No question—talking about money in church is difficult. One reason we are so often offended by the topic is that our understanding of economics and Jesus’ perspective are not the same. Our economy is focused on consuming. The decisions we make about what we consume (buy) are private; they don’t effect anyone else. Jesus understands that money represents a much larger picture; the decisions we make say something about who we are and what is most important. As long as we imagine our financial decisions are private, then Jesus’ words will be intrusive commands and demands. We may try to fulfill them by giving the right amount of money, but the potential for resentment is always there. But if we recognize that for Jesus, economics is another facet of the larger spiritual picture, then we can see his words as the invitation that they are, the invitation that the Gospel always is. We are invited to live lives of wholeness and inspiration, belonging to more than ourselves and living for more than ourselves.
How can our financial decisions be part of our response to the Gospel? What if we put the words we are used to hearing in church—words like compassion, justice, community, forgiveness, love, inspiration—into the unusual context of our daily spending decisions? Literally you could write a Gospel word and put it in your wallet to be discovered every time you get out your money. Juxtaposing the two—Gospel words and spending—might illuminate the connections and help us see the spiritual side of money. Try putting the Gospel words in this unusual place. Do you see anything new? Anything blessed?