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August 14, 2007
Ken Hemphill talks about Making Change
Dr. Ken Hemphill [Ken] is not only a scholar (he has a Ph.D. from Cambridge University in England) but also a pastor. He most recently held the position of president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His current role is national strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth-a joint effort between LifeWay and the Convention. Ken is also the author of Making Change: A Transformational Guide to Christian Money Management.
Ken and I first met at the Convention meeting in San Antonio. After our lunch, I was convinced that I wanted to interview him for this blog. So, I asked him. And he graciously accepted my invitation.
So, this is the script of our e-mail interview. (No editing.)
Ben: Tell me about your observations that led to writing Making Change.
Ken: First, I must be candid to tell you that the impetus for this book came form Morris Chapman. Morris expressed to me his concern for the lack of resources available to and through our local churches for the advancement of the kingdom and the fulfillment of the Acts 1:8 challenge which requires us to advance the kingdom to the ends of the church. Having said that, I would quickly add that my observation of our local churches and my conversation with out pastors made it abundantly clear that a tremendous need existed for a biblical tool that would help people to deal with financial issues from a kingdom perspective. We are foolish to think that we can be successful in fulfilling any portion of the Acts 1:8 challenge without allowing the Lord to provide the exceedingly abundant resources through us.
Ben: How does Making Change contribute to your role as national strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth?
Ken: My role is to provide tools that will equip and empower the local church to be an effective kingdom tool. I believe that the local church is the primary tool God chooses to use to advance His kingdom on earth. Thus my role is to assist the local church. I continued to hear pastors and laypersons complain about the apathy in their church as it relates to service and giving. Further, I heard them complain about the general lack of understanding concerning the Cooperative Program. For that reason, I felt we must look allow the Bible to speak related to money management, stewardship, and the cooperative funding of mission. I think Making Change answers those questions in a style and format that is user-friendly.
Ben: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this book?
Ken: I continue to hope that the Holy Spirit will use this book to bring conviction and transformation in the area of our financial stewardship for the sake of the kingdom. But beyond that, I am praying that God will use this material to bring revival. Many Christian leaders have recently focused on the need for revival or awakening. We generally partially quote 2 Chronicles and call for a prayer meeting. But God tells us in 2 Chronicles that we must turn from our wicked way. When Israel asked God how they might return, He quickly responded that they must cease to steal from God by neglecting His tithes and offerings.
Ben: What feedback have you received about Making Change?
Ken: The response has been very positive from pastor and laity alike. They like the format which is to allow the Bible to speak for itself and they like the comprehensive nature of the study. It deals with money issues as diverse as earning it, spending it, saving it, and giving it.
Ben: Can you identify one change that is more important than another both for churches and believers today?
Ken: Absolutely! We must have a change of heart before we will ever have a change of thinking or action in relationship to giving or serving. Until we have God’s heartbeat we will always treat money, time, and talents as if they belong to us and we have the right to give or withhold them as we desire.
Ben: Your subtitle of "A Transformational Guide to Christian Money Management" suggests that Christians should manage their money differently? Why? And in what ways?
Ken: You are on target with both your observation and your question. First we manage the Lord’s money given to us in kingdom stewardship and not “our” money. Second, the money, time, and talents given to us have both the potential and opportunity to advance the kingdom until the King returns. Third, the management of God’s resources entrusted to us in this life will have a bearing on our service to the King for all eternity. We often fail to recognize that we were created to serve the King forever. This earthly kingdom is already passing away but we are “born again” to an eternal kingdom. Finally, we manage the Father’s resources with His kingdom in view so that one day we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Ben: Why do you think the spending habits of non-Christians and Christians are largely the same?
Ken: I think that many Christians actually live their lives as if this life is all of life. In other words, we live and spend without the kingdom in view. I think this happens because of the pressure of the world to have and to spend. Further, I fear that we have not always taught the full counsel of God’s Word in relationship to money and thus we behave like the world because of our ignorance of God’s Word.
Ben: Why are many pastors not already teaching this material?
Ken: I can speak for pastors but I know that many have been frightened away by some of the church growth “gurus” who said you can’t reach “boomers,” or “busters”, or whatever the current group under discussion, if we talk about money. It is significant that some of the more recent research has actually refuted this original claim. Yet beyond that, we cannot teach or refuse to teach certain biblical principles based on research data. We must teach the whole counsel of God’s Word. I am sure that other pastors may not teach this material because the issue of money tends to be a “somewhat sensitive” issue in most churches. The “sensitivity” is often related to our own disobedience to God’s principles for managing His money. This is the area where we can provide the greatest release for our people.
Ben: Is there room within the role of the church to define for its members how they should spend their money? Or is that role better left with financial planners?
Ken: First, I would say that we must speak clearly and forcefully where Scripture speaks. When you look at the outline of Making Change, you will find that I have a chapter on spending money. The average couple today spends $1.20 for every $1 they earn. You don’t have to be a certified financial planner to figure out that won’t work. In short, we must address spending from a biblical perspective. The fact that we speak to this issue does not mean that some persons in our church would not greatly profit from seeking advice from a financial planner. I have friends who feel called to be financial planners and I have great respect for their work. I would suggest that people choose financial planners who have a Christian worldview. If your financial planner does not share your kingdom perspective, it is unlikely that they will have your heart for giving and advancing the kingdom.
Ben: What would you say to someone that says, "I give my 10% to the church, so leave me alone!"?
Ken: Very candidly I would tell you that you would have very few persons to make such a comment. According to recent studies by George Barna, less than 3-5% of persons who give to church actually tithe their income. If you couple this fact with the fact that about 37% of regular church attenders do not give at all, you will see how seldom you might receive that response. Yet if someone did respond as you have indicated, I would say to them that God is concerned about how we manage all of His money not just the tenth that we are privileged to return to Him to participate with Him in advancing His kingdom. Further, I would suggest that Scripture teaches a progression in our giving so that the maturing Christian can move beyond the tithe to hilarious giving and then to “grace” giving which involves the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.
Ben: What would you say to someone that says, "Giving of service and giving of money are one in the same. And I serve the church faithfully, so that is my tithe."?
Ken: I would agree with their desire to give of their time, but would disagree that the gift of time negates the Scriptural demand to give money. Such an argument shows both a lack of faith and a lack of kingdom vision. Our goal is not to see how little we can give but to see how much God will enable us to give. I find it exciting to think that all I can use all my earthly resources in such a manner that they have Eternal Impact.
Ben: When teaching someone about giving to the church, what's more important: amount or behavior?
Ken: We must always focus on attitude of the heart in relationship to every area of Christian living. The Pharisees tithed of their mint, dill, and cumin and yet did so out of legalistic pride. Jesus indicated that they should have mastered such a trivial matter as the tithe and yet have progressed in their spirituality enabling them to consider weightier matters. Based on Jesus teaching, I would suggest that when we deal with behavior we cannot neglect amount. I find it difficult to think we should ever suggest that people should disobey a basic teaching of Scripture.
Ben: Knowing what you know now, if you could go back in time to when you pastored your first church, what would you tell yourself with respect to money and giving?
Ken: I would certainly want to teach all that the Bible teaches on this matter. I would want to provide seminars, personal counseling, and other opportunities to help people deal with the whole range of spending, debt, investing, and giving. I would approach the whole issue with a sense of excitement about the tremendous investment the King has made in us, enabling us to serve with Him to advance His kingdom. Now, that’s exciting!
Posted by bstroup at August 14, 2007 7:08 AM
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