In September a number of Mennonite Church
Canada staff climbed onto bicycles and became part of the Ride for Refugee
movement. It was a cold September morning, chilling our fingers and giving us
plenty of reason to ride hard enough to work up a sweat.
I was thrilled by the initiative. Staff
were taking a Saturday and raising money for the work of Mennonite Church
Canada. This is no small matter. Many staff already volunteer evenings and
weekends in support of their regular ministry work, in their congregations, and
for other worthy causes.
When the initiative was first raised there
was some hesitation. Some felt uncomfortable asking friends and family for what
felt like financial support for their jobs. It is a common dilemma in the work
of the church.
For much of the church how we engage our
relative wealth is a touchy subject. Many pastors try to get someone else to
preach about that topic because of the perceived conflict of interest. For
pastors it can feel like they are preaching for their own salary.
Yet asking people to give financially is as
critical as asking them to worship or pray. It is an important spiritual
discipline, especially in such a market driven world that idolizes individual
want and desire. Consumerism is given religious value. It offers fulfillment.
The more you purchase, the better you will feel about yourself.
Followers of Jesus Christ are more aware of
such incorrect assertions. They know that ultimate fulfillment is discovered
when persons leave the entrapment of individualism and align their lives for
the glory of God and the blessing of others. That is why generosity is an
important spiritual discipline. It holds back the subtle influence of
consumerism. It reinforces the intent to remain unattached to the lure of
materialism. When followers of Christ give, it is an act of solidarity to the
way of Jesus. To extend an invitation to others for such activity is a delight,
not something for which to feel embarrassed.
So, it was a delight to be part of the staff
group raising money for the work of Mennonite Church Canada. We began to
realize that as paid workers of the church, we were not asking money for
ourselves. We were asking for financial support for a movement that we love and
are working hard to support. A pastor preaching about stewardship is not
seeking personal financial gain. Rather it is an invitation to develop patterns
and habits that reflect the commitments and yearning of the heart – to love the
Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind; and to love our
neighbours as ourselves. This is a good thing to support.
So, when you receive an invitation to give,
receive it as an invitation to express worship – even if the one extending the
invitation is paid by the very work they support.
