Is Fundraising Biblical?

Sally Ferguson writes devotionals and articles of consequence, and she even wrote a coloring book for children. As a speaker, she helps women find encouragement from God's Word. She is also helps women plan women's retreats and leads them herself. In this Biblical Discernment UPGRADE, Sally asks a question about fundraising, a topic dear to her heart.

“I was surprised recently to learn some people don’t think churches and Christian ministries should do fundraisers,” Sally said.

Fundraising can be a hot-button issue in some Christian circles, but I (Dawn) think Sally explores it with both insight and compassion.

Sally continues . . .

As one who was in church with my parents every time the doors were open, I grew up with a well-rounded view of the church and money.

My sister and I were eager to put our coins in the offering plate when passed down the row. It was seen as a privilege to be a part of God’s work.

When I graduated to the youth group, we each became a part of the fundraising team to ensure all could afford our ministry opportunities.

Church camp and youth conventions were a time of teaching God’s Word and growing in relationships. We came home from our mountaintop experiences ready to tell our friends at school about the transformation we’d encountered and how Jesus could make a difference in their lives, too.

Had we not done fundraising, maybe half of the group could not have attended.

It’s unthinkable that some of us would not have been included in those trips.

In the years following, I’ve been a part of fundraising for all types of church events, so it puzzled me that someone wouldn’t consider it biblical. It made me want to find out for myself what God says about our finances.

Exploring Fundraising Biblically

1. We’re told in Malachi to bring a tithe to God.

That foundational gift is to honor God’s care of us. He gives us all things, but only requires a tenth given back to support the ministry of His House, as planned in Numbers 18:21.

“Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams” (Malachi 3:10 MSG).

2. The early church modeled community for us in the way they took care of each other.

Acts 2:42-47 tells us people sold their possessions in order to provide for unmet needs.

People were so excited about what they were seeing take place around them, they joined forces to expand their reach.

3. In Romans 15:27, Paul says it is right for us to share our material blessings with those who bless us spiritually.

Have you felt joy when you gave to another? It has a boomerang effect in blessing the giver as much as the receiver.

Not only has fundraising helped our church reach goals of sending people on mission trips and building campaigns to expand ministry facilities, but it has also helped to build camaraderie within the church.

The process of working together toward a common goal bonds us together and builds community.

When we witness something accomplished that is bigger than ourselves, we get a faith boost because we know God is at work in our midst.

“In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14 MSG).

So, let’s circle back to the beginning.

What Is Fundraising?

Fundraising is raising funds for a particular need that otherwise wouldn’t be met. It’s money pooled together above and beyond the general tithe for a specific occasion.

Maybe you would call it an offering or a gift, but fundraising can look like many different things:

• A new church van for picking up children for Sunday School
• Packaged goods for the church food pantry.
• Bottle and can drive for missions.

One more story.

Our church issued a Backpack Challenge for members to fill backpacks with school supplies. One little girl turned in hers with a request. She had added clothes in her size for another girl to have for the first days of school.

Our youth pastor agreed to pray for that specific recipient.

Later that week, she received a call from a local agency. Guess what they asked for? Yep, that specific size was needed for a little girl!

Two gals learned about the power of prayer and that God cares about the details—when one responded to a fundraiser.

It was a great reminder to all of us that the smallest can teach us the biggest lessons.

What does fundraising look like to you?

Proverbs 3:9 admonishes us to honor God with all of our possessions. May we do so with generous and joyful hearts and wallets, as we look for ways to enhance ministry opportunities beyond the walls of our church.

What do you think? Is fundraising biblical?

Sally Ferguson is a teacher of God’s Word and a student of people. Whether leading retreats or small groups, she loves to see the light shine when hope abounds. Sally lives in western New York with her husband and her dad. Her current project is a Bible study for caregivers. Catch up with her at sallyferguson.net.  

How to Know if My Truth Is True

As I've developed a friendship with Julie Sanders, I've come to know her as a woman who handles the Word of God in beautiful, practical ways. In this Biblical Thinking UPGRADE, she reminds us of the importance of discerning truth in our culture, and then explains how Christ-followers are to express the truth.

"We purpose to say what’s true and teach it to our families," Julie says, "but this decade seems determined to disrupt confidence about truth. Instead, conversations center around 'speaking my truth.' How do you know if your truth is true?"

I (Dawn) am so glad Julie wrote this post. Whether we're considering false prophets or "fake news," it's sometimes difficult to know what is true. As Julie explains, our Father God has given us guidelines for knowing what is true in the culture today—or even if we are believing lies in our own hearts.

Julie continues . . .

As if underlining uncertainty about so much in 2020, this year has us continuing to wonder about so much. With technology sending out information faster than we can process it, there’s no time to confirm details.

It seems like we’ve entered a time when it’s impossible to know what’s true.  

Christians follow Jesus, “who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Following Him as Lord means being, “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks … with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Followers of Christ value truth and a respectful delivery of it.

Here are five questions to ask to know if what we accept and what we share is actually true.

1. What Does Man Say Is Truth?

Before the new decade arrived, Oprah Winfrey popularized the phrase “speaking my truth” in her 2018 Golden Globe Awards speech.

• It’s become a mantra to validate sharing truth and untruth.
• It’s been pointed for permission to speak opinions, judgments, and emotions under an umbrella of “truth,” accurate or not.
• It’s also liberally used as license to spew truth in whatever way speakers choose, regardless of offense.

We live in a day when people speak whatever they want in whatever way they want.

Does the popular idea of “my truth” mean I get to choose what’s true? Is it possible to know what’s true?

And does making it “my truth” lift limitations on a caustic delivery?

2. What Is God's Measure of Truth?

All of God’s word is true (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17)—a reference point for comparing what is presented to us as real.

A follower of the true God can pray, “Guide me in your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5a). His Word illuminates sometimes murky paths of life on earth.

If we keep God’s Word in front of us and lay it over our questions to see it clearly, God's truth will emerge.

Since garden days, when Satan spoke the first lie, untruths have needed exposure.

Now as then, ignoring God’s words opens the door to deception and the destruction that comes with it.  His holy Word provides the measure, distinguishing a truth from a lie.

The only one who can rightly claim “My truth” is the Maker of truth.

3. How Does Truth Turn into Untruth?

Truth becomes untruth when we push aside God’s truth for a twisted version of our own making.

Creating and communicating untruth is like rejecting God’s righteous truthfulness out of a preference for what better serves our agenda. By plagiarizing the righteous reality, a peddler of a self-made stories takes a path leading to a disappointing destination.

Untruth never serves God’s holy purposes. Instead, untruth serves our unholy agendas. If it’s still true, it still belongs to God, and it’s still truth.

4. How Can I Be Sure I’m Telling the Truth?

With fake stories and false accounts filling our news feeds, it’s easy to focus on dissecting the stream before us. After all, the Serpent told Eve, “You will certainly not die” (Genesis 3:4)—though he knew her acceptance of this version of “my truth” would lead to her death.

Satan never held to truth telling, “for there is no truth in him … he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

While we need to discern truth from lies, our focus is on ensuring we speak the truth. We’re warned not to “let any unwholesome talk come out of” our mouths (Ephesians 4:29), and not to “lie to each other,” because that’s a practice of our old self (Colossians 3:9).

Since God sees everything (Proverbs 15:3)—none of our actions or words are hidden from Him (Jeremiah 16:17).

To be sure you’re telling the truth, ask yourself two questions.

• Did God see what I say I saw?
• Did God hear what I say I heard?

5. What Does God Want Me to Do with My Truth?

If our message aligns with God’s Word, it needs to be communicated God’s way.

Ephesians 4:15 directs us to speak “the truth in love.”

Delivering a wholly truthful message in a wholly loving way means we need to be empowered by a wholly loving Savior.

His forgiveness cleanses us and His Spirit grows us, so loving delivery reflects maturity as we become more like Jesus. Loving Him and His truth means, “we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10-12), because “God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

Once MY truth transforms into HIS truth, God wants me to speak it in HIS loving way.

The world loves to stamp “legit” on a version of truth. That way, every man can do what’s right in his own eyes, spinning it into tales of triumph (Proverbs 12:15; Judges 17:6). Changing the narrative avoids changing hearts.

When we embrace God’s truth as the only truth, it will set us free (John 8:32).

How am I letting God’s word shed light on messages I receive and shape messages I create? What am I accepting as truth that may not align with God’s truth?

Julie Sanders loves lifting women who lead globally. She’s the author of The ABCs of Praying for Students and Expectant, a devotional for new moms. Julie finds joy in helping women discover and develop their gifts to influence others. She writes from her online home at juliesanders.org.

Graphic adapted, vector courtesy of Pixabay.

Upgrade Your Motherhood: Learn to Be a Mama Bear

Morgan Farr totally impressed me when I first talked to her, and then when I met her—I knew she was a special servant of God. What I noticed most was her deep desire to raise children to bring honor to the Lord. In this Parenting UPGRADE, she encourages mothers to intentionally become Mama Bears.

"There is a real enemy out there on the prowl, looking for souls to devour," Morgan says. "Learning to be a Mama Bear means being ready to protect and defend your cubs."

I (Dawn) remember when a previous candidate for Vice President of the United States called herself a "mama grizzly." During her campaign, she wanted to blend her femininity with tough strength. That's what moms are called to do today, I think—and Morgan clearly thinks so too!

Morgan continues . . . 

When I was getting ready to move from North Carolina to California, I was a bit of a wreck. Two days before I left town, a friend of mine stopped by and gave me a goodbye gift which contained chocolate, Dr. Pepper and a hat.

The hat had a bear on it with the word “Mama” scrawled across it.

Each gift had a purpose:

• The Dr. Pepper was for when I was tired and needed a boost,
• the chocolate was for when I was sad and missing my friends, and
• the hat was for the days when I needed to remember my purpose.

Thus my Mama Bear spirit began to develop. 

I am going to share with you what it means to be a Mama Bear, and how you can learn to defend your cubs well. 

The first thing we have to do in learning to become a Mama Bear is to understand what a Mama Bear is exactly.

Wikipedia defines a Mama Bear as, “a woman, especially a mother, who is extremely protective of a child or children,” and you can find similar ideas on definitions.net and UrbanDictionary.com. 

Who are we defending our kids from?

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

That’s right. Satan is out to prevent every person he can from coming to Christ, and that includes our children.

Our job is to cultivate a home in which our children learn about Christ, grow in faith, and become mature Christians ready to go out into the world and fulfil the Great Commission. 

So, how do we do it? 

How Can You Become a Mama Bear?

1. Put on the Armor of God Every Day

Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the Armor of God, which you should wear every single day to be able to stand firm against Satan's attacks. 

• You need to be reading the Word of God every single day.
• Memorize scripture to repeat when the baby just won’t stop crying.
• Find a Titus Two Woman to mentor you when your teenager is being difficult. 
• Be active in the body of Christ so that you can lift one another up in prayer not only for yourself but also for your children. 
• Pray, pray, pray!

2. Teach them to recognize good and evil. 

It isn’t just enough for you to have firm faith, you have to instruct your children in the way of that faith as well.

You cannot hope that your children will catch your faith without any work on your part. 

Hillary Morgan Ferrer, author of Mama Bear Apologetics, writes, “Part of the biblical process of sanctification—or spiritual growth—is training our appetites to crave what is good and to be repulsed by what is not."

We, as mothers, need to show our children Jesus every day in our actions, in the Bible and in our world. 

Discuss current events (at an age appropriate level) and talk about which side it falls on—God’s side or Satan’s side.

Let them think critically. Help them, when needed, to see how God is moving in your home, neighborhood and beyond. 

3. Beware the Insidiousness of Technology

I didn’t really think of myself as a Mama Bear until after I had to explain my rules regarding technology to another mother as I was preparing to move. 

In my house, I don’t allow children of any age (0-18) to have technology away from an adult. This is due to the fact that I consider it my job to protect my children’s hearts and minds.

I can’t protect them from what other people invite in on tablets, phones and computers if I can’t see what is being shown. So, limit exposure where you can. 

Keep internet monitoring software on computers and phones—before you think that you need to. And yes, I mean that mom and dad should have that software on THEIR personal devices to show their children that integrity on the internet is not just for children! 

4. Protect the safety of your home.

Think of your home as a greenhouse. Your children are little plants, getting ready to go out into the world.

Your job is to ensure that the greenhouse is safe and secure. 

In The Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson writes, “When children have a safe haven—a place to be protected from the storms of life; a place to be emotionally, mentally and spiritually encouraged; a place where they enjoy time and attention from important people in their lives—and time to mature, then they will have a good opportunity to become emotionally healthy and flourshing human beings.”

Be aware of what you invite in to your home in terms of media, books, movies and television shows.

Your home is your greenhouse. Do not allow it to become polluted by the filth of the world.  

Am I saying that being a Mama Bear is easy? Absolutely not. In fact, intentional motherhood takes a LOT of work and constant prayer. But I am saying that it is absolutely necessary. 

There will be people who say you are too protective and too strict.

Let them say it.

One day, you will stand before the King of Kings and you will be held ACCOUNTABLE for your time as a mother.

Remember that when someone from the PTA says your rules are too strict. 

How can you be a Mama Bear for your kids today? Which of these four points could you implement today?

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Army wife is earning to respect her husband, develop her three (soon to be four!) small children, and tackle homeschooling while moving all over the country. Morgan writes about her transition away from feminism and into biblical womanhood at The Forgiven Former Feminist. 

Graphic, "Ladies Vintage Mama Bear Hat" from Southern Sisters Designs.

When 'NO' Costs You EVERYTHING

Kolleen Lucariello is a funny, practical, godly woman. I've learned much from her posts and insights. In this Character UPGRADE, she points us to a woman worth emulating—and it's not the woman you might think.

"She said no. She was a defiant wife who had disrespected her husband in front of a bunch of influential men," Kolleen said."I assumed I knew all I needed to know about her."

I (Dawn) appreciate Kolleen's thoughts about this "defiant wife." She's the often-overlooked woman in another woman's story—but she had character and dignity. Her defiance was likely a product of caution and discernment.

Kolleen continues . . .

I’d skim over this wife's part in the story of Esther because that’s what I’ve always been taught. My assumptions would be challenged when I saw her name this time, causing me to pause and consider the woman who said no. 

Queen Vashti, the beautiful wife of King Xerxes, said no.  

She was married to a man who loved power, praise and partying, and referred to himself as, “Xerxes the Great” and “king of kings.” 

In the first chapter of the book of Esther, we read about the party he hosted lasting 180 days. His motive for gathering the powerful leaders from around his empire may have been to bring consolidation and gain political support. 

What better way than to accomplish this than to display the wealth of his kingdom. King Xerxes liked to show off his possessions.

One was his queen, Vashti, who was a very beautiful woman (Esther 1:11). During this time in history, she really was just a possession. Some suggest Vashti may have been the daughter of another king Xerxes had formed an alliance with.

She was his trophy wife. 

Following his big bash, the king hosted a banquet for all of the people in Susa, which lasted for seven days (Esther 1:5). During this banquet, Queen Vashti was hosting her own party for the ladies of the land in the royal palace.  

As we read in the first chapter of Esther, the drinks were plentiful, and each man could drink what he wished (1:8). Can you imagine? Seven straight days of binge drinking? 

Then, on the seventh day, when the king’s heart was “merry with wine” (1:10), he summoned his beautiful wife, Vashti, to come “to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman” (Esther 1:11, NLT). 

And then it happened.  

She refused his invitation.  

When I stop to consider the circumstances, I wonder:

• Was she being obstinate? 
• Was her intent to dishonor and disrespect her husband? 
• Or was there more to the story? 

Imagine yourself in a room full of drunken men and you are the center of attention.

The men in the room may not have dared to touch her—she was, after all, the queen. But they were drunk.

Perhaps her no was a refusal to be exploited.

Perhaps it was to avoid the risk of being undressed—even with just their eyes.  

Or was her no intended to protect her husband from the shame of what could happen. 

Yes, her denial would have embarrassed the king; however, her denial also may have protected his reputation. 

And let’s not forget, she was busy! She was in the middle of hosting her own party.  

Rather than disregard Vashti’s no, perhaps there is something we can learn from it. 

Does God want us to be honoring and respectful? Absolutely. But perhaps we say yes when He knows we should say no.

God has granted us the freedom to say no to any person, place or thing that would bring dishonor to Him—or us.

The truth is, our no might be the motivation God uses to spare another from a horrible tumble into sin. It also could be the catalyst He uses to bring about His plan and purpose.

Vashti’s no opened the door for Esther. 

Without the necessary no, we may find ourselves: 

• Overcommitted. 
• Trapped in toxic relationships.  
• Overburdened financially. 
• And yes, left with shame and guilt.   

It’s quite probable that we fail to speak our no because we fear what it might cost us.

I don’t deny a no can be costly; Vashti’s no cost her everything. She lost her position as queen.

But, what if—in that moment of decision for Vashti—she recognized that her worth did not come from her position as wife to the king of kings? 

She knew she was royalty. Maybe, that’s what gave her the strength she needed to say no to his request.  

Now, what if—in every moment of indecision we face—we recognize we too are royalty and our worth comes from the TRUE King of Kings. Would that give us the strength to say “no” to what God would consider inappropriate or offensive? 

Your worth is never dependent on opinion, social status, family genealogy or your bank account. Your worth is found through your identity in Jesus Christ.  

You are royalty!

We are royalty because we are daughters of God! 

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12, NLT); and since we are His children, we are His "heirs" (Romans 8:17).  

Never be afraid to shout your no as you live to glorify the King of Kings. 

Regardless of the cost.  

Kolleen Lucariello, #TheABCGirl, is the author of thesoon-to-be-released #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time. Koleen is also Co-director of the women's ministry, Activ8Her: helping women to build confidence in leadership, become courageous in our faith, and create connection in relationship. Kolleen and her high school sweetheart, Pat, reside in Central New York. She's a mother of three married children and Mimi to six incredible grandkids. For more information about Kolleen, visit her website or activ8her.org.

Painting: "Vashti Refuses the King's Summons" by Edwin Long.

Seeking Spiritual Discernment Is Brave

Janet Thompson writes solid, biblical books on a number of tough topics—cancer, prodigal children, infertility, mentoring, etc.—and in this Biblical Thinking UPGRADE, she challenges us to look at the topic of discernment, which is more than just knowing what to do.

"Imagine a scenario where you observe a situation and your instinct tells you something isn’t right, but you look around and no one else seems alarmed," Janet said. "Everyone is carrying on as if nothing abnormal is happening.

"Do you intervene or do you walk away?"

Good question! I (Dawn) have often prayed for discernment about a tough situaiton, and then when I got that answer from the Lord, sometimes it was truly hard to follow through. I'm glad Janet is taking the topic of discernment one step further, because sometimes we need courage to obey God's direction!

Janet continues . . .

As women of faith, praying for the spirit of discernment can prove to be a brave and bold request in itself.

When we humbly ask God to reveal His will to us for specific situations, even when others may not see what we perceive, God may ask us to perform courageous acts that could be life-saving or forever life-changing.

We can become the brave spiritual warriors that our world needs so desperately.

We tend to categorize “brave women” as those who go into the mission field or into the military. Police officers, firefighters, first responders. Any woman who goes into a dangerous career, willing to lay down her life for a job, cause or belief is superhero—brave in our eyes.

Or we may only attribute bravery to men.

Typically, we don’t consider that “ordinary” women like you and me display real bravery and courage every single day, often in the routines of life.

We may not realize that a courageous heart makes us “superheroes” to those who know us and especially to God.

How Do We Know When God Wants Us to Bravely Intervene?

James 1:5–6 reminds us:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

1. Pray.

Prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s wise direction and guidance gleaned from reading the Bible and prayer.

Spiritual discernment and godly wisdom lets God guide.

2. Be patient.

Discernment takes time and effort to develop as we grow and mature in our faith and develop an ability to sense God’s plan and purpose in a given situation.

3. Obey.

Expectantly ask God for the willingness, strength, and desire to take whatever action our discernment dictates and let God handle the consequences.

Some Christians are more sensitive than others to the still small voice of God; but with patience, studying—not just reading—God’s Word, and a desire to know God’s will, we all have the ability to seek and obtain discernment to be braver than we ever thought possible.

Maybe you’ve sensed the pain behind a word or facial movement or body stance. You know there’s a sadness hidden behind, “No, everything is fine.”

Discernment is seeing what others may not see or say.

It’s more than just a hunch, or burying our hunch in denial, even when faced with observable evidence of a problem. When we discern a situation, we have a choice—ignore or ask God what He wants us to do about it.

Sometimes, we can wait to take action, but other times we can’t dodge, deny, or dismiss the signs that our discernment is revealing—we’re the ones who must act immediately.

In Everyday Brave, I tell the biblical story of Huldah, an Old Testament prophetess who King Josiah asked to decipher the meaning of the lost “book of the law” found during restoration of the temple. Huldah felt dismay, but not panic, as she resolutely read the words in “the book.” She knew she must bravely tell the king the dreadful consequences of the Israelites’ sin and rebellion.

God wanted her to proclaim the truth, no matter how distressing, from His written Word.

Fortunately, because of King Josiah’s grief over hearing from Huldah about his people’s unfaithfulness to follow God’s laws and His covenant with them, God gave a reprieve of punishment during Josiah’s reign.

Josiah took advantage of God’s grace to initiate a spiritual revival.

Lives saved, spiritually and physically, all because Huldah bravely resolved to interpret God’s Word truthfully, even though it was painful for all to hear.

In moments that require the spirit of discernment, we need to pray for God’s protection and then respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. If we ignore the Holy Spirit, we may regret it or even feel responsible for a preventable crisis.

It takes great courage to step out in faith on a revealed truth.

If it’s God’s will, He will be there, giving us the help and reassurance we need when it’s difficult or others shy away from getting involved.

When you act on Holy Spirit–inspired discernment, you’re braver than you know.

So what would you do now when facing a situation you know isn’t right? 

Janet Thompson is an international speaker, freelance editor, and award-winning author. She mentors women in sharing their life experiences and God’s faithfulness. Janet's latest book, Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith, releases today, September 10, 2019! Among the 20 books she's authored: Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness; Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten; Dear God, Why Can’t I Have a Baby?; Dear God They Say It’s Cancer; Dear God, He’s Home!; Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter. She founded Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries. Sign up for Janet's blog/free newsletter at womantowomanmentoring.com.

Graphic adapted, Photo courtesy of Bethany Laird on Unsplash.