Unfulfilled Commitments

As we prepare to enter into this period of Great Lent, we are confronted with the spiritual realities of repentance and forgiveness.  Not only is it the pervasive theme of our entire preparation for Pascha, but the specific theme as well for this Sunday, as we contemplate the expulsion of our ancestors Adam and Eve from Paradise.  The complete understanding and internalization of an authentic attitude of forgiveness, is not only essential for us as individuals regarding our salvation, but is just as important for us as a Church Community, particularly when it comes to Stewardship.

Every year at this time, Parishes around the country look at a certain percentage (usually a small number) of Financial Stewardship Pledges from the previous year that remain unfulfilled, and wonder what to do about them.  Our immediate reaction is to send those “debtors” a polite (sometimes not so polite), strongly worded letter, demanding payment.  Why?  Aside from obtaining some sense of closure (not a bad thing), what is likely to happen?  Have we taken the time to reason through not only what the letter recipient’s actions will be, but also how our action will be received by them emotionally, and what impact that may have on their spiritual life?  More importantly, have we considered fully what message we are sending to our Parishioners concerning the reality of Stewardship in our community, and the future impact that may have on not only their perception, but particularly their connection to the Church?  The answer usually, is quite simply no, we have not.

From a purely practical standpoint, the first consideration is what likely impact will a “collection notice” have on the actions of these “unfulfilled stewards?”  In other words, will it cause them to “become current?”  There may be a small percentage (very small, maybe 10%) of “delinquents” who just “overlooked” their pledge’s fulfillment, and dutifully send in a check for their remainder.  The second practical consideration however, is at what cost to the Church are we to chase down pennies, and I’m not just talking printing and postage here?!  How will the vast majority of “demand letter” recipients feel about their circumstances?  One the one hand, they are “behind” for last year, on the other hand, they are being asked to commit themselves for this year, and in the mean time, they are trying to work out their salvation by participating in the life of the Church.  If these faithful stewards (let’s give them the benefit of the doubt for the moment), were really stretching themselves last year, taking their commitment seriously, giving sacrificially, and just didn’t reach their goal (for whatever reason); will our “collection methods” inspire them to do even more this year?  Not likely!  Their most likely action will be to scale back their giving efforts in order to ensure complete fulfillment, and thus avoid our “nastygram” next year.  The other “delinquents” who don’t fully understand, or have not completely integrated stewardship into their lives are sure to take offense, and will likely either commit only a token amount for this year, or worse yet, stop giving altogether.

Beyond these practical concerns, we must also consider the spiritual implications.  We must never lose sight of the fact that as the Church, we represent Christ, and our responsibility is to do everything possible to encourage and cultivate spiritual growth within the lives of God’s people.  This includes how we approach Stewardship!  The impending period of Great Lent is the perfect time to reinforce Orthodoxy’s holistic understanding of Stewardship, and its connection with our own spiritual journey.  Just as we fall short in our Stewardship of Time (Prayer), and Talent (Fasting), we also must examine our deficiencies when it comes to managing our Treasure (Almsgiving).  Forgiveness is of course the key to our freedom from being stuck in our sinfulness, and offers us the opportunity for spiritual growth.  It is this same forgiveness, exemplified by the life of Christ through the Church, that we must offer those who consider themselves “debtors.”  When one experiences such forgiveness, he is then free to recommit himself in even greater ways to Christ and the Church.  This will be seen in a very concrete way by the Steward, who having fallen short last year in his financial commitment, aspires to even greater sacrifice this year, precisely because of the forgiveness, love, and encouragement he experiences through our actions.  May the Lord our God grant you all a blessed and Spirit-filled Great Lent!  That’s My Two Cents!

Means or End?

When it comes to Orthodox Worship, particularly in this Lenten Season, there is usually only one question that all Priests dread hearing – “What time is Holy Communion?”  Our response is most often something to the effect of, “The Divine Liturgy begins at 9:30am.”  Why is this question so bothersome?  The first reason is that we, as Orthodox Christians living in the world, are being influenced by society’s drive for instant gratification.  This is seen in everything from faster communication to fast food.  The Church however, is not McDonald’s, and Holy Communion is not served in the “Drive Thru!”  It takes time to properly prepare, consecrate, and distribute the Holy Eucharist, and this brings us to the second reason.  In our rush for “good” time management and usage, we overlook the importance of the experience.  We habitually confuse the means with the end.  Holy Communion is not an end in itself, but rather a means of union with Christ, and the full impact is lost when removed from the context of the Divine Liturgy.  Our time spent in spiritual preparation during the Divine Services in not just something we have to go through to get to the end, but an important and integral part of the whole experience.  In other words, this time spent is not just “cost,” but “investment” – a solid investment in our spiritual lives!

Let us use the example of the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, conducted on Wednesdays (and sometimes also Fridays) in most Orthodox Parishes during the period of Great Lent.  In the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, there is no consecration of the Eucharist.  It is basically a prayer service that serves as a vehicle for the distribution of Holy Communion.  Many of our people look at this service (either choosing to participate or not), and see just an extra opportunity to “get their commune on” by receiving the Eucharist via this shortened format.  This is a gross misunderstanding of the entire purpose for which the Church offers us this service.  The Pre-Sanctified Liturgy makes use of an additional Amnos (Lamb, or Eucharistic Host), which is consecrated during the full Sunday Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil.  Therefore, there is a built-in connection with the celebration of the complete Divine liturgy, in its entirety, that presupposes the faithful’s participation!  In other words, the Pre-Sanctified is an extension of one’s full participation in the complete Divine Liturgical celebration on Sunday, not a short-cut or a substitute.  It is an additional opportunity for us to prepare ourselves to participate in God’s Divine Grace.

What does this have to do with Stewardship?  Aside from the important point made concerning Time investment above, this can also be translated to our use of Talent and Treasure as well.  This is particularly poignant for those who make a one-time “Stewardship” contribution in a given year.  These “donors” are missing out on the opportunity to connect their sacred giving to the ongoing experience of their spiritual journey.  It’s like celebrating Pascha without going through the period of the Triodion, particularly Great Lent and Holy Week.  It’s about the journey too, not just the final destination!  If you take the time to prepare and participate in the process, Pascha will mean so much more, and so will your Stewardship.  That’s My Two Cents!

I will never forget entering the fellowship hall of church one day expecting it to be like any other day.

Today is the feast day of the Martyr Saint Valentine. If I was concerned with other content outside of that directly affecting music, I would discuss the cultural phenomenon of remembering a 3rd-century saint’s name and date while simultaneously being wrapped in a consumer lust. YET, in no way is that what I wish to talk about.

I want to tell you a story. A story that is one, if not the, most important of my life. It is also one in which I purposefully leave out details with those friends of mine who are not as close to me as others. In fact, how good of a friend you are to me is usually pretty directly related to this story.

Remember when you were a teenager? Experiences are so vivid in the teenage years aren’t they? If you were a Christian, you may remember how even with the struggles and pitfalls of that age, that God’s work affected you directly. All connections at that age tend to be somewhat exaggerated, and sometimes because of immaturity (or maybe the opposite), the connection with God seems so undeniable. Another reason for this may simply be that because teenagers are so hopelessly self-centered, that they can’t see a world in which God does not revolve around them. Who knows? But I digress!

I will never forget entering the fellowship hall of church one day expecting it to be like any other day. Yet, (and this is another part I tend to leave out) something moved me. I felt some sort of difference, as though my world was changing, but I didn’t understand it. I had been brought up in a family that valued Southern-Christian logic and emotional constraint, and to give some premonition like this any thought would be silly.

I came in and sat down at a table, and was pleased to see this pretty girl across the way. I had seen her before, but had only had glancing run-ins with her. I remember falling in love right then and there. It was the way she talked.

Of course I could continue on and on with romantic dribble, but I wanted to let you know my dear readers, that I consider you all friends. Therefore, instead of telling that my wife Hilary and I “met at church,” I’ll tell you the real reason…

We met at Byzantine Chant class.

Love you Hil,

David

Spiritual Connection

“The accomplishment of any worth while goal requires the one who desires its achievement to increase their effort significantly at some point in order to succeed.”  In other words, as human beings (unlike machines), we need to periodically refocus, rededicate, and redouble our efforts in order to successfully accomplish our heart’s desire.  This is precisely the opportunity that the Church provides us with in the Triodion.  We are not called to “give something up” for Lent, as our Western Christian brethren proclaim.  On the contrary, as Orthodox Christians, we are offered the opportunity to regain what may have been lost, set aside, or ignored over the past year – namely, the very presence of Christ, and His Coming Kingdom!

The Fathers of the Church have provided us with Three Great Pillars of Lent, to be erected on the foundation of Jesus Christ, in order to construct our own glorious Temple dedicated to God.  These Pillars of Prayer, Fasting, and Works of Charity are neither ends in themselves, nor solely sacrificial in nature.  They are not items to be checked off a list, as if their accomplishment (in whatever form) makes us “good little Orthodox Christians.”  They are however, tools that can assist us in getting back on track spiritually.  They also have a direct connection to our Stewardship, in that they represent a purposeful and productive adjustment in how we use our Time, Talent, and Treasure.

Time is, as we know, the most precious resource that we possess.  When we choose to spend our Time developing a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer (both personal and corporate), we in effect, strengthen our Stewardship.  When we choose to use our Talents in various means of Fasting, we can’t help but deepen our Stewardship.  When we choose to designate an increasing portion of our Treasure for Works of Charity within the Church, we make great spiritual strides forward in terms of our calling to be good Stewards.  When we choose to follow the Church’s guidance, and combine all three in a concerted way during the Triodion, the spiritual results and rewards become truly exponential!

The Church, in her infinite wisdom, great pastoral care, and exceeding loving-kindness toward us, does not expect us to make these spiritual adjustments overnight.  Rather, our Holy Mother Church draws us steadily closer into her sweet and loving embrace, until she deposits us into the very outstretched arms of our Savior Himself.  This steady increase is exemplified in not only the escalating Fasting regimen that we spoke about last time, but especially in the Gospel Passages of the first three Sundays, and how they connect directly to our Stewardship.  The first Sunday presents us with the Pharisee, who although was tithing (giving 10%) of everything he received, missed out on the blessings of his actions because of both his hardness of heart, and condemnation of his brethren.  The second Gospel tells of how the loving Father gave half (50%) of his wealth to his son, and then received him back again (even after he squandered it), showing that our true inheritance cannot be depleted.  The third Sunday describes how we are all to be held accountable before the Judgment Seat of Christ by providing (or not) for the needs (100%) of our fellow pilgrims.  These images draw our minds to an ever-increasing understanding of our total reliance on, and complete responsibility for, the gracious gifts that God pours out upon us.

The Church reminds us through both these Sacred Passages, and the three Pillars of Lent, as well as their connection to the expressions of our Christian Stewardship (Time, Talent, and Treasure), that everything belongs to God, and we have been given the great blessing of participating in His Grace, right here, right now, through this magnificent period called the Triodion!  This period of the Triodion is not only an opportunity for us as individuals to experience spiritual growth, but is also part of our collective corporate Stewardship within the Church.  May your Stewardship journey toward our Lord’s never-ending Pascha continue to be blessed, both this year, and in years to come, but for now, that’s My Two Cents!

Stewardship Overload?

After reading the title of this article, you might be saying to yourself (or more probably, hear others around you saying), “Now hold on just a minute!  Not another piece on Stewardship!  Haven’t we heard enough already?  We get it!  We are not giving enough, and the Church wants us to give more!  If I hear the word ‘Stewardship’ one more time, I’m going to go crazy!  All this Stewardship talk is starting to turn me off!  I just want to come to Church and hear something positive that will help me grow spiritually!”  How did I do?  (Scary, isn’t it?)

After all this time, if you think that Stewardship is just a new way for the Church to get more of your money, then I’m afraid you have misunderstood entirely.  Stewardship is not a gimmick, or a way to trick you out of your money, or even a tool to make you feel guilty.  It’s technically not a program, or even a philosophy.  I wouldn’t even say that it is a way of life, but rather, that it is the only way to live!  Stewardship is the Authentic Orthodox Christian Lifestyle, and as such, it is both spiritual and positive!  This understanding is reflected quite clearly during the period called the Triodion, which we enter into this month.

The Triodion is a ten-week block of time that leads us up to, and prepares us for, the greatest Feast in the Orthodox Christian Calendar, that of Holy Pascha.  For those of you who are thinking, “Hey, isn’t Great Lent only 40 days?” – You are not mistaken, but that is only a part of the Triodion period of preparation.  The Triodion begins with three weeks of Pre-Lent (22 days actually), that include the Sundays of The Publican and Pharisee, The Prodigal Son, Meatfare (Judgment), and Cheesfare (Forgiveness).  Then we enter into Great Lent proper on Clean Monday, which lasts for exactly 40 days.  The Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday are not technically part of either Great Lent or Holy Week, but serve as a bridge between the two.  The Great and Holy Week of our Lord’s Passion runs from Monday through Holy Saturday, so add another six days.  That brings the total time of our preparation for Pascha to 70 days (22+40+2+6=70)!  This means that almost 20% of our Liturgical Year is spent preparing for this Great Feast.  Compare that to the roughly 10% of the year spent in preparation for the Nativity.

Length of time is not the only difference between these two great periods of preparation.  The Triodion also places a greater emphasis on prayer and fasting, with many additional services and a very specific fasting regimen.  In terms of fasting, the Church does not hit us with its full force from the beginning, like a 2×4 upside the head; but rather eases us into the practice, like cooking a lobster, as it slowly turns up the heat.  The first week of the Triodion is entirely fast free (no fasting even on Wednesday & Friday).  The second week is a normal fasting week (i.e. fasting on Wednesday & Friday).  The third week, following Meatfare Sunday, is when we say goodbye to all meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken, etc.), but everything else (especially dairy) is still allowed.  After Cheesefare Sunday, we begin our strict regimen of fasting, and add dairy products, fish, and oil & wine to the prohibited list.  The Church does relax the Fast (a little) on Saturdays & Sundays (allowing oil & wine), as well as certain Feastdays (fish on Annunciation & Palm Sunday).  It is important to consult your Spiritual Father before beginning any fasting regimen, to determine what is best for you!  What does any of this have to do with Stewardship?  Ah, that mystery will be revealed in Part II next week, but for now, that’s My Two Cents!

Barriers to Spiritual Growth

I have never been much of a runner.  Although I played Big Ten College-Level Rugby at the University of Iowa, I was never into running for enjoyment, it was always a fitness thing.  Even today, when I exercise, I prefer the Elliptical Trainer to the Treadmill.  My daughters on the other hand, have both been runners at various points in their young lives.  Mainly they ran Cross-Country, but they also had to participate in the Track Meet distance events as well, and I would go and watch.  The Hurdle Events always held a special fascination for me.  I cannot recall one single Track Meet, where at least one runner didn’t bite the dust, by spectacularly colliding with a hurdle.  It was painful to watch!  On the other hand, with the sprinters running non-hurdle events, I can only recall ever seeing just one girl take a tumble, by basically tripping over her own feet (not my daughter).  My conclusion: you are much less likely to stumble, fall, or have a crowd-horrifying catastrophe, and actually finish the race, if you are running without those pesky waist-high hurdles in your way!  Brilliant, I know.  What does this jog down memory lane have to do with Stewardship?

Well, as we should know by now, Stewardship is essentially the physical expression of our spiritual lives.  Our use of Time, Talent, and Treasure in the world is the manifestation of our Faith through material means.  It is nothing less than Salvation given living flesh, because after all, we are the Body of Christ.  As essentially a spiritual manifestation in the world, our Stewardship is also subject to sin.  As psycho-somatic beings, we understand that sin plagues not only the spiritual self, but the physical as well.  Therefore, in order to obtain the maximum spiritual benefit from our considerable Stewardship efforts, we need to remove all those barriers that keep us from reaping God’s considerable rewards.

This is why our Stewardship should be considered, and dealt with, within the Sacrament of Confession.  That’s right!  Not only asking for forgiveness for not using our material means for our benefit and the glory of God (sins of omission, as well as commission), but seeking guidance from our Spiritual Father as how to overcome those barriers that hold us back.  Sins like greed, covetousness, laziness, anger, and idolatry are like well placed hurdles around the track of our spiritual lives, just waiting to try and trip us up as we run our holy race.  It is only a matter of time before we lose focus for just a moment, catch the toe of our cleat on the hurdle we thought we had easily cleared, and go down with a sickening thud.  One other thing that I’ve noticed from watching hurdles events, is that when a runner goes down hard, they usually don’t finish the race.

It is much easier, and safer, to take the time, and expend the effort, to remove those hurdles from our lane before we are confronted with them in the middle of the race.  Remember, we are not racing against our fellow runners in this case.  The race is with ourselves, and the goal is to finish!  A crown of glory awaits each and every one of us when we arrive, from the hand of the Savior Himself.  By doing our best to remove the obstacles of sin from our path, we can then focus on improving our personal best, as we hit our stride.  Stewardship is not the warm-up lap, but the race itself.  Let us therefore run the race in a way that is not only ultimately successful, but that glorifies God.  We might even find that we can enjoy this spiritual running thing after all.  Happy running!  That’s My Two Cents!

Newness & Renewal

For us as human beings, something “new” always brings with it a certain amount of excitement.  A new technology, a new gadget, a new car, a new home, a new job, even a new diet, all get us jazzed-up.  In the modern world, we have become newness junkies, always craving the next new thing.  The problems begin when the newness starts to wear off.  Suddenly, without any warning, new becomes old right before our very eyes.  This problem of perpetually discarding the used for the new is becoming prevalent in other areas of our life as well.  We create cycles of constantly starting over, feeding our newness addiction, and accomplishing nothing of substance.  In short, we have by and large lost the capacity to follow through on our commitments.  Our new beginnings become a perpetual cycle of dead ends, resulting in a slew of unfinished projects and unfulfilled commitments.

Make no mistake, new beginnings are important, if not essential, for us as human beings, particularly as spiritual people.  We see this most readily in the Sacrament of Confession, where we walk away from the Priest with a clean slate and a renewed commitment to Christ.  The power of this process however, is fully realized in the follow through to our Spiritual Father’s advice.  It is our concerted, consistent action that brings about profound changes and spiritual growth, not just listening to the Priest.  The same experience is felt by those who make a resolution to pray or read Scripture consistently every day, as we should be doing.  Once the newness wears off, how difficult it becomes to consistently follow through.  Our once rock-solid resolve crumbles into a sea of distractions, and we are left with another failed resolution, and all the feelings of guilt associated with such a disaster.

This of course, has profound implications for our Stewardship, financial and otherwise.  How we use our God-given Time, Talent, and Treasure is not immune from this newness phenomenon.  How often do we start off with great aspirations to attend Worship more frequently, and on time; get involved with an important ministry in our Parish; or give sacrificially on a weekly basis; but then after a very short period of time our enthusiasm wanes?  Stewardship, by its very nature, is meant to be a consistent and constant process.  Staying focused and committed however in today’s world of the all-powerful new is, to say the least, challenging.  Is it any wonder that so many people’s “stewardship” is simply a one-time offering?

A life of true Stewardship has the capacity to “renew,” not just be new, an important distinction.  This is why the commitment is so important up front.  Without a solid commitment, all hope is lost for the anticipated follow through!  The battle is over before it is even begun.  This is also why we as Orthodox Christians continually recommit ourselves to Christ.  We were Baptized once, but everything else the Church offers us is intended to either help us recommit, or follow through on that commitment.  This is why the Church asks us to recommit ourselves in terms of our Stewardship every year.  It is for our benefit, so that we may get the most out of our commitment, by being able to follow through with whatever God is calling us to do.  By doing so, we not only renew our commitment to Christ, but He renews our spiritual lives as well.  My sincere prayer is that as this New Year unfolds, you will renew your Stewardship commitment to Christ and His Church, and experience a newness of life, like never before!  Happy Renewal Year!  That’s My Two Cents!

Our Orthodox Christian Tradition

Let me start by saying that what most of us consider Stewardship is really NOT!  The truth is, we don’t understand Stewardship, because we haven’t been taught.  The Church simply hasn’t taken the time, or made the effort, to explain this essential part of Her Tradition.  That is about to change!  WARNING – By continuing to read this article, you will certainly be challenged by it, and it just may change your life!

When most Orthodox Christians hear the word “Stewardship,” they think of the “financial system” that the Church has instituted in order to fund itself.  Like the “dues” of yesteryear, “stewardship” has become some amount of money that we must pay in order to participate in the life of the Church.  How often have families who have not been members for years, coughed up some quick cash, and labeled it “stewardship” so they can have their child Baptized?  This is NOT Stewardship, but rather “dues ala Priceline,” where you can name your own price for Sacraments!

Consistent members of the Church think of stewardship as their “regular” contributions to the Parish.  In most cases, this is NOT real Stewardship
either!  These Parishioners are simply making donations to a tax-deductible charity, in order to receive some sort of “religious” benefit.  It may sound harsh, but what is there to distinguish their contributions made to the Red Cross from those made to Holy Cross?  Those contributions made once (or twice) a year, from our excess income, tiny when compared to our other expenditures, devoid of God’s guidance and input, can in
NO way be considered true Christian Stewardship!

What is Authentic Orthodox Christian Stewardship?  First and foremost, it is the understanding and firm belief that everything, and I mean everything, belongs solely to God.  That’s right!  We own nothing!  You came into this world with nothing, and you will leave it the same way.  What you have in your possession right now will be in someone else’s hands when you’re gone.  In all my years in the Priesthood I have never seen a U-Haul trailer attached to a hearse!  No matter how much you accumulate in this life, you can’t take it with you.  Only God, the Creator of the world, and everything in it, is the One Who truly possesses anything.  Like it or not, this is the truth, the eternal reality.  If you can’t come to accept this you might as well stop reading right now, because the rest of this article won’t make any sense to you.

Now that you have chosen to accept reality, a second question emerges.  What about us?  If everything belongs to God, what is our role within creation?  God has created us to be caretakers, or Stewards, of His creation, which includes the material world.  He has placed the whole world in our hands and given us a sacred responsibility.  As His trusted servants, we are to be accountable to Him, but we will also be rewarded for our service.  The more worthy we are found to be, the greater the reward, and the greater the responsibility.  With your Baptism and/or Chrismation, like it or not, you were enrolled in service to Christ as a Steward.  Now you have a job to do!  The good news is that it’s never too late to start.

You may be asking yourself, “What are my specific responsibilities?”  God has given you a Stewardship over three specific areas in your life – Time, Talent, & Treasure.  All three are gifts from God.  He has first of all given you a certain amount of time on this earth.  You did not determine when you were born, no more than you can determine when you will draw your last natural breath.  Each of us is a unique creation, endowed with particular gifts and talents, specifically geared toward helping us accomplish our mission in life.  All of us have been given, yes given, a certain amount of God’s material resources in order to sustain us in this materialistic world.  Whether you slave away just to get by, inherited a bundle from your wealthy family, or find yourself somewhere in between, there is no doubt that the opportunities present in your life to make money come directly from God.  Be thankful that you are not living on less than a dollar a day like much of the developing world!

After giving us these three abundant blessings, God only has two expectations of His Stewards (3 for 2 – not a bad deal).  First, that we use our gifts wisely, not wasting our Time, Talent, & Treasure.  Second, that we give a portion of those gifts back to Him.  The first expectation is
usually understood fairly easily.  The second however, seems to draw some confusion and cause quite a bit of stumbling in our effort to be good Stewards.

Once you realize that what you “have” really doesn’t belong to you in the first place, that you are just the caretaker of someone else’s goods (namely God), it becomes absurdly easy to give some of it back to Him!  He was even kind enough to give us the Church for that very purpose!  We therefore have a vehicle, in the Church, to offer back to God, in concrete ways, a portion of what He has blessed us with.  For those who have traveled the road this far, the question in your mind right now is, “but how much?”  How much are we called to return to God?

Like most Orthodox Christian Theological and Spiritual issues, the answer is – it depends.  Yes, that’s right; Stewardship is both a theological and a spiritual issue!  We have covered the theological aspect, that part pertaining to God.  The spiritual part has to do with you!  How much is your salvation worth?  How much do you really love God?  Where is the evidence in your lifestyle?  I think all of us would agree that our eternal salvation is priceless by any worldly measure.  Thankfully, that’s God’s free gift to us (no payment necessary).  Our thanksgiving gifts to Him, for all that He has done, and continues to do, have everything to do with our spiritual maturity.

What we return to God in terms of our Time, Talent, & Treasure is the single greatest indicator of not only our Faith, but our faithfulness as well!
Our Stewardship is the evidence of Christ in our life!  Now it is time for you, the reader, to put this into perspective in your own life.  How much time out of each day do you devote to God?  What ministries are you invested in?  How much of your annual income do you contribute to the Church?  Examine the balance sheet of your life in all three areas, and determine if there are things you are placing before God.  Are we unwittingly worshipping temporal idols instead of the One True God?

Authentic Orthodox Christian Stewardship means putting God first.  Putting God first takes sacrifice.  Sacrificially offering back to God a portion of His blessings is our responsibility as Stewards of the Faith.  Take this opportunity to take a fresh look at your Faith, your life, and your Stewardship!  That’s My Two Cents!

There is a Difference!

When it comes to Stewardship (like so many other Christian Practices), people often confuse principles with methodologies.  There is a clear difference.  Principles refer to those timeless, unchangeable tenets of our Faith, that apply to every time and place throughout the Church’s history.  Methodologies on the other hand, refer to the practices of the Church that reflect It’s concrete principles, but are entirely moldable and utterly changeable.  Principles are part of the timeless foundation of the Church, whereas methodologies are the tools which the Church uses to make those timeless truths relevant to each and every generation.  How does this then apply to Stewardship?

Principles

The Principles of Christian Stewardship are part of the Orthodox Church’s timeless and eternal nature.  Because they deal with our fundamental relationship with God Himself, and the world that He has created, they are not up for debate or dispute.  They simply are.  The following three examples are by no means exhaustive, but will give you a solid understanding of what I mean.  First, everything belongs to God.  God Himself is the Creator, and we are part of His creation.  We come into this world with nothing, and we will leave it the same way.  We truly own nothing, and that leads us to principle number two.  We are simply caretakers of God’s estate.  He has given each of us a job to do according to our ability.  He places portions of His property into our hands for us to manage.  This is in fact our primary responsibility as Orthodox Christian Stewards.  We are called to be good and faithful Stewards of everything that God provides us with, leading finally to principle number three.  We have a responsibility to return a portion of what God has given us in thanksgiving to Him, for His magnificent generosity.  God gives us so much, and all He asks is that we give Him His fruit in due season, that we remember Him and His great love for us.  These three examples of Stewardship Principles have applied, and will continue to apply, to every generation of Orthodox Christian, until Christ returns to the earth and inaugurates the fullness of His Heavenly Kingdom.  How these principles are expressed in each particular Parish Community however, may vary widely.  Let’s look at some methodologies.

Methodologies

Like the Principles enumerated above, all methodologies must reflect the timeless truths of the Church.  Unlike the aforementioned Principles, that reflection can be expressed in an infinite number of ways, as long as it remains true to the Principle.  You can think of it in terms of Faith and Praxis.  Our Orthodox Faith is unchanging and unchangeable, forever the true expression of God’s revelation.  Our Orthodox Praxis on the other hand, is constantly growing and developing to meet the needs of the faithful.  One only has to look closely at the development of our Orthodox Worship to see the truth in this.  How does this then apply to Stewardship?  The following are three examples of good Orthodox Stewardship Methodologies for this generation, that while differing from past methodologies, still remain true to their principles.  The first, is the message that Stewardship is primarily a spiritual exercise, and can lead to greater spiritual growth.  In past generations, Stewardship was seen as an obligation of belonging to a Parish.  While that may have been effective in the past, it simply doesn’t work for this particular generation.  Using Stewardship as a catalyst for Spiritual Growth has shown to be particularly effective in this modern consumeristic world.  Second, giving Stewards the freedom to be generous.  In the past, Parishioners were told how much to give (ala dues) in order to belong to the Church.  Today, true Stewardship allows for the faithful to decide not only how much to give, but when, how often, and in what form.  This freedom has been demonstrated empirically to have spurred a greater generosity than was ever believed possible, thus benefitting both the Church and the cheerful giver.  Finally, maximizing the use of technology.  As more and more people routinely pay their bills online, using not only their computers, but their tablets and smartphones as well, the Church should take advantage of these trends.  On my own Parish website, you can not only fill out your Stewardship Card electronically, but also contribute toward your commitment, by setting up recurring payments in any amount, at any interval.  And this is only the beginning!

Conclusion

As you can see, it is important to understand the distinction between Principles and Methodologies.  This critical understanding will enable you to consistently develop Stewardship Methodologies that not only reflect their true Principles, but will be considerably more effective in meeting the needs of both the Church and It’s people.  The freedom to be creative in expressing our Faith, while remaining within the bounds of the Body of Christ, has been one of the greatest features of the Orthodox Church throughout It’s long history.  As part of that living history, we are called to continue to grow the Church, expand It’s ministries, and continually develop new methodologies to reach the world for Christ, who perhaps today more than ever, desperately needs to hear and accept His message of love and salvation.  May the Lord bless all of you with a spiritually rewarding New Year, and for the first time in 2012, that’s My Two Cents!

2012 – Year of Our Lord

Lose weight and get fit…get out of debt and save…get organized and learn something new…spend more time with family…travel and enjoy life – we’ve all been there before.  Are you in the habit of making New Year’s resolutions?  Or perhaps you have given up on the practice, after several failed attempts, claiming that they just don’t work for you.  Whatever your past history, 2012 brings us an opportunity to make a change.  The real question is, will we take advantage of it?  You see, there is nothing wrong with making resolutions out of a genuine desire to improve ourselves, and life around us.  The problem is usually the type of commitments we make, and just how committed we actually are (not very) toward implementing them. 

The human being’s desire for growth is not only natural, but it is one of the greatest gifts given to us by God Himself.  God became Man (Jesus Christ), so that we might become like God (Theosis).  Our destiny as Christians is to continually grow in the Image and Likeness of God, and everything about the Orthodox Church is designed to assist us in that goal.  Commitment and resolve have everything to do with our Life in Christ, but without focus they will fade faster than a politician’s campaign promise!  In our desire to make a real and lasting change in 2012, we therefore need to not only have the right goals in mind, but also a support system to ensure their implementation.  Let us then briefly look at the “what,” and the “how.”

First of all, this year instead of making a bunch of small resolutions, make just one big one.  Resolve in 2012 to “Live Your Faith!”  Let that be your mantra for the year.  Let it encompass everything you do, every aspect of your life.  In order to fulfill this resolution, you will need you break it down into achievable goals.  See the difference?  You are resolved to live your Faith, and you will accomplish that in various meaningful ways.  Look at your life in terms of Stewardship.  Spend time in daily prayer, Worship, and Scripture reading.  Use your talent in ministry, find your passion in service, explore fasting, and teach your children or grandchildren.  Give of your abundant treasure in thanksgiving to God, and for the work of the Gospel, in ways that are both sacrificial and meaningful.  The opportunities are endless.  Find a way to connect Christ and the Church to every aspect of your life.  Live Your Faith!

Secondly, you need some help.  You are not in this by yourself.  Belonging to a Parish means that we have a Christian Family there to help us and support us in our desire for Christ-like growth.  The success of our resolution, and the accomplishment of our goals, rest on our willingness to be accountable.  Accountable not only to God and ourselves, but to one another.  The importance of a Spiritual Father relationship cannot be understated!  The Priest is there to help us and assist us in our desired spiritual growth.  It may also be beneficial to have a fellow layperson, or small group, commit to supporting each other in their efforts.  Whatever the mechanism, accountability is key, so take advantage of the opportunities.

If you want to do something that will really make a difference in your life this coming year, resolve for 2012 to Live Your Faith!  Take advantage of what the Church has to offer, it’s all there for you!  Connect God to your life, set spiritual goals, be accountable, and rely on your support system.  Above all, have a blessed and spiritually rewarding New Year!  That’s My Two Cents!