While I know that I should give money to the church, missionaries, people in need, etc.; actually doing so has been a struggle. I think a fair amount of core lies creep into this topic for me (hard work = success = comfort & approval). Growing up in a small, very hard-working town just south of Pittsburgh I've solidified some very, very strong conservative economic values: i.e., if you want something, YOU work really hard and YOU earn it. I've never believed in a monetary handout for someone not willing to help themselves. I think my thoughts on the whole 'not willing to help themselves' aspect changed dramatically over spring break while serving with Church on the Street. Since then I have done a 180 on my prior misconception that homelessness is the fault of those suffering from it. Thus giving to ministries serving the poor has been easy. But it was only in the past few days that I think I've really completely understood the reason to give to missionaries:
I think something that really held me back from wanting to give to missionaries is their universal spiel of "it's not your money, it's God's". That held me back because, to me, given my blue collar value upbringing, it says: "don't bother working hard, there is absolutely no benefit to doing so". But when viewed in line with Colossians 3:23-24 I get the connection. In case you're a little rusty with your TMS, those verses day "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (ESV). And boom...we're like a 1950's TV series. I (the man) work really hard and bring home as much bacon as I can so that you missionaries (my multiple wives) can also work really hard to disciple and bring as many people (the children that we have together - I'm kidding of course) to Christ as possible. Now, just like a man courting a woman...I should chose to support the missionaries that are the most God-honoring.
I have to admit that I don't have much of a biblical basis for this, but rather I'm speaking from personal experiences. I think we should give to missionaries who are responsible with their money. This is for multiple reasons: (1) irresponsible people become even more irresponsible when they have more money and (2) you're not going to be able to relate at all to hard working people or people that are responsible with their money. I think the first is self explanatory. I mention the second, because one missionary who has asked for a significant amount of money has actually made fun of me, on multiple occasions, because I wasn't blowing my money on useless crap and comforts that he felt it necessary for me to have. Regardless of what I may have learned from him, when I look back at our time together, those comments seem to dominate my memories. As a young Christian, I often got the impression that all of these "professional Christians" are lazy. That misconception is not something that I want to support. I want to support a Paul...someone who is actually working as if directly for God, and it shows. Someone working really hard and proclaiming it as working for God, regardless of what you're actually doing (as long as it isn't something ridiculous like hanging out playing basketball and eating Woppers all day) really shines through to me, and I think to a lot of other people, especially non-Christians. Christians are notorious for telling people that they are pouring their souls into something that doesn't matter (I can't tell you how many of those I got while writing on my thesis - which was far from the truth and not helpful for building anyone up). But when was the last time you heard someone compliment a Christian for pouring their heart and soul into building God's kingdom? I haven't. And I don't think I've seen much of it. As Christians, we need to work hard..for Christ, not for our comfort. I don't want to blow my hard earned dollar into your money pit of fast food because you're too lazy to make yourself a sandwich. In certain cases I can't help but to feel that I'm not giving my money to further the gospel (which I WANT to support) but rather to support someone having a good time on my dime. And it's a few bad applies, that admittedly, make me not want to give to missionaries.
Another struggle I have is that I view my engineering career is a missions field (which in my two days of work I've already had conversations about Jesus). I spend my 8 hours/day working while you play basketball and go watch a movie during that time while claiming that as "relationship building time". We're both building relationships during that time. Why give to a missionary who refuses to grow up and plays games all day? A lot of college students have jobs too...why not get a job that has a lot of college students working there and build your relationship there? What's that? You'll miss hanging around a TV watching ESPN and playing poker with your friends?
One of the pastors of New Hope Church in State College gave me a really great idea when it comes to giving. We all know people in need. How great would it be to pay for groceries of the old lady in front of you in the grocery line and then proclaim it in the name of Jesus? How effective would it be to buy a new basketball hoop in for the kids in a bad neighborhood with John 3:16 spray-painted across the backboard. What kind of an impact would it have on a homeless man if you were to walk up to him and pay for an apartment for him for a few months with no string attached?
I a good bit of that was more or less a rant...and I know there are probably a few fairly controversial lines in this post...so, please, send your comments/questions/concerns my way (below, email, phone, carrier pigeon, etc.) - they would be greatly appreciated.
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