UPDATE: Bill Kinnon puts on the wit, but still makes the point.
Sometimes, I go for many days being very discouraged, convinced that evangelicalism itself is so detrimental to my spiritual health that staying away from it is a major responsibility.
Rarely do I hear news from a church that isn’t hype, spin, thinly disguised church growth, cultural capitulation, etc. Finding Jesus-shapedness in evangelicalism is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Then, I read Jared Wilson’s announcement that his community, Element, is adopting a vision to give away 60% of their income to missions and operate the community- salaries, facilities, insurance, etc- on 40%.
I read, and my heart is filled with hope and optimism. Yours will be, too.
Element isn’t a megachurch. It’s a young and growing evangelical/missional community in Nashville. Jared is a writer/preacher/teacher/blogger many of you know from Thinklings and Gospel Driven Church.
He took inspiration from Francis Chan’s leadership at Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, Ca., a church that recently decided to shelve its plan for a $20 million dollar facility in favor of an amphitheater and a park; a plan that reduced the price by millions which they plan to give away. (Yes, that’s what I said.)
Element decided to move in a similar direction financially. Missions and church planting will become the heartbeat of what Element is doing in the world. And if they do this right, they will set a tone that will turn over tables in evangelicalism far and wide.
I was once part of a church that gave 35% of its budget to missions. I don’t need to tell you it was a spiritual dynamo at the time. Those days are gone, sacrificed to the cynicism of evangelicalism’s “What about me?” mood at present. But some younger evangelicals aren’t giving up yet.
By the way, Jared has just written a book on Jesus. I’m sure the two events have nothing to do with each other. (ahem)
So Jared, if I lose my job, I am moving to Nashville, and I am coming to Element. If nothing else, just to sit around and soak in the fact that some younger evangelicals have figured out that Jesus isn’t the patron saint of the mall-like religion we’re currently presiding over.
No. Jesus gives it away. And if you follow him, you give it away. And rejoice that you’ve found the fellowship of the heart of God.
If you are in Nashville and need a Christian community, you are nuts if you aren’t at Element next Sunday. This is the hard thing that identifies Jesus shaped spirituality.
I absolutely agree. If I were in Nashville without roots in a church home, I’d be at Element in a heartbeat. In fact, that’s exactly what I thought when I read that post about 20 minutes ago.
Thanks for reinforcing the beauty of what God is doing through that group of believers.
[...] He has a challenging post up right now that strikes at one of the hearts of our discipleship. Can we put our money where our beliefs are? He linked up to a story about a church that is committing to give away 60% of their budget to [...]
Yes I believe in “putting your money where your mouth is”. It is hard to live that at times. In this season of my journey following Jesus (I’m not too good at it) He is also leading me to sacrifice more and more (..deny yourself and take up your cross daily stuff). It is so encouraging to hear of my brothers and sisters taking such a stand, but do I give when I am the ONLY one giving? Do I give when ONLY GOD KNOWS the gift? Do I give “from the ABUNDANCE of my poverty”? We might not get to Nashville but the Kingdom of God is at hand WHEREVER we are. So what’s my excuse? … I have no excuse. God takes joy in our abandonment and trust.
In His sufficient grace,
Mark
Since I don’t believe in “accidents”, I just had to take the time to thank you for your wonderful post.
It does indeed warm the heart to read that an organization is giving back so much…Give it away for sure.
In that spirit (pun intended :-), I’d like to offer you (and all who read this) a free gift (pdf) copy of my book. Yes, that’s right, an author ‘giving it away’. It’s what I was told to do.
No strings attached! Just visit my website and sign up…just that simple.
Again, thank you for starting my day with a hopeful heart for us all.
take care,
Louise Lewis, Author
No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According To You!
FREE gift copy: http://www.noexpertsneeded.com
Thanks, Michael.
Just wanted to mention something.
You wrote: If you are in Nashville and need a Christian community, you are nuts if you aren’t at Element next Sunday.
This would be an appropriate place to mention that beginning with last Sunday’s Vision Night, we are taking a break from our weekly worship service for the summer. The service will return September 7, at which point we welcome anybody who’d love to join us.
We meet on Sunday evenings, also, so even if someone’s got a Sunday morning place of worship, they’d be more than welcome to join us later in the evening.
During this break we are continuing with our “third place” Bible study group and our service projects, as well as other get-togethers, so there are other ways someone could visit if they wanted to. And once my girls start school mid August, I’d be available for coffee or whatever with anyone who’d like to hear more about Element and its mission.
Thanks for letting me drop this note.
[...] are doing…they are bold challenges and proclamations to existing congregations. Internet Monk singles out one new congregation that is committed to giving 60% of their budget to mission!!…If they can do it, why can’t [...]
[...] Read what Michael Spencer has to say about this. Bill Kinnon at Achievable Ends makes essentially the same points, but does so in a much more humorous, backhanded way. [...]