July 01, 2009
Essentials
Some church administrations have cut back on programming by eliminating Sunday evening services, youth groups and Sunday School. The leaders of one congregation describe their actions as more of a philosophical shift than a financial one and feel they are pro-active. In light of the current downturn in tithes and offerings it is a shift they’re happy to make. However, their newsletter attempts to add weight to their current position, “I feel sorry for the organizations that are driven by a high volume of expensive programs and whose people have become accustomed to having them feel they are essential to their ongoing church experience.”
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Gail;
-----Our provident economy has brought to us a degree of proxy that we accept with little or no thought. Our food comes to us at least stove ready, our clothes come ready to throw on, the energy in our homes is available at the flick of a finger, our information and ideologies come all bundled into conclusions by teachers, talking heads, and entertainers. All of the blood, sweat, and tears put into preparing almost everything we use has been done for us by others. That is very convenient and good, but its influence upon our relationship with God is not good. Our trained leaders study the theological conclusions of others who studied the theological conclusions of others. We assemble to have our theological conclusions shaped by them. We bring our generosity (tithes) to them to be dispensed by them, and we channel our efforts into projects and programs directed by them.
-----And for the most part, our tithes are put to good use and the products of our efforts are beneficial. But much perspective is missed by our religious functions being so highly processed and made ready. Not only is the perspective of the participants diminished, but also the perspective of the servants is degraded. To them, meeting together Sunday evenings, or in youth groups, or Sunday schools are viewed as programs that can just be cut instead functions important to a living body. They totally overlook the servant nature of their capacity, and instead, take full view of themselves as being your religious proxies.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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