Yes, grace is given without strings attached, except for our faith. But, what good is a car if all it does is stay parked? Without care, it will rust, degrade, and be of no value, even with 0 miles on the odometer. That is the beauty of grace–no strings attached. And, for the most part, God will let us keep it there. It is to sit on my shelf for my comfort and insurance only. I received my gift of grace, yet I will not send a thank-you, nor will I use it. Or, we can run to another church that has no such requirement, so we can hide our inadequacies. Thus, we can think we can fight against such requirements and proclaim they are not needed so we do not have to meet them. Guilt rears its ugly head, and calls for the primeval reaction of fight or flight. So when stewardship comes up, he realizes his failings. His time is booked with the duty of his own plans and ideas. A Sunday visit from time to time is more of a greater sacrifice than he can handle. Then there is the world of complacency, where a Christian will just “pew sit” his way through life in his walk with Christ.
RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP MEANING FREE
Perhaps they even put us in front of the mirror of duty and requirement, of responsibility and a response to our free gift of grace, which we would rather not give. They strike at our comfort, and the way of life we like and have designed for ourselves. These two words strike at the very heart and will of plans and ideas that we have set up for ourselves.
So, a cold shiver goes up the back of our complacency. Why such fear? Perhaps they necessitate a response that requires us to get up and do when we would rather sit down and don’t.
Yet, these two words are simple, and needed, because the church and the body of Christ could not function without them being proclaimed and exercised: These simple words are Stewardship and Evangelism. There are two words that send the average American congregation and common churchgoer into fear and panic, from the leadership and pastorate, that fears to offend or drive people away, to the church member who may be too far stretched in time and giving, and cannot give anymore, to the person who does not want to be convicted, lest he be forced to reach for the sacred will of his wallet or the exercise of His call.
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