Stewardship

Stewardship

In most contemporary churches “Stewardship” is used primarily to talk about money. However, while it certainly includes money, it really relates to the use of everything God gives us—Time and Talents as well as Treasure—and how we offer them back to him in loving obedience.

God clearly demands a portion of our Time. We read in the Ten Commandments, “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” One day out of every seven was set apart for worship and rest. Sabbath practice looks back, first, to the order of creation: it is an act of participation in God’s own life, the divine work that culminates in divine rest (Exodus 20:8-11). It also looks back, second, to the order of salvation. It is a reminder that God’s people have been delivered from bondage as slaves in Egypt, and set free to worship him (Deuteronomy 5:15). It is an act of trust, and a proclamation that we ultimately depend on God, rather than ourselves, to supply all our needs. In the Old Testament, Sabbath practice included not only one day out of every week, but also major feast days throughout the year. Christian worship on the Lord’s Day and the liturgical rhythms of fasting and feasting in the Church Year enact this sanctification of time.

God also asks that we offer our Talents back to him. Strengths, gifts, and abilities are given by God, and we should seek ways to use them to build up the Kingdom. (See Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit.)

Finally, God deserves a representative portion of our Treasure. In the Old Testament, the people of God were commanded to offer up the first fruits of their harvests to the Lord. A tithe, ten percent of all they received, was given to maintain the worship of the Lord, and to support the Priests and Levites who carried out this sacrificial service on the people’s behalf (see Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18: 8-24, Malachi 3:8-12). Special free-will offerings were taken up at times, such as for the construction of the Tabernacle. Some of the sacrifices were used also for the people themselves to celebrate before the Lord.

The canons of the Anglican Church in North America state clearly that “The biblical tithe is the minimum standard of giving to support the Mission of the Church,” and is therefore “the duty of every member of the Church.” Although a tithe is the minimum standard, the New Testament assumes that giving proceeds from Gospel joy—not an attitude of meeting minimal expectations, but a willing and generous response to the God who has given himself so freely to us: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Additionally, both the Old and New Testaments frequently assert that God’s people should give generously to care for the poor and those in need. (See, for example, Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Isaiah 58:6-7, Matthew 5:42, Matthew 6:2-4, Luke 12:32-34, Ephesians 4:28, 1 John 3:17; this is a theme in the deuterocanonical book of Sirach as well.)

Ascetical Theology

a. Prayer life and spirituality of minister b. Understanding of Spiritual Disciplines c. Spiritual Direction d. Rule of Life e. Daily Office f. Monasticism & its role in the development of our liturgy g. Missional applications of ascetical theology h. Monasticism and mission i. Mystical & Contemplative Spirituality j. Tools for Prayer and Scripture Reading k. Vocation l. Discernment m. Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit n. Stewardship