Financial Attitude

These are crazy economic times. Businesses are losing money and the government is handing it out. Unemployment is up, stocks are unstable, and, yet, today I was in an Apple store and it was jam-packed, wall-to-wall with people buying a new iPhone! President Obama and his key leaders have their hands full attempting to solve huge and complicated financial issues that affect nearly every U.S. citizen. Local churches cannot escape the impact. Some have been hit hard and their giving has dropped dramatically. Others are experiencing strength in their financial giving. The pastors of these churches are saying that their people are beginning to understand that they are not in control of their money so maybe it's time to trust God!

Different churches have different attitudes toward money. This season of financial pressure makes these attitudes more acute and noticeable. I believe these different attitudes have a direct impact on how much or how little money each church has. I don't believe in prosperity theology. I'm happy for Christians who are blessed with financial wealth, but I don't believe that God promises wealth. Christian history contains an account of many believers who were financially wealthy. But there have also been many faithful and God-honoring Christians who have lived their lives with modest financial resources. This topic could be an article by itself, but I want to stay focused on the local church as a community of believers.

The attitude of the church's primary leadership toward money has a huge impact on how well funds come in and how wisely they are used. In my connections with many churches I have found at least seven distinctly different attitudes toward money. Churches may have more than one of these "attitude," but each church has one predominate "financial personality," or, as I have been saying, attitude. As you read, I'd like you to identify which one is most like your church. I encourage you to discuss this as a board or staff. I'm certain you could have a robust and productive conversation on this topic!

An Attitude of Frugality
Being frugal with God's money is a good thing. In fact, it's a very good thing. There is a point, however, at which frugality can be taken too far. When frugality is seen as a virtue, it tends to be exalted. It is then developed beyond a healthy perspective, which often stems from a lack of trust in what God can do. For example, one church would not hire a much-needed associate pastor because the budget was a couple thousand dollars short of what was required to provide the appropriate salary. They lost a great (potential) staff person and confirmed in their thinking, once again, "We just can't afford it. We'll have to settle for something less." This is dangerous thinking. The truth is that you can have anything you want, you just can't have everything you want. An attitude of frugality can also have a negative effect on seekers and guests. If they feel the church is "cheap," they are not likely to return. Don't misunderstand, I'm not recommending unnecessary debt or reckless spending, but lack of trust in God's provision will soon go beyond the material realm and begin to impact how people are treated as well.

An Attitude of Poverty
The first time I experienced an attitude of poverty was during a consultation with a church in Arizona a number of years ago. I knew something wasn't quite right, but hadn't yet been there long enough to figure it out. Through our process, it was several of the key leaders who identified their attitude as a "spirit of poverty." I had never heard of that, but it was true. They put words to what I intuitively sensed. This attitude was literally part of their DNA. It defined who they were and severely limited their ministry. They believed they were poor and therefore they were. There was a stronghold present. People with money who knew they should give, could give, and wanted to give... didn't give! Strange? Yes, but real. It's a long story, but prayer broke the stronghold and the next Sunday their offering doubled. They've never gone back to an attitude of poverty again.

An Attitude of Generosity
This is a great attitude to have. It's an attitude of sowing seeds and believing God's promises. I have visited many generous churches. They attract, grow and develop generous people. The church I serve as XP, 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA, is a generous church filled with some of the most wonderful and amazing people I've ever known. They truly delight in giving themselves away. Being a generous church doesn't necessarily mean you are a wealthy church. Generous churches are typically upbeat, positive, full of grace, quick to give to others in need, and, of course, recipients for a blessing from God. Remember, this is not a "deal" made with God. The idea is not that you give so you get rich. It's more of a door for God's blessing as He chooses. Malachi 3:10 reminds us of this truth. "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'"

An Attitude of Fear
Fear can grip even the best of leaders. This economy is filled with unknowns, turns and flips. People tend to overreact by spending next to nothing in an attempt to hoard, or, in an act of futility, spending all they have and more. Fear paralyzes. It can place a grip on us in such a way that we lose perspective and no longer think correctly. When fear hits a church, the leaders pull back and refuse to take a risk, even a carefully thought-through and prayed-about risk. You can't move forward without risk. They want significant amounts of money in the bank, but neither life, money, nor success can be guaranteed. Money in the bank is a good thing unless it's based on fear. Fear wastes potential and trust in God will continually erode in a spirit of fear.

An Attitude of Faith
These churches inspire me. Churches of great faith come in all shapes and sizes, but are often new church plants. Church planting endeavors invariably have very little money, but launch out believing God for what seems nearly impossible by most. The churches I've encountered that possess great faith are churches of great prayer. Their prayer usually leads to a compelling vision. When it comes to church leadership, faith is always connected to vision, and money, in turn, follows vision. When the pastor, board and key leaders have true faith that God has spoken and given clear vision, it changes how the leader(s) communicate. The people catch that faith. They get excited about the God-breathed vision and they give financially. People want to be a part of something bigger than who they are alone, especially something God has set into motion.

An Attitude of Business
These churches are efficient, thorough, pass their audits, and run things by the budget. It's a good thing to be conscientious about God's money. But no matter how much we believe that "businesslike" is good, the truth is that a church is not a business. The bottom line is not about a profit, and that is a huge difference. We always want to be wise and, as Scripture says, even shrewd. But ministry is ministry and, on occasion, rules and budgets must temporarily be broken because God has "interrupted" the fiscal calendar with an unplanned idea. If you have prayed about the idea and know it's from God, go for it.

An Attitude of Gratefulness
Grateful churches are very connected to the fact that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. These churches understand that He is the owner of everything, and that the body of believers are to be stewards of those gifts. Churches with an attitude of gratitude hold loosely to what they possess and are ready and eager to give outside the four walls of their own ministry as God directs. Grateful churches develop a sort of cultural DNA that continually declares "we get to," not, "we have to." I love being in these churches! The people are a delight to be around and you just want to go back!

So which of these seven attitudes most accurately describes your church? Which do you want? What do you need to do to close the gap if there is one? The good news is that you can have the attitude you want!