Multiplication and Discipleship Principle #3 - Self-feeding

 There are four multiplication and discipleship principles that we learn as we are trained in disciple making, and that we apply as we live out our lives as a disciplemaker: 

• Principle #1) - Everyone is equipped every disciple a disciplemaker, every home a training center, every group a missions organization
• Principle #2) - Dual accountability 
• hear from God and obey what He reveals to you
• share it with others and keep each other accountable
• Principle #3) - Every disciple is to be self-feeding in:

1. The Bible
2. Prayer
3. Body life (getting together with other believers)
4. Persecution & suffering

• Principle #4) - Eyes to see where the Kingdom is not 
• where around you is the Kingdom missing? How will you start work in these new areas? We always need to be looking for places the Kingdom is not in
• Jesus loves the least, the last, and the lost. Intentionally look for these people. 

Principle #3 is what I want to focus on today.

The other day I heard a commercial on Christian radio that said something like, "If you have been fed by this ministry, and it has blessed you, then please consider providing a financial donation to support this ministry." When I heard that statement, my thoughts immediately went to Principle #3 of my discipleship training - Every disciple is to be self-feeding. I immediately began to understand the importance of this principle in a way which I had not before: If the American Christian was not so dependent upon being fed the Word of God by professional and celebrity Bible teachers, there would likely be a huge amount of money and resources available to help our brothers and sisters in need around the world, as well as taking the message of the Gospel to the unbelieving poor and needy.

In the U.S., Christians go to church to be fed the Word of God, typically by a college educated pastor or ministry professional. Some go for much of their lives, hearing the same or similar messages over and over throughout their lifetimes. On top of that, American Christians have an endless supply of ministry resources including online and radio teaching messages, videos, outlines, and books, written and produced by radio and television ministry celebrities, as well as a large variety of ministry organizations that do everything from helping marriages and families, to teaching how to be a better man or woman, to anti human trafficking efforts, to providing food and clothing to the poor and needy, to disaster relief efforts, to reaching the lost and unreached peoples of the world. All of these resources and organizations provide opportunities for giving, and all beg for our attention, money and resources, so it can be very challenging to know who and how to give.

I don't know how much the American Christian gives to both their church, and then to additional radio and online Bible teachers/organizations, but what that one statement from the radio station has made me think about is that there are too many of these resources that are created for the purpose of feeding Christians, and they are taking money and resources away from real need. 

What I've always been taught about Christian giving and stewardship is to give the first 10% of your income to your church, and anything above that to whomever you want, or however you feel led to give. But honestly, I cannot say that I really believe that to be biblically accurate anymore. Paul encourages believers to give generously and out of their abundance, and according to and beyond their means. That means they are not limited or encouraged to give only 10% of their income, nor are they directed to give a minimum of 10% of their income. Some may give less, and some might give more, but all are encouraged to give Generously. It's dependent on what one has, and how the Lord leads. The believers' giving is also done in earnest for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints (brothers and sisters in need, whether it be basic needs to live, or suffering and persecution). By doing so, they were filled with joy, and they were excited to give in order to help their brothers and sisters in need. Our abundance should supply the needs of our brothers and sisters in need, and when the time comes, their abundance will supply ours - 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. Deuteronomy 16:17 says, "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that He has given you." Giving like this is also obedient to Jesus's "new command" of loving one another, which in turn shows the unbelieving world that we are His disciples - John 13:34-35.

Consider this: If we give 10% of our income or less to our church, in order to pay the pastor, the staff, the building mortgage, and ministry programs - all that aid in feeding us - but our giving is not going to help our brothers and sisters in need, or to expand the Kingdom where it is not, then are we being obedient to what the Bible teaches about giving? Or, if we are giving at least 10% of our income to our church, and an additional amount to ministries that feed us, but we are not giving to help His people in need or to expand the Kingdom, are we being obedient to what the Bible teaches about giving? Does God intend His church to operate that way? Is God's heart for His people to sit, be fed, and obtain knowledge without ever sharing it, or without ever sharing its money and resources with others in need, especially His own people who are suffering and dying from lack of food, water, and persecution? I won't tell anyone how they should spend their money or how they should give it away, but these are important questions that I've recently been contemplating. 

From what I can tell, to financially give to both a church where we are being fed, and to a radio station or other ministry that is also feeding us, does not at all appear to be following the example that Paul lays out in 2 Corinthians, nor does it appear to be obedient to Jesus's new command to love one another, nor is it showing the unbelieving world that we are His disciples, especially if those are the places where all of our finances and resources are tied up. I understand that some Christians give to Christian radio stations and other radio ministries because these ministries are broadcasting the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the land, and in places where we might not be able to personally reach, and Christians understandably want to support that. That is entirely different than sending all of your financial support to radio ministries because you are a consumer of biblical teaching. There is a point in a Christian's life where we should become self-feeders and begin sharing our knowledge about God with others for the purpose of making disciples, rather than continuously wanting to be fed. That might be the real point of spiritual maturity, rather than the idea that many Christians have that says, the more biblical knowledge one has, the more spiritually mature they are.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and please consider and pray about your own personal financial giving, and what the Bible teaches about giving. Please consider generously giving to help your brothers and sisters in Christ who are poor, suffering and in need, and also taking the Kingdom of God to places where it is not.