资助马修25教会

更加早期的今天，因为我是传染性的在我的blog读书，我读了以下从 山姆Rima一位教授在圣地温床，关于 马修· 25:31 - 46:

然后他将召唤由我保佑的绵羊和言， “来，您
父亲，继承为您准备着的王国从基础
世界。“并且这种选择的依据是怎么绵羊对待了 饥饿， 渴， 疏远， 赤裸， 病, 并且 监禁
世界的人们。 它不是我们听见讲道在我们的段落
今天教会; 并且难怪，它相当判罪。 耶稣似乎
说怎么我们涉及被排斥地球是真实
反射在我们的与他的关系。 它是一个冷静的标准
真实的灵性。 仍然，为了多少我们的教会是这a
首要的关注？ 我们在爱耶稣的地球上看见作为我们的主要任务
通过真正爱和饥饿与$$4相啮，渴，疏远，
世界的赤裸，病和被监禁的人？ 什么意志它作为
再改方向福音派教会到这个革命标准？ 什么
罐头每一我们做帮助再改方向我们信念的自己的社区和给
领导到一个充满活力，教会范围内的部“最少这些”
在我们之中？ 任何想法或想法？

下面是我的反应，我在他的blog张贴，跟随由我自己的几个问题。

作为一棵新的教会植物，我们预计是自足的内
1年…我们完成以年2，并且我必须是创造性的
with fund raising…it seems that the only way we can get funds from
suburban churches is if we can really pitch we are more of a parachurch
urban ministry than a church! Denominations may throw token money at
the sort of ministry that you are talking about, but most money is
invested in starting churches that are shiny and attractive. And most
shiny attractive churches tie up their resources in staying that way.
The most needy places get the crumbs from the table.

It is really frustrating. As one of the few BGC urban churches [in Minneapolis/Saint Paul], I
have been asked by a few well-intentioned pastors if I have though
about quitting. They see what I’m doing as a failure. They don’t
understand that I simply don’t want to have a big fancy church that
merely gives a portion of its budget to the needy. We are small and
committed. We are messy. That is why the evangelical church resists
going in the direction of Matthew 25–they would have to give up
prestige and power. They would have to be uncomfortable. They might
even have to be small.

Here’s the thing, ye urban church planters. You may get funding, but it is in the best interests of denominational systems to focus most of their resources on churches that will be big and bring in resources. The church tends to operate on a tithe mentality…spend 90% on furthering your own suburban ministry through staffing and facilities, and maybe give 10% to missions…some of that to urban churches. The problem with this setup is that wealth stays localized in wealthy places. The church basically follows free market capitalism.

The only way that the church can really be a Matthew 25 church is if it priviledges the needs of the needy above the wants of the wanton. We must put our resources in the places that have the most needs.

Churches aren’t likely to do this automatically. And denominations may help in redistributing the wealth (if they are centralized), but they will tend to priviledge numerically and financially successful churches. De-centralized denominational systems (like the baptists) generally leave it to individual churches to make up their mind about how to support various causes. I think this is a good thing, but unfortunately the culture of the BGC, of which I am a part, doesn’t have an ethos that cares much about urban stuff and the poor.

Where does this leave the would-be church planter? With good old fashioned fund raising. I have to go foster a spirit of generosity in others. I have to be a mendicant on behalf of my church…and I think many that would be urban church planters need to become mendicant as well. I’ve made it a goal to become a good fund raiser…and here is my promise: if I get good enough at this fund-raising thing, I will raise funds for risky church plants in urban areas.

Here are my questions:

1) Do you know of any groups (other than denominations) out there that fund urban church planting?

2) How can we encourage suburban churches to give more to the urban core?

3) Do you know anyone interested in supporting an urban ministry in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis?

for further reading . . .

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