Let me be perfectly clear. A church that minimizes missional giving is in serious trouble.

One of the great stories in Acts is of Peter and John going up to the Temple “at the hour of prayer....three o’clock.” A lame man was being carried in to be in position to ask for alms from those entering the Temple. And that was how he approached Peter and John.

He didn’t get what he expected, but he got more than he could ever dream.

Peter looked at him and said, “I have no gold or silver, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And Peter pulled him up and he began to walk.

The story goes that the Pope was showing someone around the Vatican. The visitor saw the magnificent buildings, the priceless paintings, and the gold and jewelry. Astounded he said, “We can no longer say, ‘gold and silver have I none.’” 

The Pope replied, “Neither can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’”

The Pope realized that their faith and efforts were going in another direction.

What about the Church today? And what about Old Hickory United Methodist Church? In what do we put our faith and hope? Sadly, too many of our meetings talk about the hope our money in the band holds out for us. The idea of spending it sends some into despair, if not panic. “How can we go on?”

Old Hickory UMC has a rich history. It is a church with a legacy men and women of “the greatest generation” (Tom Brokaw) built through the exercise of great faith in the Lord. They build the church plant, parsonage, supported missions, and left nice gifts for the current members.

They understood the principle from Genesis 12 that we are blessed to be a blessing. God has richly blessed us but expects us to bless others with what we have and who we are. Even at great age and difficult circumstance, Abraham and Sarah exercised their faith in God by being vessels of God’s blessing to and for the world.

Some people know how to make money; some know how to save money; many know how to spend money; but, how many know how money blesses?

I read this week that a church should have at best 15% of their budget in missions. Missions are opportunities to be a blessing to others. We provide scholarships, build churches and schools and hospitals, support missionaries, and support ministries that depend upon us.

As United Methodist we are bound together by conferencing and shared ministries. Our system is dependent upon the support by all of its churches through apportionment giving, or mission opportunities.

My prayer is that Old Hickory UMC will make a commitment to support the payment of 100% of these funds; and that we see them not as some tax, but as opportunities to bless as we have been blessed.

And may our faith be in the loving grace of God in Jesus Christ....in Him only.
-Jim