GENEROSITY
Perhaps more difficult than giving our time in ministry is giving our money for ministry. But giving is a defining practice for disciples of Jesus. There are more than 800 references to money in the Bible, and Jesus spoke about money more than He taught about heaven or hell. Our Savior taught that how a believer uses his money proves what matters most to him. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
I have a series of three sermons on giving that I preach to my church every few years. I teach that the way a Christian gives or withholds their financial resources says much about their spiritual life. I explain that money is the “currency of Kingdom citizenship.” From Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Ruler (Luke 18:18-30), we see that Kingdom people surrender to Jesus their King, trust in Jesus their King and delight in Jesus their King. Their giving is proof of their citizenship.
In the second sermon, I teach that money is the “currency of God-centered worship.” Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Luke 19:11-27) is the story of a master who entrusts His resources to his servants to use in such a way that it produces a profit. While some parables are more difficult to interpret, this one is simple: God has entrusted His resources to His people to use in His absence in such a way as to make much of God. Generosity results when Christians remember that God is the original owner of everything, that they have a responsibility to manage what God gives and that what we do with God’s resources proves what we think about God.
In the final sermon, I communicate that money is the “currency of extraordinary faith.” From the beautiful story of the widow who gave her two meager coins in the temple (Luke 21:1-4), I teach about the importance of faith in the spiritual life. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” What we give, how much we give and why we give is an opportunity to express our faith in God who provides everything for our lives.
Having established this biblical foundation, I don’t apologize for urging God’s people to give because I believe that generosity is a chance for people to grow deeper in their relationship with God. And, because each member embraces the mission of their church and wishes to advance that mission, their giving is their opportunity to participate in what God is doing. For this reason, we teach that members of the church give. They express biblical generosity.
AUTHORITY
Those who belong to their church submit to the leadership of their church. Just as many people want to be followers of Christ without surrendering to his lordship, so many people want to belong to a church without submitting to leadership. But no organization succeeds without established leaders and willing followers.
Submission isn’t just helpful; it’s biblical. Paul commands, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). Likewise, Peter commands, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14). It’s important to remember that these commands were written to Christians who were under the authority of rulers who were not Christians. So, the command to submit wasn’t conditioned on authorities who were godly. Submission to authority is a noble virtue.
This is where Satan faltered. He attempted to subvert the rightful, supreme authority of God and assert his own will (see Genesis 3:1-5 and Isaiah 14:12-15). This autonomy, or “self-rule,” was rebellion that attempted to exalt himself and dethrone God. The result was corruption of all of creation.
When God’s people reject the God-given authority of leaders in the church, they corrupt the church. They cause conflict. They create division. They present a poor witness of the church. And they prevent the church from achieving its mission. For this reason, church members must respect authority.
ACCOUNTABILITY
So far, we have considered five important expectations of church members: unity, community, ministry, generosity and authority. Occasionally, those in the church don’t live up to these expectations. This is where accountability comes in. Unlike those who attend a church without the commitment of membership, those who are members welcome accountability in their spiritual lives. Accountability is “the willingness to accept responsibility” and requires two parties. On the one hand, church members must be willing to be held accountable. That is, they invite spiritual scrutiny of their speech, character and behavior by trusted friends. The psalmist prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). All Christians should be open for God to “search them,” inwardly by His Holy Spirit and outwardly by the gentle confrontation of others.
What made King David—an adulterer, liar and murderer—a “man after God’s own heart” is not that he never sinned, but that he was willing to be held accountable by the prophet Nathan (see 2 Samuel 12:1-13).
On the other hand, members must care enough about others in the church that they will humbly confront those who are not walking in a manner worthy of Christ. Proverbs 27:6 affirms “faithful are the wounds of a friend.” It is a genuine act of love when one Christian corrects another, desiring God’s best in the other’s life. Members who belong to a church don’t sit idly by letting their brothers and sisters continue in sin. They “speak the truth in love” to help others grow into the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:15).
The topic of accountability often leads to the topic of church discipline. Jesus provided a means of correction and confrontation in Matthew 18:15-18:
If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Notice the progression described in these verses. If a person has sinned against another, the offended party should bring the issue to light. For the sake of unity (see above), maturing believers seek reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24). If the offender refuses to listen, the brother or sister should return with another for wisdom and accountability. If the offender obstinately refuses to accept responsibility, church leaders should be brought into the matter and the offender removed from the comfort of Christian community.
There are several reasons why Jesus would be so severe in dealing with sinners. The primary reason is restoration. Confrontation hopes for correction. The purpose of church discipline isn’t punishment, but to turn sinners back to the way they should go. James reminds us, “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
Another reason for discipline is love. Repeatedly, the Bible affirms that “the Lord disciplines those He loves” (Hebrews 12:6, Proverbs 3:12, Job 5:17, Revelation 3:19). If God did not care for us, He would let each of us go our own way. Just as parents dare to correct their children to ensure their success later, so our heavenly Father is determined to discipline His children in love. And, as God’s people, we prove our love for each other, not by ignoring sin, but by holding each other accountable and enacting discipline when necessary.
Church discipline also sets a high standard of holiness for the rest of the Body. When sin is unaddressed in the church—gossip, sexual impurity, contention, lying, unfaithfulness or false teaching, for example— it begins to corrode the church. It fractures relationships, limits ministry momentum and presents a poor witness of the church to the world. Most importantly, it distorts the goal of righteous living. Eventually, morality becomes relative, with everyone doing what’s right in their own eyes, and leadership loses any standard of holding anyone accountable. Church discipline reminds church members of our high standard of holiness in all things at all times.
The process of church discipline is described in several biblical texts. Jesus teaches that confrontation must be done personally and under the authority of church leadership (Matthew 18:15-20). Paul explains that it should be done gently (Galatians 6:1). The sinning Christian who refuses to repent must be exposed before the church membership (1 Timothy 5:19-20) and refused the joy of fellowship (Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, Titus 3:10).
The goal in refusing fellowship is that the one under discipline will miss the benefits of living in biblical community, turn from their sin and return to life with God (see James 5:20).