Spiritual Disciplines … for a Church 7

Churches also need to have spiritual disciplines. In James Bryan Smith’s new book, The Good and Beautiful Community: Following the Spirit, Extending Grace, Demonstrating Love (The Apprentice Series), we get a sketch of the disciplines that can characterize — not just an individual — but a community of faith.

The sixth characteristic is “generosity.”

Here are two scenarios: you are a pastor and someone either calls the church or comes by the church and ask for money for a meal. They may look like they need money and a meal, or they may not — what do you do? You are an ordinary person and someone approaches you and begs for money or food. What do you do?

Big question: What are the marks of a generous church and of a generous Christian?

Smith probes the false narratives at work in us in these situations: judgment of others, scarcity, and entitlement. God helps those who help themselves. Get a job. If I give stuff away, I will have less. What’s mine is mine.

There are better narratives to live by: helplessness, provision and stewardship. God helps those who cannot help themselves. If we share, more of us will have enough. There is enough for everyone if each of us takes only our share. What we have is God’s and we are to use it for God’s glory and the benefit of others.Poverty is not the idea; stewardship is. We need to develop a theology of enough.

Smith sees that we are called to steward these areas: soul, body, talent, time, treasure.

To do this we need to learn to find “margin”: space to give and to steward. Most of us live lives with little or no margin.