:: AIP#24 - The Spiritual Side of Finances ::

After posting our current financial need and a three-year overview of our budget (+giving vs. outside funding) last week, I came across a few thoughts that were encouraging to me, as I make our need "public." I hope they're encouraging to you as well:

1. Money Is A Spiritual Matter
It's easy - I know because I do it! - to consider the prayer and personal involvement in ministry the "good, spiritual" side of things, and the finances, business matters, etc. the "logistical, necessary" side of things, only necessities to make sure the other things happen. However, when I consider that Jesus spoke more about money then he did heaven and hell, I have to stop in my tracks and consider that finances are equally spiritual! Some good words from fellow planter Jonathan Dodson (full article here):

Many of us have a gnostic view of money. Community is good; giving is bad. Missi0n is great; money evil. Prayer and Bible reading are truly spiritual, business, finance, and administration are sub-spiritual. This is not a biblical view of the world. We were baptised into one faith and one Lord who is both Creator and Redeemer. He is lord of the physical and lord of the spiritual. To quote Rob Bell, “Everything is spiritual” for God... Gnosticism is a dualistic philosophy that exalts the spiritual over the physical, the eternal over the ephemeral. Paul wrote against it extensively in the New Testament, warning Christians not to degrade the physical in the name of the spiritual...

Our money should be governed by the gospel and move towards mission. But that is uncomfortable. We would rather live with the comforts of unspiritual spending, than invest our whole lives into the mission of God. Our idols of comfort, clothing, and standard of living hide beneath our functional gnosticism. God is calling us to repent and believe that Jesus is Lord over our entire lives, finances included, to bring us into a life of joyful giving and worship.

As I write this, Austin City Life is approximately 55% self-supporting, and our outside support is in decline. We have had public church gatherings for just over a year, though we existed in decentralized form for a year prior. We are experiencing gospel renewal, radical community, and growing mission. But is Jesus Lord of our finances, our budget, our discretionary income, our savings? We need to consult our hearts and our spending patterns to find out who really is lord of this part of our lives. We also need more financial support, to be a community that loves with our giving and not just with our being.

I acknowledge that I need to repent of this view, in both my own life and in asking folks to be involved in planting The City Church - money's weird to talk about; it hits us more personally. And thus, it's harder to boldly ask for than asking for prayer or help spreading the word about our new church!

But just as necessary, good, and right as giving time, effort, songs, friendships, prayers, and involvement to God, so also are we called to "honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce" (Prov 3:9), "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:21)

2. We Are Not Unlike Missionaries

For every short-term and long-term mission trip I know of, I have encouraged and counseled people who have a hard time asking for financial support that (a) giving is a way that the entire body of Christ comes together and meets each others' needs and that (b) it's a way for folks to be involved in the mission, even if they can't physically take the time or travel and be there. In a twist of irony, we are now in a position not unlike missionaries, headed toward a mission field and trying to reach a great, broken city for the glory of God! We're now the ones asking for support, and because of my own pride and self-reliance, I'm having the same hard time as those I've counseled in the past!

One of the hardest parts for me is that in my mind, it's exotic or exciting to know someone's headed to China or even better, "a closed country too politically-sensitive to name so all we can say is North Africa" - meanwhile, we're just headed to downtown Fort Worth - we're staying where we are! And that makes it hard to see ourselves as missionaries. But that's where we find ourselves, and so now I'm giving myself the same counsel I've given countless others.


3. We Need Financial Support, As Much As We Need Prayer And Involvement!
With all that said, please consider helping us on the equally logistical and spiritual quest of building this new work of God - and please consider helping make our need known as well! One thing we've come to realize is that support in all three ways - prayer, involvement, and funding - is broader when we move past relationships we know, & include folks they know ("friends of friends," networking, etc). As we see God provide through folks we don't even know, it would be honoring if you would consider making our needs known to friends and families, hometown acquaintances, business owners you know, your home churches, and other folks with a heart for the gospel and the church.

As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7-12:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

We are extremely humbled and grateful for the support and pledges we've already received as we move into the fall; we deeply appreciate the sacrificial, joyful ways you're involved in building the kingdom of God. Thank you. We don't take it for granted.


WILL YOU COMMIT TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING THE CITY CHURCH?
If so, there are two ways you can give:

• Mail: Send a check to P.O. Box 470919 - Fort Worth, TX - 76147
• Online (*NEW!*): As of yesterday, our secure online giving site is now set-up and ready to go; click here to give to The City Church online.

Additionally, we have three giving options:

• One-time gift: A single contribution toward The City Church start-up costs.
• Monthly giving: While each transaction (via mail or online) is independent, you can choose to give a recurring donation in the amount of your choice, for as long as God leads.
• Annual giving: Until we reach our goal of being fully financially independent by 2013, you can make annual contributions toward each year's budget.

**All contributions to The City Church are fully tax-deductible; non-profit status pending.**

If you have questions, comments, etc. please email Ben or check the appropriate box at www.fwcitychurch.org. Thank you for your consideration, and financial or otherwise, thank you for your support of The City Church!