If you are giving money to your Episcopal parish or mission budget, does this mean that
- Your heart is full of zeal to sue other Christians?
- Your heart doubts that Jesus, by his death on the cross, is the savior of the world and the only Name by which we can reach the kingdom of God?
- Your heart longs for the victory of abortion-on-demand activists?
- Your heart delights in Church bylaws rather than the Holy Bible?
All of these and more are supported, financially, by the Episcopal Church at the national level. Where do they get the money? From us. When we give to our local church, some of that money goes up to the diocese, who then passes a good chunk of it on to the national church. And the Diocese of South Dakota lists giving to the national church as a priority for the coming year! (Go here and scroll down to p. 8. This is also in the 2008 diocesan budget material sent out to its convention delegates.)
What can you do? A new initiative lists some of the problems and how to respond. You have to take charge of your money and see that it goes to truly Christian purposes rather than a corrupt church bureaucracy. Check it out, consider signing the petition, and most of all become a better steward of the treasure God gives you!
3 comments:
Wise counsel, Father! There are so many anointed ministries to support outside of TEC. They need our support and prayers, but too many are bogged down in the TEC crisis to get on about the work of the Church.
(This was a great week for me. I was able to lead 3 people to Jesus Christ. God is good!)
(This was a great week for me. I was able to lead 3 people to Jesus Christ. God is good!)
In regard to the above comment, it is my understanding via scripture that it is the Holy Spirit that leads people to Christ.
Dan - we give credit to God for all things...but I think what Alice is saying is that God's chosen means for leading people to Christ is the witness of Christian people. The church is apostolic - passed person to person to person.
As Paul asks in one of his letters, "How are they to hear without a preacher?"
And I think SD's convention included another workshop on "Sharing Your Faith Story".
Yes, the Holy Spirit establishes the true and sure bond between the savior and the saved, but the Biblical means for this includes evangelism.
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