meditatio at the water's edge

That last post (below) was a bit of deconstruction--not always helpful when it remains deconstructed. So here's a first step toward reconstructing how we might approach our use of money...

What if our giving flowed out of our compassion for the needs of others instead of obligation? Sure, it is often necessary to do things out of obligation or a sense of duty. But we will only do things from obligation for so long. Eventually we will resent the obligation--unless of course it is transformed into something done out of love.

Where might this lead in our conversation about giving money? It may lead us to think of giving beyond the 'institution' and giving where God shows us there is need. This, I think, is a more Biblical approach to distribution of the possessions God has entrusted to us. What business do we have spending millions on a facility while there are people in our faith communities who are truly in need? Frankly, I think it is embarassing.

I wonder about the ethicality of "stewardship campaigns." I always feel like the church is really just trying to increase giving to continue feeding the institution. "We need a new sanctuary!" Maybe, maybe not. I know a church with modest facilities and they have over 2,000 people participate in their gatherings every weekend. If you're too big for where you are, why not form a second community? Well, big buildings are not evil--I was in awe when I saw the Notre Dame up close! I just want to approach giving apart from any hint of manipulation--whether it's guilting people into giving more or promising them that God will bless them if they give more. Something about that just smells bad to me.