Boxed Out
Sitting with colleagues from the Synod of the Pacific, someone remarked on the need for thinking outside the box, complimenting the Presbytery of Sacramento for being willing to do so. Then someone else remarked, We really do need to think outside the box because none of the people all around us are in the box anymore--i.e., the world has long moved away from the church's worldview which seems stuck in last century, somewhere around 1955.
I thought about that, and even though I began to feel defensive--we're not stuck, we're moving, adapting, yada yada yada--something as simple as the Sunday offering reared its revealing head.
Every church I visit has a morning offering. Ushers come forward, pass the plates, and then bring it forward. Presbyterians know what to do--you drop currency, checks, or an envelope into the plate. That's how we visibly finance the church.
Nearly every person I know under the age of 45, though, carries no currency, and the younger the person, the less likely they have a checkbook. That means they simply pass on passing the plate.
Some of us long-time Presbyterian raise our eyebrows--this new generation doesn't know how to give; they must not be as generous as previous generations; they need to learn stewardship; yada yada yada... Even as august an entity as the Presbyterian Foundation mumbles something similar as I heard in a presentation to our presbytery.
Then I remembered what a good many folks under 30 are doing (my children and their friends)--working in special ed; going to remote areas of the world as educators; working for non-profits; and generally taking service oriented jobs because the economy left nothing else open. They don't grumble, they actually enjoy going to work!
But most importantly--they don't need to learn how to be generous--THEIR LIVES ARE GENEROUS.
They're outside the box. They live generosity. The actually do contribute to causes and entities that they see actually doing work that benefits the neediest of all. They give themselves when money is short, and they give financially, but not with money their grandparents would recognize--it's all debit cards and online transfers.
Can our churches handle either of those payment types?
Are our churches actively on the streets, in the neighborhoods, and among the Least of These, laying hands on the societal problems around us?
That's moving outside the box to where the people are.
It's scary to leave the box, though. We know the box. We like the walls of the box--they're safe and secure. We have a place in the box that is comfortable.
But world is outside the box.
Take a step.
It's wonderful out there.
I thought about that, and even though I began to feel defensive--we're not stuck, we're moving, adapting, yada yada yada--something as simple as the Sunday offering reared its revealing head.
Every church I visit has a morning offering. Ushers come forward, pass the plates, and then bring it forward. Presbyterians know what to do--you drop currency, checks, or an envelope into the plate. That's how we visibly finance the church.
Nearly every person I know under the age of 45, though, carries no currency, and the younger the person, the less likely they have a checkbook. That means they simply pass on passing the plate.
Some of us long-time Presbyterian raise our eyebrows--this new generation doesn't know how to give; they must not be as generous as previous generations; they need to learn stewardship; yada yada yada... Even as august an entity as the Presbyterian Foundation mumbles something similar as I heard in a presentation to our presbytery.
Then I remembered what a good many folks under 30 are doing (my children and their friends)--working in special ed; going to remote areas of the world as educators; working for non-profits; and generally taking service oriented jobs because the economy left nothing else open. They don't grumble, they actually enjoy going to work!
But most importantly--they don't need to learn how to be generous--THEIR LIVES ARE GENEROUS.
They're outside the box. They live generosity. The actually do contribute to causes and entities that they see actually doing work that benefits the neediest of all. They give themselves when money is short, and they give financially, but not with money their grandparents would recognize--it's all debit cards and online transfers.
Can our churches handle either of those payment types?
Are our churches actively on the streets, in the neighborhoods, and among the Least of These, laying hands on the societal problems around us?
That's moving outside the box to where the people are.
It's scary to leave the box, though. We know the box. We like the walls of the box--they're safe and secure. We have a place in the box that is comfortable.
But world is outside the box.
Take a step.
It's wonderful out there.
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