FAKE NEWS & THE "REAL" ALGORITHMS USED TO REINFORCE IT

Bias.  We all have them.  According to the dictionary the word “bias” means “a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.” It also means, “cause to feel or show inclination or prejudice for or against someone or something.” Politicians certainly have bias.  The media certainly has bias - left, right and middle.  Christians have bias.  Non-Christians have bias.  Vegetarians have bias. Meat eaters have bias. Gay and transgender people have bias.  Feminism has bias. Men have bias. Racially focused groups have bias.  Liberals, conservatives and moderates have bias. Everyone has them. If I left you out, please forgive me but you too have bias.  As the scripture says, “There is no righteous, no not one.” (See Romans 3:10-12)  To add to our problem we now have technology that uses algorithms that identify our bias and reinforces them.  The unfortunate thing is that we are getting so entrenched into our “bias” that we find it difficult to “listen” to a different position than ours.

The Real Algorithm behind us is our biases. The Bible is filled with this age old problem.  In John 4:20 The Samaritan Woman said to Jesus, “Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."  In Acts 10:28, The Apostle Peter said, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.”  In James 2:2-4, The Apostle addressed this problem in the early church, “For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”  Being biased is addressed throughout the New Testament. Here are a few examples:

Romans 2:11

For God shows no partiality.

James 2:4

Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Colossians 3:11

There is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Romans 12:16

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

I John 2:11

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Rather than telling Christians to ignore the discrimination against Gentiles, Paul addressed it head on: “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” (Romans 10:12)

Being “biased” toward other people is labeled in the New Testament as a sinful practice. "If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (James 2:9).  God isn’t about separation, but inclusion and unity. Jesus made it possible for anyone to be included in the people and promises of God (Gal. 3:28).  Jesus removes hostility and introduces harmony (Eph. 2:14-18).

Augustine of Hippo once said, "If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." In other words, your own personal bias is what you believe. II Corinthians 10:5 states clearly, "Cast Down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought captive into the obedience of Christ."

God cares about people regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, politics and social status (Deut. 10:17-19).

God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right (Acts 10:34-35).

“We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor. 12:13).

As Christians, we are called to address our own bias, repent of them and overcome our learned behaviors.  The Holy Spirit had to deal with the apostle Peter of his own “Bias” and he even admitted, "God has shown me that I should no longer call anyone impure or unclean." (Acts 10:28).  However, it was a continue area of life that he continued to struggle with.  He had a hard time overcoming his own personal bias even though he began a conversation with Gentiles” at a table. (See Gal. 2:11-21).  It’s always amazing to me that a generation which was so vocal about “not being labeled by others” has now become “labelers.”  Seems to me that we’re guilty of the same thing The Apostle Paul said about Peter.  Gal. 2:12-14 says, “For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. The other Jews joined in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?…  Being caught up in our own bias and labeling others is not only unproductive but hypocritical.  It’s time for us to break out of the algorithms that feed us and move from our tablets to the same table where Jesus engaged “the others” in conversation.

THE DEEP STATE: The Greatest Threat To America's Democratic Republic

In 1787, Thomas Jefferson took the texts of Algernon Sidney's "Discourses On Government" and John Locke's "Two Treatises Of Government" and began working on a National Constitution for what is now known as The United States Of America.  Very little is known and taught about the importance of these two political works and just what kind of government The United States has compared to other nations.  The first thing we need to understand about this government is that we are not a "democracy," it is a republic with a form of government that began as a political experiment. Prior to the writing of a national constitution our form of government had never been seen and no other nation has yet to form their governments based on the political philosophies espoused by the texts which gave our nation it's foundation.  If you examine other nations around the world who claim to be democracies, most follow the British Parliamentary system of governance.  Those who live with this form of government, too often, impose their views and thoughts on our system of government as though our national government is one and the same thing. Our form of government was based on "breaking the power" of the British Monarchy and empowering "ordinary citizens" the rights to choose their own laws, choose their own elected officials, and agree to live by their own "written" national covenant.

When this form of government and the political philosophy behind it was proposed, it was designed to remove a "hereditary monarchy." At the time, The monarchy of England believed that they were above the law since they made the laws of the land.  In fact, The British monarchy believed that they, and only their family, stood between God and their subjects. There was no representative government. There was a kingdom with a king, a parliament designed to enact the royal courts wishes and then the people who had no voice and were to be loyal subjects to the crown.  The question raised to this position had to do with "Why was the crown subject to hereditary succession."  Leaders during this time also asked what qualify's a king or queen to rule if they have no apptitude for the job. Algernon Sydney was an English politician and member of the British parliament.  He directly opposed the divine right of kings political theory by suggesting ideas such as limited government, voluntary consent of the people and the right of citizens to alter or abolish a corrupt government.  His views were considered treasonous and resulted in his beheading. His "Discourses on Government" have been referred to as the textbook on the American Revolution. For Sidney absolute monarchy was a great political evil because no one had any rights.  The divine right of kings is a political system in which all powers of government are vested solely in the king and granted to him by God. Under this system, the king acts as God's hand on earth. His power extends beyond government into the private religious life of his subjects. Under this system, citizens were often persecuted and imprisoned for their religious beliefs. Sidney believed that the individuals have the right to choose their own form of government and that, if that government became corrupt, the people retained the power to abolish it and form another. In his own words, "God leaves to man the choice of forms in government ... He who institutes, may also abrogate."  Sidney also argued that for a valid civil government to exist, it must be formed by general and voluntary consent. Furthermore, Sidney believed that civil government should have limited jurisdiction. He said the, "only ends for which governments are constituted and obedience rendered to them, are the obtaining of justice and protection." This suggests a limited civil government whose primary purpose is to: (1) render legal justice through its court system and (2) provide for the safety of its citizens. We can also conclude from Sidney that, if a government fails to accomplish these basic components, obedience to that government is no longer required... which brings us to the political philosophy of John Locke.

In his "Two Treatises of Government," John Locke defended the claim that men are by nature free and equal against claims that God had made all people naturally subject to a monarch. He argued that people have rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, that have a foundation independent of the laws of any particular society. Locke used the claim that men are naturally free and equal as part of the justification for understanding legitimate political government as the result of a social contract where people in the state of nature conditionally transfer some of their rights to the government in order to better ensure the stable, comfortable enjoyment of their lives, liberty, and property. Since governments exist by the consent of the people in order to protect the rights of the people and promote the public good, governments that fail to do so can be resisted and replaced with new governments. One of the most important insights to Locke's views has to do with his definition of political power.  John Locke defined political power as “a Right of making Laws with Penalties of Death, and consequently all less Penalties.”  Like Sidney, he viewed that the "citizens" of a nation had the right to choose their own representatives, choose their own laws, and agree to abide by them so long as it did not take away their rights as citizens and place it back into the hands of the elite.  Sidney's Discourses Concerning Government along with Locke's Two Treatises on Government are recognized as critical works in the founding of the United States of America. 

The reason Thomas Jefferson choose these two works had to do with an important aspect of ensuring that a monarchy would not become the basis of our American government. It is often stated that some in the early formation of government were looking to make George Washington the first king over our country.  However, Jefferson as well as the continental congress risked their lives, fortunes and future to break the power of the monarchy and they were not interested in reinstating a form of government that put the power of the nation into the hands of a few.  In reading Sidney's work, he believed that it was the role of government to educate its people to have character, integrity, and honesty.  As a result, the people would choose leaders who demonstrated these characteristics, serve their constituency and write honorable and just laws.  But the question emerged, what happens if the government ceases to fulfill its role in educating the people?  Wouldn't the nation come under the same "tyranny" as it had been under with the monarchy if corrupt people were to get into power?  Thomas Jefferson then brought in Locke's understanding that "if the people want to change the government, it was their right" as long as they bear the right of arms - which is why we have a second amendment entitled "the right to bear arms."  Most people living in the British Commonwealth today still don't get this.  Why?  Because they haven't read the discussions written in their own history that led to our American Revolution.  We are a nation that has reserved the right to challenge what is now called "the deep state." We are a nation that believes in making the government accountable to the people - not the other way around. This is why we are at the most critical juncture in our national history since the civil war.  We are faced with a ruling class, political elites, and bureaucrats hell bent on retaining "power" and being above the law in the same ways the monarchy did during the American Revolutionary war. Our understanding of our history, form of government, liberty, and justice all rests on our choice to not abdicate our individual and collective power and responsibility to protect and defend our way of life.  Globalists hate our form of government because it is disruptive to their power.  That's why we all have the duty and responsibility to "take down" the deep state. Sound revolutionary? It's called the American Revolution!  I guess we could say, the English were the first to call us the "deplorables."

From a prophetic view, The presidency of Barack Obama, uncovered our national sin in not extending "equal treatment" of our citizens under the law.  It is my belief, that with the emergence of President Donald Trump, God is exposing the principalities and powers that have embedded themselves to make our citizens the royal subjects of a ruling class.  God is exposing this "truth."  This is why I believe that God is calling his people to "pray, listen, discern, and engage" themselves in calling our nation to the original values.  Unfortunately, this has been referred to by many as "Let's make America Great Again."  Problem with this thought is "when has America ever lived up to making America great for all of it's citizens?" It has always been the ongoing work "to form a more perfect union."  Debate and compromise, controversy and tedious detail, foreign affairs and domestic problems, are all included in the 267 documents of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention Broadside Collections. Including public announcements of congressional actions, drafts of legislation, committee reports, and final versions of legislation or treaties, these broadsides illustrate the evolution of a government, from a legislative body called together in the crisis of war, to an intricate system of checks and balances. These documents show the journey of the American nation.  Let me be clear, our national sovereignty, despite our national sins, was birthed to create dialogue, conversation, debate, and ensure liberty and justice for all our citizens.  Although the experiment has been messy and the debate between "Individual rights and community responsibility"  inflamed - we are a democratic republic.  No one elite class has the right to usurp our form of government.  The most significant work ahead for us as a nation is to "take back" our government from the "unelected bureaucrats" living in the seven wealthiest counties in and around Washington, DC and help them all find new jobs in the private sector.  We can vote our elected officials into office and play musical chairs with them but this will not change the "power and control" of Washington, DC. The most difficult thing that has to happen is to "undue public sector unionism."  Enough said.  Donald Trump and every president after him should have the right to represent us in saying "Your Fired!  Now go get a real job." The American people did not hire "The Deep State" nor did we collectively agree to put in a permanent "unionized" bureaucracy to rule over us. It may be a funny notion to a few but "we are the people" and we are in charge. I think we need to suggest "term limits" for bureaucrats! 

Finally, let me conclude with something, Hugh O'Doherty, Harvard University adjunct lecturer in Public Policy at the Kennedy School Of Government, shared in a course I recently took.  He said,  "We all have power.  We all have authority.  We all have responsibility. The problem is that we all abdicate it and hand it over to people we call leaders." "We the people" was not designed to give us a new king. We, collectively, have the authority and responsibility to decide our nation's future. This is why we are not a part of the British Commonwealth today! The only reason we have a "Deep State" is because we let it happen.  It's time to rise up to our most noble American ideas and become the nation God intended for us to become.  Abraham Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, spoke to a very divided nation these profound words, "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." Let's not abdicate our authority or responsibility and protect this great republic that God has given us.    

Is Christmas A Pagan Holiday?

Over the last few years, I have become familiar with Frank Viola’s book “Pagan Christianity” and others who have pointed to various liturgical and celebratory practices that are found in Western Christianity as having pagan origins. Although, I understand their views I find these views somewhat suspect and dishonest.  Let me explain.  Every culture, people group, and nation states have historic memories, heroes, and commemorations which are celebrated yearly. In the English commonwealth, they celebrate the Queen’s birthday.  In Ireland, they celebrate St. Patrick’s day.  In Australia, they honor those who have sacrificed their lives for their country on Anzac Day.  The Chinese New Year, also known as the "Spring Festival in modern China, is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. In the USA, we celebrate Memorial Day, The 4th Of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day.  Never once have I ever heard any Christian object to any of these celebrations - calling them pagan holidays.  So why on earth do Christians object to having yearly celebrations that mark important moments for us in Christian history? Jewish people celebrate Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah and no one has ever explored if these celebrations were rooted in paganism celebrations. I find it interesting that this past year, protestant christians were thrilled to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s reformation and no one in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox tradition objected to it being celebrated as a heretic day. Yet, we have those who basically are anti-traditionalist trying to make a case that Christmas should not be celebrated on the grounds that it's a pagan holiday.   I think we need to stop living in ignorance and address the truth behind our Christmas celebrations.  The word “Christmas” literally stands for a liturgical “mass” based on God incarnating himself in human form through Christ. (See Phil. 2:5-11)

In The Roman Catholic tradition (which emerged from the orthodox church and is the foundation for ALL protestantism), the custom of celebrating three Masses on Christmas Day goes back to ancient times. The Christians of Jerusalem attended Mass at midnight at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem; then they returned to Jerusalem and at daybreak (the hour of the Resurrection) attended a second Mass at the Basilica of the Resurrection; later on, they attended the regular services of the day. In Rome, a similar custom prevailed. The midnight Mass was celebrated at the Crib at St. Mary Major; the second, at the imperial church of St. Anastasia; the third, at St. Peter's Basilica. All three Masses are permeated with the thought of the threefold birth of Christ.  

First (Midnight) Mass

The eternal generation of the Son by the Father: in the eternal now the Father is begetting the Son: "The Lord hath said to me: 'Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee' "

• The temporal birth of the Son of God: "This day is born to you a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David" (Gosp.). The gracious Babe of Bethlehem is the innocent Victim Who one day will be offered on the Cross for "the sins of the world".
• Birth of Christ in the Soul: Today's Liturgy abounds in references to "light." Christ is the Light of the world, "Light of Light".

The Second Mass at Christmas (at dawn)

The Christmas Liturgy shows forth the Eucharistic Host in the setting of Bethlehem. The tabernacle is truly Bethlehem, the "House of Bread." The Altar is the manger where lies the Infant God, our Emmanuel. Come, let us adore Him.

• Christ is true God: He is the "Wonderful, God, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the world to come, of whose reign there shall be no end".
• Christ is true Man: He is the God-Man. "In that sacred night the undefiled Virginity of blessed Mary brought forth the Savior into this world".

The Third Mass of Christmas (during the day)

Christ became what we are in order to make us become what He is. The Son of God became Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God. He Who was rich in heavenly glory became poor for our sakes that through His poverty we might become rich. He Who was eternally happy in heaven became the Man of Sorrows that through His tears we might enter into the joy of the Lord.

• Christ is God: He is the brightness of God's glory and the figure of His substance. He upholds all things by the word of His power. All the angels adore Him. His throne is forever and ever. He is unchanging and His years shall not fail. Christ became Man: "A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us". The only begotten of Son Of God is born in the flesh.Christ became Man: "A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us". The only begotten Son of God is born in the flesh.
• Christ came to save us: The Church sings that on "this day a great light hath descended upon the earth". This light shone in the darkness but the darkness did not comprehend it. "As many as received Him to them He gave power to become the sons of God". — Excerpted from Cathedral Daily Missal by Right Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas PH.D., AGG., S.T.D., et M.

The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December. There are many different traditions and theories as to why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.  Some people also think that December 25th might have also been chosen because the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan Roman midwinter festivals called 'Saturnalia' and 'Dies Natalis Solis Invicti' took place in December around this date - so it was a time when people already celebrated things and why some people think the date was chosen. However, the Christian origin of our modern celebration is rooted in the Epiphany celebration, or “Three Kings Day,” which is a Christian feast day, (which is still traditionally celebrated on January 6 in the Orthodox tradition) that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.

Epiphany Day celebrations in Italy

The word Epiphany is from Koine Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, meaning manifestation or appearance. It is derived from a verb meaning "to appear." In classical Greek it was used of the appearance of dawn, of an enemy in war, but especially of a manifestation of a deity to a worshiper (a theophany). In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ child, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles.  Popular Epiphany customs include Epiphany singing, chalking the door, having one's house blessed, consuming Three Kings Cake, winter swimming, as well as attending church services.  In the West the evening preceding Epiphany is called Twelfth Night. The time between December 25 and January 6 is known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Epiphany is celebrated with special pastries in many countries, and children often receive small gifts in their shoes in honour of the Magi’s gifts to the infant Jesus. The holiday also has had a number of other traditions involving water as a reflection of Jesus’ baptism, including the blessing of houses with holy water.  The first reference to an ecclesiastical feast of the Epiphany, in Ammianus Marcellinus (XXI:ii), is in 361. Thus in the Latin church, the feast of Christmas was established before Epiphany. Over time the western churches decided to celebrate Christmas December 25. The eastern churches continued to treat January 6 as the day marking Jesus's birth. This has given rise in the west to the notion of a twelve day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 6, called the twelve days of Christmas, although some Christian cultures — especially those of Latin America — extend it to 40 days, ending on Candlemas, or February 2 (known as Candelaria in Spanish).

A few years ago I accepted an invitation to an evening celebration of Hanukkah with American Rabbi Joshua Haberman. During our time together, he shared about the origin of the celebration and how we “Christians” needed to know that Jesus, as a Jewish man celebrated this “feast Of dedication.”  In fact, we read in John 10:22-24, the following. “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jewish leaders surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”  So, The Gospels once again demonstrates that Jesus, as a Jewish man, adhered to ALL the yearly feast celebrated in Israel’s faith and practice. Hanukkah means Dedication, and knowing the history of this holiday can lead us to pray wisely in this season of consecration. This eight day Festival of Lights commemorates how God blessed the dedication, faith and actions of a certain priestly family in Israel. Later known as the Maccabees, these Levites were so grieved at their oppressor’s antagonism to the Lord, that they interceded, defied the ungodly norms of their day and reclaimed liberty for the whole country. Below is a summary of the history, oppression and response of the Jewish people that characterize Hanukkah.

The historical backdrop is complex, but instructive. The time in question is 168-165 BCE. The setting is Israel, particularly a town called Modi’in in the Judean hills, just northwest of Jerusalem, and the people of God are suffering under an abominable ruler. After Alexander the Great died in 323 BCE, his empire was divided into four distinct geographical regions, and each region became the kingdom of his four most famous generals. At first Israel fell to the Egyptian region of Alexander's empire, ruled by General Ptolemy and his descendants. Later the Seleucid dynasty, based in Syria, captured Israel, and a series of their rulers named Antiochus governed the region. Antiochus IV is the villain in the story of Hanukkah.

After Alexander the Great’s far-reaching conquests, the dominant culture in the eastern Mediterranean had been Hellenism, or Greek culture, including all its idolatry and immorality. Some in Israel assimilated into this culture; yet many wanted to remain true to the God of Israel. The Seleucid rulers didn't make such faithfulness easy. Ultimately, Antiochus IV so repressed godly activity in Israel that he took over the Temple in Jerusalem and dedicated it to Zeus. This wicked ruler ended the Mosaic sacrifices and instead offered up pigs on the altar. Antiochus IV entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple and arrogantly proclaimed himself 'god in the flesh,’ giving himself the title Antiochus Epiphanes, literally "Antiochus, God Manifest."

One priestly Jewish family revolted. Instead of obeying the Seleucid leaders’ orders to officiate in the midst of such idolatry, the father of this clan killed the soldier who commanded him to so violate his biblical convictions. His sons, known as the Maccabees, then went on to lead a three-year guerrilla war, which culminated in Israel driving out the Seleucid forces, reclaiming Jerusalem and re-consecrating the Temple to God.

And here's the  miracle of Hanukkah. In consecrating the Temple after their victory, the Levites found they had only one jar of the pure oil required to keep burning the flames of the Menorah, the seven-branched candelabra whose light should never go out. In other words, all the Maccabees had was a one-day supply of oil, and it would take another seven days to make more. These Levites lit the Menorah anyway. Affirming their efforts, God miraculously made that one-day supply last eight days. So in the Jewish tradition the lighting the candles is to celebrate eight days of rededication – Hanukkah.

         Rabbi Haberman lighting the Menorah

Rabbi Haberman shared with us that it was during this celebration of lights that Jesus was conceived.  He went on to explain to us that the very celebration of Christmas was based on the Feast Of Dedication.  When I heard this it all came together for me that for the Christian, Christmas should be exactly what our historic Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant traditions (rooted in Second Temple Judaism) have always emphasized “Christmas” is the Body Of Christ’s yearly celebration of the first advent Of Christ.  It has always been a part of the faith and practice of the church for centuries and has no foundation in paganism whatsoever.  For those who insist that our yearly celebrations have their foundations in paganism - may I ask how and what ways would you suggest that we celebrate who Jesus is, what he came to do, and what kind of church services or calendar would you design to mark His work among us?  Maybe after explaining this to us you could also begin by challenging all the National celebrations, first nations activities, and festive celebrations like birthdays we take to remember our heros and categorize it within pagan practices also so we can spend more time at work and forget about important values like faith, family and showing honor to others.  Christmas is no more a pagan holiday than Hanukkah itself or any other feast celebrated outlined in Leviticus 23 that spoke about the person and work of our savior Jesus. Now He is something worth celebrating about! May you have a Merry Christmas and A Blessed New Year.

The Church: Why Does It Need Money

Over the last 40 years, I have served as a pastor in several capacities.  During my time I have never heard so much whinging on any subject more than I have on the subject of money.  According to Jesus, money shows us what we value (See Matt. 6:21).   For the most part, those who attend weekly services seldom stop and think through what it takes to run a local congregation, it’s outreaches or ministries.  So in my blog this month I would like to share with you why I think you need to stop yourself and think about the cost of meeting the needs of a congregation.  Let remind you:

Your local Public Schools are not Free

Your local government is not free

Your local hospitals are not free

Your public roads are not free

Your public parks are not free

Your entertainment, Arts and recreation facilities are not free

Your food is not free

Your local infrastructures for internet, communications, radio & TV are not free

and the list goes on.

Who pays for all this stuff?  You do. You are taxed by your Federal, State and local governments to pay your share of the costs associated by the services these organizations provide you. The average American pays about 30% of their income to the government. Recently, analysis shows that the average charitable gift to a church by it’s members is $26. Per week which means that if you are a member of a church of 150 members your local church receives about $3900 per week in income. Now over 52 weeks that’s a $200,000+ income. So what does that money buy each year.  Here a rough draft of how it’s broken down.  35% goes to salaries which means you have $70,000 to support a full time pastor, part-time administrator, and all the health care costs associated for personnel  for a church this size.  You will spend 35% in facilities which means you will pay $70,000 a year for a building, offices, equipment, kitchen supplies, furniture, cleaning, and upkeep of the grounds. The final 30% of your budgeted church income goes to ministries, liability insurance, safety monitoring equipment, kids and youth programs, creative ministry and worship needs, sound equipment, big screen tv’s, hymnals, community needs, men/women’s groups, special projects, events like Christmas, Easter, Mother’s / Father’s day etc. This is what you get for your $26 investment.  But, what happens when church members are not committed to giving?  Budgetary problems emerge and Christian’s grumble that the church is mismanaging their resources or spending too much money.  Sounds like a great place to work, Aye?  The very people who refuse to follow through on their commitments of giving are usually the same ones who incite discord over the church’s barebone budgetary items and often create the very financial problems they accuse the church leadership over.  I guess the pastors, elders and leaders in each department are to multiply the loaves and fishes to give everything the membership demands for their unfaithfulness in giving financially.

Buildings, personnel costs, and ministry outreach costs money.  Most people aren't aware that even Jesus had to have money to operate. Of all the disciples, Jesus chose Judas to be treasurer of his itinerant nonprofit. One is tempted to offer the Lord some consulting on good stewardship. Donors were financially supporting this ministry (Luke 8:3) and the one guy who Jesus knew was a “devil” (John 6:70) was made CFO.  

Did you know that to run a church in the USA, you have to pay attorney’s for regular non-profit state filings, accountants for compiliations, reviews or full blown audits, insurances for vehicles, liability insurances for counseling, sunday school workers, treasurer and offering records.  You have store all your accounting and giving records up to 10 years. Do you know the costs associated with this?  Have you calculated associated banking costs, credit cards fees, business operational costs?  All this for the $26.00 per week and with all the expectations it will all still be there if I give or do not give.  So, let me ask a final question?  What would your community look like if it did not have any churches in it?  Churches are expected to be charities for the homeless, the addict, counselors to the broken, food banks, aftercare for unattended children, counselors for strong marriage and family needs, baby dedications, and funerals (free of charge of course).  The marriage planner wants $30,000.  The Funeral Director wants $15,000 but of course give the pastor $50 if you feel like it.  This is the state of American Christianity.  We want the perks and benefits of the mega-church without the costs associated. Salvation may be free but the support of your local church is not. If your church struggles and doesn’t make it you have no one to blame but yourself. But, that’s okay if your church fails you’ll just go to another one and accuse the last church of mismanagement. to the next pastor. Aye!  Good luck with that one… you’re sins will find you out. Your personal money trail will show others what you really value in life.