NDG’s View
Over the past twenty years, a noticeable trend has emerged, leading to the proliferation of “mega churches” across the country. It is what many call “prosperity ministries.” The sermons and books emphasize verses in the Bible that refer to the financial kindness of God. They preach that if we are obedient and “plant a seed” that we will receive monetary security. Despite concerns that this approach overstresses the opportunity for financial and material possessions from God instead of spiritual and eternal blessings, these ministries have prospered.
Sunday, September 25, 2011, Tim Lucas, the Senior Pastor of Liquid Church located in New Jersey, offered a different message of hope. Instead of taking a financial collection, he gave a “reverse offering.” The church distributed envelopes with the words “God Trusts You!” containing up to $50 for each parishioner. (See page 3 of this week’s for more details.)
Liquid Church provided a financial gift with no strings attached. Members could use the money in any fashion they wished. While some Liquid Church members planned to use the seed money for a fundraiser to help those impacted by Hurricane Irene, others were relieved to have money for gasoline for their work commute.
The staff at the North Dallas Gazette wonders when local churches will begin to help their struggling members. Have they considered offering a similar financial blessing to their members? In the Dallas community, various ministries take in more than $30,000 in collections each Sunday. Have these churches considered celebrating a Congregation Appreciation Sunday and give money back to the congregation instead of using their influence to raise money for the next building project?
What is the church doing to help a suffering community? It could change how people interact and participate with the church body. In the end, a simple act of kindness could also change how they see God. Think about how happy you are when you get a quarter on the sidewalk or discover a forgotten $5 tucked in a pocket.
Leviticus 19:9-10 instructed, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest…. Leave them for the poor and the alien.” Later, in the book of Ruth, the young widow took care of herself and her mother-in-law Naomi by gleaning the grain left by the harvesters in Boaz’s fields. When you read about the role of leaders in the early Christian church in the New Testament, one of their main assignments was taking care of the poor and widows.
When will the ministries in the community leave a gleaning of their financial harvest for those in need among them?
Even in these financially challenging times, the churches are still receiving a substantial amount of financial support from their members despite published reports that general unemployment nationally hovers around nine percent. On Monday, unemployment for African Americans reportedly reached a 27-year high at 16.7 percent. Many in the community believe when the numbers include those unemployed so long they have given up looking, the estimate rises to 25 percent within the African American community. In the white community, August unemployment fell to eight percent.
Pastor Lucas indicated the idea for this “Spiritual Stimulus” is a result of Americans losing faith in the government’s ability to provide real help. Historically, prior to integration, the African American church was more directly involved in the daily needs of their members. The church was the foundation of the Civil Rights movement, leading the charge for not only equality on the bus but in the classrooms and employment offices. They also helped financially and through activism.
Even today, within the African American community, during a meeting sometimes they will take up a collection and give all of the money to someone among them in need. Also, when a tragic situation such as a house fire or death of an uninsured family member occurs, African American churches respond.
But what about the everyday emergencies of the unemployed Dad or the quiet desperation of the Mom working three jobs and the ends still do not meet. Will $50 solve their problems? No, of course it will not. But will it offer them a moment of hope and the relief we find in our soul when we feel someone cares? Imagine the empowerment they will have when they begin to believe again that God does indeed care about them.
Yes, large and small churches offer limited assistance today. As the holidays approach, there will be appeals to provide donations for holiday food baskets. This is great, needed and appreciated. However, hunger is a not simply an opportunity for a feel good moment on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. It is a year round problem. Also, these efforts rely on the generosity of the congregants through financial or can good donations.
Hosting an Annual Congregants Appreciation Day and giving members of the congregation a donation could have a far more lasting impact beyond finances. It could provide hope.
Tell the North Dallas Gazette what you think of this idea by email at Publisher@northdallasgazette.com.
