Why the Church Talks About Money

What do I say to people who ask me, “Why so much talk about money?”

When I get this question, I ask people to consider three reasons why we talk about money regularly in the church.

Giving is catalytic for spiritual growth. Discipleship includes growing in each of the 7 G’s (Glorify, Grace, Growth, Groups Gifts Good Stewardship, and Go.) While Good Stewardship is just one of the seven G’s, growing in generosity causes one’s spiritual growth to soar in the other G’s too. Generally, when we learn to trust God with our money, we learn to trust God with all of our lives. Where your money goes, your heart follows.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I could stop right here because in order to accomplish our mission of leading unchurched people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus, we must disciple people in how God says to use the money He has entrusted to us. If people do not use their money like God says, they are not yet fully devoted followers of Christ.

Money is the cultural idol. When money is an idol, some people get upset when you talk about it. What if we have to slay the main idols in our area in order to have a spiritual breakthrough? Paul preached the Good News and he called people to turn from idols. And people’s lives were changed. The scandal of the American church is that people become Christians, but their lives are no different. Are lives not changed because we have not faced and replaced the idols in our lives?

1 Thessalonians 1:9 … you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

Tearing down the altars to the idols in our culture will include the church talking about money. (See American Idols Series, The Money Connection message.)

Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Money impacts mission. Our capacity for mission will never regularly exceed our resources of people, money, time and space. We must constantly develop in each area for the sake of our mission, including money. We give ourselves to training up leaders and involving new people to serve God in the areas of their gifts and passions. In the same way, we must train the people of Clear Creek Community Church to live simply, give generously and spend wisely for the sake of our mission. Money impacts mission! God has provided sufficiently for you that you might participate in every good work. (See Sent series and Live Sent message.)

2 Corinthians 9:8 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.