The Goal is Whole: One Together, Part 2 One Glorious Church, O2.6: INN Finances and Funding

FULL STUDY:

The INN vision is designed to be simple, lean, and easy to reproduce. It does not require dedicated buildings or full time or paid staff. INNs are small-groups, and the communities that emerge from them. In that respect, the vision needs very little, if any, funding. It typically falls on group members themselves to cover any incidental costs. INNs might also network and partner with other INNs, which might help with costs that arise.

INNs ideally operate in and through wider church identities, and each church will likely have its own understanding and strategies concerning finances. This is outside the scope of the INN vision and this study. What we share here is for guidance in INN life specifically. When it comes to giving financially, there is one over-arching principle:

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Some might say that all we have belongs to Jesus. We give our lives to Him, and with that comes everything we have. The scripture suggests otherwise. He calls us rather into stewardship of resources.

Let us look at an event in the early church, where one couple sold a piece of property and brought the proceeds to the apostles to distribute to those in need. This was very generous! The only thing is they lied about how much they had raised from the sale and kept some back for themselves, pretending though to give it all. Perhaps they felt under pressure to give everything. Perhaps there was a doctrine around the idea that God owned it all, and it was His. Let’s see how the Apostle Peter handled this:

“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

The message here is very clear. It all belonged to Ananias all along. Both the equity in the property, and then in the sale proceeds, it was his to control. The implication was he could have chosen how much to give – there was no need to lie about it.

Different people have different income opportunities, assets, and debts. Some have more than they need and can share. Others struggle to make ends meet and could do with some help. The issue here is community identity. It is not that we are all under duty to give an amount, or a percentage of income. As Paul stated:

“For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12)

It is likely that in some communities, this will be the case. Some are in a position to give, while others need to receive. But this might also change over time. The principle is that, as Paul wrote to the Philippians:

“My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians: 4:19)

Let us be clear about this though. Paul wrote that to a COMMUNITY, not an individual! For that to be true, it will take some sharing around. We can see this working powerfully in the early church:

“And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.” (Acts 2:44-45)

“abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.” (Acts 4:33-35)

Some individuals are more financially provided for than others, for all kinds of reasons. There are rich people in the new creation! That is not a problem, but it does open up another level of responsibility for those with abundance:

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

INNs might be a great context to outwork this on a local community level!

Paul also took on board a sharing approach as he travelled, and discovered people and places where the need was great. He took it on as part of his ministry to collect funds from one region and take them to another:

“Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.” (Acts 11:27-30)

Paul urged the Corinthians to save up every week, so that a fund was available for him to take when he came through:

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-4)

Later, in his second letter, he wrote about their support for the Macedonians:

“For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; 15 as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

Some INN communities might partner with trustworthy ministries having wider reach, so that they can do the same. But there is no compulsion.

Two other principles are extremely important for us to consider regarding finances. First, Paul developed the example of providing for his own needs and those of his team when able, so that he would not be a burden to anyone. He did this through running a business enterprise making tents, which was able to cover his costs:

“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:33-35)

“He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.” (Acts 18:2-3)

Paul told the Thessalonians that he lived that way to set an example for them. We would do well to follow it too!:

“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians:7-11)

Second, we are not to just passively accept that we are stuck in the income levels we currently have. There is a message of abundance in the new creation, which is unleashed out of the exchange Jesus made at the cross. In the middle of one of Paul’s passages on money to the Corinthians, he states:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (1 Corinthians 8:9)

He reiterated this in the next chapter, stating:

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:8-11)

In this we are urged to press into God, as a community, and seek ways for increasing our giving. God is the one who provides the seed! As we are faithful in handling that well, and giving, He will continue to supply, so that we might continue to give more.

Let us be those that aspire to be a giving community, able to bless others and help alleviate the burden of lack, as Jesus leads.