A recent conversation with several clergy-colleagues focused on a practice some folks employ as a means of “punishing” their congregation when they are anger over some issue. That practice is to withhold their financial support. It is used by individuals as well as congregations. It may be initiated in response to some actual event or decision – and can even be initiated over a study of some action.
One colleague commented that such action was “wrong” because giving was a spiritual action, which somehow meant different rules. Our “offerings” are gifts/resources we have been given by God. Withholding them suggests that we have lost sight of God’s ownership.
Another colleague was more accepting of the practice even while disliking it. Sometimes the gap between a member and the leadership of an organization is such that there are only limited ways to express one’s approval or disapproval. Certainly we could celebrate if my “offering” were increased due to my support of a particular ministry. [For example, many are increasing their gifts for Campus Ministry because they are pleased at the ministries provided our young.] So, might not a reduction or suppression also be in order when one is displeased?
Valid arguments exist for either view – but… The discussion avoids the significant question of “What makes something spiritual?”
We know that humans are cognitive, emotional, political, physical, mental and spiritual creatures. It is easy to engage in a sort-of short-hand that places our actions and our thoughts into only one of the categories:
- eating is a physical action
- loving is an emotional action
- voting is a political action
- etc.
The danger is that such short-hand perpetuates a greater danger. The danger which fails to recognize that everything I do involves every aspect of my creatureliness.
Eating, when done as if it were only physical action can cause obesity and fails to remind me of how much my Creator gifts me!
Loving, if seen only as emotional, can be too easily made synonymous with sex or too easily justify breaking relationships.
Voting, when relegated to only a political act, fails to recognize and support my involvement in and responsibility to the community.
Or, far more dangerous, when Pastoral Care for the sick is seen as only a spiritual act then it becomes too easy to treat patients as if their were only collections rather than wholes!
Recognizing that we are cognitive, emotional, political, physical, mental and spiritual creatures opens up multiple doors through which to engage each other.
The person or congregation that withholds funds can still be confronted with the challenge to be responsible in their membership.
Prayer at a time of illness does have an impact on all aspects of creatureliness.
Voting, as one important duty of living in community, is also a function of one’s spirituality.
Emphasizing the wholism of each person is vital. Only when we are cognitive, emotional, political, physical, mental and spiritual creatures is their valid support for integrating “church” into daily life.
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