Just recently I read an article in Time magazine that was speaking about the current situation in Ethiopia. The article was talking about how green and lush the plants and vegetation are as you stroll into the country. And it would seem plausible because of all the money and aid that has been poured into Ethiopia. But there’s more than meets the eyes as one foreign worker said, “It’s very bizarre—it’s so green. But you have all these people dying from hunger.” A country that has been receiving over a billion dollars years internationally for years, yet people are still constantly dying of starvation. What appears to be so healthy and right, isn’t?
In 2008—the U.S. will give more than $800 million dollars to Ethiopia—breakdown:
460 million—food
350 million—HIV / Aids Treatment
7 million—Agricultural Development & Creating Infrastructure
What’s so alarming about this breakdown is that there is a lot of money being thrown at the problems at hands, which I understand are huge issues, but the money being given to actually allow the Ethiopian people to develop themselves and their country is way out of proportion to what’s given to the two other areas. Development was at the bottom of the rung when it came to where the money was being directed. When in actuality, its development that will help their country stabilize, grow, and be self-feeding.
What hit me about this article is the close parallel it runs with the American Church.
Have we spent more money, time, and effort meeting short term needs or desired wants that in the process we’ve neglected the underlying issues of spiritual growth and development? Are we spending more on giving away fish and not teaching others how to fish?
Are our budgets and resources in the local church aligned and proportionate with the spiritual development that is needed? Are they aligned and proportionate to what the Scriptures would deem valuable and worthy of our investment?
Has the competition mentality within the Church led to quick-fix’s and band aids that bring people in the door and meet desired needs, but we've neglected to create and fund a sustaining and developing environment that grows, nurtures, and empowers followers of Christ?
Now I know things aren’t as simple as they sound. Almost everything is more complicated underneath the surface. But are we really directing our resources to the places that we would say promote and produce the most life transformation?
How would injustices be impacted for the Kingdom? What kind of followers of Christ would come forth? What kind of community involvement and partnerships would take place?
If we looked at how churches are staffed and how budgets are separated—I don’t think it would take very long to see most of our resources are geared towards the Sunday morning service. I was asked yesterday what would you do with more resources for development if they were there. I can’t say that I’ve got that figured out, but I would love to start a conversation thread about it. Let’s talk
If the resources were redirected proportionally to spiritual development and discipleship what specifically would the money be spent on?
I know there are so many other angles that one could take in regards to why we resource like we do, but let’s spend this conversation on working thru the question above.
Jeff Henson
In 2008—the U.S. will give more than $800 million dollars to Ethiopia—breakdown:
460 million—food
350 million—HIV / Aids Treatment
7 million—Agricultural Development & Creating Infrastructure
What’s so alarming about this breakdown is that there is a lot of money being thrown at the problems at hands, which I understand are huge issues, but the money being given to actually allow the Ethiopian people to develop themselves and their country is way out of proportion to what’s given to the two other areas. Development was at the bottom of the rung when it came to where the money was being directed. When in actuality, its development that will help their country stabilize, grow, and be self-feeding.
What hit me about this article is the close parallel it runs with the American Church.
Have we spent more money, time, and effort meeting short term needs or desired wants that in the process we’ve neglected the underlying issues of spiritual growth and development? Are we spending more on giving away fish and not teaching others how to fish?
Are our budgets and resources in the local church aligned and proportionate with the spiritual development that is needed? Are they aligned and proportionate to what the Scriptures would deem valuable and worthy of our investment?
Has the competition mentality within the Church led to quick-fix’s and band aids that bring people in the door and meet desired needs, but we've neglected to create and fund a sustaining and developing environment that grows, nurtures, and empowers followers of Christ?
Now I know things aren’t as simple as they sound. Almost everything is more complicated underneath the surface. But are we really directing our resources to the places that we would say promote and produce the most life transformation?
How would injustices be impacted for the Kingdom? What kind of followers of Christ would come forth? What kind of community involvement and partnerships would take place?
If we looked at how churches are staffed and how budgets are separated—I don’t think it would take very long to see most of our resources are geared towards the Sunday morning service. I was asked yesterday what would you do with more resources for development if they were there. I can’t say that I’ve got that figured out, but I would love to start a conversation thread about it. Let’s talk
If the resources were redirected proportionally to spiritual development and discipleship what specifically would the money be spent on?
I know there are so many other angles that one could take in regards to why we resource like we do, but let’s spend this conversation on working thru the question above.
Jeff Henson
14 comments:
Henson - since I have been on the inside of this conversation, I feel a bit funny commenting here. I think the analogy is a great one and the picture is so relevant to the current challenges of the church. Obviously most of us are aware of the whole REVEAL study from Willow and the implications of that. I'm not sure merely pushing more resources (money) towards discipleship and spiritual development will change the outcomes. Money directed in the wrong ways could be just as damaging. If we give the small group guy more money, does that necessary make any difference in the individual's growth? Could it not just perpetuate more shallow small groups that feature people still unable to provide their own disciplined spiritual development?
Granted--I don't believe that throwing money at an issue automatically means success and effectiveness. But to underesource areas in which you believe the most tranformation and spiritual sustenance appear seems to be hypocritical or borderline lunacy. The execution of resources is always a matter of leadership, but poor examples of misused resources shouldn't give us credence not to pursue a plan to do what is right and quite sensible. During every stewardship message I've ever heard--we're always told our wallets follow our heart--if there is some validity to that--what does that say about the local church's heart?
Great question which should lead to great dialogue. I am going to have to say that Jeff your last statement is the root of the issue...
["During every stewardship message I've ever heard--we're always told our wallets follow our heart--if there is some validity to that--what does that say about the local church's heart?"]
The concern with the church in relationship to this blog quite possibly is the heart. Not to say that the vast majority of the church is harboring bitterness or bad intentions, but instead that the hearts goals may be misdirected. In many churches, I find that Pastors/staff are burdened with a fear of what their congregations think and are being pushed to imitate another church or follow an individual agenda due landmarks of the past rather than imitating Christ's life within the church now. Until we as the church get our directions established, we are spinning wheels. (ie. shallow small groups, mis-directed intentions, etc...)
I'm not so sure that for many churches it is a resource issue but instead a heart issue.
The question beneath the question is "do resources equal impact?" Clearly, resources equal ministries and programs, but do ministries and programs translate into more than activity? I think someone already asked that...
The mistake is thinking that OUR resources are a crucial part of the equation at all? Consider the boy with the 5 barley loaves and 2 sardines. The disciples said, "there aren't enough resources allocated to help these people. We simply don't have the money" Jesus said, "I don't care about what we 'need'...I care that this boy has given everything he has." And with that he fed over 15,000 people.
Do we consecrate our sacrificially provided resources over to the Lord with a spirit that says, "here's what we have...we need it to go a lot further than we know it can...but we'll go hungry to see the lives of others blessed. Lord, we can't wait to see what YOU will do."
Of course we don't do that. I'm not even sure what that would look like. What we do is posture, beg, and come up with snappy presentations so that the elders will throw another five grand in our direction. Because with five grand we can replace our two year old video projector and have enough money left over to buy Final Cut Pro.
Jeff your question really resonated deep with me. “Are we spending more on giving away fish and not teaching others how to fish?” While I’m all for my tax dollars going to help people in Ethiopia, I’m not for a blind handout. Of course this gets more into my political ideas, but I think there might be some similarities here. First of all, a short term fix is very much needed in many cases. It wouldn’t do much good to give tons of money for infrastructure while the people starved. The people of that country need to eat today. Such is also true for many followers of Christ. So many people need to simply be fed today. They need to strength for today. So I think it is very important to budget and plan around those weekly encounters that take place within the church.
However, I know in my heart that many of the spiritual attacks that come against the body could be defended better if they simply knew what it looks like to draw near to the Lord. Everyone in the ministry knows this is true. If people would just have intimacy with God, grow close to Him, love Him with all their hearts, then the Kingdom would flourish with growth. I guess that’s the million dollar question. I struggle with this all the time. Here it is… How come people are not more committed to the cause of Christ? Is it me the leader? Or is it their heart condition? Or is it a budget issue? Maybe it’s a combination of all of the above. Don’t get me wrong. I see fruit in my ministry. Recently, I have had two students commit to share the Gospel with everyone in their high school. The first day of school (which was yesterday) they stood outside the main entrances and passed out gospel tracts! That’s pretty committed. However, what if it was 30 students? How insane would that have been? But I don’t have 30 students who are that committed. However, I know that if all of my students (and members of our church) would just spend time in the Word, and fall in love with Jesus like these other two, then more things like this would happen. And so we press on. Continuing to challenge, stretch, and grow others into a thriving walk with God. My hope and prayer is that I can pour into a few so that they will discover God’s plan for their life, and make an impact for the Kingdom.
So going back to Ethiopia. How come their country is in shambles? Poor leadership? Of course. Lack of money? That too. Lack of a commitment from the people? Probably so… why? Cause they know they’ll get 460 million dollars worth of food every year. That will buy a lot of rice.
I think Lee is the closest to an answer on this. The way I look at it, resources are and are not the answer. Let me explain:
Listen - it never hurts to direct money towards discipleship. We can buy better studies and materials. Maybe it affords more staff to organize it. Maybe we can train our teachers and leaders to be better - do better at discipleship. Maybe - it will even afford you the opportunity to sit in with prominent church leaders around the country to hear what they're doing and pick their brain.
In the end it doesn't solve the issue. We can't change people. Will never happen. That is between them and God and no amount of Beth Moore can change it. It's not our resources that ultimately make a difference.
And then while we're bagging on Sunday morning, we do realize with no Sunday morning there are no people sticking around during the week for me to disciple because in the end no matter how we spin it the church is totally a consumerist model. Unless you're going to do a house church model . . . .
And the institution wins out again. I don't understand why we think the church is so holy?!? I mean yeah - God's church is, but our institutions are not sacred. Change and discipleship comes when we understand the solution:
Everything needs to be blown up. No, I'm not suggesting we bomb Ethiopia. What I am saying is Ethiopia will see change when a visionary from within sees the problem, understands the solution and turns the system upside down to bring real answers. Someone who will travel to America - meet with our leaders and tell them what will bring real change instead of us trying to figure it out. Because for most people it's - don't live there - don't care. I have my own problems.
The same is true of churches. Do something that hasn't been done much before. Turn the system on it's ear. Feel the weight of God heavy on your heart - search the need and fast and pray for God's answers then ACT! Step outside of our outdated institutions and make the church your church the living breathing organism God has already created it to be.
I feel like all of that wasn't clear so just to add. If you haven't read IT by Groeschel you should. Whether you agree with him or not he is right. In the book he says whatever it is you think you need to have church (in this case discipleship) - the truth is you don't need it.
The bottom line is the Gospel is for those who have been forgotten. The equation is not:
$$$$ = Salvation/Discipleship
Salvation and Jesus Christ can't be bought, it's freely available to all. We can make it available to all without all the resources we think we need.
We just need to shift our thinking and place ourselves outside of the current models - outside the current definitions of success.
This has been good---I really enjoy the dialogue and passionate exchanges. Please understand--I'm not saying that money or resources equal maximum impact or any life change. I'm about to be doing ministry with fairly little because of severe budget cuts--but I'm totally confident in God and in people that relationships and ministry will be better than ever. So please understand that perspective that lies beneath the questioning.
But the reality is that most local churches are not proportionally distributing their resources based on what they would say is very important and probably even the most transformational. Why is that?
Money and resources does not equal discipleship or transformation, but does shooting money in the wrong direction justifiable?
Ben Ben Ben....
Listen, you said....
"The equation is not:
$$$$ = Salvation/Discipleship"
You right about that... However, consider this...
Salvations/Attendence = $$$$
Think about it. It worked for joel olsteen, it worked for jesus, it could work for you!
Without recognizing the sacrificial nature in which the gifts have been given, without sincerely seeking the Lord in the decision to allocate resources, without the realization that what you have is never what you really need to get the job done, and without the heart to go without so that others can be blessed and changed...without that money is always spent in the wrong direction.
I wonder what the apostles would make their budget look like. :)
I think that if we spent more money on serving the needy and taking care of people that need taking care of and creating genuine community then salvation and discipleship would happen.
We see Jesus just going and doing. Granted I know some things don't line up between our ministries and Jesus' but maybe they aren't that far apart.
What brings community more than loving together? What brings salvation more than loving together? Throughout the Bible it talks of GOD being amongst the poor and broken so doesn't it make sense if we want to expose people to him we would go where he is?
-Raphe
"What brings salvation more than loving together?"
Yikes!? I don't want to minimize the importance of loving others, but this is an heretical overstatement.
I am reading your blog now. don't suck and waste my time. good start so far.
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