“In the wealthiest nation of Christians in history, the most seldom preached sermon is the one that addresses head-on what we do with our money. If God were to write a letter to the church in America, as he did to the seven churches in Revelation, it would almost certainly challenge our stewardship over the wealth that He has entrusted to us."
— Richard Stearns; President, World Vision US
Readers Say…
— Jerry, Foundation President“I've been involved in ministry and money for over 35 years and read extensively about all the attending issues. I think your book is one of the best overall treatments of stewardship, giving and generosity out there. I would like to see one in the hands of every pastor. I love the different perspectives and focus of the multiple authors.”
— John, a Ministry Consultant“One of my clients got a hold of your book last week and sat down to read the whole thing in one day. That resulted in a document which is his initiative to revamp the entire development program at his rescue mission.”
— Harold, Director of Advancement at a Christian Academy“Ever since I received my copy of the book (through ECFA), I have not put it down… Every chapter I read blesses me and I find myself in vigorous agreement with almost everything I read. My challenge is to take this material and translate it into specific training and mentoring…”
Who is Responsible When
Christians Do Not Give as They Could?
Because Christians, by and large, do not take seriously their faith’s relationship to their finances, which would require them to conform to the image of Christ and be generous as Christ is generous, top leadership has an uphill battle. Phillip Yancey voices the general reluctance when he writes, “Mostly, I wish I did not have to think about money at all. But I must come to terms with the Bible’s very strong statement about money.”1 Similarly, Randy Alcorn proclaims, “Large segments of modern evangelicalism have succumbed to the heresy that the present life may be lived selfishly and disobediently without serious effect on the eternal state…Never have so many Christians believed that our monies and possessions are ours to do with as we please.”2 There is a problem; the Christian community needs to recognize it and take steps to correct the situation, and top leadership will be key in motivating people to move. The fourth section of the book provides detailed advice for leaders and advisors who want to help those around them grow in generosity.
But it does not have to be this way...
“The Christian church today needs a revolution in generosity—a revolution that will shape Christians into the image of Christ, a revolution that will spread goodwill and the fragrant aroma of Christ, a revolution that will fuel authentic transformation. Read the book, join the revolution.&rdquo
— Chuck Bentley; CEO, Crown Financial Ministries
Should Fundraisers Teach Stewardship?
Christians are uncomfortable discussing their possessions, even with other believers. Pastors worry that sermons on giving will sound self-serving or discourage people from attending, so they often avoid the topic entirely, or only bring it up once a year or when there is a crisis. Similarly, seminaries are seldom teachers of biblical stewardship issues.
However, Scripture is saturated with teaching on possessions: 17 of the 38 parables of Christ are about possessions. In terms of the number of verses on possessions, this topic is mentioned in Scripture more than any other: three times more than love, seven times more than prayer, and eight times more than belief. About 15 percent of God’s Word (2,172 verses) deals with possessions—treasures hidden in a field, pearls, talents, pounds, stables, etc.3 Most likely this topic is covered so much in Scripture because God knew his followers would struggle with how to use possessions. Given this emphasis of God, Christians need to seriously consider how their faith and their finances are related. It is easy to copy the habits of those around us, but God has called Christians to greater heights of generosity as we conform to the image of Christ.
The pattern of conforming to the world around us is also characteristic of how Christian organizations ask for resources. Christian organizations, including churches, have increasingly adopted secular models of fundraising. For example, supporters are often encouraged to give for what they can get in return (tax deduction, gift, name on a building, etc.) and are not challenged to honor God and be generous as Christ is generous. The common practice of using transactional techniques that emphasize manipulation to motivate giving is often contrary to God’s word.
Thankfully there is another path. It is possible to flip current notions on their head and place God first, focusing on transforming giver’s hearts and lives towards God-focused stewardship. Once a Christian understands how God views money and generosity, it becomes clear that asking is about facilitating the heart transformation of believers to conform to the image of Christ. The result will be a revolution in generosity and God’s kingdom work on this earth will be fully funded. Section three of this book focuses on the unique role of askers in spiritual formation.
Revolution in Generosity:
Scripture is clear that how we use our possessions has a lasting impact on our spiritual growth. It is our prayer that this book will help you see how Christians can have a revolutionary approach to giving and asking for money, one that places it in the context of conforming to the character of Christ.
“Revolution in Generosity is a compelling vision of ‘giving and asking’ as they were meant to be done in God's eyes. Every person should read this book . . . you can't afford not to.&rdquo
— Josh McDowell, Author of More than a Carpenter and Evidence that Demands a Verdict
Is Giving a Part of Spiritual Formation?
Yes! Until believers acknowledge the simple truth that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”4 we will not see believers starting to conform to the image of Christ and become generous as Christ is generous. The revolution in generosity will flood forth when believers start to allow the Holy Spirit to work this truth out in their lives and realize that generosity is a spiritual issue of the heart. Horace Bushnell writes “One more revival—only one more—is needed, the revival of Christian stewardship, the consecration of the money power to God. When the revival comes, the Kingdom of god will come in a day.”5
Sadly, two out of three senior pastors of Protestant churches believe that their churches are not living up to their giving potential. If members of historically Christian churches in the United States had raised their giving to just 10 percent of their income in 2000, an additional $139 billion a year would have become available for kingdom work.6 Our potential is mind-blowing: 80 percent of the world’s evangelical wealth is in North America—and the total represents way more than enough to fund the fulfillment of the great Commission.7 What might the Lord accomplish through His church if she took the first step of faith on the journey of generosity? For a fuller picture, see section five in this book.
Does a Person's Use of Money Say
Anything About Their Attitude Toward God?
Scripture is clear that one of the most important ways that the lordship of Christ is reflected in our lives is how we handle our possessions. By this God is able to measure our faithfulness on earth and determine our level of responsibility in heaven. Our use of possessions reflects our commitment to winning the world to Christ. A mature Christian realizes that how he or she handles possessions is evidence of godly spiritual growth in his or her life.
The culture in which we live (and often the churches in which we worship) have convinced us that there is little, if any, relationship between our faith and our finances. Believers have come to think our possessions are ours to do with as we please, and so have taken personal finances into our own hands and left God out of our giving and asking.
Overlooking the vital link between our faith and our finances is at the core of the issue. As Scott Rodin writes, “Giving is primarily a spiritual matter…an act of obedient worship.” Similarly, Rich Haynie writes, “If God owns it all, spending or giving God’s money is a spiritual decision.” As former U.S. Senate chaplain, Richard Halverson, put it, “money is an exact index to a [person’s] true character. All through Scripture there is an intimate correlation between the development of a [person’s] character and…money.”8 In this book you will be able to assess what your giving and spending habits indicate about spiritual maturity. Section one in the book details how God, money, giving, and asking are interrelated.
“Convicting, scholarly, and practical—Revolution in Generosity is a book that every Christian involved in ministry in Christ’s kingdom should read!&rdquo
— Joni Ereckson Tada, Founder of Joni and Friends
Can a Transformational
Model Raise More Money?
Yes and the amount becomes less of the focus as transformation and character formation move to center stage. Sadly, two out of three senior pastors of Protestant churches believe that their churches are not living up to their giving potential. If members of historically Christian churches in the United States had raised their giving to just 10 percent of their income in 2000, an additional $139 billion a year would have become available for kingdom work.6 Our potential is mind-blowing: 80 percent of the world's evangelical wealth is in North America—and the total represents way more than enough to fund the fulfillment of the great Commission.7 What might the Lord accomplish through His church if she took the first step of faith on the journey of generosity?
Until believers acknowledge the simple truth that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"4 we will not see believers starting to conform to the image of Christ and become generous as Christ is generous. The revolution in generosity will flood forth when believers start to allow the Holy Spirit to work this truth out in their lives and realize that generosity is a spiritual issue of the heart. Horace Bushnell writes "One more revival—only one more— is needed, the revival of Christian stewardship, the consecration of the money power to God. When the revival comes, the Kingdom of God will come in a day."5
1Phillip Yancey as quoted in Stewardship Connections
(Christian Stewardship Association, Feb. 2006).
2Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions and Eternity
(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1989) preface.
3Larry Burkett, The Word on Finances,
(Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1994).
4Luke 12:34 ESV.
5Wesley Willmer, God and your Stuff
(Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress 2002), 141.
6John L. Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle,
The State of Church Giving through 2000
(Champaign, Ill.: Empty Tomb, 2002), 51.
7Ron Blue with Jodie Berndt,
Generous Living: Finding Contentment through Giving
(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), 201.
8Richard Halverson as quoted in The Compass
(Green Bay, WI: Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, 24 Oct. 2003).
