The Faith Pledge Sunday for this year is November 24, 2013. Soon you will receive the third-quarter giving statements for your review, last year’s unopened envelope (if you turned one in), a blank faith pledge card for 2014, and an envelope that you will use to pledge your giving for the church during 2014.
For many people, giving money to the church carries too many overtones of fundraising without any real basis in our faith. Over the years, scores of preachers and church leaders have simply used stewardship as a code word for “Give us your money!” while they borrowed secular fundraising techniques to orchestrate their fundraising campaigns. As a result, many have come to believe that money is a separate matter from faith and pastors should stay away from any teaching and preaching on the subject of money.
In truth, Jesus frequently and pointedly talks about money and how our attitude should be toward money more than any other particular subject. Throughout the Bible, we are taught to be careful in setting our priorities or money can become a serious contender for a person’s primary loyalty against God.
The following is an excerpt from The United Methodist Church Guidelines for Leading Congregation about the theological foundation for understanding financial matters in the church:
“The Bible discusses money within three basic categories. First, money is a blessing from God. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is promised material blessing as it faithfully follows God. Still, the blessing is never an end in itself, but is meant to reveal the power of the true God. Furthermore, God’s people are always blessed in order to be a blessing to others. This leads to the second important way that money is discussed; those who have been blessed by God are expected to care for those who are in need. Giving is not an option for God’s people, but is foundational to the lives of disciples. Both Testaments speak frequently of giving in order to support God’s mission. ‘Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver’ (2 Corinthians 9:7). Finally, money is understood as a potential idol and a force of disruption against a person’s ability to love God and neighbor. The most famous text for this aspect of money’s identity is Matthew 6:24: ‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’ ”
Between now and Sunday, November 24, 2013, I am asking you to discuss with your family and to pray about generously giving for the ministry that Chapel Hill is set out to do for the coming year.
~ Mai
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