Tag Archives: fundraising

False teachers, Giving

I followed K-Love’s advice and donated what God told me to: Zero.

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K-Love radio is a national Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) station that uses the same fundraising approach that KSBJ does in Houston: Lots of “sloppy God talk” instead of just explaining their ministry and inviting you to participate à la 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.).

Example: They endlessly say to give “what God tells you to,” as if that was something we should expect God to do.

Now could God give you a specific figure?  Of course!  He’s God!  But is that in any way normative based on scripture?  Should you expect him to give you a specific amount? Of course not.  Even a cursory reading of the Bible would reveal how ridiculous that is.

This ties into the lack of discernment so prevalent in the church and how badly people do with decision making and the will of God.

KSBJ would have testimonials like a guy in bankruptcy who donated to KSBJ with what little he had.  Great example, eh?  Stiff the people who lent you money and give it to KSBJ.  Very God-honoring.  /sarcasm

And while they had plenty of testimonials by people who donated and then got blessings, they never mentioned those who gave and didn’t get the Joel Osteen-type rewards.

One of the things I loved about Care Net Pregnancy Center in Houston was how they never used any emotional ploys.   They just shared all the great things the ministry did and gave people the opportunity to join in.  They have thrived for years and even paid a building loan off very early.  Trusting God with the results and skipping the games can be really effective — and much more God-honoring!

A different Pregnancy Resource Ministry had a speaker who used the “give what God told you to give” line.  The guy was very sincere and the ministry was sound, so we gave anyway.  But why use such word games?  God “told” my wife a different number than me.  So was one of us holier than the other, or was one hearing from Satan?

I had only been listening to K-Love a couple days when they started their pledge drive.  Great timing.  Their normal programming seemed fine, as far as CCM goes.  But that left a bad taste in my mouth.

Update: And as Pastor Timothy noted in the comments, if God is going to speak to you outside his word with that specificity, why would it be with on something like that?  How come these people don’t ask God to tell them exactly whom to share the Gospel with?

Christian worldview

Make sure you don’t support “cocaine charities”

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The phrase used in Common Sense Concept » Cocaine Charity refers to charitable endeavors that enslave those you set out to help.  The intentions are good, but the long term results are bad.  From the link:

Does this prescription align with the majority of our charitable endeavors? Brian had deep respect that this Kenyan ministry served the “least of these.” But, was this charity in alignment with the biblical model of charity? Were they helping these women…

To no longer need to receive charity?

Experience the dignity of honest work?

Enjoy the blessing of providing for their children?

Know the joy of giving charitably to others?

In fairness, there are times when the only appropriate response is to freely give things away. The Haiti earthquake and supporting the disabled are examples of such. But, barring such exceptions, our long-term aim should always be to help in a way which frees recipients of the need for our charity, “so that they might help others in need” (Eph. 4:28). Well-intentioned charity devoid of this goal can lead to unhealthy dependency, it can strip parents of their God-given role as providers, and, as Brian saw in Kenya, it can lead to addiction.

Sadly, the U.S. welfare system is almost purely a “cocaine charity,” resulting in generational poverty, a counterproductive entitlement attitude and an impossible-to-sustain system.

As I noted about my Kenya trip, part of the mission team saw the Hope Companion project, a terrific endeavor where orphans are given practical business skills to support themselves — sort of a Junior Achievement Meets Jesus program.  It gives the kids hope and us as well, because it makes such a radical difference.  This isn’t about handouts for multiple generations, it is about making them self-sufficient.  The U.S. could learn a lot from this model.  Whether it was sewing, baking bread or planting seedlings for sale each of these youths were now able to support themselves and often others.  One boy had 7 younger siblings he could now care for instead of having to beg from others who already didn’t have enough — plus he took on care for another orphan.  That’s convicting!

Should we help others?  Of course!  But we should do so with wisdom and discernment.  The religious Left has it all wrong.  They obsessively covet the wealth of others and seek to redistribute in ways that will be bad for those they seek to help.  They love themselves and their perceived role as saviors, but real love is having the long term best interests of others at heart.