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Our national
Election Day has passed. Candidates have won and
lost. But we continue to vote beyond formal
elections.
We cast votes daily
outside the context of elections. It is a natural
part of our economic activity to spend money on
what we want and to not spend money on that which
we don't want. In essence, we cast votes of
approval or disapproval. If enough people express
approval, a product or service thrives. If enough
withhold approval, a product or service may
disappear.
Our human nature may
cause us to carry this economic voting to the
church. Dissatisfaction with music, liturgy, the
clergy, vestry decisions, actions by the diocese
and national church, and myriad other
considerations may cause us to vote negatively
with our checkbook. That violates the principles
of God's economy.
In God's economy we
tithe in thanksgiving for God's abundant and
gracious provision for our needs. Whether we are
happy or unhappy with the church has no bearing on
our relationship with God. He is still God. He
still provides abundantly and graciously. And we
still need to give in thanksgiving.
One of the ironies
of forcing the secular model of voting with our
checkbook on the church is that expressing
disapproval, voting, by withholding financial
support forces the church to cut back. This may
come as reduction in staff, maintenance, services,
or any number of other budget items. This causes
further discontent, which can lead to further
expressions of disapproval by withholding even
more financial support.
The Right Reverend
Vincent K. Pettit once related to me a situation
where someone was withholding their pledge to
their parish church out of displeasure with the
vestry. His advice to them was to continue to give
generously to God's work through their church and
to let God be the one to deal with the vestry.
The Bishop’s counsel
is applicable whether it be our vestry, the
diocese, the Presiding Bishop, the Diocese of New
Hampshire, or whoever or whatever within the
church may cause us discomfort. God will be the
ultimate judge. |
