Funny How Time and Respect Slip Away

Have you ever been asked a question that you didn’t think needed clarification? This was one of those. Isn’t it funny how time slips away? My day started with an honest observation of my teenage son. It was a breakfast cereal kind of question.

“Why do men over forty tuck their shirts into their trousers?”

I smiled and said when I was his age, it was considered more fashionable and respectable to have crisply ironed clothes wherein the trousers possessed a crease from the waist line to the cuffs of the pants. It was considered proper to have your shirt tail hidden and tucked into your trousers. It was important to have clean underwear on for both hygiene and in case you got rushed to the hospital while your parents were at work. Why? So that other adults would know you were not an orphan and had parents that cared that you were presentable. It was no crime in being poor but you had to have respect of at least yourself, your family and country if nothing else. It was this “respect” thing that made you address adults as sir and ma’am. It didn’t mean that you were subservient, a slave or afraid of anyone but rather that you respected yourself to the point that you gave and demanded respect in return. And if you didn’t get it, then it was the other persons’ shortcomings and not yours. It was equal to a salute. A persons’ bearing, stance, chutzpah, or whatever you want to call “class” spoke louder than what they said.

My son just reminded me today that many don’t have that kind of respect for much anymore. We don’t respect life, liberty or ourselves much. And that is sad. It’s funny how time slips away.

On a separate note, I have changed http://www.blackmanwithagun.com/ and created http://www.kennblanchard.com/ and a new podcast featuring sermons, and music from my new church called http://www.livefromdc.org/ there should be a new episodes coming soon to the Urban Shooter Podcast and Naked But Not Ashamed if you are a fan so stay tuned.

For The Love of Money

I was elected pastor of Historic Berean Baptist Church in December 2007. This is an excerpt from my sermon last Sunday about tithing and money. This was also in The Washington Times newspaper 2-4-08, (A2 section). There were a few technical misquotes about how long I have been pastor and few type-o’s but its not too bad.

For The Love of Money (Rev. Kenn Blanchard)

One of the most divisive issues in marriage is finances. It is no different in “the bride of Christ” also known as “the church”. People trying to live right; come into the church with all kinds of preconceived notions, teachings and experiences that are not all good. When a preacher seems focused on money, wealth and prosperity it’s offensive to some of those that are struggling. To others it’s a carrot. The promise of financial independence and power motivates and draws people. Who in today’s’ consumer driven lifestyle doesn’t want bigger, brighter BLING-BLING? People in debt want to get out. Most people want to improve their circumstances. And if the person they are listening to is charismatic and appears to have the favor of God then maybe this person deserves to be heard. It is a business. Give the people what they want.

This morning I want to clarify a few things about money and tithing. One of the baddest bass lines in modern music, and a hit for the group The O’Jays was the song that used the first five words of 1 Tim 6:10 which is our sermonic text.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Money is not evil. We need money to do just about everything in this world. The church needs money. We can’t pay our new mortgage without it. We need money so that we will have a place to meet for study, worship, and more importantly to some, a place to eat, be heard and socialize. The church needs money to support missions, to spread the Good News, feed the hungry, clothe the naked and minister to people in this community.

We are a traditional Baptist church and we have used the terms Tithes and Offerings for centuries but can I tell you the truth this morning? Tithing was instituted by God for the priestly tribe designated to work in the temple. Tithing of the people was done in food for sacrifice and to provide for the priest and his family. There were offerings of pieces of meat, grain, fruits and vegetables. Tithing is ten percent of your produce. The best of it. If you raised cattle, you were to present the best calf, if you farmed, the best of your produce. Tithing had a specific purpose, the most important was worship. Even then it was misused. Out of context we wrongly repeat the Old Testament command in the book of Malachi to bring the tithes into the storehouse. But it sounds good and is expected. We have always done it this way I can hear you say. If you read the entire book of Malachi, you’ll see that it also contains the rebuke of the priest for not being right. They were holding out. In context, tithing is from the Law of Moses. As Christians we are no longer under the Law but under Grace.

Today, it is a “system” to get parishioners to give regularly to support the church. It is not the same tithes which technically mean a tenth of your produce. It’s not ten percent of neither your gross nor net income. It’s just money. Why still do it then? The church needs money for the work of the ministry. It needs money for the good of the church. It should be what you want to give to a God that has given you so much. Why didn’t anybody ever say this before? In the financial world it’s hard to budget on “some-timey people.” Ten percent is a good percentage to ask for but it is biblically out of context if it is preached that it applies to a New Testament church. It will make it hard to pay for a building rental or a mortgage when folks give when they feel like it, and if they don’t feel like it. It is hard to grow a church when the most folks are apt to only put in the symbolic “Baptist dollar”. And it you make it obligatory then it loses its value to God as an offering. This financial issue is compounded if the congregation doesn’t like the pastor. Then the basket is light then too. So it has become a balancing act of truth, maturity level and shepherding. That is why some churches collect money before the sermon, some churches leave a basket at the door and others put one up front on the altar.

The New Testament, where the church begins had a different approach to giving. They gave what they had for the good of all. (Act 2:44) Are you ready to give your all? What is your motive for your giving? If it is to be prosperous, you’re wrong. You can’t quid pro quo with God. Is it to be seen and appreciated by people in the church? Then, you are wrong again. God looks at our heart. He owns this world and everything in it. We are merely stewards of what we have. Remember the Scripture of the husband and wife team Ananias, and his wife Sapphira in Acts 5 that held out? Again the heart can condemn you. As a tool, money is a good indicator of where your heart is though. The synoptic Gospels tell us, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God deserves our best. He desires us to worship Him. Let your giving be part of your worship. It’s not tithing its giving.

As John said, 3 John 1:2,

beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even
as thy soul prospereth

from the King James Version.

Check it out the same article at http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080204/CULTURE/521809118/1015