Fear, Wisdom, and Stewardship

Fear is so prevalent in Western Christianity we have theological names for it to hide behind. Two words we use to mask fear are wisdom and stewardship. We use the word wisdom to mean let's maintain the status quo, it would be unwise to change what we are doing, and problem free comfort is the primary goal. We use the word stewardship to justify selfishness with our money and property, we hoard these things for the saints instead of risking them missionally. New Testament wisdom is living by faith, and as John Wimber used to say faith is spelled R-I-S-K. Faith leaves comfort, prays for the sick and expects them to get well, casts out demons and is often leaving familiar places and people for God adventures. And in the New Testament money and property are not evil at all, but seen as tools to expand God's Kingdom on earth, they are given away generously for the cause of evangelism and mercy. Whenever I hear the words let's be wise or practice good stewardship I listen carefully to hear if it is the voice of fear or faith behind these words. All too often out of my mouth and the mouths others it has been the voice of fear.