Generosity changes the culture

John Lacy on building irresistible church communities through open-handed living

Over recent years, myself, my team and the church I lead have been on a journey to make room for those who are yet to come to know Jesus. We have thought about our culture on many levels ‒ how we function and what people experience when they step through the doors, be that during the week or in our Sunday worship gatherings.

We have begun to have more faith to expect that those who are not yet followers of Jesus are in every space, from the small meetings to the large. That changes the way we communicate and explain things, and therefore we don’t assume prior knowledge or understanding. I have been thinking through: WHAT ARE THE ‘CULTURES AND VALUES’ THAT SHAPE A CHURCH OR AN ORGANISATION THAT MAKE IT IRRESISTIBLE AND CAUSE PEOPLE TO WANT TO BECOME PART OF IT?

One such area that I have seen tremendous blessing in over the years is the culture of generosity. When we are generous ‒ with our language, how we encourage, how we welcome and how we serve and give ‒ I believe God responds. We serve a generous God who is lavish with his love; he gave us all that we see and steward in the world. But more than that, his greatest act of generosity in sending his Son, Jesus, for our salvation, is the ‘richest’ of gestures and provision. His generosity made way for our redemption.

Our temptation in this life is to look after number one, to make sure that we have enough to secure our future. Remember the rich young ruler in Luke 12:13-21? Jesus tells the story of a rich young man who was wealthy in earthly terms, and who felt his wealth secured his future, and yet Jesus predicts his destruction because he is not “rich toward God”. Whatever holds dominion in our lives, shapes and determines our future. Where fear or caution rule over faith and generosity, our world is limited. God calls us to a better way of inside-out living.

On holiday recently, I picked up a handful of sand on a beautiful Northumbrian beach. I recalled a prophetic picture that I had shared with our church several months before. When we hold sand in our hand, if we hold it lightly it can flow out from between our fingers; so it is in the Kingdom. If we hold lightly that which God has blessed us with, it can flow away to bless others. Conversely, if we squeeze the sand tightly, sooner or later it will begin escaping our fist. This is what the rich young ruler would experience as he held so tightly to the riches and blessings of this world.

People are attracted to generous cultures, as I believe they reflect the very heart of God. I think many times Christians can be far more generous with their criticism than they are generous with their encouragement. Imagine what it feels like for someone who knows nothing of the wonderful faith we share, to be warmly welcomed. For them not to feel judged but loved as they are, and able to understand the language and practices of the church. It would be wrong of us to say we are saved by God’s grace but then not extend that grace towards others.

Imagine, and remember how wonderful it is as you realise that Jesus died for your sins that you may inherit eternal life, but also that you are being welcomed into a place that you can call ‘home’. A place where spiritual fathers and mothers will guide you gently, at the right pace, and help you realise the benefits of your new life.

Imagine what it then feels like to know that you can be a part of this ‘new kingdom’ as you bring your time, talents and resources to it; to realise you are part of something bigger, a narrative that doesn’t spin around you but orbits around the call to reach those who haven’t yet shared in the provision that you have experienced.

Let us take every opportunity to live generously; and share the generosity of God with those in our lives, and with those whose paths cross ours every day.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.