Church Financial Health Can Reduce Skepticism and Cynicism in an Older Church

Written by Keith Hamilton

As churches grow older sometimes they forget what it was like when they were young. Churches need to remember a few of the qualities that characterize the financial indicators of a young healthy Kingdom-Focused Church:

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1. The budget is aligned with the church’s vision.
A church budget is necessary to meet governmental regulations and help prevent church conflicts. However, many church budgets are not aligned with the church’s purpose. For instance, if the church purpose is to reach the world for Christ and the church budget only allocates 5% to international and home missions, certainly the church budget is not aligned with the church purpose. The church budget should reflect the church vision.

2. The whole counsel of God is taught in stewardship.
Believers are instructed that they are managers of God’s resources. Stewardship is not only giving to God; stewardship is a lifestyle of honoring God in all matters involving the person’s time, talents, and resources. Stewardship involves a disciple’s lifestyle of managing the resources God has entrusted to the individual Christian.

3. When people give to the church, the donors sense they are making a difference in the Kingdom of God.
A basic human need is to make a difference in the world. Life should have meaning and purpose. Most Christians want to make a difference through their church. A healthy kingdom-focused church would reflect this characteristic. Hardly anyone gets excited about paying the church’s light bill, but donors would be excited about the church’s facilities being used to bring boys and girls to Christ. As a church leader once joyfully exclaimed, “Because we have this building, sixty-three souls came to know Christ in the last eighteen months!” What a difference the church’s facilities is making in the lives of individuals.

4. Tithing is taught without reservation and apology.
Christ died for His Church. A healthy kingdom-focused church will teach that tithing to the local church is essential and a necessary part of being a Christ follower. Tithing is not optional.

5. Church business conferences are times of celebration, not regret.
Church business conferences are conducted according the church’s constitution/bylaws that reflect the compassion and love of Christ. Argumentative matters are referred back to the appropriate committee or organization to keep the harmony and unity of the fellowship. Many churches have empowered committees to make more financial decisions to help avoid church conflicts and preserve the fellowship of the church.

6. Clear and concise financial policies and guidelines are adopted and followed by the kingdom-focused church.
Church financial policies provide a means to avoid church conflicts and misunderstandings. Church members do not have to guess what guidelines they should follow in using God’s resources entrusted to the church. The church’s finances are kept in good and decent order, without confusion.

7. The church supports mission causes beyond the church’s borders.
A healthy kingdom-focused church should support mission causes nationally and internationally. To help fulfill the Great Commission, the church must be involved beyond its local borders in reaching individuals for the cause of Christ. Not only should the church give financially, but the church should send its members to go and make disciples in “other lands.”

8. An attitude of joy exists when trying to out give God.
When the church collects its offering, there should be an excitement and joy in the opportunity to bless God with financial gifts. Christians should give willingly because they have been taught about the privilege that God has allowed them to participate in His Kingdom work. Christians are shown the importance of blessing God financially. In turn, Christians will experience how God pours out His blessing on the giver.

If a church will re-examine itself in light of these healthy financial qualities and take the needed steps in becoming healthier, then the joy and excitement of a healthy Kingdom-Focused Church will return and God will be blessed!

About Dr. Hamilton

Keith Hamilton, D.Ed.Min, CFP, CRPC is with the Georgia Baptist Convention. He has written several publications on establishing church designated funds, managing your household finances, and protecting your church and ministry from identity theft. Check out www.churchfinancialservices.org for more help. Other articles by Keith...