The Budget: Getting what you pay for, or an act of thanksgiving

I have always loved September in a congregation, especially after all the church school teachers have been recruited. There is a certain energy level that abounds. Programs and events have a new-start freshness. The sanctuary and narthex are all abuzz as friends on summer schedules show up for worship on the same Sundays. Choral music, sermons, and prayers seem to reflect a sparkling rededication to worshiping our God.

But if it hasn’t happened earlier in the year, the committee responsible for budget preparation is scheduled to meet to ask the annual questions, “How are we going to pay for all that we are doing?” and “Can we possibly consider doing anything else?” If the pastor doesn’t regularly lift up the challenge to live a life marked by generosity in response to a gracious God, she/he may be starting to think about the need to preach that perfect motivational pledge Sunday sermon.

The scenario may be true all too often, but the questions are really misleading. They start us thinking about paying for what we need or want from the church. Then we are hooked. “You get what you pay for” traps us in a consumer mentality and we miss the point of life as a Christian.

So here is another question. If we start the program year in September by nurturing believers of all ages, what should be lifted up during the stewardship season? If we study what it means to believe in Jesus Christ, then living out a life of generosity becomes a celebration of our grateful response. Giving self and goods is a natural act of thanksgiving growing out of what we believe.

On this topic of stewardship and living a life of generosity, I suggest reading the Book of Order, Directory for Worship, Chapter II, Section 5 titled “Self-Offering.” Here is a glimpse of what you will find.

• The beginning concept is “The Christian life is an offering of one’s self to God” [W-2.5001]. As we gain understanding of what the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ means
  in our lives, then what we are to do with our lives becomes obvious.
• The second concept focuses on offering spiritual gifts in worship in order to serve Christ in the church and in the world [W-2.5002].
• Then comes the money concept, but interestingly the word “money” is never mentioned. “The offering of material goods in worship is a corporate act of self-dedication in response to God” [W-2.5003, a.].
• The Directory goes on to say that “God calls believers today to be disciplined and generous in giving support to the ministries of the church” [W-2.5003, b.].

I didn’t quote all of Section 5. Check it out! This theological description of self-giving should and will teach and preach!

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