A CHURCH'S FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY

 A CHURCH'S FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY

In Writers’ School they teach you to catch your reader’s attention with an eye-catching, enticing, interesting title that leads him or her to want to read what you have written. My Creative Writing professor would have rolled his eyes at the title of this post just before giving me an “F”. And probably deservedly so. After all, who even knows what the word fiduciary means let alone uses it in a title? Not only do I need to use this precise word in the title – I also need to help you understand why I needed to use it. And if you love Christ and His Church I hope that you too will come to recognise why a local church has a sacred fiduciary responsibility.

There may be some who come from a banking or accounting background who will already be familiar with one aspect of how this mysterious word fiduciary is used. But when used of a local church, it has a much broader application than its application to banking or accounting. For those who have a slight grasp of Latin it will be obvious to them that this word’s first syllable, fid, comes from the Latin fidere which means ‘to trust’. Technically, it is a Latin word – fiduciarius, from fiducia ‘trust’ which has been anglicised (translated into English) as fiduciary. For a banker or an accountant it means that someone is trusting them with their finances. But for a church it means much, much more because it involves being trusted with things worth much more than finances. 

He [Jesus] charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”
Mark 6:8-11

 

WHAT FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY MEANS FOR A CHURCH

In my previous post on the topic of the Church, I wrote how Christ has entrusted to His Church a sacred mission with eternal ramifications. Just as in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, if Christ was depicted as the ‘Good Samaritan’ and with wounded and beaten man left to die on the side of the road was depicted as those trying to live outside of God’s Kingdom who end up being hurt and broken by the way the world treats its own, then we, the Church, were depicted as the inn-keeper – the ones that Christ has entrusted to look after those He has rescued and redeemed.

And just as the Good Shepherd in this parable entrusted to the Inn-Keeper all the resources he needed to care for the one who had been rescued, Christ entrusts to His Church the resources that we need to fulfil our sacred mission – and it is much more valuable than silver or gold or money.

And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying,
‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
Luke 10:35

WE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE WEALTH AND RICHES OF CHRIST IN ORDER TO FULFIL OUR SACRED MISSION FROM HIM

In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you,
what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints
Ephesians 1:7-8

While it is certainly true that Christ provides financially for His Church (for which we in particular have greatly experienced) there are riches that He possesses which are far more valuable than coin to which He has primarily entrusted us. He has entrusted to us His Word (Jn. 17:14). The Bibles that we have (and often take for granted) have been delivered to under the supervision and preservation of the Holy Spirit working through our forefathers who guarded their copies of the Bible at the risk and sacrifice of their lives. We should never underestimate the inestimable value of the riches of God’s Word. There are many churches around the world where no one in those churches has even seen a Bible. Secondly, something else also of inestimable worth has also been entrusted to us by Christ for the accomplishment of our sacred mission: those Christ has redeemed!

Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn,
and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
Luke 12:24

THE ENTRUSTING OF MONEY TO A CHURCH

Money is an emblem of a person’s life. Most of us work a job in which we exchange time for money. The time we give our employer is a portion of our life. Thus, as an act of worship, God calls people to honour Him with the first of their wealth (Prov. 3:9). Jesus warned His followers against thinking their money was their true treasure – and instead, regard worship of and obedient service to God as developing the kind of heart that would store up true treasure for eternity. Thus, He was saying, how we gave of our money in service of His Word revealed what was really in our heart (Matt. 6:19-21). Similarly, how a church would then entrust the finances that God’s people would give it was also an act of worship of God by that Church. Jesus said that how we treated and valued our money was an indication of how we would treat and value His true riches (Luke 16:11).

If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,
who will entrust to you the true riches?
Luke 16:11

The true riches that Christ has entrusted to us includes (i) His Word, and (ii) those He has redeemed. In addition to these true riches He supplements a church with less valuable things like money, property and possessions to steward (manage) so that their sacred mission can be fulfilled. We see this almost from the outset of the Church’s birth where people generously gave to the Church. But even then as the Church grew and expanded it required greater care and diligence on the part of the Church’s leadership to steward Christ’s provisions more wisely which included the appointment of the seven deacons.

 

THE USE OF MONEY BY A CHURCH

The early Church’s first organisational change was linked to how they managed their finances. As the Church grew rather rapidly the need to restructure the church became necessary. We have seen that there were many Hellenists who were in Jerusalem at this time who had become dependant upon the Church for their relief (Act 6:1-2). What I did not discuss in a previous post was that many people gave very generously as the Church was being established. In a typical biblical writing style, characters are introduced and then who will reappear later more prominently in the narrative. Joseph the Levite, nicknamed Barnabas by the apostles (Acts 4:36), is such a character. He sold land and gave the proceeds to the apostles (Acts 4:37). We see from the record in Acts that the money was used to supply relief to those in need. In case anyone could think that this money which was given to the apostles and was used for the personal benefit of the apostles, we read in Acts 3:6-7 an admission by Peter:

But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Acts 3:6-7

We have seen that the Church grew and spread as a result of the persecution it experienced. Believers were scattered and led by the Holy Spirit to go where Christ had instructed (Acts 1: 6). This included Phillip, the deacon, going to Samaria. After his successful mission there, he called for Peter and John to come and assist. When Simon the sorcerer witnessed the importation of the Holy Spirit through the ministry of the apostles he offered money to Peter to also be able to do the same. Peter strongly rebuked the sorcerer for thinking that the gifts and the offices of the Holy Spirit could be bought.

Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. ¶ Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
Acts 8:13-23

This episode later gave rise to the name of a sin which unfortunately became prevalent during the Medieval period known as Simony (paying money to buy a leadership role within the church – such as “Bishop” or “Archbishop”). This practice was condemned by the reformers as the sought to restore the Biblical standard for leadership (which included “not be greedy for [financial] gain” Titus 1:7). 

 

WHY WE REGARD STEWARDING CHRIST’S PROVISIONS THROUGH HIS PEOPLE AS A SACRED RESPONSIBILITY

When people give to a church, that church appoints certain people to steward that money on their behalf. This stewardship is used to: (i) support those who “labour in teaching the Word” and those staff who serve in the church (1Tim. 5:17); (ii) pay the bills that are incurred by the church (Rom. 13:7); (iii) support missionary efforts largely unreached parts of the world; (iv) evangelistic efforts. Just as those who teach the Word will be subject to “stricter judgment” (James 3:1) by the Lord, also those who misuse the finances given to a church will also be subject to the Lord’s judgment (1Cor. 3:17). This is why we regard the handling and expenditure of monies given faithfully by the church family to be a sacred trust and thus a fiduciary responsibility because it is actually God’s money after all. We pray two things regarding it: (i) that those who have given will be especially blessed, and (ii) that what is given will be used wisely for both immediate and long-term benefit to God’s kingdom.

 

WE ARE ALL STEWARDS AND SERVANTS OF CHRIST’S CHURCH

Some see their position within a church as giving them power or status. Certainly Church history bears out that many false shepherds (Christ called them “hirelings” – people who are only there because they are paid, John 10:12-13) had snuck into what was once Christ’s Church and abused their positions for their own glory, comfort, and enrichment. In the darkest days of the Medieval period many (not all) of the Church’s leaders were ungodly, greedy, and highly political scoundrels who wore the robes priests – but did not even know the Lord! As I have also noted in another post within this series, God then set about to reform the Church by once again illuminating His Word to those who would become known as reformers. These reformers were actually mostly unsuccessful at reforming the established Church – but highly successful at reforming many within it to realise what Christ had called His Church to be. This realisation led to the establishment of the original denominations – Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Baptist (then later, Methodist, Congregational, Brethren, and Pentecostal). These reformers have bequeathed to us a legacy of understanding that Christ’s Church is not merely about grand buildings, elaborate artwork, a professional clergy class, or a bureaucracy. But a church that is to be served by Christ-worshiping leaders who have a shepherd’s heart for God’s people. These leaders were to accept their call to shepherd – not because they were to be paid – but because they willingly desired to be obedient to Christ’s call to do so. Thus true shepherds don’t run when it gets “hot in the kitchen” but they take their stand to shepherd Christ’s flock and accept that one of His greatest gifts to them is their responsibility to care for and lovingly steward God’s people.  

 

CHRIST’S CHURCH EXISTS TO KNOW HIM AND MAKE HIM KNOWN

I am not after a position, a title, or an accolade. I am a nobody. I am not anyone special. I have not done anything extraordinary. But I know Somebody who is really, really, special. He continually does the extraordinary and the remarkable. While I have no claim to fame, He is the most famous person in the world. What is outstanding about Him is that He is simultaneously the most loving person in the world yet the most hated by it (Jn. 7:7). While I can’t speak more highly of Him, especially after what He has done for me, there are many who deride and denounce Him, and speak of Him with scorn. It is my hope that such people will meet Christ in a God-honour local church that exalts Jesus and reveals to them who He really is and what He is really like.

Christ is often misrepresented, misquoted, and misunderstood. Despite all this. He still cares deeply for even for those who treat Him so poorly. One other thing about Him that I need to tell you: He knows more about everything than literally anyone else. But His infinite knowledge is not merely a bottomless reservoir of data – no! – His knowledge is soaked in wisdom. He not only knows most, He knows best. In any circumstance He not only knows what could be done – He knows what should be done. In the vastness of this knowledge and wisdom, the has decreed that He should be represented by two things: (1) His written Word, and (ii)  His body of loyal followers (whom the often refers to as disciples, servants, and lately as friends).

And it is to His body of believers/followers/worshipers that He has commanded that they gather at least once a week to do sacred things together. In doing so they can know Him better and also be better empowered to make Him known. The local church is therefore, as has been said many times, the hope of the world – not because we are its hope, but because we make known to the world its True Hope – Jesus. While we deliver this life-giving water of the gospel to our hurting world for free, someone has to pay for the plumbing. And when that someone does we as a church have a fiduciary responsibility to faithfully oversee it.

Pastor at Large,

Andrew

Let me know what you think below in the comment section and feel free to share this someone who might benefit from this Pastor’s Desk.

ENGAGING IN GOD’S MISSION for the Church

 ENGAGING IN GOD’S MISSION for the Church

When you get to know God you come to realise that when John said God is love (1Jn 4:8, 16) – not, ‘God is loving’ – that God actually loves those He has created as His family (Eph. 3:14-15)! His love for His family is incomprehensible (Eph. 3:17-19). Considering this, we can see that when You are love, Your willingness to entrust others (whether they be heavenly or earthly) is a risk You’re ready to take. And take it GOD has. Within the 39 books of the Old Testament we read of the dramatic story of how GOD entrusted certain members of His heavenly family with divine mission to assist His earthly image bearers – and yet some of these more powerful heavenly members (who were also members of ‘the Divine Council’ referred to Psalm 82:1 and 89:7) chose to rebel and corrupted humankind. Yet GOD entrusted a man (Abraham) and his family-line who became a clan then a tribe which became twelve tribes which became a nation which became a kingdom (Acts 7:2-53). But GOD entrusted these people with a much bigger purpose. They were all called by GOD to carry out a mission. GOD’s mission for these people, Israel, was for them to be so close to Him that they delighted in His love, His presence and His Commands (Exo. 19:7), so that all of the other surrounding nations would long to also enjoy knowing and loving GOD just as Israel did (Isa. 42:6; 60:3). The union of GOD with Israel was to be like a marriage (Ezek. 16:8).

He says:“It is too light a thing that you should be My servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

But despite GOD entrusting the ‘patriarchs’ of Israel – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s descendants with this mission, they too rebelled. Their rebellion was depicted by the prophets as adultery and harlotry (Isa. 1:21; Jer. 2:20; Ezek. 16:15; Hos. 1:2). Yet, despite this grievous betrayal of those whom GOD loved as they rejected Him and His love, GOD declared through the prophet Hosea that –

¶ Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea,
which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them,
“You are not My people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”
Hosea 1:10

And in Paul’s letter to the Romans he refers to this prophecy by Hosea (and another by Isaiah) and says that this has now been fulfilled by those who have accepted Christ and become members of His Church – including both Jews and Gentiles –

As indeed He says in Hosea,“Those who were not My people I will call ‘My people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
“And in the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
¶ And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
“Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
only a remnant of them will be saved.
Romans 9:25-27

After Christ had atoned for our sins as our Substitute, He commissioned His New Covenant disciples to take up the abandoned mission that had originally been given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — to be the light of the world (which He had already mentioned in Matt. 5:14) and to take the gospel into all the world and make disciples of all nations (just as ancient Israel was to do). But each of the four Gospel writers emphasize a different aspect of this Great Commission.

The Gospel of Matthew
A Teaching – Discipling Mission

“…teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded…”

And Jesus came and said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the Name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

The Gospel of Mark
An Evangelistic Mission

“…proclaim the gospel to the
whole creation…”

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons;
they will speak in new tongues;
they will pick up serpents with their hands;
and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them;
they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-18

The Gospel of Luke
A Prophetic Mission

“…and that repentance for the forgiveness
of sins should be proclaimed in His Name
to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem…”

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself…
¶ Then He said to them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about
Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then He opened their minds to understand
the Scriptures,  and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you.
But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:27, 44-49

The Gospel of John
A Pastoral Mission

“…Feed My lambs…
Tend My Sheep…
Feed My Sheep…”

¶ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.” He said to him,
“Feed My lambs.” He said to him a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him,
“Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.” He said to him,
“Tend My sheep.”  He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time,
“Do you love Me?” and he said to him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him,
“Feed My sheep.”
John 21:15-17

GOD’S MISSION FOR THE CHURCH

Often we hear preachers who seem to suggest that Christ has only given Christians a very narrow mission (or purpose). I hope that what I have just drawn out of each Gospel’s closing commission from Christ, that Christians — or, I should more accurately say the Church — has been given a much broader mission than just “Go and evangelise!”

 

THE TEACHING MISSION

Matthew tells us that part of our mission is to teach. This mission is carried out in different ways depending on (i) the relationships involved, (ii) the context of the meeting, (iii) the ages of those being taught, and (iv) the content of what is being taught. For example, the relationship of a parent and child involves the parent teaching their young child or children the stories of the Bible over the dinner table / in the car on the way somewhere / as they take a walk together / or, as they holiday together. If their child or children are older (primary and high school age) the same contexts apply, but the parent also teaches their child or children to self-feed their soul through modelling and teaching them how to pray and deal with life’s problems prayerfully, and to model and teach them how to read and study the Bible. Parents are also responsible to teach their child or children how to worship privately and in church, fellowship with other church members, and to confidently share their faith in Christ. The ministries of a church supplement this parental mission – which is why the gatherings of a church take place corporately (all together) on a Sunday, and in small groups through the week, to further equip believers of all ages through teaching. It’s also why those who are teachers – particularly in Christian schools – are also ministering to young learners as a part of the Church’s mission.

 

THE EVANGELISTIC MISSION

Mark’s Gospel describes the Church’s mission as evangelistic which can be confirmed with supernatural evidences. This suggests that there is a strong role for prayer as we seek God to move in the hearts of non-believers with appropriate miraculous signs to confirm the gospel to those we are seeking to reach. Once again, the first mission field that parents have is their own child or children. Our evangelism is not merely an event, but a journey — even for parents with their child or children — which is why our evangelistic mission does not end with someone “praying a ‘sinner’s prayer’ (even our own child or children). One of the, if not the, most effective ways we can evangelise is to introduce a non-believer to a community of believers (your family, your church family, social gatherings of Christians such as: men’s breakfasts, women’s dinner parties, youth group outings, fishing trips, board games mornings, etc). Thus, our evangelism is not “one size fits all”. Evangelism can be our witness to one other person, such as, one person sharing Christ over coffee with another person.

Our evangelism can also be invitational (inviting someone to church or an outreach event). We cannot escape that Christ’s mission for the Church involves evangelism – with the aim of leading a lost sinner to the forgiveness of sins that can only come through accepting Christ as their Saviour. You do not need to be an evangelist to participate in evangelism. We can pray for God to use us in helping others to come to know Christ. We can also pray for others to be more effective in their evangelism.

And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective
for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
Philemon 6

 

THE PROPHETIC MISSION

Luke’s Gospel describes an aspect of the Church’s mission as prophetic. He refers to Christ commissioning His disciples to call people to repentance. This is what prophets did. Some people believe that we cannot call non-Christians to obey God. But Jesus did. Jesus also told His disciples in Matthew’s version of the Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations” and to “teach them to observe all that I have commanded” – and our prophetic mission involves confronting cultural ideas that are untrue, wrong, and dangerous. These ideas are promoted through the arts, media, celebrities, activists, and politicians. Our prophetic mission can be carried out each Sunday from our pulpit, in the school yard through the week, in the tea room at work, on the shop floor, or catching up with friends for coffee. I trust that you realise by ‘prophetic’ we are not suggesting that we to make predictions, rather we are calling people to repent and to surrender to Christ and accept His Word.

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me,
“You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers
who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.”
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10

 

THE PASTORAL MISSION

As I shared last Sunday, John’s Gospel concludes with Christ charging Simon-Peter to pastor Christ’s lambs and sheep. I suggested that this is recorded in John’s Gospel for our benefit as church leaders to appreciate that our divine mission is not just teaching, or evangelism, or to be prophetic, but to also pastor. Just as Jesus charged Peter to feed lambs, we too must care for our young and our young Christians. When Jesus told Peter to tend My sheep, we too must tend to people pastorally by encouraging and comforting them through life’s trials and triumphs. When Jesus called Simon-Peter to feed My sheep, He would have meant that Peter was to teach people how to not just know God’s Word – but how to apply God’s Word to their lives. We also must spiritually feed and nourish those who belong to Christ so that they too know how to apply God’s Word. Pastoring demands living as an example for others to follow. This example reflects each of the aspects of Christ’s mission for His people. That is, pastors must be able to teach, evangelise (2Tim. 4:5), be prophetic by calling people to repent and obey Christ, and to lead people into a close knowledge of and fellowship with God and His Word. We want to be a church that pastors well.

 

ENGAGING IN GOD’S MISSION FOR OUR CHURCH INVOLVES YOU AND YOUR GIFTS

Each of these broad categories of God’s mission for the church invites you to participate with your brothers and sisters as we do so together. Our church needs more teachers, more evangelists, more prophets, and more shepherds, in order for us to fulfil Christ’s mission. At the right time, Jesus will return. And when He does, He will have ensured that all of those His Father has predestined to be in His family will have been gathered. It amazes me that GOD has entrusted us – His earthly family – with such an important mission. But unlike ancient Israel under their Old Covenant, He has entrusted to us His abiding presence and power through the sending of the Holy Spirit. But even more amazing than this is the realisation that He has done so because He unconditionally loves us (Rom. 5:8) – and has enabled us to experience His love in a way that we can share it with with our world – which, quite frankly, could do with the knowledge and experience of some infinite, unconditional love at this time!

I urge you therefore to be a missionary and join with us in prayer, support, and service as we strive together to carry out this mission. It is my hope that our church will be a glimpse of what the fulfilled mission described in Revelation 7:9-10 looks like – 

¶ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation,
from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,
clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice,
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Revelation 7:9-10

Pastor at Large,

Andrew

Let me know what you think below in the comment section and feel free to share this someone who might benefit from this Pastor’s Desk.