When it comes to the church and money, everybody has an opinion.  Our attitude towards God and money has been shaped by the media, our assumptions or by personal experience (good or bad).  Since we just talked about this on Sunday, I want to blog about God and money this week.  To kick it off, this should be the starting spot for our thinking...

- Christ Followers have always been marked by a radical generosity!  (Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:32) 

Throughout church history, Christians have approached life with a different economic mindset than most of the world around them.  They are not against having nice stuff, but Christ Followers really believe that our biggest investment needs to be in the world that is to come (Matthew 6:19-20).

The reason Christ Followers feel this way is because they've had an experience of grace.  Nobody becomes generous out of manipulation, guilt, need, etc.  However, when we encounter the grace, love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness of God it absolutely changes our heart.   If you haven't experienced God's grace, it's very possible that the topic of God and money irritates or offends you.  If you have experienced it, then you look forward to giving opportunities.

Have you encountered God's grace?  If so, I'm sure you could start a list of all the ways this has affected you.  So think about this, "How has God's grace affected you in the area of giving and generosity?"