More compassion, more Gospel

I've just finished reading the latest of the “Barna” books, this one by their new President, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. The book really had an impact on me and I also had the opportunity to meet David Kinnaman recently and hear his heart on what the latest surveys are saying and what this means to the American church.

The Book, “Unchristian” (so named because that’s what outsiders think of the way we act) says that Christians have an image problem. The latest report card issued by the Barna organization is that outsiders (and even some insiders) describe Christians as “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” and “judgmental”. Evangelicals even have a poorer image with comments like “right-wing” “bigoted” and “anti-homosexual” being used as descriptives.

How did it get this bad? Well, we did it to ourselves. One of the most embarrassing pieces of survey results found that the perceptions of 16-29 year-olds (the focus of the study) was not based on TV or movies or some third-party source but from human experience. Most of this younger generation that considered themselves “outsiders” to Christianity could relate story after story of how poorly they were received, or judged or ignored.

I thought Christians were to be known by their love. It’s time to take back the gospel and pastors need to bring a very liberal dose of compassion into their sermons and their ministries. Regular every-day believers that are determined to become more like the “Matthew 25” bunch and not the political bunch or the boycott bunch will advance the gospel and the Kingdom of God more than a dozen, well-organized conservative religious groups put together.

“Matthew 25” got you stumped? Here it is in paraphrase:

And Jesus said, enter into the Kingdom, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I needed clothing and you found clothing for me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Matthew 25:35)

Morning Manna

The Psalmist says, ‘In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my request before you and wait with expectation. (Psalm 5:3)

Recently, I’ve again been reminded that God continues to provide Morning Manna.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the expression, in the 16th Chapter of the Book of Exodus, the entire Israelite community is complaining. While God had miraculously rescued them from Egypt and Pharaoh’s army, their bellies are rumbling and the rumbling causes them to grumble, “you have bought us out into this desert to starve”.

They sound like a modern day financial reporter talking about the US economy!

In this week’s “World Magazine” there is a cartoon of a plane scene. The intercom announces, “The pilot has indicated we are going to experience a little turbulence, please fasten your seat belts”. Hearing the news, a financial reporter exclaims, “We are all going to die!”

While true life-and-death issues are rarely the focus of our daily prayer for many of us, I’m sure we can learn from the lesson of the Israelites in the desert.

First, the manna was provided every morning.

We all need to be reminded of the cycle of God’s daily provision. When Jesus was asked to teach his disciples to pray, He gave them what we know as the “Lord’s prayer”. This simple, heartfelt, and model prayer asks, “Give us this day our daily bread”. In many ways, a child-like request for our basic needs.

Second, the manna was available to all who would but bend down and gather what the Lord provided.

It was generously and freely given regardless of whether the individual was worthy. The Bible says that those that tried to gather too much found that the manna spoiled. However, those that paid attention to the instruction, ‘he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.”

Third, when a double portion is needed, a double portion is provided.

Since the Sabbath was not a time to gather, the previous day’s portion was doubled for the Israelites, and none of this double portion spoiled.

I’ve been reminded time and time again that when God knows we need a double portion of His blessings, he will provide. Again, it’s not about whether we are worthy, only if we are willing to bend the knee and gather.

Americans Generous? Not a Myth!

Recently the Chronicle of Philanthropy published an opinion article (a larger, more prominent, “letter to the editor”) by the title of “Americans Generous? Not Really”. This article by a senior fellow at Georgetown University took issue with the often repeated comment (because it is true) that the Americans are the most generous people in the world.

I wouldn’t have minded so much if the criticism was along the lines of something accurate or perhaps Biblical. Perhaps, 1 Corithians 16:2 - Let each one of you give according to how the Lord has prospered you." Given that standard, Americans, one of the most blessed people in the history of the world, would need to be even more generous than they presently are.

Unfortunately, his criticism was that much of the largest donations from the 50 most generous donors went to colleges and universities. For some reason, colleges and universities that have healthy endowment funds have been under attack. In addition, it seems like tax-incentives were given for the reason for the generosity (sure…an easy way to get 30 cents back for every dollar given!) Some in Washington are trying to figure out how to shake loose some of that money because of course the people in Washington think they know how to spend money better than anyone.

I thought I would take this opportunity to take issue with some of the giving myths that are heard often, particularly at conferences and seminars attended by those involved in the nonprofit industry. The information I’m quoting is taken from “Giving USA 2006-released in 2007”

Myth 1: Giving in the US has been in decline
Fact 1: Giving in the US continues to increase

Giving in the last year was up 4.2% and in current dollars, before inflation adjustments, estimated giving has increased by $279 billion since 1966. Much of that growth has been in the last ten years.

Myth 2: Adjusted for inflation, giving in the US has been in decline
Fact 2: Adjusted for inflation, giving in the US continues to increase

Giving in the last year was estimated to be $295 billion; the change has been an increase of more than 200% adjusted for inflation in the last 40 years. In the last ten years, fully adjusted for inflation, giving is up 65%

Myth 3: Corporations and Foundations make up most of the giving
Fact 3: Individuals give the most

Charitable giving by individuals and households reached an estimated $222.9 billion in 206, approximately 76% of the total amount of giving

Myth 4: Giving to Religious Organizations in the US has been in decline
Fact 4: Giving to Religious Organizations in the US continues to increase

Giving to religious organizations was estimated at $96.82 Billion, an increase of 4.5% over the previous year. Giving to religious organizations represented 32.8% of all giving and has increased an average of 4.7% each year for the past ten years.

Myth 5: More and More Charities are chasing Fewer and Fewer Dollars
Fact 5: Giving, even adjusted for inflation has increased much more than the number of Charities

This myth is rarely challenged. The facts are however that since 1995, registered 501(c)(3) organizations are up 67% while total giving is up 185%. The rate of registered charities rose by 3.5% between 2004 and 2005 (the last year reported) the slowest rate of increase in a decade. The number of registered charities includes some but not all churches. Some believe there are between 300,000 to 400,000 additional churches that would be included making the official county approximately 1.4 million charities.

Myth 6: Giving by percentage is a smaller piece of the economy
Fact 6: Giving as a percentage of the total economy is above the 20 year trend

Total charitable giving as a percentage of the GNP was 2.2 percent in 2006. Other than 2000, when the giving percentage reached 2.3 percent after several years of rapid stock market growth, the average growth has been typically around 2.0%

Myth 7: Giving by percentage of personal income is declining
Fact 7: Giving as a percentage of personal income is increasing

The 2006 individual giving as a percentage of personal income was 2.0 percent and above the 40-year average of 1.8%. While down slightly from 2.1 percent in 2005 it is up to the more recent highs experienced in the late 1960’s.

Finally, just some interesting other changes since 1965 (the base year for most of the above analytical study). Adjusted for inflation, the DJIA is up about 132%, a new house price is up about 118%, a newspaper is actually up only about 62% and a new car (take an Impala…please) is up 51%. Meanwhile giving in the United States is up 203% fully adjusted for inflation.

Americans generous? Yes, really!

A Life of Significance

Many historians have determined that the life and in particular, the death of Jesus was likely the most significant event of history. Christianity was the cultural context for much of what we know as western society. From the rise of modern science, to the means of social change, Christian philosophers that were firmly grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ and had a profound reliance on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus provided the means of social change and much of what we know as civilization.

Here is a quote from one of my favorite historians, R.R. Palmer who wrote “the History of the Modern World” in 1950 and which has been continuously revised and reprinted since. “it is impossible to exaggerate the importance of the coming of Christianity. It brought with it, for one thing, an altogether new sense of human life. For the Greeks had shown man his mind; but the Christians showed him his soul. They taught that in the sight of God, all souls were equal, that every human life was sacrosanct and inviolate. Where the Greeks had identified the beautiful and the good, ..the Christian sought out the diseased, the crippled, the mutilated, to give them help. Love, for the ancient Greek, was never quite distinguished from Venus. For the Christians held that God was love, it took on deep overtones of sacrifice and compassion." - R. R. Palmer

Significance in the light of Jesus.

Pastor Rick Warren, in his best-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life", said that each of us wants our lives to have purpose or significance. Each of us must decide what that means. Each of us must decide what will be the measuring rod of our life. Is it material things, power, influence, how good we look at age 50? Or is it faithfulness to God’s statutes? Are we measured by our response to “who is our neighbor” or having the most expensive house in the neighborhood? Rick Warren defines success as “fulfilling God’s purpose for your life” and many have found similar definitions that are also Biblical and meaningful.

As we see Jesus in this week of the passion; it’s clear what Jesus regarded as the true measure of a life. For three years, in the face of opposition and death threats, Jesus had pursued His mission of bringing God’s kingdom to all people. Jesus was the “Emanuel”, God with us—all-powerful and all-knowing. He knew of the danger that awaited him in Jerusalem, but He also knew that there was significant purpose in His mission. Jesus knew that He would be betrayed or abandoned by His chosen followers. He knew that He would be arrested, that He would be mocked and whipped and that ultimately, he would die a horrible death on a cross between two thieves.

Do we know who we are? We are children of the king. We are the redeemed and as Psalm 107 encourages, “Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy: and gathered out of the countries.”

Our purpose and our significance is first and foremost who we are in Christ. Let us live the life that is significant, fully dependent on the Lord and faithful to His Word. Our identity is in Christ, our purpose is in Christ, our security is in Christ and our future is in Christ.

God’s richest blessings to you this Easter!

Integrity and "Victimless Crimes"

It didn't take too long after the Elliot Spitzer scandal broke to have a gaggle of talking heads on television speaking about everything except the actual scandal. The breach of ethics and integrity and the troubling moral recklessness of one of our Nation's top elected officials seemed to be only a starting point and excuse to talk of "victimless crimes", "entrapment" and an "overly aggressive prosecution".

On a personal note, I'm truly sorry for Governor Spitzer and his wife and teenage girls. Moral failure hurts everyone connected even remotely to this family and it definitely becomes a significant and unfortunate defining moment for a brilliant career.

Has anyone noticed that integrity is actually quite resistant to a liberal press, a godless social agenda and a permissive society? Why was it apparent to everyone from the onset that the once proud Governor of New York would have to resign from public life?

The answer to the question is found in Romans 2:12 where Paul says, "For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law". The Bible has a number of very clear messages and one of them is that those things that are honorable and right and true are naturally known to all of mankind. Doing that which is morally right and true creates blessings, harmony and peace, both now and for eternity.

Despite the efforts of many in society to redefine integrity, the vast majority of people in the United States still thankfully understand the basic difference between right and wrong. Regarding this effort by some to redefine integrity, I find it not coincidental that the organization that has grabbed the use of the IntegrityUSA URL is in fact a website that promotes, "A witness of God's inclusive love to the Episcopal Church and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender". community.

Regardless of the efforts by many to redefine integrity to mean something that may be more convenient for various permissive and quite frankly sinful lifestyles, integrity is entirely about the development of a character that is based on Biblical principles. These principles are many, including avoiding improper sexual conduct, faithfulness to one's spouse and also strong admonitions about being very careful in judging others "less you yourself are judged" and "getting the log out of your eye before you mention the speck in your brother's eye".

There are very few "victimless crimes". I can think maybe of jaywalking on a deserted street or talking on a cell phone while driving in Washington DC (I confess I've been guilty of the latter) but typically the laws of the United States reflect the mores, standards and the Biblical principles that are known to be appropriate for society.

"Right-Sizing" Your Ministry

I believe the term “right sizing” is really under appreciated. The word is attributed to a General Motors’ personnel manager who was trying to come up with a better word than “downsizing” back in the 1980’s. Too bad, because all organizations need to be “right sized” and it doesn’t have anything to do with downsizing.

As organizations grow, they need to embrace the same policies, practices and procedures that other organization of the same size must have in order to avoid financial, personnel and ultimately accountability and integrity issues. All too often, nonprofits tend to believe that because they are mission oriented, they don’t really need to have all of the professional and business practices of for-profit organizations. These professional business practices are actually the keys to long-term success.

Nonprofit organizations and churches get into trouble when they grow in size without paying sufficient attention to implementing the policies, practices and procedures that are commensurate with other organizations of the same size. At the ECFA, we spend much of our time and oversight within the financial realm; we speak often of financial controls. However, human resource practices and the appropriate policies dealing with a nonprofit’s employees are also often underdeveloped in nonprofits especially as they begin to grow and have more personnel, both full and part time.

There has been a lot of media attention paid to the growth of the mega-churches. These churches are now found in all parts of the country. They also tend to be independent and not aligned with a particular denomination. There are also the six television ministries that have been the subject of both government and media inquiry. I’ve had the opportunity to provide some perspective into these inquiries and have expressed the opinion that integrity issues are likely related to this issue of rightsizing. I don’t believe that there is anything inherent about a particular Christian movement or type of ministry that leads to integrity issues but actually the problems are more likely a matter of size and not having a healthy attitude towards professional business practices.

As many ministries grow they are more than likely very personality driven and the founder/leader is likely a very charismatic individual that is able to powerfully propel the ministry forward. These leaders typically are not trained in the professional skills and best practices that need to be embraced in governance, financial accountability, internal controls, and issues of taxes and employee compensation and benefits.

While the vast majority of nonprofits and churches are relatively small (75% of nonprofits have less than $500,000 in annual income according to the IRS and the average church attracts less than 90 adults per weekend according to Barna), organization of size need to right size their policies, practices and procedures to ensure that they are literally “taking care of business”. Organizations that try to run their business via a “seat-of-the-pants” approach are looking for trouble.

Pew Forum Surveys Religion

A rather extensive survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life explores some of the shifts that have been taking place in our churches in the US. Based on interviews with over 35,000 adults, the Pew Forum study is interesting reading for those of us that may be wondering what is happening to our religious values, observing the growing diversity of our religious traditions and the growth and/or decline of our established religious institutions.

While there have been some reporting on the survey results, I don't think that many have focused on the "rest of the story", as Paul Harvey says.

The rest-of-the-story is not that 51% of the population is Protestant or that one-in-four (25%) presently describe themselves as Catholic, but that more than one-in-six American adults (16.1%) are presently not affiliated with any particular religious faith.

The Pew report went on to describe that this group of unaffiliated people are not primarily "secular" but rather, "nothing-in-particular". About half of this growing group of restless and unconnected adults often described themselves as "religious" but not connected.

If you realize that another 5-10% of those surveyed identified themselves with a particular religious group or denomination but readily admit that they frequent their house of worship rarely (maybe Easter or Christmas), we can gain a better understanding of what we normally call the "unchurched" in America. Based on the estimate of about 245 million adults in the United States, about 25% would be "unchurched" or about 61 million adults. This is more than the Pew Forum estimate of the total number of Evangelicals in the United States.

Americans remain some of the most religious and most diverse people in the world. Biblical Christianity continues to play a very prominent role in American public life and the Pew report found that Americans are very willing to experiment and to embrace a religious point of view other than the experience of their youth.

Reminds me of what Jesus says in John 4:35, "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest '? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest."