High pressure giving tactics are just wrong!!

“It's so easy to manipulate an audience, but it's nearly always clear that you are being manipulated.”  John Boorman

  Do you hate feeling pressured? Manipulated? I know I do. Usually, I find that if I feel I’m being manipulated, either I react negatively. Or, if I don’t discover it until after the fact, then I feel used and taken advantage…and even resentful. Most of us feel that way.

  Some years ago when Jane and I were living in Detroit, we were in the market for a new car. If you’re like me, car shopping rates right up there with visits to the dentist, tax audits and jury duty. After negotiating with a salesman, his sales manager thought that he’d give us a shove to close the deal. So across the showroom, he yells at me, “Mr. Carson, what will it take for us to close this deal and sell you a car?” And I very quietly responded, “I don’t know. I do know though that I won’t have that conversation with you across the middle of this showroom.” Then, Jane and I thanked our salesman, hurriedly left and never went back. I didn’t know where I was going to buy a car BUT I did know where I wasn’t going to buy a car. None of us like to feel we’re being pressured or manipulated.

  At Grace Church, we’re committed to the biblical reality that every square inch of our life belongs to God. There’s nothing that any of us possess or own that was not given to us by God. That means that how we handle our possessions generally and our money specifically – how we spend it, where we give it and how much we give is supremely spiritual. It’s a matter of obedience and faithfulness between every believer and the Lord Jesus.

  Please write this on your heart – when you give at Grace Church – you are not giving to Grace Church. Our church just happens to be the place in time and history that God has brought you to where you are worshipping the Lord with your gifts. All giving is to God. It’s why we call it an “offering.” It’s being offered to God and our giving should reflect our love, gratitude and obedience to Jesus.

  If someone gives because they’ve been manipulated, besides being spiritually unethical, God will not bless it. This is a spiritual work and your commitment and giving to our campaign, Building Changed Lives Together, must first be a work of the heart. Each one of us needs to give because we love Jesus and believe that our gift is His will and honors Him.

  That’s why we’re so committed to the commitments for our Building Changed Lives Together campaign being confidential. Just two individuals in our church will know what you’ve committed: Dave Thompson and Jackie Strelow. And this is important; they’ll only know what you’ve committed, so that we can plan for the future based on the total of everyone’s commitments. If you’re situation should change between your commitment and when you’re able to give it, we’d appreciate it if you would please let one of them know. But they will never know how much you give. Only our Financial Secretary knows that information so that we can give you a receipt for your gift, so that you can receive tax credit for your giving with the IRS.

  We believe that this is very, very important. If anyone feels pressure, we do not want it to be from our church. If the Holy Spirit is tugging on your heart and urging you to give, that’s fine. It’s between you and the Lord. We’re working to make sure that you know what’s at stake, that we believe that this is God’s will and what we believe that God is calling us to do. BUT there is no pressure. No one is going to call you up or come to your house, and put the squeeze on you in any way for a commitment.

  We also don’t want to know who gives what because that might tempt us with pride. Pride is so pervasive and tempting. We want to make sure that your reward for your commitment lasts forever and is out of this world (Matthew 6:1-4) because only God really knows.

  There are many ways that churches raise money. And committed Christians differ on some of this and use various methods. We believe that whatever God has given to you is yours to use and dispense as you see fit, hopefully in a way that honors the Lord. For example, Inspiration Ministries has an annual auction of items donated to their ministry, (cars, boats, collectibles, etc). That’s a wonderful and creative way to raise capital. Some people donate collectibles, stocks or even property to a church that the church can then sell to raise money. Many Christians leave money or property in their estate to the church. Some establish trust funds to benefit a certain ministry, usually in a special way.

  Some churches have big fund raisers. They’ll have a Vegas night or some other money making event that will financially benefit both the church and the participants. Some form of gambling is used. But the Christian life is a life of faith. It’s anything but a gamble. We rest in the promises of God.

  Others have big dinners, car washes or some other benefit, and either charge or ask for donations. At Grace, we truly do not want to judge what others do. We’re just very hesitant to do anything that might somehow communicate that the Gospel is for sale. We believe our financial responsibilities are the responsibilities of the people of faith. If those who do not know the Lord want to give to our church, we’re not going to prohibit them. BUT we don’t want to solicit it. Their greatest need and our greatest desire for them is for them to receive God’s free gift of salvation. Salvation can never be purchased. It’s all of grace and we’d rather never have a building, than have someone miss the wonderful gift of salvation because they confused it with some donation to our ministry.

  And just as none of us would go to our neighbors asking them to contribute toward our child’s college fund, we believe that our new building, as well as our normal bills are our responsibility.

  2 Corinthians 9 records a “fund raising” plan in the early church. At Grace, we are committed to seeking to please God even as we seek to encourage giving. We believe that growth in giving and generosity is spiritual work and helps us mature in our faith. We also want to live out the words found of 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We truly want you to give to our Building Changed Lives Together joyfully, knowing that you’re not giving it to Grace Church. You’re giving it to King Jesus who died on the cross for our sins! It’s truly a gift of love and gratitude!