The staff and congregation at the United Pentecostal Church of Harvey, Ill., are convinced you’ll like their church–so convinced that they offered $25 to the first 75 visitors who showed up at each of their Sunday morning services. Chicago Tribune article notes–other churches have lured attendees with gas cards, cash and tickets to movies and comedy shows. It’s easy to criticize these “tactics,” but are they far removed from the advertisements of churches that promise free Starbucks and Krispy Kremes–or even “relevant, practical sermons,” “exciting children’s ministry” and “upbeat contemporary music”? Ministry is definitely about compelling people to come–and taste and see–that God is good. But do we compel them with what they want or what they need? I’m not sure what I think of all this, but here are two questions I have:

• Is this false advertising? In other words, does this methodology suggest to unbelievers that God and the church are merely another option at the spiritual smorgasbord of postmodern American culture–when in reality, it is the only option?
• Is it “bait and switch”? In other words, does this methodology give people the impression that church is “all about you,” but then (once they join) we attempt to convince them that they exist for the glory of God and the service of His Kingdom?

by Matt Green
from The Ministry Report
June 27, 2006

Why it’s greasy for a pastor to hawk ‘fatty acid’ pills.

Last month the Tampa Tribune ran a story on a local megachurch pastor’s infomercial for Omega XL fatty acid pills. Apparently, the pastor was on the verge of a vascular disaster several years ago when his physician recommended the $50-a-bottle pills. Now an avid evangelist for the product, the pastor receives $5 for every bottle sold through his infomercial.
The Tribune article focused primarily on the financial implications of pastoral product endorsements. (Apparently, this pastor stands in a long line of such partnerships: In the ’30s, radio evangelist John Brinkley advocated the implantation of goat glands to enhance male virility.) But what about the spiritual implications? Although diminished with the effects of 21st-century cynicism (some would say, because of such “crass commercialization”), pastors still wield intangible spiritual power over the lives of those they lead.

They are sought out for advice in dating, finances, marriage, child rearing, emotional health and so on. Their opinions are considered informed by biblical reflection and prayer, not merely commercial interest or cold rationality. Simply put, a pastor’s counsel is trusted for spiritual reasons–reasons that transcend common sense for some people. Consider recent Ponzi schemes launched by church leaders who used their spiritual influence for financial gain and hoodwinked reasonably intelligent believers with promises of “kingdom increase” and “divine overflow.”

Regardless of the purity of one’s motives, it would seem that the use of spiritual influence for commercial purposes ultimately cheapens the public perception of the pastoral role and weakens prophetic influence in the public sector (particularly on issues in which a biblically-informed voice is so desperately needed, such as abortion, gay marriage, poverty and the environment).

Without a clear distinction, the pastor’s voice becomes merely another plea for attention among the countless other voices hawking their wares and pushing their agendas–as easy to tune out as a Geico commercial.

by Matt Green
from The Ministry Report
June 20, 2006

Is 10 percent really enough?

Phil is rich–philthy rich according to some. His contracting business provides more than enough money for him, his wife and his two children. In fact, he just bought a second home in the Florida Keys, along with a jet ski and his and her Jeeps. Phil is also a tither–and then some. Last year he was pushing 12 percent when tax time came around. Phil’s happy, his pastor’s happy and–lucky for Phil–there’s plenty left over for the finer things in life.

Beth’s not so lucky. A single mother, she’s made some poor choices in life, and she’s been the victim of poor choices on the part of others. After rededicating her life to Christ, she was recently introduced to the practice of tithing. Sometimes, before taking the offering, her pastor has one of the board members give a testimony of how God has blessed him and his family for tithing. She was particularly impressed when he recounted how he recently nailed a great deal on a beach house in the Keys. But for Beth, five percent is about all she can squeeze out of her budget for a tithe. She’s been told that a tithe is 10 percent and that, “if she would just trust God,” he would make the other 90 percent stretch. Maybe someday she’ll be in better financial straits. In the meantime, she finds herself frequently asking God’s forgiveness for “robbing Him.” She hopes He understands.

The story may seem farfetched to some, but it reveals a question many of us would rather not discuss: In the context of materialistic American life, is 10 percent enough? Or, is it even a number that should be used as a standard in a church in which welfare recipients mingle with financiers. For some, the tithe gives the implicit right to spend 90 percent of one’s money however one sees fit–as long as God gets His due. While the Old Testament is clear in its expectation that God’s people give merely a tenth of their firstfruits, the New Testament’s expectations seem far greater: Jesus castigates those who are conscientious about tithing but neglect the “weightier” things of the law, He suggests that His followers consider the prospect of complete asset liquidation and the Acts church practices radical communalism.

Perhaps it’s time to consider a “graduated tithe”, such as Ron Sider describes in his book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. With a graduated tithe, a family tithes 10 percent of its base needed income (usually the poverty level). For any income above that base, a family would give a gradually higher percentage. Some, like Rick Warren, may eventually find themselves blessed to the extent that they are “reverse tithing“–giving 90 percent and keeping 10.

Of course, church leaders should avoid presenting these stewardship strategies as a legalistic command for those whom God has blessed financially. But maybe it’s time we considered the possibility that God might be just as concerned with how we spend the 90 percent He lets us keep as He is with what we do with the 10 percent He requires as a tithe.

by Matt Green
from The Ministry Report
June 15, 2006