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- There's no room for the transactional mindset in the church...
There's no room for the transactional mindset in the church...
(here’s what to replace it with to cultivate true generosity)
Giving can be a tough topic to talk about in the church. Many pastors struggle with talking about generosity directly, though the Bible calls directly to us to give.
With a strong, clear call to give and build generosity in the church, what’s holding leaders back?
Often, the problem is rooted in mindset.
The transactional mindset… and why it’s holding you back
When you think about generosity in the church, where does your mind go? For many pastors this it’s a place of fear or anxiety because they worry they’re coming across as self-serving.
When you approach giving with a transactional mindset, this tension (or fear) stems from the lens of asking people to financially support the organization that also cuts your paycheck. While to a certain extent, this is true — the church does operate from financial offerings — the mindset is damaging for yourself, your church and your congregation.
Generosity isn’t a matter of the bank account… it’s a matter of the giver’s heart.
You can’t tap into the true value of giving with a transactional mindset and you can’t guide your congregation to build a better relationship with God with this mindset either — it’s important to take a Biblical approach to teaching about generosity.
But it is time to make a shift and start breaking down the barriers holding you and your congregation back from a true transformation of the heart. Starting with…
The transformational mindset
When you give, the focus shouldn’t be on the transaction itself.
Philippians 3:12 sheds some light on the true value of generosity:
“I sought not the gift for my own account, but for the increase that came to your account.”
The liberating truth about giving: It’s not about you, as the church leader.
Giving is about the transformation of the giver. When you stop treating the topic of generosity as the church receiving and start focusing on the benefits of the heart of the giver, the entire conversation shifts toward the true will of God.
This mindset shift also allows you to speak with authority on generosity and begin to cultivate it in the hearts of your congregation — meanwhile, the transactional mindset only allows you to speak apologetically, ultimately holding your members back from a true heart transformation.
Action Items: How to shift from transactional to transformational
1. Encourage reflection and avoid instant-action pressure
For most lessons in the Bible, the call to action is self-reflection. But with giving, the call to action is very clear and often followed by an offering collection. Consider talking with your congregation about taking time to reflect before they give. Avoid pressuring individuals to give an offering immediately following a sermon.
This doesn’t mean you have to stop passing the offering plate — some people are called by God to make an offering immediately. But let your congregation know giving is an issue of the heart and reflection is welcome and encouraged.
2. Let the text speak for itself
Offerings should be collected when the congregation is together — that’s not something churches want to move away from. However, the teaching needs to stand on its’ own without the collection itself.
Consider taking time to ensure your sermons on money, giving and generosity stand on their own regardless of the application the financial gifts will be used for. Focus on text-driven lessons rather than financial outcome-driven sermons.
3. Don’t talk about money; talk about discipleship
You can’t build a culture of giving without talking about money. But many church leaders don’t want to become the church that’s “always talking about money.”
The simple solution: Don’t talk about money. Talk about discipleship in all areas of life. The Bible calls followers of Christ to give — it’s a cornerstone of walking in a path of faith. Engage in conversations about giving as a matter of the heart, not a matter of transaction. Until you are leading your congregation in all areas of discipleship, including financial giving, you may struggle to build a generosity culture.
When you kick the transactional mindset to the curb and start embracing the transformational mindset, generosity can become what it’s meant to be: A pillar of discipleship in your congregation. As a church leader, it’s your responsibility to reflect and make sure your focus is in the right place: Heart transformation.