Our church in the far west suburbs of Chicago has been challenged to tithe the stimulus checks to a special church benevolence fund that will be used to help under-resourced people in our community. I like the idea, but it some ways it seems like a lazy sacrifice. I'd love to see people using a percentage (or all) to individually bless someone in need. It makes making a difference a much more personal thing and it doesn't encourage the idea that ministry is for the paid staff.

that is a good challenge and reminder about which King we serve! Thanks!

This is a good chance for us all to reflect on how to honor God with our finances. I've posted some thoughts about it over at my blog.

I'm not sure why a Christian should treat this different than any other income.

I lead a young adult fellowship where this was a hot topic. A few zealous patriots were sure that we should spend it because that is what our president wanted. A few zealous missional minded kids were sure that it all should be given to ministries focusing on the poor and social justice. Our one zealous CPA said that we should forget what the president said and pay down our credit card debt.

I watched them debate until eventually they decided they could be patriotic and missional by giving all the money to a ministry that would immediately inject that money into the economy by buying things for people. One kid knew a family that needed a washing machine and he planned to buy them one. He said, "It isn't often that I can make God and George Bush happy at the same time."

"I'm not sure why a Christian should treat this different than any other income."

What John M. said...in fact, nothing more needs to be said.
moving on.

So why is being patriotic a priority to Christians?

I remember hearing a Christian radio personality say that patriotism is part of a Christian's duty.

The fact we even have to struggle with this shows how deeply lost the Church in America really is.

Somehow I doubt that the pulse doesn't quite quicken for Jesus in worship the way it does for the establishment of American superiority

Before the government had even decided on bribing the voting public with a stimulus check before the upcoming elections, God had spoken to me that our church should send ever child that we bring in to our midweek progams, via our vans and bus, to camp for an entire week. I felt strongly that our financially strapped church was to pay the entire $165 fee for every child.

I announced the plan to the congregation and then began to count how many children we were talking about and I almost became physically ill. There were weeks when the staff was not being paid, but I had just committed to doing something impossible. One night before I went to bed I had heard on the radio that the government had made a way for it all to happen. The following Sunday I told the congregation that there was no need to worry -- congress was going to pay the bill! The congregation applauded and while the checks have not yet arrived all of the money that we need already has.

well said, John M. and sheerahkahn. took the words from my mouth.

why wait for 'pennies from heaven' (or that other place) to do the right thing anyway, inside or outside some building?

next.

First of all, this is not free money from the government. It is the return of a small fraction of the money we have already sent to that black hole known as Washington. It is a tacit admission that our federal government has been taking too much from us to begin with. Those of you who think it is the Christian thing to do to vote for politicians who promise to take more from the Godless wealthy should take a look at how much of our money actually makes it back to those who need it.

I agree with you Richard. This is a return of some money that we already sent to the government. Unfortunately with the black hole of spending in Iraq, and our deficit, health care crisis, and social security crisis; the government is just going to be taking it back and a whole lot more over the next few years. It doesn't matter who is president, taxes will be increased a ton over the next decade. Our elected leaders have decided that we should spend the money to exterminate iraqi's while our health care costs have quadrupled over the last decade, our gas prices have tripled, and our home equity has now gone straight down the tubes. As a church leader, I would advise people to do whatever they need to do with the money. Pay off credit debt or health care debt. Sign up for health insurance, even if only for a couple of months, put it in the bank for the rainy day that is no doubt going to come sooner than later.

"the very nature of money is as follows...
easy come, easy go.
Hard to come by, easy go.
Dam near difficult to get, easy go.
See the pattern?
It's just money.
So, if I have it, great, if I don't have it, great. My happiness, my security isn't wrapped up in a wad, my friend, it's happily in the hands of G-d, and I'm content with that."

Sure, Christians should treat all money entrusted to them as God's money to be used for God's purposes (including but not limited to taking care of themselves).

But there is a difference in how we think about and react to regular income and extra bonuses you were not expecting (from whatever source).

If you have consumer debt, by all means use the rebate check to pay it off. If you have inadequate savings, use this to boost that savings.

But for those of us who are OK on these fronts, who weren't expecting this money and don't particularly need it, why not give it away?

Money From Heaaven

i'm still hoping for the chicks for free; i'm sure that's a future post...

well, kids, everything's pretty much been said here, so i'll just said some more - toss in my two cents before the government takes that, too:

(a) i've seen this topic on a number of blogs, and i just want everyone to resist making this yet another issue where there is something "right" to do and something "wrong." "i just wonder if it's the kingdom thing to do" - sorry, but there isn't one "kingdom" thing to do.

(b) a pastor on another blog was saying how he had committed his church to send some kids to camp awhile back, and was worried where the money was going to come from. he got up in the pulpit beaming the Sunday after the rebate was announced and said, "God has answered our prayers - Congress is going to give us the money!" i don't mean to rain on his parade, but just where exactly did Congress get this money from? i must have missed that piece on C-SPAN where they took up a collection for us from all the millionaires there...

this is an election-year ruse. period.

that said, i sure hope my check gets here before my health insurance company hits my checking account for my $1000 premium - which, of course, is the REAL problem those criminals should be working on, not printing and sending out money which will ultimately wind up in jp morgans' and 3rd national's pockets...

other than that, i don't really have much of an opinion on this one... like sara said, "next?".

mike rucker
fairburn, georgia, usa
mikerucker.wordpress.com

Kristen, i do agree. I don't want to discourage anyone from giving to people who need it. But I personally would resent any pastor or church trying to tell me what my responsibility is with it. I want people to know that this money is not a gift from Congress to us. Our president should not have any impact on the way we spend it. I want them to know that this money should have been ours already, and will be demanded from us again in the future. I personally hope that families see this money as "second chance" money. So those of us who put car repairs or Christmas presents on a card, or have outstanding medical bills can have a new chance to pay that stuff down.

No, this is not the government returning our money, it's the government taking out a $150B loan to give to its citizens. Whether that's a good idea or not is another matter.

In any case, it's sad that the solution to a bad economy is giving everybody $600 to go shopping. We're stuck on the treadmill of consumerism. I do like the idea that if we're going to buy things, at least buy them for people in need.

"Hey, let's SPEND our way out of the deficit!"

When Joe Citizen does this, Max Collector starts calling. When the government does this, commoners rejoice and call it a blessing.

Econ 101: To everything there is a season.

quote
As a church leader, I would advise people to do whatever they need to do with the money. Pay off credit debt or health care debt. Sign up for health insurance, even if only for a couple of months, put it in the bank for the rainy day that is no doubt going to come sooner than later.
unquote

Agreed.

When the government takes from some to "give" to others, it is never a good thing. For one, it is a violation of commandment #8. Practically speaking, it doesn't finally "help the economy" because it produces nothing in the end except the illusion of prosperity.

Having said all that, economically speaking, it doesn't matter whether you spend the money or you give it away for someone else to spend. The economic effect is completely unchanged.

There really is no "alternative economy" for the church. When it comes to goods, services, and money, the church cannot avoid participating in the only economy there is.

Here we go again! The Church putting guilt trips on ordinary Christians. I can understand it in the case of the many well-off who probably don't need the extra money and who may end up spending it on luxuries or greed or on the "me, me" mentality of our times. I can also understand it in the case of those Christians who will go off and waste their rebate checks on an IPhone or some of that stuff. However, there are millions of everyday working Christians for whom these rebate checks are going to be a Godsend. They are trying to send their children to school, somehow trying to get rid of debt and just put food on the table (After all, aren't they doing this because the economy is bad? Duh!) And here we go, the Church (or at least some churches) are making these ordinary Christians feel guilty again. They want to preach yet again about saving the whole world while they won't care for their own (like Jesus says in Mt. 15 and Mark 7; also 2 Timothy). Why don't these rich Christians who don't need the checks find the poor in their own churches and try to help them first? Isn't this what Acts 5 is all about? I mean didn't James (and John) say, saying hi to your brother and hope that all is well, doesn't cut it. You better give them some food and clothes too.

And for those who do truly need it to put food on the table, I say, let them. After all, haven't they been faithful Christians all year round, tithing and giving it all to the Lord.

Like someone else said, why is this money any different than everything else a Christian has anyways? It all belongs to the Lord. We are just His stewards...

At times I have been generous, giving almost half my pay for God's kingdom.

At times I have enjoyed spending money on myself.

If I give my economic stimulus check to God's purposes, I will be rewarded and that is great.

However, I plan to spend it on me, and that's OK too.

btw, my quote was congress speaking, not the citizens who elected them. the entire situation is far more complicated than just cutting a few checks.

and no, I don't give to get, vote red, or believe the government should take care of my [or neighbor's] every want and need.

Where in either tradition or scripture are we taught that if we give money we will be blessed with more money? This is a false doctrinal belief that is based on the equally false "name it claim it " sect.It is not true Christian theology. We give/help others/pray for others because we are Christian not in order to receive something better. What is the honor in helping or giving if we expect something in return?