I have a love/hate relationship with money. Well, let me clarify. I have an endure/hate relationship with money. (The Bible says we’re not supposed to love it.) On the one hand, we have to have it. To live. So, I endure it for that reason. On the other hand, money causes a lot of problems. That’s why I tend to hate it. When it comes to church ministry, things don’t automatically improve just because Christians are putting money in velvet-lined stainless steel things. In fact, the arena of church giving is bedecked with controversy, hucksters, mistrust, hoarding, profligate spending; it has a heritage of disqualified pastors, filching money counters, distrustful members, and yes, wrecked churches.
Continue reading “Church Budget Basics: Being a Good Steward of God’s Money” »

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Is the church in need of a new reformation? Undeniably, yes. Rife with materialism, sliding toward compromise, and embroiled in selfishness and petty disputes, the Christian church needs a jarring reformation. True reformation is only from God. We must look into his Word to understand what He is like. We must begin thinking like the early church.

Beware. This article is not intended to be unloving or harsh, but it does level some serious charges against an admittedly stereotypical American Christianity.

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There’s a little word game surrounding “church” that often presents a problem. The problem has to do with the fact that “church” is more than a building. It is, in fact, a local body of believers. But the church is also a universal entity, comprising more than just local believers, but believers from all nations and past ages, too. When someone says, “I’m going to go to church,” I can figure out what meaning they mean. What concerns me is that the “church” word game sometimes messes with people’s lives, too.

Continue reading “The Sunday Christian – Living a Life That Exceeds the Boundaries of the Church Building” »

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It’s 11:53am. Your Sunday morning service has just ended. People ease to their feet, collecting purses, Bibles, pens, cough drop wrappers, and keys. The low chatter of the crowd crescendos into the familiar after-church fellowship. Gradually, everyone files out the doors and down the steps to the parking lot. They disperse to their respective vehicles. Engines start, cars drive off, and off they go to Olive Garden, pot roasts, or quick sandwich lunches as they move to the next activity on the agenda. And what about your sermon?

Continue reading “The Voice of the Church – Out of Sight, Out of Mind” »

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I know that the stock market is down and the economy is supposedly in the dumps, but there is one group of people that isn’t doing all that bad–a few pastors. One Atlanta area pastor owns not one, but two private jets which he uses for shuttling to and from Atlanta and New York City. He owns two homes. One is a 3 million dollar mansion, and the other is a 2.4 million dollar condo. The Rolls Royce (or two) that he drives are apparently “gifts” from his church. One well-known pastor was accepting a modest $200,000 salary, and has landed book deals around $13 million. His church operates on a $70 million budget. Another pastor earns a million-plus salary, and resides in a $2.6 million mansion. The list could go on and on.

Continue reading “Millionaires or Shepherds – Pastors of the Modern Church” »

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