The Recession

Church Cash and Debt

The current economic climate appears to be getting more and more difficult. In January President Barack Obama in his inauguration speech spoke of the current crisis as “a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also a collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age”. He echoes many of the Old Testament prophets, especially Amos in 5 “You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offences and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.” © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.

The obscenity of extreme wealth and the hardship caused by repossessions, unemployment and loss of pensions and savings is evoked very powerfully by Amos- Amos 5 v 16 and 25 “Go out into the streets and lament loudly! Fill the malls and shops with cries of doom! Weep loudly, 'Not me! Not us, Not now!' Empty offices, stores, factories, workplaces….Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.” © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H Peterson.

The principles of justice and mercy run throughout scripture as an important outworking of our faith, and the current recession faces people in very different situations and is causing a great deal of unhappiness. Within our churches people feel frightened and some face real hardship having lost their homes, their businesses or jobs. Others are feeling very nervous about redundancy or financial hardship, even though many have actually financially benefited through reduced mortgage payments and other key costs coming down. For others there is no change, either because they were already on fixed incomes and struggling with large fuel and food bills, or because they are sufficiently prosperous and/or in very secure employment to weather such financial storms.

The following pages and links help church leaders to consider their practical response alongside the pastoral prophetic and theological obligations. Not only does our response need to be pastorally responsive but it should also be prophetic and challenging. Those in our congregations who are not directly affected need to respond to those who are, to take up the challenge posed by David Jones later in these pages. Our generosity and refusal to submit to fearfulness and parsimony will become a cause of celebration and part of God’s response to economic hardship. That our offerings echo God’s generosity and allow God to bless and magnify them.

Resources

St Andrew's Clubmoor shown in the photograph above has established a Debt Centre. To read their story follow the link below

St_AndrewsThe following pages give advice and resources on;

DebtHelping your church to help those in debt and providing practical help to those in financial need

CounsellingHelping families cope with the emotional and relational aspects of debt

Budgeting
Helping your church to help promote budgeting and get practical advice to prevent debt

Giving Teaching principles of giving in an age of scarcity including sermons

Job_Sermon (Word)
The following link will take you to a web page containing a sermon using Haggai, sermon notes, small group study materials and intercession resources.
Haggai Resources