Three Kinds of Christians?

"There are only three kinds of Christians when it comes to world missions: zealous goers, zealous senders, and the disobedient." (John Piper)

Do you agree?

"Wise ant" saving or "rich fool" hoarding?

"Hoarding is an attempt to completely cover our material bases so God becomes unnecessary...and an unwillingness to part with what I've saved to meet others needs because my possible future needs outweigh someone else's actual present needs." - Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, Eternity

Do you agree that trying to "cover our material bases" blocks out God and other's needs?

Credit Cards for Christians?

"Citibank calculates that a consumer using a credit card will buy 26% more [than those using cash] - even if the consumer pays it all off [each month] without interest charges." - Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, Eternity

If we spend more with credit cards, should Christians use them?

Is our prosperity turning off unbelievers?

"The world is not impressed when Christians [accumulate money and stuff] and say thanks to God. They are impressed when God is so satisfying that we give our riches away for Christ's sake and count it gain." - John Piper; Don't Waste Your Life

Are unbelievers rejecting Christ because of our prosperity?

Indifference?

“We have an unlimited capacity to rationalize overspending on houses and cars [and everything else]...allowing us to live in luxury and indifference... while others starve and go to hell.” – Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, Eternity

Does "overspending" make us indifferent?

Normal?

Why do we no longer assume God calls "normal" Christians to give away all or most of what He’s entrusted to them? - Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, Eternity

After "the basics" are covered, should we give the rest away?

Cheerful Giving?

The cheerfulness [in giving] often comes during and after the act of obedience, not before it. So don't wait until you feel like giving - just give and watch the joy follow! - Randy Alcorn; Treasure Principle

Do you agree that "cheerful giving" usually happens after the fact (not before)?

The Needs "Over There"

"Some would say, 'We have plenty of needs in our own country. A soul is a soul.' But the gravity of needs of those without acess to the gospel is obviously greater [where there are no] churches, Bibles on the shelf, gospel radio programs, and Christians living next door." - Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Do all Christians have a responsibility to the needs "over there"?

Your Best Giving Experience?

Do you have a memorable giving experience or insight on the joy of generosity you'd like to share?

Giving and Guilt

"American Christians have a silent agreement not to "lay guilt trips" [about our giving] but shouldn't we violate that agreement rather than postpone the discussion till the judgement seat of Christ?" - Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Does God use guilt to motivate love? (Or is it an excuse for inaction?)

Can't afford to give?

"Many can't 'afford' to give precisely because they don't tithe. - Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Do you agree? Do we have more to give when we're giving?

Rewarded for Giving?

If we give to those who can't reward us, Christ guarantees He will personally reward us in heaven...giving is a giant lever positioned on the fulcrum of this world, allowing us to move mountains in the next world. Because we give, eternity will be different for others and us. - Randy Alcorn; Treasure Principle

Do you agree that your experience in eternity will be impacted by your giving?

Spend Like Everyone Else?

“If our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, and amusements is up to the standard common among those with similar income, we are probably giving away too little.” (C.S. Lewis) "If we rely on culture-driven values rather than God’s Spirit for guidance – [our spending] decisions look suspiciously like everyone else.” (Alcorn) - Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Should our spending look different than others with similar incomes?

Is this really home?

"The greatest deterrent to giving is the illusion that earth is our home...we cannot devote our lives to laying up treasures in heaven [that] we're not looking forward to..." - Randy Alcorn; Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Do you agree? Would Christians give more if they were more excited about heaven?

Prosperity Test

"In my experience, 95% of believers who face the test of persecution pass it, while 95% who face the test of prosperity fail it." - Persecuted Romanian pastor; quoted in Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Do you agree with the Romanian pastor that 95% of believers who are given more than they need "fail the test"?

Wrap-Up Comment from Mike

"Live simply so others can simply live" - that's what I'm taking away from this passionate and personal discussion forum. It'll look different for all of us, but this is the essence, I believe, of what Jesus is calling us living in middle class America to do.

"Live simply" - is a helpful way to summarize the recurring biblical (but culturally unpopular) themes of denying ourselves, suffering, and sacrifice. When it comes to money, I believe this means choosing to live below (maybe even way below) our means - on purpose - for a greater purpose.

"So others can simply live" - even with a casual reading of Scripture, it's obvious that God's heart burns for lost and suffering people. And if we want to have hearts that are more and more in tune with God's heart, Jesus tells us exactly what to do - put our money where we want our hearts to be (Luke 12:34).

THANK YOU to the hundreds of people who read along, sent me emails, or posted comments!! I believe God is honored when we seek after Him together like this.

Serving the Lord with you,

Mike

P.S. If you were blessed by this little discussion forum experiment, feel free to send the link to your friends and family.

Wrap-Up Comment from Randy Alcorn

To the readers and commenters:

My thanks to Mike Buwalda for investing his energies in this blog. I have read many of the comments and want to express my appreciation for the thought and insight they reflect. I deeply appreciate your desire to weigh the teaching of Scripture and to follow Christ wholeheartedly. May we believe the words of Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and may we live as though we believe it. God bless you all.

Investing in eternity,

Randy Alcorn

http://www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com/

http://www.epm.org/

"For we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Book Giveaway Winner!!

Congratulations Theresa Postma!

Your name was randomly selected as the winner of my extra copy of Randy Alcorn's Money, Possessions, and Eternity. I will connect with you by email for your mailing address to send you your book.

THANK YOU everyone for your interest! If you enjoyed this online discussion, you might check out two of Alcorn's books for futher study:
1) Money, Possessions, and Eternity (about 400 pages) or
2) Treasure Principle (can be read in about 2 hours)

Blessings,
Mike