Dick Towner has advised a lot of people over the years, mostly relating to money. He's come to one conclusion: Materialism is one of the Church's biggest foes.
It drives people "to work more to earn more to spend more," Towner said. In the end, materialism becomes its own theology, competing with God.
"You can't serve two masters, the Bible tells us," said Towner, executive director of the Willow Creek Association's Good $ense Stewardship Movement. "It's very clear that the pull of culture leads to foolishness, and the pull of heart and mind of God leads to faithfulness."
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Biblical Principles for Stewardship & Fundraising The Christian Stewardship Association and Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability introduced the first Biblical Principles for Stewardship & Fundraising at CSA's annual conference. "Our hope is that we'll be able to change a lot of thinking in America now as far as motive in regard to raising or giving money," CSA's president and CEO, Scott Preissler, said. "These guidelines are clear as we change the focus and the paradigm," he said. "If it means we will lose money but gain spirituality, that's OK. Stewardship isn't about money. It's about honoring God." The guidelines: Christian leaders, including development staff, who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and choose prayerfully to pursue eternal kingdom values (Mt. 6:19-21), will seek to identify the sacred kingdom resources of God's economy within these parameters:1. God, the creator (Gen. 1) and sustainer of all things (Col. 1:17) and the One "who works within us to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine" (Eph. 3:20), is a God of infinite abundance (Ps. 50:10-11) and grace (2 Cor. 9:8).2. Acknowledging the primacy of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16) as our chief treasure (Mt. 13:44), Christians are called to lives of stewardship, as managers of all that God has entrusted to them (1 Cor. 4:1-2).3. A Christian's attitude toward possessions on earth is important to God (Mt. 6:24), and there is a vital link between how believers utilize earthly possessions (as investments in God's kingdom) and the eternal rewards that believers receive (Phil. 4:17).4. God entrusts possessions to Christians and holds them accountable for their use, as a tool to grow God's eternal kingdom, as a test of the believer's faithfulness to God, and as a trademark that their lives reflect Christ's values (Lk. 16:1-9).5. From God's abounding grace, Christians' giving reflects their gratitude for what God has provided and involves growing in an intimate faith relationship with Christ as Lord of their lives (Mk. 12:21-22).6. Because giving is a worshipful, obedient act of returning to God from what has been provided (1 Chron. 29:10-14), Christian fundraisers should hold a conviction that, in partnership with the church, they have an important role in the spiritual maturation of believers (James 3:1).7. The primary role of Christian fundraisers is to advance and facilitate a believer's faith in and worship of God through a Christ-centered understanding of stewardship that is solidly grounded on Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16).8. Recognizing it is the work of the Holy Spirit that prompts Christians to give (Jn. 15:4-5) (often through fundraising techniques) (2 Cor. 9:5-7, Neh.1:4-11), fundraisers and/or organizations must never manipulate or violate their sacred trust with ministry partners.9. An eternal, God-centered worldview promotes cooperation, rather than competition, among organizations, and places the giver's relationship to God above the ministry's agenda (2 Cor. 4:16-18).10. In our materialistic, self-centered culture, Christian leaders should acknowledge that there is a great deal of unclear thinking about possessions, even among believers, and that an eternal kingdom perspective will often seem like foolish nonsense (1 Cor. 2:14) to those who rely on earthly kingdom worldview techniques (1 Cor. 2:1-5).When these principles are implemented, that rely on God changing hearts more than on human methods, the resulting joy-filled generosity of believers will fully fund God's work here on earth (Ex. 36:6-7).Copyright 2003 CSA, Christian Stewardship Association |
A pastor's agenda is clear, according to Towner.
"Materialism is doing a much better job than we are at reaching people," he said. "We must train people as to a proper relationship and attitude toward money. I believe it's what's keeping us from significant steps toward fulfilling the Great Commission."
Equipping church staff
Pastors often are not equipped to properly address stewardship in a church setting, Towner said. That's a point CSA president Scott Preissler was planning to drive home during his plenary address to American Bible colleges in late January.
"We have an entire generation coming up that doesn't understand stewardship. This generation now is ‘tipping' the ministry rather than giving as the Bible instructs," Preissler said. "Ministry leaders have to address this; they have to teach an entire generation what stewardship is. But in order for our church leaders to be equipped to do so, they must be taught."
Jerry Schriver claims the responsibility for teaching stewardship goes beyond the pastor. Schriver, director of business and financial ministries for Perimeter Church in Duluth, Ga., said today's churches need business professionals.
"Most pastors are not that business savvy, so they have a hard time discussing money issues," Schriver said. "Those who have experience in the business world but understand the biblical responsibilities of stewardship often are more successful in directing financial ministries."
Schriver advocates church staffs look beyond the seminaries for people to head up stewardship ministries. And he stresses that any financial efforts be focused on ministry rather than money.
"God provides all we'll ever need; we know that," he said. "We have to caution ourselves to put our priorities on ministry rather than money. There's a difference between stewardship and fund raising. We are involved in stewardship and helping people learn to be obedient to God."
Willow Creek's Good $ense Stewardship Movement was developed just for that, said Towner, who believes churches must counter three myths:
· Things bring happiness.
· Debt is expected and unavoidable.
· A little more money would solve a person's problems.
"I think one of the most helpful things a church can do for people is to teach them about money and how to handle it," Towner said. "You have to address this with believers and non-believers alike. Everyone is affected by money."
The Good $ense Stewardship curriculum includes teaching resources for churches wishing to offer training in their local congregations. Willow Creek staff also are available for advice in establishing a stewardship ministry, Towner said.
Good $ense makes sense
Good $ense is a good idea, according to Sylvia Ronsvalle, who co-authored The State of Church Giving through 2000 with her husband, John. The Ronsvalles addressed CSA's attendees, urging churches to be proactive in money matters.
"The Church is a powerful force that can do much good for society, just as it was designed by God to do," Sylvia Ronsvalle said. "But we're in a very dangerous period. People are giving less and less to benevolence funds and thinking less and less about the eternal consequences."
The Ronsvalles operate empty tomb inc., a Christian service and research organization based in Champaign, Ill. According to their research, giving to benevolences as a portion of income in 2000 hit its lowest point since 1968.
Preissler doesn't see giving making a comeback anytime soon.
"We're in the 29th year of giving declining," he said. "Until we teach the younger generation what it means to be good stewards, it's not going to improve, not for the Church or anyone."
