when the man in black tithed

I once read a story about Johnny Cash, late in his life, joining a church in the Nashville area and making a point of telling the pastor that he fully intended to tithe.  On the chance that some might not know what that means, it means that he intended to give 10% of his income to the church.  The pastor supposedly responded, "Don't you dare!  You'll ruin my church!"  Now, I haven't been able to find that story again and it may not be completely true.  One never knows with stories like these.  Either way, it makes a good point.

Supposedly, the pastor knew that if one tenth of Johnny Cash's income began to poor into the offering plates all needs of the church would be met and this was unacceptable.  How could this be inacceptable?  Well, at the core of the tithing and stewardship discussion is the reality that, while churches do have budgets and needs (including ours, of course), what is most important is the reality that learning to be generous, to give sacrificially and to steward well over our finances is a necessary discipline if we are to become the fully formed followers of Jesus God intends we become.  If Johnny Cash's tithe began to make people in the church think their giving was "unnecessary," they might stop giving.  And if they stopped giving, their discipleship journey would be stalled and the health of the church would be in question.

The story goes that after some discussion, the pastor and the Man in Black came to an agreement that, while Johnny could give some of his finances to the church, the bulk of his tithe would go to other needs outside the church.  Johnny still tithed, but to other ministries, because stewardship was key for his discipleship, too.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way,

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.  Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. (Philippians 4.15-17, emphasis mine)

Catch that?  Paul is not concerned that his readers meet his need.  He's concerned that what they give will be "credited" to their "account."  In other words, it's good for them to tithe, regardless of the impact it might have on Paul and his ministry.  Giving is good for us.

Later in that passage Paul emphasizes, And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (v.19).  Paul knows that in the end, it is God who meets needs, not good offerings.  God has met his need and he will meet the needs of his readers as well.  These are the words of a person who has learned to trust in God, not in wealth or possessions.  This is where he finds his security.

May we all so find our security in God alone that we, too, can become the generous, giving, fully devoted followers of Jesus God intends we become.  Amen.

of pigpens and parties

In the pigpen, the Rebellious son came to his senses and devised a plan that would help him acquire some food. He would be a servant and work his way back into the household. Because of his father's costly demonstration of love, his plan went away and he repented of his sin. The servant became a son. The last time we see the rebellious son he is in his father's robe and going into a party.

His brother, the Religious son, had a different reaction to the father's love. When he refused to come to the party, his father demonstrated costly love for the second time in the same day. He humiliated himself by leaving the party to plead with this son to come in and join the celebration. The host would never think of insulting his guests by leaving the party. What did the father gain by this demonstration of love toward his religious son? Nothing. The last time we see the religious son he is screaming at his father accusing him of everything from showing favoritism to not obeying the Jewish laws. (If the rebellious son really hung out with prostitutes he deserved death and not a party.) 

 We all must answer this question: Am I rebellious or am I religious? If I am rebellious I am like the young son. I want whatever is new. I break the rules and Commandments. I disobey. I sin in the open. I use people. I am self centered. If I am religious, I am like the older son. I want what is traditional. I keep the rules and Commandments. I am obedient. I sin in secret. I judge people. I am self righteous. The truth is that both sons were using the father, just in different ways. Neither son loved the father. 

Here's the Good News. The same act of self-emptying love pays the penalty for those who are rebellious and for those who are religious. Jesus is a friend of all of us! He is the suffering servant who took our sin at the cross. We didn't deserve his love, grace, or forgiveness but He runs to us ready to take us in his arms, smother us in kisses, and welcome us into His family. When we respond in repentance, in heaven there is joy! Are you lost and ready to be found? I pray you respond to the costly love of the father.  

- Tim Ahlgrim

limitless grace, limitless demand

One of the key elements of the the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10.25-37) that we looked at on Sunday, is what it requires of us.  The same could be said of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25.  These teachings (and others we could point to) ought to cause us to bristle a bit when we cling to salvation is by grace too tightly.  Don't get me wrong.  Salvation is by grace.  It's a gift.  But salvation is also much more than assurance of our eternal destiny.  Belief is much more than intellectual or emotional ascent.  It is life change in action.  We were born again to become more like Christ in every way.  What we believe (God's saving work in Christ Jesus) ought to transform our very lives into the kind of people, in the expert in the law's own words, who love God with all of our hearts, souls, strength and minds, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Sometimes, as I've said before, I have to leave things out of my sermons for the sake of time.  That was true this week, too.  As I studied and wrote, I found several gems I wanted to pass along to you.  Here they are.  Think on them.  Pray through them.  Let them do their work on you and God's Holy Spirit through them.

"One cannot define one's neighbor; one can only be a neighbor." 

- Franz Leenhardt

"The fear of works righteousness is far to exaggerated in most churches.  Would that there were an equal fear of being found inactive!  We would do better to realize that people who do not work cannot be righteous."

- Klyne Snodgrass   

"P. Jones is correct in saying that the parable exposes any religion with a mania for creeds and an anemia for deeds."

- Klyne Snodgrass referencing Peter Rhea Jones

And my personal favorite:

"The kingdom comes with limitless grace in the midst of an evil world, but with it comes limitless demand."

- Klyne Snodgrass 

Go and do likewise!

- Pastor Stacey