Perry Noble Wants Your Church To Be "Funded and Free"

Perry Noble's April 12 blog post was entitled "Top Ten Financial Mistakes a Church Makes - Part 1." (Part 2 can be read here). This was a guest post written by Joe Sangl, host of next week's upcoming Funded and Free conference. The number one mistake Sangl lists?

No Vision 

The Bible states in Proverbs 29:18 that “Where there is no vision, the people perish …” This is absolute truth. Churches that lack clear direction and vision are poorly funded because attenders have no clarity on how their sacrificial giving dollars will be used to accomplish the vision and build the Kingdom. Dr. John C. Maxwell has shared this incredible wisdom regarding this subject – “Where there is no vision, the people perish. And where there are no financial resources, the vision perishes. (Online Source)

Of course, this is a common misuse of Proverbs 29:18 among seeker-driven pastors. Setting that fact aside for a moment, it is interesting to note that, in his pastoral epistles to Timothy and Titus (and in all of his letters, for that matter), the Apostle Paul never once instructed the young leaders to propagate some personal, yet "God-given" vision. Even less did Paul teach them that they must have a divine "vision" in order to maintain financial resources.

Noble has published these blog posts as a means of encouraging his church-leading readers to attend next week's Funded and Free conference. At this conference, attendees will gain the following insights:

(Online Source)

"How to increase operational giving in your church by 30% or more?" Whatever happened to faith and trust in God for the growth of one's ministry, both in size, scope and finances? This particular statement could also leave the average churchgoer wondering if this is merely a politically correct way of saying that these pastors will learn techniques that will aid in the manipulation of the flock.

(Online Source)

Note the irony in the language used above: "Are you frustrated that despite your efforts, you can't seem to increase your giving?" The Funded and Free conference wants to teach pastors how to fund their "God-given" vision. Yet, if God is truly giving them this "vision," would He not then provide the resources for it to be executed? Perhaps a better question would be: where in Scripture does God indicate that each pastor will be given a personal revelation from God? After all, that is the claim that seemingly is being made here. Rather, is not the "vision" and mission of the Church stated very clearly in passages such as Matthew 28:18-20? Is not the pastor's call outlined unambiguously throughout the pastoral epistles, and quite specifically in passages like 2 Timothy 4:1-5?

Pastor, Proverbs 29:18 read properly and in context is not about the grand dream and vision that you claim God has granted you for the expansion of your church. As such, a conference designed to teach you how to fund that alleged vision is, in a word, unnecessary. Please read the Word, pastor, for this alone is God's true "vision." Then, preach that Word faithfully, and God will no doubt ensure that His will is accomplished.