Money Money Money the rich man's game.

Part one. Starting to talk about money.

Having been in business for many years I don't have a problem talking about money, It's availability how to make it, how to budget with it , how to increase it, how much I have and how much I need. But I am always surprised at how many churches and church leaders I come across who do have a problem talking about money. I know in some countries- like here in the UK  there are some cultural taboos on the subject. There is the taboo of talking about money, it's seen as a private thing and then there is the  taboo of the perception of being wealthy or a rich church goer or leader. The latter I think has more to do with the class system and its legacy here in the UK than anything else.

I haven't found or come across this attitude in the United States, though I have to say that some of the extremes of the money grabbing tele-evangelists does sicken me. Thankfully there are some very balanced and well respected Christian leaders who do talk about money but not as though it was  a "get rich be what God intended you to be scheme". They talk openly to their congregation about the needs and the benefits of those needs to them and the community they serve and what monies are needed. The Americans also seem to have more of a respect for those who follow God's calling and pay them accordingly. Maybe I am generalising but the following  true story goes some way to illustrate what I am saying.

A number of years ago I was on a missions training trip to Zambia in Africa when I met an American Missionary who had been in this particular part of the world for thirty plus years. His house was well built, and well furnished. His 4x4 was relatively new as was the rest of his equipment. The clinic, church hall and the school and the mission farm were all well cared for and met the needs of the community.  He had all that he needed to run the mission. When I met the man he was repairing another missionaries old car, he completed his work and I followed him as he took the car back to a British missionary a few Kilometres away. The contrast could not be more startling the house looked like it could need a good lick of paint and repair. There was hardly any security features so necessary in this part of Africa. The Brit missionary himself though cheerful and enthusiastic looked a little careworn - fifteen years in Africa can do that to you. The difference was that the American had a strong network of  financial supporters and the British missionary was sent because that was what he was called to do. He had very little in the way of strong financial support. Maybe this story sounds too simplistic but the picture paints a thousand words. It was clear to me that money was the thing that made the difference in one missionaries success and another's moderate gains.

The other thing that always upsets me is when I meet people who all their lives have served God and the church and when they are put out to pasture have nothing but a state pension or a small private pension that is barely enough to live off to show for their years of toil. Now I know that these people never went into ministry or the church or the mission field to make money- that would be a wrong motive to do so- but the bible tells me that a labourer is worthy of his hire and that those who direct the affairs of the church are worthy of double honour especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. (1 Tim 5:17) Yet we somehow give just enough and then only enough.

So how can this situation and circumstance be changed? Starting to talk about it from our pulpits in our executive meetings and with our own Christian leaders does help and is a good first step.Introducing a liveable wage based not on stipends but on professional pay scales is also a great next step, but there are other ways. In Part two of this diatribe I will talk about what we need to see our Christian leaders do with their own money. In the title I used the words from a 1970's ABBA song, I don't agree that money should be the rich man's game. I believe it should be part and parcel of our Christian make up.