Wisconsin Christian News - Rob Pue

Are you a Christian?  Do you love your fellow Christians?  Do you support them, help them in their time of need, pray for them when you say you’ll pray for them?  If they’re in need, and it’s within your power to help them, do you do so without a second thought?  Or do you need to consider whether or not you want to? 

Or, like some, do you put things in more “spiritual” terms saying, “I need to pray about whether or not God would have me help you.”   Or do you just flat out say such things as, “I just don’t feel led by God to help.” 

That may sound spiritual, but is it really from God?  Would GOD really tell someone not to help their Christian brother when he’s in need?  Or would such “feelings” and “leadings” come from the enemy — the one who desires nothing more than to see Christians languishing in turmoil, while their brothers and sisters, able to help, stand by and do nothing, and feel no concern for them at all?

Certainly, we should pray without ceasing and seek the Lord’s direction in all things.  But in this area, Scripture is clear.  Jesus said, in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.”  How can you love your fellow Christian, and then ignore their needs, when it’s easily within your ability to help them, support them in a tangible way and bless them?

In short, if you see a brother or sister in need, is it a “no brainer” that you’ll do all you can to help?  Or do you simply “wish” them well and go your way, utterly ignoring the need?  I can’t count the number of times I hear Christians say, flippantly, “We’ll be prayin’ for ya!” But do these people really pray?  Or is this simply the “Christian” way of saying, “‘Buzz off — I can’t be bothered’ — but if I tell them I’ll pray for them, at least I’ll sound like I’m holy and spiritual.”  Actually, you really don’t give it a second thought, and you’ve really done nothing at all — except lie. I know that’s a hard truth to hear, but examine yourself and ask if you’ve ever done exactly that.

James discussed this topic when he spoke about faith without works.  James 2:14-17... “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?...If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, ‘Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;’ notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

In this passage, we’re clearly instructed to help our brothers physically, not just in prayer.  Yes, we’re also instructed throughout the Bible to pray — not only for fellow believers, but even for our enemies.  But here we see clearly that if we’re able to help in a tangible, physical way and refuse to do so, our faith is dead, and therefore, worthless.

Many in our churches today have learned to look very spiritual, but inside remain very self-centered.  They live in lavish homes, take expensive vacations, spare no expense on the best of everything, and entertain themselves with toys and luxuries.  Yet many of these same people allocate little to none of their income to bless and support Christian ministries. And there are many very vital ministries today, in extreme hardship, but finding no support from the Church or professing Christians.   Now, most true Christians do give as they’re able.  However, a recent study showed that 37% of church-going Protestant Christians give nothing to anyone, not even a token $5 a year, not even to their own church; 37% is quite a few, and it means that more than one in three never give a dime...even though they’re more than able.

These same people, who will think nothing of spending a hefty sum on a new car,  will refuse to support their local Christian bookstore owner, who’s struggling to keep his doors open and serve as a ministry to the community.  Instead, they’ll buy their stuff on Amazon and save a few bucks.  Others, when they find a local Christian business owner, will automatically expect a discount and be indignant if they don’t get one.  Still others will expect it to be completely free!  They equate the word “Christian” with “FREE!”

This has come up quite often, with our ministry, Wisconsin Christian News.  We always make our resources freely available to those who ask.  I send out audio CDs, transcripts of radio programs, and printed copies of our newspaper to any and all who simply ask; in return we just ask that they consider making a donation of any amount to help cover our expenses.  I know there are many who contact us who are living on very limited resources and truly cannot afford to spare anything at all.   But if we’re to continue this work the Lord has set before us for nearly 30 years now, financial help is needed.  We’re not a huge organization.  We accomplish a tremendous amount of ministry work on an amazingly small, tight budget.  On paper, it seems impossible that we can be having this much impact with so few resources.  The gospel is free, but there are real, and growing expenses involved in ministering as we do. Now, of course, everyone says they’ll be happy to send something to help with our expenses  — and a little extra to support the ongoing work of our ministry — but the reality is, way fewer than 1% ever send anything at all.  I assume other ministries have experienced this as well.

Wisconsin Christian News is also an incredibly effective outreach to the “not yet saved.”  Each month we place thousands of copies of our newspaper in news racks in busy public places for people to pick up for free. I can’t begin to explain here, the enormous cost of doing that. But we press on, because it’s our printed newspaper in public places that unsaved people pick up on their own because something on our front page grabs their attention, and they want to learn more. We’ve had amazing testimonies from people who have come to know the Lord as Savior for the first time, because they found our newspaper in some busy public place. We also send out free subscriptions of our printed newspaper to jail and prison inmates anytime we’re asked. In most cases, this is the only Christian information they ever get...and they rely on it.

In doing all this, we’re reaching more people out in the public square in a single month than the average church on the corner will reach in their entire existence. I don’t say this to boast... but because it appears to be true.  We’re not simply preaching “feel good messages” to the same people once a week, but we’re getting vital news, information, truth and the Word of God to thousands of people — outside the four walls of a church building....  it’s an incredible outreach!  BUT:   It costs a tremendous amount of money to do this, and we rely on God’s grace and the donations of individuals — (who are also struggling, but still give sacrificially) — to keep this mission going. Without the support of Christian brothers and sisters who believe in our work and support it financially, we would have been gone long ago. (Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how YOU can help).

I’m reminded of Galatians 6:2, where we read this: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  This is a challenge to all of us:  Do we really bear one another’s burdens?  Or do we leave our Christian brothers and sisters to fend for themselves in the face of great need?  In our current economy, I see many Christian ministries and families struggling to make ends meet.  The ministries simply struggle to serve God another day.  The families hold fast to their faith in the midst of trials, but no one comes alongside to help them.  Where are God’s people to “bear one another’s burdens?”  I believe that as Christ-followers, money and blessings should flow through us, not just to us. In this world, money is nothing more than a necessary tool, and as good stewards, when we’re blessed with plenty, we should also freely give to those in need.

While ministers should also be “tent-makers” and never expect a free lunch, I believe that those who proclaim to be Christians should go out of their way to help their fellow believers working so hard in the field — beyond the four walls of the church house.  Not just giving a little, but giving sacrificially.  Unfortunately, many who do give, make certain it’s a small enough amount that they won’t miss it.  They’ll toss a ministry $5 and feel they’ve done their part. Because if they were to give $50, or $100, then they wouldn’t have the cash to go out to lunch after church.  For too many, their own comfort always seems to come first.

Now, I don’t mean to advise anyone to not give to their local church — if there’s real visible fruit there. But friends, many of these churches are already fully funded!  Many of these churches have tens of thousands of dollars in bank accounts, and lack for nothing!  The pastors receive hefty salaries, paid vacations, free housing, generous healthcare and retirement plans.  Many churches are doing quite well, but they’re not really making disciples. Instead, most focus only on their own programs, inside their own four walls.

Plenty of social gatherings for the Senior Saints, pizza parties for the teens, plenty of potlucks and “fellowship” times, but how many “sheep” are really being discipled to GO and preach the gospel on the corner down the street?  How many are being trained up for the work of the ministry?  How many pastors train — and then lead — their people to save the lives of innocent babies outside an abortion center, or stand as a restraining force against the evil at “pride” or “drag queen” events? How many train their congregations to be salt, light and courageous truth-tellers in this world of demonic deception? More often than not, we simply hold “services” for those who come, rather than training disciples for the work of the ministry and teaching them to GO and to serve those who will never come.

We’ve been taught to “tithe” and give all our offerings to the programs of the local church, while ignoring the needs of ministries that are really going and doing the work the church should be doing.  We continue to give money to an organization that’s already fully funded;  we’re paying for new carpet, for lawn care, fancy new signage, sanctuary remodeling — and meanwhile ministries outside the church can barely keep food on the table and gas in the car for their families. I hope you’ll think about these things, and put your valuable resources where they’re so desperately needed, rather than where they just add to an already bloated “slush fund.”  Even if we’re faithful in our giving, but our giving is not going where it’s truly needed most, I don’t believe that’s honoring to the Lord. 

Many people working in Christian ministry today are giving their all. I personally know many who’ve invested their entire life savings, sold many personal possessions, and have sacrificed greatly to continue the work God has called them to.  Meanwhile, those who are supposed to be their Christian brothers and sisters never answer the desperate appeals to help them in any way. By doing so, they’re effectively saying, as James reads, “Go in peace and be well fed,” but they do nothing to help that happen.

Many in true ministry work today, toil endlessly without a break and without rest.  Offer to come alongside them.  Offer to help bear the burden.  And please, if you’re able, offer to share of your finances.  This is truly where the rubber meets the road.  No, you cannot support every ministry, and God doesn’t expect you to.  But He does expect you to have mercy and to bless others as you’ve been blessed. If you’re not willing to go and minister yourself, then please...support those who already do.  Is there anything more important in these chaotic, troubled times?  We must all work together now, as active parts of the Body of Christ, supporting and exhorting one another, and using the resources we’ve been entrusted with for His glory. All the blessings and resources God gives us should flow through us, not just to us.  That’s what being a good steward is.