Adam McLane

The church of no money

You’d have to live under a rock to not know that our country is in trouble financially. Voices like Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman just weren’t loud enough and our nation has basically credited itself to death. Amazingly, I’m not seeing any Christian blogger asking the most obvious question, “What will happen to our church when people stop giving?”

Here’s the deal. The almighty dollar greatly matters to the church. From big buildings, to big salaries, to big spending ministries. The American evangelical church loves to collect and spend money. I don’t think that’s arguable.

So, what’s going to happen when people stop giving money? We talked about this last night in community group. For whatever reason most people consider giving to their church to come from their discretionary income pocket. It’s important… but not as important as paying bills. Whether or not that is biblically right or not really isn’t the issue. The issue is that people give out of discretionary money. And now that huge segments of givers are loosing their ability to spend any discretionary money, the church will suffer big time. Missionaries and non-profits will feel it first.. they already are. Even the best planning, best savings, and best stewardship may not be able to make it through. I know of a megachurch in Michigan that has 12 months in reserves. I don’t think that will be enough.

As churches fail to meet payroll a crisis may emerge. And like any crisis the wise will see it as an opportunity. What is true in business will be true in the church… out of crisis will come the best innovation!

Tony Campolo touched this a litte at NYWC Sacramento. And it got me thinking… what will the church of no money look like? Tony paralleled it to the church in China after the Boxer Revolution. Surely, the church of Jesus Christ will prevail! But what will it look like?

Thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

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Adam McLane

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20 responses to “The church of no money”

  1. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    While we personally write our tithe check before paying any of our bills, it is true that money given to “extra” ministries and missionaries does come from discretionary spending. Plus, incomes may be going down or being lost due to the economy. So even if everyone tithed faithfully, there will still be a negative impact on the church.

    I for one look at the silver lining of a terrible situation. I think we all maybe need a kick in the butt (myself included) at how much we have conformed to the culture in our use and dependence on material goods. For example, to effectively preach the gospel message does a church REALLY need the expensive sound system, projector and screen, a grand piano, new computers, etc etc etc? No, I think all you REALLY need is a preacher and a Bible.

    I don’t have any practical answers or insights, but I do hope that many of us, in our churches and our personal lives, get back to the basics of simple, gospel living.

    Reply
  2. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Should people stop giving? If we continue to play the game of “What ifs …” we can drive ourselves crazy. We need to be like we are just managers of what God has trusted us with. And sometimes that requires a mixture of both reality and stepping out in faith.

    Reply
  3. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Amy- awesome thoughts. thanks for joining the conversation.

    Gman- First of all, each of us in leadership is called to be a manager. And part of managing is both casting vision and preparing for the future. Do I think people should stop giving? Absolutely not. We haven’t. But when a ministry is dependent on tithes on income… what happens if there is no income?

    Yes, it’s a what-if. And I’m dreaming about a church that exists without resources. The working hypothesis is as Amy described it… what would the church look like with no money for stuff. What if all we had was a group of people and a person sharing from God’s Word?

    I actually think such a “crisis” is an opportunity for the Gospel.

    Reply
  4. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Or what if they decided to be 50-50 -50% on local and the other half on missions etc.

    http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/getting_radical_with_your_church_budget/

    Reply
  5. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    I’m not talking about giving being redirected. I’m talking about your weekly offering being ZERO. What would church look like then?

    Reply
  6. Brian M. Childers Avatar
    Brian M. Childers

    I’m thinking that in a way – the “real churches” will emerge out of this. Churches that teach the prosperity gospel may enjoy a brief uptick as they may convince people that if you give, you will be financially blessed – as people may turn briefly to them as a way of getting money. But as a financial crisis worsens, you’ll find the true hearts of the ministers. I agree with Amy’s point above, in that all you really need is a preacher and a Bible. Right now, our church is in the process of deciding what to do with carpeting in the church – as our old carpeting is a bit old and frayed – still does the job, but there are some rough areas. They want to try to make the church building beautiful. Maybe I’m being a bit pessimistic here, but somewhere along the way, I think the churches in general (not just ours) has lost the way. Let us get back to sound biblical preaching out of the Bible instead of short sound bites of topical preaching on Power Points. Does it reach today’s culture – sure – it is something that people can engage in – but does it necessarily need to be done that way – no. Ok..off the soapbox for now 🙂

    Reply
  7. AdamR Avatar
    AdamR

    Brian, God needs more of us on this Soap Box. Don’t get off!! What will the Church-of-No-Money look like? It will look more like the church was intended to be. Christ came to this earth to show us how to live. He came so that we all will have eternal life through Him. What was his message? LOVE! Not Law. He taught us to show Christ to everyone we come in contact with through Love and Truth. Not to get “wrapped around the axle” about Law. Wasn’t that what the Pharisees were guilty of? Isn’t that what most ‘churches’ are doing today? Churches Splitting or Doctrine, Carpet, and Building Funds. Many churches have indeed become Social Clubs with Crosses on their roofs providing Entertainment to all who come into their four walls. Where is Christ in that? He told us to go OUT and Make Disciples. The last time I looked, the ‘Least of These’ weren’t regular attendees of or givers to the buildings called churches. My soap box is this; Your Church is everyone you come in contact with everyday of your life. Not the building you go to on Sunday Morning. Philippians 2:8 tells the truth of the Love of Christ for God and for us. He Humbled and Became Obedient. As Followers of Christ; Disciples of Christ, we need to Humble ourselves and become Obedient to the direction God instructs us to go. Perhaps this financial crisis will hurt the Church Funds. Perhaps we will see Church Building close their doors due to lack of money. Perhaps Church Buildings will die. BUT, the True Church, True Followers of Christ, will never die. God will equip new leaders to rise up and be Humble Servants. I think the church will be different, but it will be more like the church Christ intended.

    Reply
  8. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Actually if a church had zero money it wouldn’t be very biblical, would it??

    Afterall don’t we have to share all in common? (Think Acts 2:42)

    Sure we are quick to criticize Big buildings and Big programs …(Jeolousy or pride issues – hopefully not)

    (I was and am still there at times when I see waste) I think we need to clarify what you mean by ZERO or No money. If you are saying churches have to close their buildings but redirect (Christians are the church and not the building thus people’s terms get mixed up) their finances to share things in common because of their jobs and bartering skills and support one another – then we might talk. If a church (The people) has zero funds … it might have problems because in some efforts it would not be able to survive do to meeting basic needs to buy food, place to stay etc. in our own culture unless you work together and bart and work the fields and become almost a community bubble. (Think Amish and even the Amish use money)

    Reply
  9. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    gman- I don’t think I’m being legalist about the “what if.” I’m more thinking, what would happen if the top 50 givers in your church all of a sudden lost their jobs. They went from making $200k to making whatever unemployment gave them. So, it could literally be “no money” meaning you took an offering and people offered a chicken and a few fresh fruit… or your church “income” dipped so low that not a single person could draw a wage.

    Actually, that’s an interesting decision for the leaders… what if there is enough to either pay a pastor FT or pay the bills for the building, which would they chose?

    I really don’t think this is much of a stretch either. The recent downturn is the worst possible scenario for Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. You had really fragile businesses who just saw the stock market dive. They were in borderline depression numbers and now dove DEEPLY into a depressionary cycle.

    So for some, this isn’t “what if” as much as “what are we going to do now?”

    Reply
  10. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I think it is good for a pastor to be paid a living wage if possible – Paul makes it clear that their work is deserving of a wage. But Paul also earned his own keep by making tents. There are churches and denominations where the pastors have other full time jobs – some by necessity, but some also by choice. Whether or not that is preferable is arguable, but it is absolutely legitimate. If worse came to worse, and our pastors all had to have jobs, and churches had to meet only in people’s homes or other donated locations, would that really be worse? I don’t think so.

    Reply
  11. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Understand Adam. Good thoughts. Getting ready to read your other post. You know if people actually used the stewardship principle and not just tithed money but also gifts and talents – even if a certain percentage lost their jobs .. if let’s say 80% (Most studies say only 10 – 20% give any type of “tithe” or anything) were giving both time, talent, and money they would be no need for appeals or worrying about church finances …it would be like in the time of Moses … they would have to say to God’s people – We have too much already …stop giving.

    Reply
  12. lisabee Avatar
    lisabee

    i totally agree with you, pa. Seeing as how i’ve been to several churches in the past 3 years, i’ve done my own little game of seeing their offering and budget amts on the bulletins compared with what they are preaching/teaching. Sounds like it wouldn’t correlate, right?? nope. i love the church i attend right now and while they aren’t making budget right now, they’re doing this thing called “season of giving” where each month they sponsor something for the community. october is “gift of warmth” where we’re doing a coat drive and raising money to pay for heat for people who can’t afford it. In this economic crisis, i find it encouraging. not just because we’re helping ppl, but because the church leadership doesn’t emphasize the budget deficits. i babysit twice/week for the church and they pay me $7.50/hr. granted it’s only 2-3 hrs/wk but i know at least fbc never did that. i didn’t ask to be paid. but they are paying me regardless. nothing stops in this economic crisis. instead we’re coming alongside those who are struggling and making them the priority.
    i love the idea of a church-of-no-money!!! i’ve totally vouched for that from the beginning!!!

    Reply
  13. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    lisa- I think there is a difference between not giving money because you don’t have it and refusing to give because you don’t agree with something.

    My challenge is in thinking that the church may actually be more effective with no building, no staff, no programs… just meeting in small communities as part of a larger community.

    I kind of have this weird vision of renegade churches meeting in abandoned shells of once megachurches. It’s kind of sick to think about… but with the cult of personality going on… that’s going to be reality for some of these monster buildings out there soon enough.

    Reply
  14. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Interesting enough though is these “Buildings” of churches are actually helping some parachurch ministries and conventions because well let’s face it – hosting a convention @ a convention center can be pricey …and this be good stewardship!!

    Reply
  15. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Ah yes… of course this is the same thing people who have 6000 square foot houses say. “We have a big house because we host our families thanksgiving party.”

    I don’t disagree Gman, I just don’t think that hosting events is a valid reason to have a building anymore than saying you belong to a country club for business purposes. That may help free up the cash… but it doesn’t reflect the heart of the matter.

    Reply
  16. Kevin I Avatar
    Kevin I

    Even if people give faithfully we can find churches in areas with high costs of living suffering as people lose their jobs and relocate out of the area. That’s something else I’ve been thinking about this one, even if the tithers don’t pull out of discretionary funds and would even tithe off unemployment, there’s still the danger of them relocating out.

    Maybe this is just my personal concern being in NJ with as high a cost of living as we have.

    Reply
  17. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    I think that you’re wise to worry. Like you said, even if people are faithful and tithe with what they have there will be a major, major problem for a ton of churches.

    I think wise churches are going to need to start coming up with contingencies. What are resources we can sell? What are things we can cut? What are more inefficiencies we can do without?

    The church will prevail, no doubt about it. But if there is an economic collapse that effects non-profits… the church as we know it will need to adjust.

    Reply
  18. Tim Schmoyer Avatar
    Tim Schmoyer

    That’s why Dave Ramsey has a new program called “Momentum.” The frustration for churches and youth groups is to keep doing fundraisers and capital campaigns to ask people to give more and more of the money they don’t have. Momentum is a tool for pastors to teach people how to manage their money, including the giving aspect. They say that every single church that has gone through Momentum has seen giving go up and stay up by 25% by the end of 13 weeks.

    http://www.daveramsey.com/momentum

    Reply
  19. lisabee Avatar
    lisabee

    just for the record, i wouldn’t refuse giving to the church because i don’t agree with them. God calls me to give, not the church.
    I totally was with you on the whole church with no buildng thing. I feel like pastors and speakers refer to that all the time when they talk about church being the body of believers not the building. I don’t see the need for fancy things and buildings. sure they add to the aesthetics and non believers might find them appealing, but as Christ followers we’re called to give of our ourselves, our God given talents and abilities to His work, not pretty buildings and convention centers. sure they can be used to His work. That’s what our college does for the community (minus the fact it was mostly supported by the orthopaedic companies).

    Reply
  20. Ron Parker Avatar
    Ron Parker

    I googled on “church of no money” because I had thought of it about 30 years ago, and up popped this page. I highly recommend Russell Earl Kelly’s “Should the Church Teach Tithing?”

    Reply

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