A Faith Crisis

Recently, I've been having some conversations with people regarding their giving. These are people who have made appointments with me to talk about having to decrease their giving not because of job loss or disagreement with the direction of the church or added expenses. These are retired folks whose retirement investments have tanked and the just don't have the reserves they once did.

What struck me about these conversations is that they needed to tell me. While most (younger) people would just cut back on their giving to the church in tight times without much of a thought, these families were undergoing a faith crisis. For their entire lives, the church has been central to their family. They have grown up generously giving to the church and supporting its mission. Their giving was not out of guilt or obligation. It was a deep expression of their faith. And now, no longer in a position to give at that same level, they are experiencing a faith crisis.

And so we talk. I thank them for their years of generous commitment. I acknowledge how difficult it is for them not to give at the same level. And to whatever extent I can, I absolve them of any guilt that they are experiencing.

When the meeting ends and they leave, I thought, "Wow. I don't think that the me-centered, younger, entitled generation could wrap their brain around having that kind of conversation with their pastor. Furthermore, I bet that they have no idea the deep sacrifice, long commitment and genuine faith of that older generation that provided this church for them to enjoy."

Do you?