TALKING ABOUT MONEY

 

          It seems like most of us see our pastors from behind the pulpit or somewhere in front of the church (or virtually from their living rooms!) talking. Of course, I know, there’s a lot more to the “job” of being pastor that talking, but for a lot of people that’s what they see!

          And that “talking” is only one way pastors share the Good News of Jesus Christ, share God’s love and the news of God’s grace. Mixed in with all that talking are hymns and prayers, music and offerings.

          But there is one topic that many pastors (and others) really, really hate to talk about. And that is money. I know, there are several topics that we were told shouldn’t be shared in “polite” company…politics, religion, money.

          But money is something that has to be talked about, especially in churches, and especially by our leaders. I had previously shared some questions from a generosity survey. (McKenzie, Scott, Generosity Rising (Abingdon Press, 2016)

                Four of those questions revolve around “talking” about money:

              1.   Does your pastor tithe and share his/her story with the congregation?

a.   No, and never talks about money

b.   We think so, but he won’t talk about it.

c.   Yes, and will talk about it in a general sense

d.   Yes, talks about it freely and openly

2.   Does your pastor talk about finances and giving?

a.   Can’t remember the last time

b.   For two or three weeks, but only during a financial campaign

c.   Regularly and throughout the yea

3.   Do your leaders give witness to their giving and why they give?

a.   Never

b.   Yes, but never anything very specific

c.   One a regular basis and on specific topics (tithing, electronic giving, debt, and so on)

4.  Do laypeople other than leaders give witness to their giving?

a.   Never

b.   Only during our financial campaign

c.   Regularly and year-round

          If you read these questions carefully, you’ll see that the questions are asking about pastors, leaders and non-leaders. No one person should be responsible for talking about money (or faith, or Scripture, or God, or Jesus)!

          And I really want to state for the record that talking about money is not all about how much goes in the offering plate (when we can have offering plates again!). It must be about our relationships with money, and how our relationships can enhance or interfere in our relationship with God.

          Jesus talked about money more than anything, even the Kingdom of God, and it wasn’t because Jesus thought money was the most important thing, but because Jesus knew that for some of us, money IS the most important thing.

• ·        When we believe that, our relationship with God suffers.
• ·        When we believe that, our being open to responding to the call of God suffers.
• ·        When we believe that, our relationships with family and friends will suffer.
• ·        When we believe that, our understanding of love and grace will suffer.

          If, as pastors and church leaders, we are too afraid to talk about money, then our people will suffer!

          We have many responsibilities and this is one of them. Talk about money (and what that really means).  Talk about your own stories and your own relationship with money; it will relate. Don’t limit yourself!