Banking on God: The Crisis Poll
February 29, 2008
Posted by Dan Edelen in : Benevolence, Cerulean Sanctum Series, Christianity in North America, Church Issues, Eschatology, Godly Character, Persecution, Poll Feedback : 2 comments
Today’s poll is the last one for this series! If you haven’t already, please vote on previous polls. Each one is vital for the commentary I’ll be providing next week! You’ll find a list of polls at the end of this post.
This week at Cerulean Sanctum, I’ve been gathering polling info for a look at how American Christians view money issues, both personal and in the Church. Most polls will run for about six days. So please vote. After the polls close, I’ll offer the results and my commentary on the issues and answers related to the poll questions and results.
Thanks for participating!
(Note to those reading by RSS: to participate in this week’s polls, you’ll need to come to the site to vote. Thanks!)
Crises will come, the Bible says. We all endure the little ones, though it’s sometimes hard to tell if the one we’re in is the beginning of the Final Crisis or not. Even now, the United States is facing some turbulent economic times if the news media are to be believed.
How set are we Christians to manage through crises? And how does our view of crises influence how we live?
To vote on the nine questions below, simply log your responses. This poll runs through 6:00 PM, Wednesday, March 5, 2008. A day or so after, I’ll tally the votes and post them with my commentary.
My church has taken the initiative to prepare a plan of action and to set aside funds to help its members should a severe economic downturn arise.
- False (62%, 59 Votes)
- Unknown (36%, 34 Votes)
- True (2%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 95
Loading …If a family in my church were to go through a financial crisis, I would be able to help them pay for…
- As much as a month’s worth of groceries (49%, 46 Votes)
- At least a tank or two of gas (30%, 28 Votes)
- As much as a couple months worth of car payments (13%, 12 Votes)
- As much as three or four months worth of house or rent payments (7%, 7 Votes)
- Whatever they needed until they got back on their feet, no matter how long that would take (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 94
Loading …If I were to go through a financial crisis, I could count on people in my church to help me pay for…
- As much as a month’s worth of groceries (39%, 35 Votes)
- At least a tank of gas or two (31%, 28 Votes)
- As much as a couple months worth of car payments (16%, 14 Votes)
- As much as three or four months worth of house or rent payments (11%, 10 Votes)
- Whatever I needed until I got back on my feet, no matter how long that would take (3%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 90
Loading …If economic conditions worsen and I lost my job for an extended period of time, the amount of savings I have set aside would last…
- Less than 4 months (49%, 47 Votes)
- 4 to 8 months (18%, 17 Votes)
- 8 to 12 months (12%, 11 Votes)
- More than 2 years (8%, 8 Votes)
- 12 to 18 months (7%, 7 Votes)
- 18 months to 24 months (5%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 95
Loading …I believe the primary means God employs to assist people in need today comes through…
- His using the Church to intervene (82%, 72 Votes)
- Bypassing the Church and intervening directly through His person (10%, 9 Votes)
- Other (Please specify by sending a private e-mail) (8%, 7 Votes)
Total Voters: 88
Loading …I believe that the current state of the world’s economies is…
- No better or worse than usual (44%, 41 Votes)
- Worse than what we are hearing in the news (37%, 35 Votes)
- Better than what we are hearing in the news (19%, 18 Votes)
Total Voters: 94
Loading …Should the tax exemption for churches be removed, my church would be in serious financial trouble as a result.
- Unknown (37%, 34 Votes)
- False (34%, 31 Votes)
- True (29%, 27 Votes)
Total Voters: 92
Loading …When the end of the world comes, the Church will…
- Persist through the entire Great Tribulation (30%, 26 Votes)
- Endure at least some part of the Great Tribulation (26%, 23 Votes)
- Be raptured before the Great Tribulation (25%, 22 Votes)
- Go on as usual, for there will be no Great Tribulation (19%, 17 Votes)
Total Voters: 88
Loading …I believe Jesus will return…
- More than 50 years from now (51%, 41 Votes)
- Within 5 to 25 years (31%, 25 Votes)
- Within the next 5 years (9%, 7 Votes)
- Within 25 to 50 years (9%, 7 Votes)
Total Voters: 80
Loading …Thank you for your answers!
If you’ve not voted already, please vote on the following polls:
The Tithing Poll - Open until 6:00 PM, Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Church Finances Poll - Open until 6:00 PM, Monday, March 3, 2008
The Theology Poll - Open until 6:00 PM, Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tags: Apologetics, Benevolence, Charity, Church Issues, Giving, Last Days, Preparation, Preparedness, Rapture, Revelation, Theology, Tithe, Tithing
Banking on God: The Theology Poll
February 28, 2008
Posted by Dan Edelen in : Apologetics, Bible, Cerulean Sanctum Series, Christianity in North America, Church Issues Feedback : 6 comments
This week at Cerulean Sanctum, I’ll be gathering polling info for a look at how American Christians view money issues, both personal and in the Church. Most polls will run for about six days. So please vote. After the polls close, I’ll offer the results and my commentary on the issues and answers related to the poll questions and results.
Thanks for participating!
(Note to those reading by RSS: to participate in this week’s polls, you’ll need to come to the site to vote. Thanks!)
Why do we Christians believe what we do about money and possessions? The Bible is our source of truth, but we tend to have our own biases toward its many passages on riches, poverty, prosperity, giving, and the state of our souls in relation to our attitudes on wealth.
To vote on the nine questions, simply log your responses. This poll runs through 6:00 PM, Tuesday, March 4, 2008. A day or so after, I’ll tally the votes and post them with my commentary.
The first three poll questions depend on the following well-known verses used widely in the Church when discussing money and material blessing:
Deuteronomy 28:13 - “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them….”
Psalms 1:1-3 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Proverbs 21:13 - Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
Malachi 3:10 - “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
Matthew 6:31-33 - “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Mark 11:23-24 - “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Luke 18:24-25 - Jesus, seeing that [the rich young ruler] had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 2:44-45 - And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Considering the nine verses above, the verses that best reflect my church’s teachings on finances are…(Select up to two)
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - Sowing and cheerful giving (59%, 51 Votes)
- Malachi 3:10 - Bring the full tithe (45%, 39 Votes)
- Matthew 6:31-33 - Seek first the Kingdom (36%, 31 Votes)
- Psalms 1:1-3 - In all that he does, he prospers (6%, 5 Votes)
- Acts 2:44-45 - Selling possessions and sharing the wealth (6%, 5 Votes)
- Deuteronomy 28:13 - Head, not tail (3%, 3 Votes)
- 1 Timothy 6:10 - Love of money is the root of all evil (3%, 3 Votes)
- Mark 11:23-24 - Believe and it will be yours (1%, 1 Votes)
- Luke 18:24-25 - Hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 87
Loading …Considering the nine verses above, the verses that best reflect my personal understanding of finances are…(Select up to two)
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - Sowing and cheerful giving (60%, 50 Votes)
- Matthew 6:31-33 - Seek first the Kingdom (51%, 42 Votes)
- Malachi 3:10 - Bring the full tithe (16%, 13 Votes)
- Acts 2:44-45 - Selling possessions and sharing the wealth (14%, 12 Votes)
- 1 Timothy 6:10 - Love of money is the root of all evil (14%, 12 Votes)
- Luke 18:24-25 - Hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom (8%, 7 Votes)
- Psalms 1:1-3 - In all that he does, he prospers (2%, 2 Votes)
- Mark 11:23-24 - Believe and it will be yours (2%, 2 Votes)
- Deuteronomy 28:13 - Head, not tail (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 83
Loading …Considering the nine verses above, the verse I struggle most to believe is…
- Mark 11:23-24 - Believe and it will be yours (47%, 39 Votes)
- Acts 2:44-45 - Selling possessions and sharing the wealth (18%, 15 Votes)
- Psalms 1:1-3 - In all that he does, he prospers (10%, 8 Votes)
- Malachi 3:10 - Bring the full tithe (10%, 8 Votes)
- Deuteronomy 28:13 - Head, not tail (8%, 7 Votes)
- Luke 18:24-25 - Hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom (5%, 4 Votes)
- Matthew 6:31-33 - Seek first the Kingdom (2%, 2 Votes)
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - Sowing and cheerful giving (0%, 0 Votes)
- 1 Timothy 6:10 - Love of money is the root of all evil (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 83
Loading …Because Jesus’ death and resurrection meant the temple system was no longer in force, the 10 percent tithe that supported the temple system is no longer required.
- True (57%, 51 Votes)
- False (33%, 29 Votes)
- Unknown (10%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 89
Loading …Based on your understanding of the Bible, which of the following do you believe poses the greatest threat to the Church?
- Consumerism (46%, 42 Votes)
- Neglecting the poor (24%, 22 Votes)
- The “Prosperity Gospel” (15%, 14 Votes)
- “Keeping up with the Joneses” (15%, 14 Votes)
Total Voters: 92
Loading …God helps those who help themselves.
- False (70%, 62 Votes)
- Unknown (16%, 14 Votes)
- True (15%, 13 Votes)
Total Voters: 89
Loading …The Bible teaches that God is the one responsible for making a person rich or poor.
- True (55%, 49 Votes)
- False (29%, 26 Votes)
- Unknown (16%, 14 Votes)
Total Voters: 89
Loading …Considering your church’s teaching, which answer below best completes the following statement: “People who give money generously…”
- “…will store up treasure in heaven.” (56%, 48 Votes)
- “…should be happy with giving, expecting nothing in return.” (28%, 24 Votes)
- None of above (8%, 7 Votes)
- “…will receive even more money in return.” (7%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 85
Loading …When I consider all I must do to earn money, I believe my work impacts my Christian life…
- Positively (49%, 43 Votes)
- Neither positively nor negatively (34%, 30 Votes)
- Negatively (17%, 15 Votes)
Total Voters: 88
Loading …Thank you for your answers!
If you’ve not voted already, please vote on the following polls:
The Tithing Poll - Open until 6:00 PM, Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Church Finances Poll - Open until 6:00 PM, Monday, March 3, 2008
Tags: Apologetics, Benevolence, Charity, Church Issues, Giving, Theology, Tithe, Tithing
Banking on God: The Church Finances Poll
February 27, 2008
Posted by Dan Edelen in : Benevolence, Cerulean Sanctum Series, Christianity in North America, Church Issues, Discernment, Poll, Relevance Feedback : 4 comments
This week at Cerulean Sanctum, I’ll be gathering polling info for a look at how American Christians view money issues, both personal and in the Church. Most polls will run for about six days. So please vote. After the polls close, I’ll offer the results and my commentary on the issues and answers related to the poll questions and results.
Thanks for participating!
(Note to those reading by RSS: to participate in this week’s polls, you’ll need to come to the site to vote. Thanks!)
As tough an issue as tithing and giving are for some, how our churches spend the money we give them may be even more difficult. Below are thirteen basic church finances questions. To vote, simply log your responses. This poll runs through 6:00 PM, Monday, March 3, 2008. A day or so after, I’ll tally the votes and post them with my commentary.
My church’s disclosure of its income and expenses can best be described as…
- Completely open (54%, 64 Votes)
- Open on some line items, but not on others (30%, 35 Votes)
- Somewhat secretive or hard to find out (14%, 17 Votes)
- Not open at all (2%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 118
Loading …My understanding of my church’s income and expenses can best be described as…
- Informed (38%, 45 Votes)
- Somewhat informed (29%, 35 Votes)
- Highly informed (25%, 30 Votes)
- Not informed at all (8%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 119
Loading …My opinion of the way my church uses the money I give is…
- Positive (46%, 55 Votes)
- Highly positive (24%, 29 Votes)
- Neither positive nor negative (20%, 24 Votes)
- Negative (8%, 10 Votes)
- Highly negative (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 119
Loading …My church’s financial condition can best be described as…
- Stable (50%, 58 Votes)
- Running slightly in the red (30%, 35 Votes)
- Prosperous (17%, 20 Votes)
- Nearly bankrupt (3%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 117
Loading …My church’s financial state (whether good or bad) is getting in the way of fulfilling the commands of Jesus.
- False (57%, 67 Votes)
- True (25%, 29 Votes)
- No answer (19%, 22 Votes)
Total Voters: 118
Loading …If I were in need and required financial or material assistance, I would let my church know.
- True (64%, 75 Votes)
- False (36%, 42 Votes)
Total Voters: 117
Loading …If I were in financial difficulty and approached my church for assistance, I believe that they would…
- Willingly meet my need without conditions (34%, 41 Votes)
- Willingly meet my need but with conditions (32%, 38 Votes)
- Say they would like to help but lack the funds to do so (13%, 16 Votes)
- Say they would like to help but make it a rule not to give out money (6%, 7 Votes)
- Direct me to a charitable agency not affiliated with the church (5%, 6 Votes)
- Other (4%, 5 Votes)
- Meet my need but would hesitate to do so (3%, 4 Votes)
- Decline to help, stating it’s my responsibility to meet my own need (1%, 1 Votes)
- Avoid the issue altogether so nothing would ever get resolved (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 119
Loading …I personally know people in my church who requested reasonable financial help from my church but did not receive it.
- False (96%, 109 Votes)
- True (4%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 114
Loading …My church has a benevolence fund available to help members with financial needs.
- True (67%, 79 Votes)
- Unknown (20%, 24 Votes)
- False (13%, 15 Votes)
Total Voters: 118
Loading …My church has a benevolence fund available to help people outside the church (non-members).
- True (50%, 59 Votes)
- Unknown (32%, 38 Votes)
- False (18%, 21 Votes)
Total Voters: 118
Loading …My church has instituted a group that hears benevolence requests and fulfills them.
- Unknown (37%, 43 Votes)
- True (34%, 40 Votes)
- False (29%, 34 Votes)
Total Voters: 117
Loading …I believe that most of my church’s funds go to the following three expenditures… (Select three)
- Staff Salaries (81%, 92 Votes)
- Maintenance and upkeep on the church building (46%, 52 Votes)
- Foreign missions (39%, 44 Votes)
- Mortgage on the church building (30%, 34 Votes)
- Support for in-church ministries (29%, 33 Votes)
- Community outreach programs (16%, 18 Votes)
- Expanding the church facilities (14%, 16 Votes)
- Rent on church meeting places or offices (14%, 16 Votes)
- Benevolences overseen by the church (8%, 9 Votes)
- Office and Sunday school supplies (non-electronic) (6%, 7 Votes)
- Electronics (computer hardware & software, sound systems, AV equipment, etc.) (4%, 5 Votes)
- In-church curricula and purchased programming (3%, 3 Votes)
- Other (please specify by e-mailing) (2%, 2 Votes)
- Support for parachurch ministries (Young Life, World Vision, etc.) (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 113
Loading …I believe that my church’s funds SHOULD go to the following three expenditures…(Select three)
- Staff Salaries (67%, 75 Votes)
- Community outreach programs (62%, 69 Votes)
- Foreign missions (53%, 59 Votes)
- Benevolences overseen by the church (37%, 41 Votes)
- Support for in-church ministries (33%, 37 Votes)
- Maintenance and upkeep on the church building (18%, 20 Votes)
- Mortgage on the church building (8%, 9 Votes)
- Rent on church meeting places or offices (5%, 6 Votes)
- In-church curricula and purchased programming (5%, 6 Votes)
- Support for parachurch ministries (Young Life, World Vision, etc.) (4%, 5 Votes)
- Expanding the church facilities (2%, 2 Votes)
- Other (please specify by e-mailing) (1%, 1 Votes)
- Electronics (computer hardware & software, audiovisual equipment, etc.) (0%, 0 Votes)
- Office and Sunday school supplies (non-electronic) (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 112
Loading …Thank you for your answers!
If you’ve not voted already, please vote on the following polls:
The Tithing Poll - Open until 6:00 PM, Sunday, March 2, 2008
Tags: Benevolence, Charity, Church Issues, Giving, Tithe, Tithing
This World is Not My Home—I’m Just Passin’ Through…
February 26, 2008
Posted by Dan Edelen in : Boldness, Counterculture, Notable Christians Feedback : 5 comments
A telephone call from my buddy Eric this evening told of a great loss to the Christian community: Larry Norman died at age 60 this last Sunday.
It’s fair to say that Larry was the progenitor of Christian rock music. Most music critics acknowledge him as such. All I know is that I absolutely loved his music. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Larry provided the soundtrack of my early Christian life.
That he didn’t fear what people thought of him and just told it like it was made him a precious commodity in an age when people shied away from flat-out truth. Larry also reached out to the people the contemporary church didn’t care about, drug addicts, street people, prostitutes, and on and on. That realness made him one of the few Christian artists to draw crowds in Europe.
A great performer, he could not only reinvent his music a million ways from Sunday (just how many remixes of his songs exist?), but I can’t ever remember laughing so hard than at one of Larry’s concerts. He was a true wit and laugh-out-loud funny.
To lose him so young is sad, but in many ways he was lost to us a long time ago. He suffered through years of declining health. A head injury suffered in an accident on a plane and chronic heart disease took their toll. The last time I saw him in concert was 1987, and he looked worn even then. He retired from active performing in 2001.
Legions of Christian bands and solo artists over the years have thanked Norman or attributed their genesis to him. He was a true original. Why should the devil have all the good music, indeed.
Tags: Christian Music, Christian Rock, Larry Norman, One Way, Only Visiting This Planet, Righteous Rocker, The Father of Christian Rock, Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?
Banking on God: The Tithing Poll
Posted by Dan Edelen in : Benevolence, Cerulean Sanctum Series, Christianity in North America, Church Issues, Godly Character, Poll Feedback : 9 comments
This week at Cerulean Sanctum, I’ll be gathering polling info for a look at how American Christians view money issues, both personal and in the Church. Most polls will run for about six days. So please vote. After the polls close, I’ll offer the results and my commentary on the issues and answers related to the poll questions and results.
Thanks for participating!
(Note to those reading by RSS: to participate in this week’s polls, you’ll need to come to the site to vote. Thanks!)
No topic causes more problems for the average person in the pews in the American Church than tithing. For that reason, any look at how the Church deals with money must address the issue. Below are nine basic tithing questions. To vote, simply log your responses. The poll runs through 6:00 PM, Sunday, March 2, 2008. A day or so after, I’ll tally the votes and post them with my commentary.
My church’s position on giving and tithing is…
- That the New Testament teachings encourage Christians to give as much as the need requires, even if that comes at great personal cost to the giver (46%, 82 Votes)
- That a 10 percent tithe on one’s income is considered a mandate for today (33%, 59 Votes)
- Different than the options provided here (15%, 27 Votes)
- Unknown to me (6%, 10 Votes)
- That the Old Testament temple tithing system was abolished and no one is obligated to give anything (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 178
Loading …I agree with my church’s position on tithing and giving:
- Entirely (39%, 69 Votes)
- Mostly (30%, 52 Votes)
- Somewhat (17%, 29 Votes)
- Not at all (9%, 15 Votes)
- I don’t know my church’s position on tithing and giving (6%, 10 Votes)
Total Voters: 175
Loading …The leaders of my church discuss tithing and giving…
- Once or twice a year (44%, 75 Votes)
- At least once a quarter (27%, 47 Votes)
- At least once a month (14%, 24 Votes)
- Never (7%, 12 Votes)
- Every week (5%, 9 Votes)
- No answer (2%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 171
Loading …I believe the leaders of my church should talk about tithing and giving…
- About the same as they currently do (57%, 96 Votes)
- More than they currently do (30%, 50 Votes)
- Less than they currently do (8%, 14 Votes)
- No answer (5%, 8 Votes)
- Never (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 169
Loading …When the leaders of my church talk about tithing and giving, I am…
- Satisfied with the amount I contribute (46%, 79 Votes)
- Dissatisfied with the amount I contribute (26%, 44 Votes)
- Neutral about the amount I contribute (23%, 39 Votes)
- No answer (5%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 171
Loading …When the leaders of my church talk about tithing and giving, I feel… (Select up to two answers)
- Glad to be able to contribute (58%, 100 Votes)
- Fine (33%, 56 Votes)
- No special emotions (15%, 25 Votes)
- Concerned (14%, 24 Votes)
- Pressured (12%, 20 Votes)
- Guilty (10%, 17 Votes)
- They are talking to someone else (9%, 15 Votes)
- They need to talk about more important issues (6%, 11 Votes)
- No answer (3%, 5 Votes)
- Judged (2%, 4 Votes)
- Angry (1%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 171
Loading …When compared to others in my church, I believe the amount of money I give to my church is …
- More than the average (44%, 75 Votes)
- About what most people give (24%, 41 Votes)
- Less than the average (19%, 33 Votes)
- No answer (12%, 21 Votes)
Total Voters: 170
Loading …If my church were to make known the dollar amount each person gives, I would be…
- Neither satisfied nor dissastisfied with the amount I give (44%, 74 Votes)
- Satisfied with the amount I give (36%, 61 Votes)
- Dissatisfied with the amount I give (11%, 18 Votes)
- Proud of the amount I give (7%, 11 Votes)
- Ashamed of the amount I give (3%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 169
Loading …When considering my church’s benevolence to those in need, I would say that my church gives…
- More than the average church (39%, 66 Votes)
- About the same as the average church (30%, 50 Votes)
- Less than the average church (17%, 28 Votes)
- I have no idea what my church gives to others (14%, 24 Votes)
Total Voters: 168
Loading …Thank you for your answers!
Tags: Benevolence, Church Issues, Giving, Tithe, Tithing
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