u/Big10Health

So Christianity (albeit as a pretty complex global organisation!) has grown to around 2.5 billion people (just a quick google search – don’t hold me to that number) since the small band in the upper room – that’s pretty incredible….but how come, with such a vast number of people, with such a huge globally distributed temple in the bodies of all of us, there is still so much wrong in the world. I’m not talking about the ‘why is there suffering’ question… I’m just asking why we aren’t better at further advancing the vision of the kingdom of God on earth.

Don’t get me wrong there is so much that is great (e.g in the UK this week it’s Christian Aid week and little envelopes are flying around the place) I love being a Christian and I love the good we do and the contribution it makes to my own little community – but how comes anyone gets anything past us that doesn’t pass the love your neighbour test (at the scale of 2.5 B followers). Just as a thought experiment (wink) say in the UK there was a political ‘leader’ who excelled at using division and meanness of spirit to bring out the worst in people and achieve power for their own ends (just a..wink….hypothetical...). If EVERY Christian in the UK said…’hmmmmm I’m sorry but what you say doesn’t really sound that loving or compassionate you won’t be getting my vote’ that would be that….end of problem.

So, at the global scale same question. How come we aren’t a bloc of 2.5 Billion committed to only making decisions (and supporting leaders and companies and institutions) that put love and peace above everything else? Because the Church (separate from Christianity) has too many different flavours? Because Christianity is not evenly distributed (China, India)? Because a lot of people who check the box Christian in census data have only a loose affiliation really?

Sorry not really a fully thought out question…but I was pondering on whilst training this evening and was really interested in people’s thoughts

As a new Christian, I’d really benefit from some thoughts on giving – sorry if this an oft-asked oft-answered question and feel free to redirect me ;-)

I’m not talking about my volunteering time which I did before finding my faith and still do – I mean specifically financial giving. I have never given much thought to this topic in the past (having relied on ‘well I give some of my time and I make little gifts and sponsorships at my whim’) – but I want to do a bit more whilst having fun (I can’t think of a better word – I want to enjoy giving – not for it just to be an admin tax that I set up and forget).

Instinctively I don’t feel drawn to tithing or to making all my giving though my local church (although some of course). But I’m happy to be educated on that if it is the best way.

What I have set up right now it a pot in my online banking app. When I have something for myself that I think of as a luxury or treat I put something in that pot. When I avoid spending something either by thinking ‘come on do I really need that’ or by luck then I put something in.

Thus, along with any little spontaneous things I do during the month I have a pot at the end of each month that I can use to donate to one or more causes.

How do others give? Is there any sort of normal approach? Do you weigh in time you give along with income you give or see them as separate?

I’m a little confused and I’d really appreciate some insight from others on how you interpret Jesus’s words when it comes to giving