Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5
“Money has demonically usurped the role in modern society which the Holy Spirit is to have in the Church”
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) as recounted by Richard Foster in The Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Christian Reflections on Money, Sex, and Power (New York: Harper Collins, 1985) 19.
Peter Briscoe quoted Merton in his presentation last week in Malaga, Spain. Briscoe serves as European Director for Compass Europartners and lives in the Netherlands. Oh that the Church would return to its roots by handling money with obedience: the only pathway to ministry fruitfulness and sustainability. Want to explore this idea further?
Check out the ECFA Press book, The Choice: The Christ-Centered Pursuit of Kingdom Outcomes, that I co-authored with R. Scott Rodin and Wesley K. Willmer. Deciding that God, not money, will be the driving force and power for ministry marks “the choice every Christ-follower must make”!
Today I speak on a video conference hosted by Bobby Thomas of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation. I am thankful that Bobby has shared this book broadly with fellow Christ-followers to urge them to make the choice. The Holy Spirit is the only power for ministry! Thinking we “need money” is called greed, and it is idolatry! The Apostle Paul beckons us to put that thinking to death!