How Now Shall We Give?

Francis Schaefer wrote a book called: How Should We Then Live? Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey wrote How Now Shall We Live? Both books challenged Christians to abandon the common thinking of the world. Rather, we should have a distinctly Christian worldview and life.

Someone needs to write a book called How Now Shall We Give? I had a conversation with a client at lunch yesterday on this topic. We were talking about the disparity between CEO pay and worker pay. The average CEO makes 475 times the amount that the average worker makes. This number is actually down from 2001 where the ratio was 525:1.

But shareholders and employees of publicly traded companies have a choice. If they believe a CEO is excessively greedy, they can vote with their feet. Employees can find other jobs. Shareholders can invest their money in companies that have a stewardship mentality. All of the information to make a sound decision is available online. Publicly traded companies are forced to have a level of transparency.

This is not the case with non-profit organizations. Anyone can set up a 501c non-profit organization and claim that they are in the business of charity. I am certain that there are abuses of this tax advantaged status at universities, hospitals, museums and other humanitarian causes. But since I am a Christian, I am most concerned about church-related organizations. I see church leaders teaching and living a version of a prosperity gospel that is openly condemned in the Bible. I see church leaders using tax-advantaged status as a vehicle to use a church as an ATM machine.

II Peter 3:10-11, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives."

Transparency is one key to living a godly life. Knowing what I do now, I personally would never give a dime to an organization that would not willingly open their books for scrutiny. I attended a church at one time that was not transparent in how they used finances. As that church has increased in size, the lack of transparency continues. They have found it necessary to purchase all kinds of "ministry" aids such as a private jet, a personal trainer on the payroll to serve staff members and who knows what else. If you ask the church to reveal how they are spending the "tithes and offerings" that they receive they will give you the standard line: "You need to trust us. If you don't trust us, leave."

How a church can justify this approach is beyond comprehension. If you are considering giving to an organization or church, you should know with some reasonable level of confidence that your money is being used wisely. Pastors and staff need to be paid. Buildings need to have heating and air conditioning. But if you see warning signs like pastors living in $2 million plus homes, churches having private jets, personal trainers on the payroll, etc... you should ask questions. If you don't receive satisfactory answers to those questions, don't give the money that God has entrusted to you to that church.

Yes, you give to God. But I am convinced that God wants us to be wise as to how we give. There are many organizations that are doing true works of the Lord. Oddly enough, these are usually the organizations that are not constantly preaching about the Scriptural "mandates" of tithing. There is nothing wrong with asking for money. But please be transparent- after all you are a non-profit organization. To view a list of how some larger organizations are using money- go to: http://www.ministrywatch.com

How now shall we give? We should get the maximum amount of resources in the hands of the best stewards and the most godly leaders. Andrew Murray, "How different our standard is from Christ. We ask how much a man gives? Christ asks how much he keeps?"

For His Glory,

Ashley Hodge