day off.
On the tithes thing, I agree with you guys. If the church can’t be a good steward of the Lord’s money, how can the leadership expect its attendees to be good stewards?
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