No. 2

So I'm not creative with the title tonight.

My beloved and I just had a fantastic "weekend." I don't really know what to say except that I made the commitment to write in this thing at least every 48 hours, and here I am, behind schedule by about an hour and a half. D'oh.

Anyway, over dinner, we got into an interesting discussion about church, money in the church, and politics as it relates to the congregation. I won't go into a rundown of the whole conversation, but I realized more than ever that I am becoming more tolerant of other viewpoints. Or maybe condescending, I guess, since I regularly use the word "misguided" to describe those who would disagree with some of the conclusions I've come to in my theology and life paradigm.

This is because I'm an arrogant bastard who always has to be right, even if I might not be.

Here's the thing: There's a statistic out that says that 85% of those who come into a relationship with Christ do so before the age of 18.

How much of the budget in your local church goes to ministering to or reaching out to those under 18? 10%? 20?

In my opinion, this is really stupid. Really, really counterproductive. Why is this? It's because people think that when they give money to the church, they have to have a say in where it goes. Why waste money on youth events when we could spend the money on more comfortable pews for our fat old asses? Why in hell would we want that satanic rock shit to be played in the House of the Lord when we could buy shiny new uniforms for the choir for our Christmas program?

The fact is, before 18, you can't afford to give money to the church. Youth ministers rely on elder boards and pastors and committees for every last cent they get to spend. Think about what Christ would want. Would He really want that couple bucks to go to a new LCD for the lobby, or a Bible for a kid who can't afford to buy one for himself?

On that note, how about your Missions budget? How much are you spending to accommodate those in the church who donate versus how much you're spending to get more souls out of Hell? Francis Chan, in his book "Crazy Love" challenges the modern American church to take Christ at His word and "love others AS YOU LOVE YOURSELVES." To GIVE 50% of your annual church budget away. To literally spend as much on others as you do yourself.

Woah, woah, that's taking it WAY too literally, you might say.

Fuck you. What do you think would have happened if the original 12 thought that way? "I know what Jesus just said right before he FLEW UP INTO THE CLOUDS, but I think God wants me to be more comfortable than that. I'll be comfortable fishing for a living, and telling the dudes I sell the fish to about Jesus, if it's not too awkward."

10 of the original 12 were executed for preaching Jesus. 1 was exiled to an island where he died of old age. Judas hung himself and was replaced by Mathias, who was also executed. They gave everything so you and I would hear about the greatest story ever told. The greatest gift ever given.

What are you willing to give? 10% to your local church? Yippee. Then you feel better about yourself, and vote to spend that same money on making the service more visually interesting for yourself.

Do yourself a favor: Stop going to church. Stop giving. Spend the money on a nice DVD rental for Sunday morning and don't kid yourself. God doesn't need your money. Don't kid yourself.

OR

Go on a mission trip. Tell someone about Jesus. Live as an Apostle for a while. Maybe for the rest of your tenure here on planet Earth.

Challenge yourself to actually GIVE the money, and pray that the leadership would be filled with the Holy Spirit to use that money to further the Kingdom. Don't whine about where the budget is going, if you trust those who make the decisions. The Gospel should be your obsession, if you really believe the stories.

If you don't think they should be taken too literally, you just don't get it. Give up, because you never will if you don't allow them to change you. If you don't allow Him to change you. People are going to Hell while you sit in your padded pew looking at a shiny new LCD that your donations paid for.

Wow, really? Yep. That's the long and the short of it.

If you don't like it, change it. How long has it been since you discipled someone who isn't quite as far as you in their walk with God? How long has it been since you looked for a mentor who is a little farther than you? How long has it been since you fell in love with the Gospel so deeply, and it became so real to you that you literally wept at its beauty, and your wonderful fortune to partake in it?

As good as you feel about yourself when you write that check on Sunday...that's your reward. Hope you liked the warm fuzzy, because if you're not insane about the Gospel, Jesus says plainly that that feeling of superiority that you get when you conspicuously drop that check into the basket is the most you'll get out of God for it.

Reread the Gospels. Fall in love with Jesus. Then read Acts and figure out what to do with that love.

I'm gonna.