Money. Is there a more unpopular topic for churches to discuss? The very mention of it makes everyone uncomfortable, from the pastor to the skeptic. Pastors feel awkward because they know how many people in their church are financially hurting and don’t want to heap guilt on top of their misfortune. Add to that the fact that a pastor receives their paycheck from the congregation’s donations, which adds a whole other level of unease and discomfort. Then there are those who give generously, cheerfully, and from the heart but have an overly sensitive spirit – they often feel guilty and think they’re letting everyone from the pastor, the church, and even God down. On the other end of the spectrum is the skeptic who thinks all pastors are charlatans preying on the poor and weak to get rich. Although most working in the ministry can attest that ministry is far from a lucrative money-making scheme. Finally, every church has people who come and, for various reasons, simply do not give. This group, on average about 25% of the church, might be hurting financially, don’t trust the church, don’t trust God, or have not learned the concept of biblical giving. However, this group can also change the church’s financial outlook, and it might be easier than we think.
Giving
According to a 2022 Barna Study, only “two in five practicing Christians give at least 10% of their annual income as a tithe.” Since the word “tithe” may not be familiar to everyone, let’s give a quick history. Based on the Hebrew word maaser, tithe is an Old English term that literally means one-tenth. The roots of giving a tithe, or a tenth, to God started in the Old Testament to express thanks to the Lord. Interestingly, the New Testament does not explicitly teach tithing, yet it is the Christian baseline for giving. The significance of only 2/5 giving at least 10% of their income demonstrates a need for a greater biblical understanding of giving and generosity and the key to reaching the 25% who don’t financially support God’s work at your church.
Biblical Teaching
Just because a topic isn’t popular doesn’t mean the church should ignore it – especially the topic of handling money. Remember, on average, 25% of the congregation doesn’t financially support the church. One way to combat this disparity is to talk about it. The statistics are overwhelming; churches that talk about money see financial growth. One study by The National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices (NSCEP) and published by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy shows churches reported up to 73% financial growth when discussing giving every month. This report also shows that 43% of churches only teach about giving once or less per year. Churches struggling to find enough financial resources to fund their mission need to consider increasing and normalizing how they talk about money.
Teaching followers of Jesus the importance of giving and generosity isn’t new. The Apostle Paul needed to remind the church in Corinth in his second letter. “But I will say this to encourage your generosity: the one who plants little harvests little, and the one who plants plenty harvests plenty. 7 Giving grows out of the heart—otherwise, you’ve reluctantly grumbled “yes” because you felt you had to or because you couldn’t say “no,” but this isn’t the way God wants it. For we know that “God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (The Voice). It doesn’t mean every message or sermon is about giving or generosity. But it could mean taking time during the service to provide a pastoral moment on why followers of Jesus give. Maybe your church can spend time sharing stories that show the impact donations to your church make in the lives of others. Or keep the church in the loop during the budget process. Fulfilling God’s mission in the church is way too important not to talk about giving. And talking about it is an excellent start to increasing the budget.
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