|
|
Church leadership and organisations have a bad reputation of asking for money. I'm trialling something myself, that when possible, to ask people to give what my work is worth to them, according to what they can afford. It feels nice this way. Perhaps church leaders may be too afraid to have people consider such a question - and so make it a 'duty' or a means of getting God to give back to them miraculously. It is a curly question for sure.
I wonder how much is just and right and moral for church leaders to have? Why not take an average across the congregation? This is what the tithe concept could be about.
We could be made to feel guilty for not giving everything - which is where the concept of "Love your neighbour AS yourself" makes so much sense. We can also feel like failures if we are not keeping up with the metaphorical church "Jones". There is an element of "being a good consumer is being a good westerner/ society member" in the church. We have to set an example after all! But... is it Jesus? Not from his lifestyle...
Jesus said: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men put into your arms. For with the same measure that you give is that by which it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38 (KJV)
A beautiful promise - and like the other two Christian behaviours, it's about taking the focus off self, being aware of others, and trusting God.
No,it is about blessing people with our abilities - about doing things for others, again in balance with loving ourselves.
Burnout and workaholicism are surely not of God.
The Bible talks about serving a great deal. Jesus before his death, took a towel and washed his disciples feet, even though Peter objected strenuously. He said:
But you shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that serves. Luke 22:26
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Matthew 20:27 (KJV)
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11 (KJV
And Jesus also said:
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. John 12:26 (KJV)
Are there rewards for being a good servant - of course!
His Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: you enter into the joy of your Lord. Matthew 25:23 (KJV)
This is a key scripture about Jesus - and his service led him to die for us.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Philip. 2:5-7 (KJV)
The Apostles called themselves servants, 'ministers' are also servants or deacons in the Greek, and we are all called to serve Christ...
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God Rom 1:1
If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1Pe 4:11
For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 (KJV)
For a picture of the many kinds of ministry service the church family needs, see A BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF CHURCH STRUCTURE
And I love the approach taken by the NETWORK course put out by Willow Creek Organisation... It's not about finding people for the tasks, but about helping people find their gifts, and then finding the right task to match... It's not an approach I have found popular with church leadership, perhaps because their are too many risks involved in giving people that kind of freedom - if they fail, it will reflect on the church; if they succeed - perhaps it will threaten their own position. There seems to be an approach of “you go ahead on your own, and if it works, we’ll consider it being part of the church program.” But so many gifts only work in tandem with the others – Jesus sent people out two by two, not one by one. There could be some more thought and prayer needed I think.
From Willow Creek: "Network, the leading course for discovering spiritual gifts and empowering people for ministry has been revised and updated. This material, developed in partnership with the Willow Creek Association, helps churches appropriately guide people to the place of ministry that best reflects who they are."
What is the right attitude to each other's service?
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond (servant) nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all. Col 3:11
Henceforth I don't call you servants; for the servant knows not what his Lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 (KJV)
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;" Romans 12:10 (KJV)
Because so little is known about honour, I quote from Thayer's Lexicon which gives these meanings to the Greek for honour [time/ times/ timios]
- a value by which a price is fixed; a thing prized; one who outranks others, has pre-eminence; the honor which one has by reason of the rank and state of office which he holds; deference, reverence; that appearing in the rewards of the future life; praise of which one is judged worthy; preciousness; value; held as of great price.
If we think this is a bit much to give to others, read through this quote from a letter to the Philippians, and see who it is that sets the example!
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem (honour) the other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, things in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth;
And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:3-11
And some more good words about honour, and who deserves it.
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that does good works, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: Romans 2:10
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Romans 13:7
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 1 Thes. 4:4
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 1 Peter 2:17
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7
And are there rewards for honouring others? Yes... But remembering how Jesus humbled himself by focusing on others, not demanding attention, not thinking of himself, even to dying a criminal's death, beaten, mocked, and naked for all the world to see - for us...
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 (KJV)
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12 (KJV)
For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Luke 14:11 (KJV)
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:14 (KJV)
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10 (KJV)
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:6 (KJV)
This was a 10 minute message I gave on honour, for a small congregation:
MESSAGE on Honour:
Three major practices that mark the Christian life are giving, serving - and I wonder if you can think of the third? It is honouring others... This is as important as the other two, and church life would be so much better if we did practice it more - let's talk about it...
What it means: Honour means putting the needs of others above our own, and watching for their well-being. It involves extending to them the first chance, helping them succeed and win. It also involves humility, acting like a servant towards others. (from Bible Hub)
It also means to respect yourself by not getting into anything evil...
On a wider scale it means to treat someone with high respect, such as honouring the Queen or King. A person of honour may be a soldier who serves his country, a sailor who lets women and children into a lifeboat first. A man who won't be bribed. And a martyr who won't deny Christ in the face of death.
How do we show honour? From a simple 'thank you', and 'please', right through to medals for sports and military service, and up to New Year's honours - knighthoods...
We think of ANZAC day on April 25th, but (today) two days before, on the 23rd, is St George's Day - and the St George Cross is the highest medal of honour a civillian can receive.
HYMN: Stand up for Jesus - 74
Why was St George so famous? He is Patron of a number of countries besides England, but was from Israel, the Holy Land. I've written a whole play about him, but here's a few of the verses that tell the story: George and the Princess
ST GEORGE My name is George, my tale I tell,
since young I've trained and I've done well
My horse and I are called by the Emperor,
I journey to Rome for I am a soldier
For he has heard of the battles I’ve won,
But evil I fight in the Name of the Son
In God’s strength I strive without and within
for Christ and for love of man, to conquer sin
This Emperor of Rome began a great slaughter
of those who'd not worship him, he gave them no quarter
So I stood forth and made my faith plain,
though my life I’ll lose, yet heaven I’ll gain…
VILLAGERS
(Men) Hurrah for George, who fights for the Lord!!
(women villagers) Doesn’t he look handsome with His shiny sword!
Later on: ENTER ST GEORGE:
Gentle maiden, why do you cry?
PRINCESS:
My prince is gone, and I am to die
GEORGE: [shocked]
Oh, no! How, why is this true? Do not do this or heaven will rue
PRINCESS:
The dragon he skulks in that dark dread lair will rage forth destroying, my people despair
We have no more flocks and herds to allay the hunger the dragon does often display
To save all the rest we maidens are bent. The lot fell to me and I’ll not relent.
GEORGE:
Now help me God achieve my end, And to my arm your strength me lend
Guide my spear toward the mark, And send this dragon to the dark!
[He stands sword in hand, and spear planted in the ground,
then as, with a maddened roar the DRAGON charges,
GEORGE points the spear into his mouth and ducks into the cave.
The Dragon is impaled and crashes into the front wall beside the cave, and dies!]
Not quite the end!
Actually, George doesn't get to marry the princess, but as history says, goes off to Rome and is martyred... However, he does ask the people to be baptised in Christ's Name, and the Holy Land indeed becomes increasingly Christian for the next 500 years...
HYMN - He who would valiant be - Pilgrim song - 36
Some more scriptures about honour:
”Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.“ I Peter 2:17
”Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honour to those who are in authority." Romans 13:7-8
”Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.“ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
MESSAGE:
Jesus told the rich young ruler to ”‘Honor your father and your mother,’"Matthew 19:19
It can be difficult to honour parents who don't parent well, or maybe not at all - but there is still a matter of honouring the position of parenthood, and of honouring those who have cared for us. Most of us know how long and how hard the parenting job can be!
In John 8, Jesus says He honours the Father, and the Father honours Him...
And then Jesus said: "My Father will honor the one who serves me.“ John 12:23-26
HYMN All hail the power - 3
We are to honour others above ourselves:
There were two ways the disciples failed Jesus - they lacked faith, and they kept trying to be more important than each other! Sadly, things haven't changed much!
This attitude is very damaging to our church life, it probably causes the most hurt in the church, when it isn't handled well, and is so difficult for leaders to deal with. What is behind it all? Do we think God and man is going to love us more, the more important we are? We may get more attention but people will be negative and jealous as well!
I wonder why this isn't talked about more, but perhaps there is a diabolical reason!
Shakespeare (BTW it's his birthday - 23rd April) wrote: (Oliver)"Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition: By that sin fell the angels" (King Henry VIII, Act 3, Scene 2) - yes, Satan wanted to be 'like the most High' and was cast down to hell for it! Isaiah 14:14
Scriptures:
Romans 12:10 tells us to let others take the lead... ”Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;“ Romans 12:10 NKJV
”Don’t Lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.“ 1 Peter 5:3-6
From the book: —"A Culture of Honor" by Danny Silk
"Life flows through honor. The clear fruit of establishing a culture of honor is that the resurrection life of God begins to flow into people’s lives, homes, and communities, bringing healing, restoration, blessing, joy, hope, and wholeness. If we are not seeing this fruit, then we must ask ourselves whether we are truly honoring those around us as we ought...” So how should we see each other?
”But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,“ John 1:12 ESV We are all His children - and this is the best thing we could be!
HYMN To God be the glory
Ending scripture:
”Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“ Philippians 2:3-11 NLT
Read the last verse of this precious hymn:
4 /Onward, then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor, unto Christ the King;
This thro' countless ages men and angels sing.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before!
Ending prayer and benediction