In our 5 Nov update, I wrote some strong words about church and foreign money. One friend wisely questioned me about it, so I thought I'd quote what I wrote and explain my concern more clearly from the Scriptures:
One other fellowship here I was dismayed to witness laying on a big restaurant meal for Good Friday which we were not expected to contribute anything for. The model is that the CEO of a church has lots of money coming in from abroad and he doles it out liberally. I was particularly upset that that happened on Good Friday, when we are meant to reflect on the example of self-giving set by the 'CEO' of the church, he who gave himself up on the cross for the sake of his people.
My friend wisely commented that a Western church might in fact be inspired by Good Friday and give so that a poorer church can enjoy a free meal. I agree that that scenario would not be a contravention of biblical teaching. However, Westerners might like to know why I feel so strongly about what I perceive to be an 'entitlement mentality' in churches in this region.
- What does it mean to aim at 'equality'?
My friend referenced 2 Cor 8:13-14:
"It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality.[b] 14 At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality." (CSB) However, I note that the Corinthians were being asked to provide need for those who were undergoing a famine in Jerusalem.*
Suffice it to say here that I worry that a lot of money from well-to-do churches ends up going to middle-class people in countries where there is a well-publicised disaster or conflict. We do have huge refugee camps here with people struggling to fill their stomachs. But that Good Friday congregation was made up of plenty of 'middle-class' people. The principle of 'equality' does not mean a crass income-levelling whereby wealthy churches should be striving to raise up the wealth of middle-class people. We must labour to identify real need (see Paul doing this in 1 Tim 5:3,5) and then seek to feed the hungry. - I worry that Christians are being trained to come to church to receive not to give. This was not a one-off observation. I have seen so much up-ending here of the biblical maxim that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive'.
- What I have witnessed so often in evangelical church culture here is an undermining of the culture of sharing food that is strongly present in non-Christian culture. When a group of relatives go on a picnic together, each household labours to prepare food and bring it. This happens in schools and universities too: people often bring a big tray of dolma to share. A key NT word that characterises the church is koinonia- fellowship, but since that word is often poorly understood, let's think of the church as a 'sharing-ship'. So not only do I believe the model of the Big Guy at the Top doling out the Goodies is unbecoming of a Christian 'share-ship'; I believe it is even falling short of the standard of sharing that prevails in the communities of this world.
* This is an assumption from 8:4- 'the relief of the saints'. It sounds like pretty drastic need to me. Acts 11:28 specifically mentions a famine, though about dates I have not researched.
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