Finances causing you to have faith?
Posted on March 16th, 2009 – 3:14 PMBy Kara McGuire
The Pew Research Center ginned up an interesting chart showing that while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost almost half its value, church pews aren’t more crowded.
Apparently there have been anecdotal stories of church attendance rising because of the economic crisis. Have you seen this at your own congregation? Started attending church in the last few months because of the economic crisis?
I have seen a growing number of religious groups delving into personal finance topics, offering Financial Peace University or classes on Buddha and the economy, for example. I figure that’s for a couple of reasons: Churches are looked at as a trustworthy place for information. Also, churches with financially healthy members will benefit when it sends around the collection plate.
2 Responses to "Finances causing you to have faith?"
I disagree with your main reasons churches are offering these classes; sure there are some churches and pastors that only have their collection plates in mind and certainly churches are supposed to be more fiscally sound, however I believe the root reason churches are providing these classes is because Christians are called to be good stewards–of money, possesions, talent, time, relationships, everything. Sadly, it takes a national meltdown for people to realize that we haven’t been good stewards of what has been entrusted to us (Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”), and this is where we find ourselves: realizing our foolishness and relearning the tools and principles that we have been given in order to use them in a wise and God-honoring manner, keeping in mind that it is not through our strength that we keep these principles, but through God’s power in our lives.
Alissa– I totally agree with you!!!
