ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 9, 2022
In Paul’s Second Letter to the Church in Corinth, he wrote about a collection, a special offering for the church in Jerusalem. This section of the letter appears to be a fund-raising request made initially by the leadership in Jerusalem. We hear about this request in Galatians 2 where Paul talked about visiting Jerusalem and receiving a blessing for his missionary work to the Gentiles. He specifically referenced how the leaders in Jerusalem “asked only that we would remember the poor, which was certainly something I was willing to do.”
Let’s be honest — fund-raising letters are never easy to write. You want to inspire by providing a clear picture of the need but not overdo it. You want to shy away from any guilt, but you want people to understand how their gift can make a significant difference. It is challenging, and I’m sure Paul struggled with his words. His approach was to write:
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (9:6-7).
I don’t know how professional fundraisers would score Paul’s request, but it’s interesting how people have returned to these words over and over again when it comes to stewardship in the life of the church. I do think God loves a cheerful giver, assuming the gift will provide a clear and tangible expression of the Gospel. I believe Cypress Creek Christian Church has a pretty lean budget, and I feel that most of it is providing a clear and tangible expression of the Gospel. It’s just not all that easy to make a connection between that good work and the cost of the copy machine, the annual elevator inspection, or purchasing toilet paper. Yet let’s be clear, the copy machine produces a lot of wonderful material for children and youth; the choir is not going to feel comfortable riding an un-inspected elevator to the second floor where they rehearse their Sunday morning music; people will probably request our services be much shorter if no toilet paper is provided.
I know those are silly examples, yet they’re all part of what is included in a church budget. In the weeks ahead, I hope you will consider how you will support the clear and tangible expressions of the Gospel message here at Cypress Creek Christian Church, specifically what we call the Love First Life.
Precious Lord, continue to guide us in the work of making Cypress Creek Christian Church as impactful as possible with the Gospel of your limitless and relentless love. Amen.
