random thoughts about stewardship

You know what time it is? It's stewardship season at the church. The time of year when we preachers reluctantly climb into the pulpit and inspire the faithful to re-up their pledge for another year. I admit through the years as a lay person, I sat through many an appeal for money and responded sometimes with irritation, sometimes with guilt, often with duty.

There are many excuses we can make not to give to the church. I have too much debt. I already gave. I lost my pledge card. I have a family to raise. I've used them all myself. But at the end of the day, I remember Jesus gave no excuses for going to the cross. He did not hold out on me. He gave up his life for me. Why would I respond to him with an excuse? In this season of my life and faith, I can say I am now responding with gratitude. This year, I am preaching with joy about money, and giving with the same spirit.

Easy for me to say. I BELIEVE. I think at the root of poor stewardship, may be unbelief. At the core of abundant stewardship is belief. I mean the kind of belief that changes your life and your thoughts and your will and your priorities, in gratitude for what Jesus did for us. If people don't believe it, or understand it - how can giving to the Lord mean anything? And if they do not hear it, how can they come to believe? And if they don't believe how can they follow Jesus, and be changed? Classic Paul in Romans 10, who also asks, and who will preach it?

Perhaps we should do a better job as preachers and believers helping people get to know our generous God, and inviting them by faith into a relationship with Him through Jesus. To understand the risk involved in disobedience, but the grace that God offers so freely. God's entire enterprise has always been about stewardship of grace and provision as well as truth and discipline. And God's essential character is generous.

Stewardship then is an attitude of the heart and will and character molded around God's heart and will and character, that becomes a lifestyle, not just an annual campaign. For you preachers out there, preach the love and hope of Christ all year round! Offer an invitation to your flock to receive Jesus all year round. Pray for the Holy Spirit to have His way with God's Word and the hearts of the people all year round.

And turn our stewardship campaigns into celebrations of faith and gratitude and generosity.

a rambling thought when discipleship get weary

I have been restless these last few nights, thinking of my church - the people I love and the plans we're making, stewardship season, nominations, personnel changes, and budgets. In the mix are the broken hearts, minds and bodies I minister to in love.

I have also been thinking a lot about how we can be more missional in our attitudes and actions as we "do" church. I believe one way is simply to mention the name Jesus, as we come along side our friends and co-workers, family and neighbors. To muster the words "God lives," and "Jesus saves," with our words and deeds. To offer to pray with someone, simple prayers of love and care and joy, in the name of Jesus. It all sounds simple, but I see the terror in people's eyes as I encourage them to go for it.

Not able to sleep past 4:30 this morning, I pulled up my emails. One was from a dear member who attached a commentary from Ben Stein, comedian, delivered on CBS Morning Show some years back. It struck me today as I considered why we don't talk about Jesus more "out there." Bear with me, as I post excerpts. Ben Stein writes:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.... I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica [or obsess over Britany's latest bad behavior] and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Bill y Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something lik e this Happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?" (She said the same thing when interviewed after 9-11).

Well, I say (Lyn now) God said he will leave us to ourselves. It's all over the biblical witness. And yes, God is slow to anger, but God is not tolerant when God's name and will is mocked or silenced, especially by God's people. Eventually, we who call Jesus Lord and believe God is the Creator of the Universe, and the Holy Spirit lives in us, will be held accountable for our political correctness about the God we profess.

As Christians when we have the courage to speak up as a believer in God, and as Jesus as Lord of all, we’ll be persecuted; that’s what Jesus and Paul meant by persecution and suffering. We WILL suffer for Jesus when we call out His name against the tide of political correctness. I wish more of us had that courage. Jesus has a difficult plan for us: to spread the good news in season and out, in good times and bad, at the risk of our lives and reputation and rejection.

But at the end of the day, our profession of faith will change the world. Because Jesus is the hope for the world. God so loved the word that He sent Him to the whole world.

Why wouldn’t we take the hit so the world can know? Are we too politically correct to be disciples at all?