Post-Campaign FAQ's
Since the Crazy Campaign, a handful of you have been brave enough to ask several "tough questions". Let me address 1 of the top 3 questions (I'll hit the others next week):
1. Why did you disclose how much $$ you were giving to the Campaign? Some saw this as a little arrogant. Others thought it was un-Biblical.
First, trust me, I didn't do it without much thought and prayer. I knew there was a risk in disclosing the amount. It wasn't done to brag. My point in doing it was to take the lead. Someone had to set the height of the bar. Someone had to clearly model what sacrifice looked like. Most know that pastors don't make 6-figure salaries (at least I don't!). For me to say, "Laurel and I are sacrificing on this" sounds nice...but that wouldn't have inspired anyone. To say, "We've decided to take what we think we could afford...$25,000, and double it to $50,000" was something tangible. Many, many people commented that my disclosing our amount helped them come up with their sacrificial amount. One last note on this--David, the leader of the Israelites disclosed what he gave to the building of the Temple in 1 Chronicles 29. And after doing so, he asks in vs. 5 "Now then, who will follow my example?" That is why I did what I did.
If you were offended by what I did, I apologize. But after wrestling with the decision, I felt freedom from God to do it.
Blog on,
Phil
1. Why did you disclose how much $$ you were giving to the Campaign? Some saw this as a little arrogant. Others thought it was un-Biblical.
First, trust me, I didn't do it without much thought and prayer. I knew there was a risk in disclosing the amount. It wasn't done to brag. My point in doing it was to take the lead. Someone had to set the height of the bar. Someone had to clearly model what sacrifice looked like. Most know that pastors don't make 6-figure salaries (at least I don't!). For me to say, "Laurel and I are sacrificing on this" sounds nice...but that wouldn't have inspired anyone. To say, "We've decided to take what we think we could afford...$25,000, and double it to $50,000" was something tangible. Many, many people commented that my disclosing our amount helped them come up with their sacrificial amount. One last note on this--David, the leader of the Israelites disclosed what he gave to the building of the Temple in 1 Chronicles 29. And after doing so, he asks in vs. 5 "Now then, who will follow my example?" That is why I did what I did.
If you were offended by what I did, I apologize. But after wrestling with the decision, I felt freedom from God to do it.
Blog on,
Phil
posted by Pastor Phil Print at 12:27 PM
4 Comments:
Phil,
You surprised me when you told us how much you were giving. It is something that is always frowned upon. But I have found that people get too hung up on money and that is why none of us can ever talk about it (even when we have problems with it.) The only reason that I can see to complain about your disclosure is that is makes me feel bad for not giving more. I was very encouraged to know that you are giving so much. If anyone really knows you, they would also know you are not one to be arrogant. The whole Crazy campaign really encourages my family and everything you have done has led us to give even though we no longer go to your church. We love the work that Crossroads does and we love the difference you are making in the world. Please continue to serve God in all you do and may God bless Crossroads on this crazy adventure.
i believe it was okay as the pastor to do as you wish in disclosing what you gave. however, some of the problems i have with the topic of giving are:
1)we're not to give out of compulsion. my child in youth group committed to more than she earns babysitting, because she felt 'guilted'into it. 2)there is no such thing as a 'tithe' in the new testament church age.
3)it seems to be one of the few topics that have been addressed with depth, conviction and call to commitment when there are so many other topics that are only touched-on at best.
to summarize my thoughts(which are of course just my opinions and are by no means ment to be disrespectful); if a congregation is able to build a new structure, by all means build. however, the leadership should not overburden the body to put it's 'giving eggs' in one basket. as i understand our new testament relationship with God, it is that each of us is to hear from Him for ourselves through His outpoured Spirit and we will be accountable with what we've been given. all new testament giving instruction seems centered around being a blessing to the people/issues in our lives that he gives us passion/direction toward. in the 'church age' we are not under an obligation to the nation of isreal, jewish temple or levitical priesthood. as americans however, we give a 'tithe'(approx. 30%!) as taxes to soc. sec., med care, welfare, schools...etc. therefore all things considered, it doesn't seem fair to teach the old testament law of the 'tithe'. it is not one of the timeless moral laws that apply to all peoples, although Spirit led giving of course does.
I agree with points 1) and 2) above - but strongly disagree with point 3). My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed Crossroads because of the many 'Calls to commitments' from Pastor Phil and his team. In fact - I can more easily accept this 'call to give' because I HAVE been challenged in so many other areas of my life. I absolutely don't feel that Crossroads is simply after my money.
I agree with Bernie - although I was a little surprised by Pastor Phil's sharing his giving amount - there really isn't any reason that it should bother someone. Pastor Phil CLEARLY believes in this endeavor and he should be applauded for his sacrifice.
i applaud pastor phil for putting his neck out with this topic. i was afraid that some would use this site as a forum for behind smootching. having said that, allow me do some smootching of my own. i very much respect and appreciate pastor phil & the cr leadership. i attend there for many good reasons. for one, my children are thoroughly blessed there. no one in particular was at fault for my daughter's pledge & i was able to use the situation as a lesson. she is not traumatized over this, thank you. thanks also bernie, for helping me clarify this point. there not only is no mention of tithe in the new testament, there is no law of the tithe for gentile believers. it was one of many laws that had to do with the structure of the nation of israel. like we have laws as americans. in the church age there is, as i said the principal of giving. it is not based on a percentage, but each man is responsible to God to 'give what he has decided in his heart to give...' which ideally could be much more than a tenth (tithe). therefore my point was, to suggest that a 'crazy pledge' should be 'above & beyond one's tithe', seemed to me to be a bit extra-biblical. it also can inhibit one from having extra $ to meet the needs of those around them, even outside crossroads or it's vision. hearing from God for one's self and meeting the needs of those in your life typifies the spirit of church age giving. cr & it's campaigns are very worthy of our time and finances. however, if we believers think that we will be off-the-hook from God at judgement time because we got totally behind someone else's vision but didn't seek His will for ourselves, we are terribly mistaken. ps; was ananias & saphira punished for what they didn't give, or was it for lying to God about it?
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