Looking for a Handout

I had a denominational colleague tell me this week that "Since I have my hand out, I should be more tactful in my communication." I should start by saying that he was right about the tact part. It was a specific instance and I was tactless. We need more people that are willing to tactfully coach less tactful people like me.

But I had to ask about the "having my hand out" part. He said that "we all have our hand out." Anyone looking for money from denom apportionments or even trying to raise direct funds from denom churches has their hand out. It wasn't a negative thing. It was just true.

But that is where I take exception. I don't have my hand out. I'm trying to accomplish a mission for the denom by planting churches. The attitude should be, "We want to give you xxx amount of money because this is who we are and this is what we want to do."

My parents didn't give me a handout to go to college. They wanted me to go to college.

This may seem like semantics to some, but I think it is the very heart of the institutional culture that makes people with passion feel like their passions aren't shared. There is a feeling of "we gave you xxx amount of money so you should be supportive of all that we do." The money creates obligation.

My parents didn't want money back. My parents didn't want me to move in next door. My parents didn't want me to do anything except succeed at life. Now at the same time, I want to serve my parents. I want to help my brothers. I want to serve my cousins. Why? Not because there is obligation. Instead there is a culture that I want to be a part of. I like my parents. I like my brothers. I like my cousins. I want to participate with them.

This is the problem that is driving young churches away from denominations. I love our churches. I want our denom to have the best impact she can have on the kingdom of God. She will have to change. I hope she can. She will have to encourage success without the yoke of obligation. That will frighten her to death. But it is the only option that will create what she is truly looking for.