Stewardship Connections

In the epistemology of ecclesiology matters of "stewardship" can be considered as subsets to the over-arching themes of ministry in daily life. Because "ministry in daily life" identifies the locus of ministry in time and space, it offers to "stewardship" a more expanded view of Christian life and confounds the continuing notion that "stewardship" equals money (or more specifically, funding the mission of God in the local congregation.)

A theological construct developed under the umbrella of "ministry in daily life" gives to stewardship an instrumentality that connects to God's purpose and will, whereas "stewardship" can (mistakenly) seem to lack utility. (The question that the term "stewardship" finds a difficult time answering is "Why be a steward?" or "Toward what end does stewardship go?") Ministry implies purpose, movement, meaning, change, even transformation. With this in mind, the practitioner of ecclesiastical stewardship — there ARE other stewardships in God's world! — can find easy and frequent connections between the two terms and their theological drayage, among them the following: Thankfulness, Principled Living, Legacy, and Value-Exchange Theory.

Thankfulness
Paul's concept of thankfulness, although not as easily seen in recent studies of motivation for giving, operates to engender generosity in the heart of the believer.   This understanding of stewardship — I am thankful to God and so I do "thankful things" like giving money to the church — can be more easily understood in ministry in daily life terms: I show my thanks to God by my thanks for you and your life of ministry. Thus "gratitude to God" (see Philippians 1:3ff) is embodied in thankfulness for others, seen and felt in affirmation, support, encouragement and equipping of their ministries in everyday life.

Principled Living
People who live principled lives — a la Stephen Covey, et al — are standards for how to live all of life, and their congregations are deserving recipients of these individuals' financial support when the congregations offer true value to these principled Christians. In this paradigm, congregations benefit from the "whole-life stewardship" (ministry in daily life) of their members, and in return benefit from the ministry-enabling financial support of those members.

Legacy
The stewardship of God's people can be considered as a legacy of giftedness, an inheritance from one generation to another. In the space between receiving and passing on a legacy, stewards increase or leverage or grow that which they inherit, thus enlarging the size and effect of the gift received. In this understanding of stewardship, all of life is seen as a graced gift from God, and thus worthy of stewardship. Further, "stewardship" of this kind is not easily-boxed or tamed, and is seen as active and effective in life's many venues. Finally, legacy bring with it a sense of historical continuity, a changeless cycle of receiving and giving, of responsible living, a requirement for a Christian life-sense.

Value-Exchange Theory
In the recent past it has been fashionable to deplore the supposed lack of generosity or selflessness of the so-called "Me Generation(s)" in the light of their materialism and/or selfish lifestyles. The most strident criticisms have been aimed at individuals and families whose choice of congregation or mission is based on a seeming selfishness embodied in the question, "What's in it for me?"

More recent scholarship calls these easy condemnations into question, not only in light of research that now reveals increasing financial generosity, volunteerism and civility among members of the so-called Boomer and Millennial generations, but also in the light of "value-exchange theory." Based on a marketplace philosophy (e.g., the marketplace is where value is given for value received), the church as institution can be seen as a value-adding mechanism of God's Spirit, in which believers' gifts for ministry are enriched and informed, and which in turn is deserving of believers' financial support and time investment. In a society where anti-institutional mind sets prevail it may be a refreshing and renewing spirit that sees the congregation as a place where members' daily life ministries are enhanced considerably by the nurture and proclamation of the congregation, and thus receives reciprocally the enhancement of the financial and time commitments of the members. Value is exchanged among willing partners, and the kingdom of God is doubly-benefited by virtue of strengthened witness in the world and strengthened congregations. Thus, ministry in daily life begets financial stewardship begets ministry in daily life.