Money is an important commodity in almost every culture. What role does it play in the Christian church? How should it be used?
Why Talk About Money?
To be honest, I do not think that the Christian church has used money well, at least in general, but some churches certainly have. Not just that but Christians do not always view money as it should be. It cannot be denied, however, that money is given to us to do great things.
What's Wrong with Money?
It's been said that there is nothing wrong with money, but the problem is with the love of money, more commonly known as greed. I agree with this statement. The way we have used money and loved money has become a major issue despite being able to identify some of the problems.
Wealth and Prosperity
Some people should be familiar with the wealth and prosperity message. This is the idea that God blesses his followers with a prosperous, if not wealthy, life for doing His work. A popular current proponent of this is Joel Osteen.
Here's where I have contention. How is that money used? Joel Osteen seems to have built an empire on a message based on money. Is it because God blessed him? It is dubious. He has a television show, and he has written books. He appears in popular publications and shows such as Larry King Live. Is he successful? Yes. Is that proof that he's doing God's work? Not in my opinion. Lots of non-Christian people become rich from having shows and writing, and it is largely a human work. God may bless some successful people, but by and large, they get it because they may be charismatic or good-looking, both of which are characteristics Osteen exploits.
It may be unfair to just sit back and criticize him. However, he never seems to be that much of a preacher. He calls himself a “life coach” and refrains from using too many Bible verses. In this respect, I am subject to the same judgment. I try to establish a vision of God that often relies on an idea that seems fundamental in the Bible but never specifically memorized by me. Nevertheless, Osteen also drives around in an extremely expensive car and makes his church lavish. To me, he has invested his money in a church rather than the Church and of course uses it himself.
He has also expressed that he focuses mainly on the goodness of God and not on the sins, which is another discussion in itself.
Uses of Money
We should also recognize that several churches spend money on things that they shouldn't. Some of them, while seeming unnecessary, may also be very important for the church. I guess what I mean is that each church is different, and we should be aware about what is and is not necessary to that church for building fellowship, worshiping the Lord, and spreading the Good News. So then, I will list a few of the greater expenditures that may not be so beneficial or necessary but again, depends on how it is used.
Gymnasium
The good. It is great for building fellowship and community. It allows for people to invite non-Christian friends and co-workers to enjoy friendly games. It also opens up a safe community environment for people to enjoy recreational activities. It may allow for friendly competitions and church-sponsored teams.
The bad. What communities really need a gym? It may act as a way to get people to church at first, but it may also hinder growth. People may come only for using the gym and walk away without any message. Especially youth and children will find it difficult to concentrate knowing that they can run, play, and exercise as soon as service lets out.
Audio/Video
The good. It is very convenient to have nice microphones and speakers so that the entire congregation can listen to someone preach, and it's really great to be able to follow along on screen. It opens up an area for those with technical expertise or interest in these areas to put their abilities to work in the church.
The bad. Many churches already have working equipment that needs only minimal improvement. The majority, if not everything, usually will not need replacement for several years. What happens to older equipment if new equipment is bought? It may be put in a closet somewhere because it's been paid for rather than given or lent out to a smaller, struggling church. Above all, LCD displays that only go through slideshow announcements are a fantastic waste of resources. It looks nice and clean, but for its purpose, a cheaper CRT computer monitor or old TV will suffice and be as much as 90 percent cheaper.
