There's lots of busyness round here but also a whole lot of thinking going on too. Which is why I probably haven't felt the urge to blog. I can't quite put my finger on my thoughts and don't want to preempt them. Here's one of the threads I've been pondering
Christianity vs Poverty vs Wealth We are blessed to be a blessing but what happens when we get too comfortable we forget to bless others? What happens when we forget to live as radical givers? This week there has been a media expose about a large church in our city allegedly raking in tax-free cash and only giving 10% to unspecified overseas missions while others tackle poverty and homelessness on a shoestring budget.
Change the law, not-for-profits should pay taxes they cry! Really? So that means that people who have already paid taxes on their money donate only to have the charity also pay taxes on it again? Even the teeny tiny charities who are struggling for every cent?
And it makes me think. We expect churches to be giving ...oooh say 50-90% of their income to the poor, but are we personally doing the same? I know I'm not. I wish I could. I hope one day that I'll be part of a movement similar to Aspiring to the Median where people commit to living well at or below the median salary for their country and giving the rest of their money away.
Are we as a society becoming a teensy bit lazy and relying on the church, no, requiring the church to live out love for the poor while we just donate money so that we don't have to do the hard stuff? Hmmm. Shouldn't we all be doing it all the time, not only in finances but our time and effort in giving practical love for people?
Yeah, the church featured probably isn't acting as it should but then neither are most of us.
I'm feeling a tad challenged, and there are no clear cut answers.
For years, being a missionary kid, I've grown up feeling guilty for every cent that I've spent on myself. In some situations it's made me feel physically sick. And yet I know that feeling is not right. God loves me too. A friend told me if we were meant to love each other as ourselves she didn't want to be loved by me because I didn't love myself very well.
yowch.
It seems that as human beings we are never able to get a good balance. We swing between martyrdom and taking vows of poverty, believing that God loves others but not us. Or we swing to the iCulture where we have the gall to order God to make us the centre of his universe and provide what we require to feel loved, affirmed and approved of. We forget that history and the universe is about him and not us. He is the main player, not we.
And in his generosity Jesus said I have come that they might have life and life in abundance.
He didn't say I have come that they might feel permanently guilty for every good thing I give them or even that they might hoard it and store up for themselves treasures on earth.
Where is the middle ground? Where is life? I've been asking myself, how do you live your life really hearing from God as to when you should give and when you should enjoy the gift that was meant for you. I'm so conscious that we need to hug close to him. We can't afford to be away from God, away from his heartbeat or we so easily edge off track and find ourselves out of his will and in trouble.
I love what beautiful blogger, photographer and hairdresser Cat is doing over at Love and Light. Please go over and visit and if you can help her raise funds for her missions trip to Colombia, please do. We need people like her who are living radically, doing what they can, not allowing anything to stop them.
And as for the church featured on the news? No judgement. I know from my experience at work that the media can portray things incorrectly but I also take their story as a warning to me personally. Be transparent. Stay humble. Don't hoard. Err on the side of being overly generous. Don't leave yourself open to accusations. Keep your relationships healthy. Stay close to God, everything comes from him anyway.
What have you been thinking about this week?
Christianity vs Poverty vs Wealth We are blessed to be a blessing but what happens when we get too comfortable we forget to bless others? What happens when we forget to live as radical givers? This week there has been a media expose about a large church in our city allegedly raking in tax-free cash and only giving 10% to unspecified overseas missions while others tackle poverty and homelessness on a shoestring budget.
Change the law, not-for-profits should pay taxes they cry! Really? So that means that people who have already paid taxes on their money donate only to have the charity also pay taxes on it again? Even the teeny tiny charities who are struggling for every cent?
And it makes me think. We expect churches to be giving ...oooh say 50-90% of their income to the poor, but are we personally doing the same? I know I'm not. I wish I could. I hope one day that I'll be part of a movement similar to Aspiring to the Median where people commit to living well at or below the median salary for their country and giving the rest of their money away.
Are we as a society becoming a teensy bit lazy and relying on the church, no, requiring the church to live out love for the poor while we just donate money so that we don't have to do the hard stuff? Hmmm. Shouldn't we all be doing it all the time, not only in finances but our time and effort in giving practical love for people?
Yeah, the church featured probably isn't acting as it should but then neither are most of us.
I'm feeling a tad challenged, and there are no clear cut answers.
For years, being a missionary kid, I've grown up feeling guilty for every cent that I've spent on myself. In some situations it's made me feel physically sick. And yet I know that feeling is not right. God loves me too. A friend told me if we were meant to love each other as ourselves she didn't want to be loved by me because I didn't love myself very well.
yowch.
It seems that as human beings we are never able to get a good balance. We swing between martyrdom and taking vows of poverty, believing that God loves others but not us. Or we swing to the iCulture where we have the gall to order God to make us the centre of his universe and provide what we require to feel loved, affirmed and approved of. We forget that history and the universe is about him and not us. He is the main player, not we.
And in his generosity Jesus said I have come that they might have life and life in abundance.
He didn't say I have come that they might feel permanently guilty for every good thing I give them or even that they might hoard it and store up for themselves treasures on earth.
Where is the middle ground? Where is life? I've been asking myself, how do you live your life really hearing from God as to when you should give and when you should enjoy the gift that was meant for you. I'm so conscious that we need to hug close to him. We can't afford to be away from God, away from his heartbeat or we so easily edge off track and find ourselves out of his will and in trouble.
I love what beautiful blogger, photographer and hairdresser Cat is doing over at Love and Light. Please go over and visit and if you can help her raise funds for her missions trip to Colombia, please do. We need people like her who are living radically, doing what they can, not allowing anything to stop them.
And as for the church featured on the news? No judgement. I know from my experience at work that the media can portray things incorrectly but I also take their story as a warning to me personally. Be transparent. Stay humble. Don't hoard. Err on the side of being overly generous. Don't leave yourself open to accusations. Keep your relationships healthy. Stay close to God, everything comes from him anyway.
What have you been thinking about this week?
Love it this is so much in my head at the moment too xx
ReplyDeletedefinitely food for thought. Our church also does 10% designated to overseas missions...and I'm happy with that. I think its a massive responsibility for the elders/leaders to use the tithes wisely and am satisfied that they do and are accountable to God for their actions or inaction.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, we can only do what we can do and as you say staying close to the heart of God and be ready to give when he asks us to is really the best way to live. I hope that being generous is one the things people would remember about me when I die and go on.
Sophie!
ReplyDeletethank yo so much for the shout out
truly
and let me tell you
my bloggy sisters have been giving
amazing
money is coming in fro all over the world
and not only money
but well wishers,love,support,prayers,open hearts...all the good stuff that the world needs
for me part of this problem lies in the foundation of church...a foundation that was built 100s of years ago on the premise of power and money...unfortunately there is that thread in the churches history...and from that thread things can become easily muddled
in my own experience the only one who punishes me for what I perceive as wrong...is me
I say I a not enough, not giving enough, not doing enough...never has God said that to me....never
God tells me I am enough
that I am loved because of who I am, not what I do
God says to me live free...live in love...live in joy and the rest will follow
amazing thought provoking post S
thank you
love and light
I actually read somewhere (not sure where) that it is actually selfish to not be rich. So in other words its good to have money because then you can help others who need the money!
ReplyDeleteWhich makes sense - helping others means that we are giving, and that comes back to you in good ways.
So I think that being wealthy is a good thing and being close to who ever you believe is also good.
Well at least that is my two cents worth :)
Oh and this week I am looking forward to a weekend escape to spend time with family who I don't see much of, without all of my boys...doing something for me for a change :)