Two Quick Short Stories & You’ll Understand!
Taken from the book Mission Drift Chapter 15 Pg. 169
Working in close collaboration with like-minded local churches is perhaps the easiest way to stay on mission. But from our experience, it’s also the most complicated.
Story One: Several years ago, while working in Rwanda with World Relief, I (Peter) gathered with staff and clients in a rural church to disburse small loans to assist entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses. It was a time of celebration. Each client shared a business [lan and dreams for the future.
We later learned something alarming. Right after the staff members left, the local pastor called a special meeting with all the clients – a conveniently timed Bible lesson on tithing. He began his talk describing how the Bible required each member to tithe 10 percent. He then preached that tithing was required on any funds they received. Since they had all just accepted a small loan to invest in their businesses, he required each member to tithe 10 percent of the total loan amount. It would be like your pastor showing up after you just took out a $100,000 mortgage for your home and required you to “tithe” $10,000.
Members tried to share about the difference between productive investment and profit, but to no avail. If they wanted to to continue attending the church, they needed to pay up. The group of entrepreneurs disbanded after the first cycle, and it was not a positive experience for anyone involved.
Story Two: On another occasion working for a Christian microfinance organization in Rwanda, I received a recommendation from a senior denominational leader. Attesting to Sheila’s character, volunteer experience, and capacity, the letter was one of the most glowing reporsts I’d ever reviewed. We hired her.
Less than a year later, we discovered Sheila was stealing from the organization. It turns out Sheila was also the niece of the denominational leader who provided the reference. Conveniently, this detail was left out during the application process. Even more disheartening, when we discussed the issue with the denominational leader, he threatened us. He made it clear we’d face issues if we dismissed Sheila. Not denying the allegations, he misused his power to protect a family member.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. “I know the church is described as the Bride of Christ in Scripture, but too often it acts like Bridezilla,” Gil Odendaal of World Relief remarked.
BOTTOM LINE: Therefore, the question is why would organizations desire to tie themselves to the church when it seems it would so much easier to operate alone?
FYI, Merlin now, I was not at all familiar with ‘zilla term so consulting my phone I learned the term is assigned to a bride or a bride-to-be who is extremely demanding and difficult to deal with ticking off their friends, insulting family, abusing florists, photographers, and caterers! Get the picture?
NEXT UP: In God’s wisdom, the local church is God’s Plan A. God has no Plan B. Is that statement COUNTERCULTURAL or what? What’s sad is that man’s Plan B Mission Untrue may already be in practice by key leadership individually within the Church, or across or throughout congregations! That’s just the way the devil strategically facilitates DRIFT! I Repeat. God has No Plan B, in case you missed it!