The fear factor

[3 Gen Rev]

Just had a lovely evening of meetings with the finance committees of the two churches... and it was interesting the reactions fear brings...
The surface issues were only minor compared to the fear of
a. losing a vicar (me!) and
b. losing their church.
Thankfully we managed to speak a bit of faith and enable them to come to an understanding which met both groups' needs.
I wonder how often fear can dictate church decisions and how easy it is, in a comparatively affluent country, to "live by faith" as far s finance is concerned?

[AndyHB]

... and how easy it is, in a comparatively affluent country, to "live by faith" as far s finance is concerned?

To be honest, I think that it is probably easier to 'live by faith' in a country like Nepal where finances are tight if there at all, and community is so much more important then here.

[WV]

Couldn't agree more, Andy. When life is so hard you have to believe in order to survive, faith must take on a completely different perspective.

[clockman]

indeed but but on the other hand....
When we were in our last-but-one parish (before OH got ordained) the PCC decided to put  a loo in the church  - with a sewer through the church-yard (and it was a graveyard...) Inevitably there was opposition - 'they're removing gradnpa's grave to build a sewer' to the extent that there was a Consistory Court - and we did not have the finance to build it let alone pay for he oppositions's costs but that is what we agreed to do and the funding came...
The loo was duly installed in the vestry, and a few weeks later the bishop, while on a pastoral visit, asked, while robing within 2 meters of it, "OK, SO WHERE IS THIS FAMOUS LOO?"!!!!
That loo was funded by faith..
Andrew

[Vic VDB]

There are times when the people of God just don't have anything to go on it seems - but your story says differently and is a great example of faith over everything else.

The key is to just keep going until you reach the promised land (err, loo?)

Thanks for that,

V

[PamelaP]

I find it amusing that one can always find a Bible verse which contradicts whatever is proposed.

Firstly, there is the parable that tells of the king going to war who needs to calculate his resources to ensure that he can carry out his mission. Then there is the verse from Psalms that "unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it".

[clockman]

I don't think these two are mutually contradictory.
The resources the king has to check would include deciding whether he has the 'spiritual resources' (i e whether what he is doing is right). If it isn't the Lord will not be 'building the house' and he will labor in vain... O K That is a bit simplistic, because I don't believe that God is likely to support one side rather than another in a war - I believe he is far more likely to support those trying to prevent one - but that is another matter!
Having said that I agree that there are quite a few occasions where 'proof texts' can be 100% contradictory - which is why it is so important to take the texts in context.