Theology Matters, Even in Fundraising

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As we see in the words of the Psalmist, the problem is not with the “horses and chariots.” There is nothing inherently wrong with them, and the Psalmist isn’t even offering a suggestion that we should go into battle without horses and chariots (although there are many examples in Scripture in which God’s people were called to do just that). The problem is when the “horses and chariots” become the objects of our faith.

When we believe the lie that a fundraising tool or strategy is the key to our ministry success, we begin to elevate the role of cash into places that solely belong to Christ in our ministry efforts. In other words, we’ve invited cash to create a theological problem. 

This world will weave so many things into our experiences that will seek to distort the truth of God’s word. That is why there are so many truths of Scripture that we need to remind ourselves of regularly. For those engaged in Christian ministry, keeping a Scripture-informed view of the role cash plays is so critical. Without doubt, cash can be used in accomplishing ministry purposes. It is also true that our budgets and cash may grow as the impact of our ministry efforts grow. However, we need to continue to remind ourselves of the truth that cash is neither the means by which ministry is ultimately accomplished nor the measure of its success.   

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browngustafson@outreach.com'
Ryan Brown and Jordan Gustafson
Ryan Brown serves as president and CEO of Open Doors US, one of 25 national Open Doors International (ODI) bases located around the world. Founded in 1955, Open Doors has continued to serve persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries, and is known for its annual World Watch List, the ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Jordan Gustafson is US Executive Director of Life in Abundance International, a ministry empowering local churches in Africa and the Caribbean to serve the poor and vulnerable, creating sustainable transformation in their communities.

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