tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post4891420180390939760..comments2023-10-14T16:42:53.597+01:00Comments on New Kid on the Blog: Generosity and a contracting ChurchAlastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117533964126439556noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-46895478758535008422010-01-28T17:21:14.208+00:002010-01-28T17:21:14.208+00:00>>"They contract, they turn inward, the...>>"They contract, they turn inward, they concern themselves with what goes on Sunday by Sunday in their four walls, rather than with a world beyond those walls which is crying out for love and meaning and acceptance and grace."<br /><br />I feel exactly the same way. This attitude is too widespread in our churches these days!<br /><br />AAMGallegoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10228304787861388629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-84047243169819162662009-12-22T22:27:53.343+00:002009-12-22T22:27:53.343+00:00Thanks for a very interesting post that hits the n...Thanks for a very interesting post that hits the nail on the head by centring on our attitude to money, not the amount of the stuff we think we've got. As long as this is controlled by fear and the assumption that money is stuff, not energy, we are missing out on a fairly significant part of the sermon on the mount... Once people get it, progress can be made!Bishop Alan Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13879516755776951638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-39653913286942212502009-11-24T08:26:00.402+00:002009-11-24T08:26:00.402+00:00Great & timely post, Al...And in my communitie...Great & timely post, Al...And in my communities at least the problem arises from fear...that there won't be enough for "us" if we give generously. It makes me so so sad that these lovely people haven't yet really grasped the limitless generosity of God...so daren't risk generosity themselves.Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09171138485811816831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-68616441028181269542009-11-24T08:19:35.582+00:002009-11-24T08:19:35.582+00:00I can't stop thinking of Malachi 3. That's...I can't stop thinking of Malachi 3. That's the one where God tells his people that by holding back on their obligations to him and hoarding their tithes... it had a knock on effect in the blessing he pours out.<br /><br />Jesus reinforced the message himself when speaking of God and Mammon... a lesson that Ananias and Sapphira learned at great personal cost, just a few years down the line (obviously that wasn't about not giving up all their cash... but pretending they were giving more than they were, to give the impression they were... whilst still living it up).<br /><br />And then there's the flip side.<br /><br />I remember many years ago (shortly after the 90's recession), seeing a video about a Church of England parish in Scotland... that when the towns local economy collapsed (it was a fishing village and there was no money to send out the boats), the Church out of it's own resources employed the townsfolk to do odd jobs around the parish (mending fences and general handyman work). It put bread on the table for many families and eventually... people began to come back to the church (where numbers had previously dwindled).<br /><br />I also know that there are Christian businesses in the world that struggle because some churches look for Christian discounts (I touched on this a couple of years ago).<br /><br />You're right... and the more the Church focusses on money (be it institutionally at the top... or at grass roots), the more trouble will lie ahead.Nick Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05330676077919368541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-55499135248348278012009-11-24T02:56:13.982+00:002009-11-24T02:56:13.982+00:00Vicar - I am a firm believer that "outreach&q...Vicar - I am a firm believer that "outreach" should never COST those you are reaching out to. But sOMeone does have to finance the things that go on in a church. I don't think it would be UNreasonable to ask the congregation to PAY for the event - in order to support it - but to offer it freely to "other members of the community". In this way, the project is funded (you charge the members a bit more than it should cost - and they cover the cost of the non-members.) Of course, that doesn't stop the squabbling over the financial issues... those are always going to be around I think. But we (as THE CHURCH) do have to take on the financial responsibility of outreach!<br /><br />Money is always an issue - at work, at home, at church... it's so sad.Mellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16266127127286739779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-89125325108356401412009-11-24T01:29:43.102+00:002009-11-24T01:29:43.102+00:00I am in the process of reading a book that hits on...I am in the process of reading a book that hits on many of your points -- and the book is a comedy, or at least it reads as one until you start grasping the underlying truths. If Heaven were run like church committees, we would all be in serious trouble.<br /><br />Check out Mercury Falls, by Rob Kroese. (copy & Google, I am not good at leaving links). There's a link to the book in my microfiction post today, too: http://quilldancer.com/2009/11/23/microfiction-monday-11-23-09/<br /><br />Rob is a dedicated believer and has worked as finance chair in his local church for sometime. His experiences lead him to pen, Mercury Falls. I think you can relate to the reverent irreverence of this story. <br /><br />And as a more personal response, I grew up in the church and expect such reactions (that doesn't mean I condone them). Amoeba did not grow up in the church and when things disintegrate to squabbles over money or power, he is seriously disillusioned and hurt. Such things seriously damage his fragile faith. (Scientist, can't prove it ...)quillyhttp://quilldancer.comnoreply@blogger.com