Reverse Contribution Project

So I was reading (as I so often love to do, I truly am I book geek and proud of it) and I came across the interesting story of Steven Futrick and Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. The story of the church there is interesting in and of itself, but the truly interesting part of the story in my opinion is a project they undertook on great faith and more than a little creativity.

Normally on Sunday mornings the basket or tray is passed through the rows as we give back in order to help our churches (and hopefully our communities). This church decided to do something that at first seems very crazy. As they were preparing for a Capital Campaign they took part in what they called a "Bless Back Project" meaning that instead of taking up a contribution that week (which at the time meant about $40,000) they gave that much back to the people. Now that sounds awkward, but there were stipulations: 1) They couldnt just turn around and donate it to the church 2) They had to give it to someone else and tell the church what they did with it. The church compiled the stories of the people on a website.

As I read this, I thought how amazing that would be, if we in our churches could do this reverse contribution in order for our members to truly begin understanding on a real and personal basis just what it looks like to bless someone else with a wonderful gift. Some received $5, some $10 others $100 and even a few $1000. What an impact we could make as the people of God (and what a step of faith for a church to go a week without contributions!) to the community around us when we actually see the faces of those we can help. I am certain just as at the Elevation church in NC, we would find that our members become more sacrificial in their giving not only to the church but also to the community in need.

So what do you think?

Living as the community of Christ...

So I guess lately I have been wondering what might it actually look like to live out the call for community that we see present in the New Covenant. I mean really, if we were absolutely to open our mind to Scripture and close our mind to our fears or preconceived notions. What could we actually have or be?

What might it look like if we gave money to brothers and sister in need rather than just putting it in a plate when passes? What might it look to actually confess our sins to the brothers or sisters in our life that help to keep us on our walk? What if we actually sought to serve one another as Christ served us? What if we actually loved our enemies and prayed for those that abused us?

Maybe I am a bit naive or a little over zealous, but I actually think the reason God called us to this New Way was because in it we would begin to understand what relationship was meant to be. We might even begin to understand what the relationship looks like that God has between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Hmmm...what if...

Papal Visit..."God Bless America"

Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the United States this week and earlier today visited the White House with President Bush. I was somewhat appalled to a line that he said according to reports, "God Bless America". I guess I am not so much surprised as puzzled. Does the Pope say this in every country he visits? If so, great...I truly hope and pray that God will bless all the nations of this Earth, just not in the way that we sometimes desire. If however the Pope said this only in the U.S. I find it discomforting.

This morning, the song God Bless America was running through my mind and I began to think not only about "Manifest Destiny" but our feeling that even my favorite President (RR) had that we in America are to be the "City on a Hill that cannot be hid", makes me wonder whether we, sometimes as Christians confuse nation and kingdom. For we are called to be part of a Kingdom not of this world, with a King who is Christ.

Should we expect God to bless our country in the way that we have approached economics, justice, war, poverty, freedom? Don't get me wrong these are issues that I find myself continually struggling to determine my personal answers for. Questions that come into my mind are what about war, is it truly the answer that Christ would have us undertake? Should I expect the nation to turn the other cheek just because Jesus taught me to do that? What exactly does it look like to "inasmuch as it is possible live at peace with all men"?

I think we may be in a time that we need prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Hosea to come forward and call us back to God. Maybe we have bought in too much to "God Bless America" and not enough into God Bless Everyone. Maybe, just maybe, our allegiance to the Western culture has outweighed our allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven.

I really don't have the answers, just questions, but I would be interested to learn how you are walking this path?