tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7914939.post3404870131929466969..comments2023-10-04T01:27:24.003-07:00Comments on Versus Populum: Church $$$Dwight P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15849665963994688905noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7914939.post-69226817357739390382007-10-23T09:37:00.000-07:002007-10-23T09:37:00.000-07:00With respect, Chris, the source of the idea was Ma...With respect, Chris, the source of the idea was Mark Allan Powell, who teaches New Testament at the Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH. That's a pretty "official" post from which to propose. He has a relatively new book out on the subject, too. <BR/><BR/>Now, to be fair, I hope it was clear that "fair share" is a starting point in Powell's proposal. But it still seems to me to be downright silly -- even as a starting point, since for most of us caught-in-the-web-of-Satan Christians, beginning points are pretty much "goals" and ending points.Dwight P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15849665963994688905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7914939.post-7611536304592952122007-10-19T11:41:00.000-07:002007-10-19T11:41:00.000-07:00Don't be too quick to assume that your pastor pick...Don't be too quick to assume that your pastor picked up this (lousy) "fair share" idea from some supposedly overly influential Lutheran hierarchy. P'shaw. At least, I can't find it at the ELCA or Augsburg Fortress websites (in fact, "fair share" giving is criticized in one article on the ELCA website). If your pastor got this junk from his local bishop, the bishop didn't seem to get it from Higgins Road.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that this "fair share" plan is lousy. There's a better plan: percentage giving, particularly the tithe, 10%. <BR/><BR/>When asking members to make the faithful act to give financially, we have to begin with them and what of God's resources they have. We cannot start with what the church needs. No. We have to start with what we've got, acknowledge that it all comes from God, and then begin giving it away - to the church, yes, but also to other useful, servant organizations and causes. The challenge is to give 10%, or at least a larger percentage than we gave last year, last week, yesterday.<BR/><BR/>But we must be challenged. There IS some law in this. It is not just about what I think makes me a happy giver. There is an expectation, a standard, an example in Jesus Christ and the saints in how we are to live and to give. And we should be challenged - not chastised - but challenged to strive for that high standard.Chris Duckworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15569502792071232013noreply@blogger.com