Why Pastors Must Talk About Money with John Rinehart
We cannot get through one day without seeing, hearing, or reading something about money and wealth. The world is consumed by this topic while pastors rarely talk about it. In this episode, we’re talking with John Rinehart, the founder of Gospel Patrons, about his recent poem to pastors. John believes pastors play a crucial role in teaching God’s people about money and wealth, and we couldn’t agree more.
Pastors, Please Talk About Money
A Poem by John Rinehart
Tell us what the Bible says
Read us the words that are in red
It’s in our thoughts and on our minds
The world talks about it all of the time.
Is money the measure of success?
Or just the reason we feel so stressed?
Is the eye of the needle really so small?
Or was Jesus exaggerating after all?
We know you get your salary
From your people’s generosity
And understand it feels self-serving
To teach these parts that are unnerving
But unless you do, we will not grow
To bear thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold.
Please carry the light and lift it high,
We need to see the truth from lies.
Don’t tiptoe around. This issue is core.
Don’t knock politely. Kick open the door.
We have not yet seen the joy of giving
And don’t believe it’s truly living
To give instead of to receive
But you can help us to believe:
These words of life are true for us
And this world’s treasures end in rust
We‘re not expecting you to be
An MBA or CFP
But you have words of power to bring
God’s living water, straight from the spring
Be bold, be strong. Speak like our Lord
Whose words on money would never bore.
We want more than budgets and charts
Please preach a message to our hearts.
Grind our golden calves to dust
And lift up the God we ought to trust
Come wake us up and set us free
We need you now, our pastors be.
(Article originally published at gospelpatrons.org)