“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” — Jesus
Much of Christian fundraising today feels like used-car sales tactics with Bible verses slapped on. Ick.
Brace for impact — ‘tis the season for the annual barrage of church and nonprofit appeals promoting year-end giving. They give me the Ick.
Gen Z coined the term to describe that secondhand embarrassment or gut-level aversion when something just feels off. That’s exactly how many of these appeals land — manipulative and self-serving.
Just today, our snail mail delivered three donation requests from organizations we’ve never supported and one from a group we actually do. Every day from now through early January is “rinse and repeat.”
Then come the lunch and dinner invitations that always end with the same well-rehearsed pitch — a story, a need, and the inevitable “match gift” to sweeten the deal. Cue the arm-twist. More Ick.
This kind of fundraising is common but not biblical. Our culture’s fascination with money and influence has seeped into the Church, shaping our methods more than the Master. We rely on donor psychology instead of divine provision. The irony? Every dollar we chase still reads, “In God We Trust.”
For, Not From
Much of this behavior is transactional — designed to get money from the donor. But the biblical model of generosity is transformational — partnership for the Kingdom.
Paul captured it beautifully when he discipled the Corinthian church:
“In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity… Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:1-4
The Macedonian believers gave not out of guilt or pressure but out of grace. Even in hardship, they pleaded for the privilege to participate in God’s work.
Paul himself modeled this same posture:
“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing… These hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions… remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
— Acts 20:33-35
This is fundraising reimagined — not a strategy to extract resources but a call to mutual transformation through generosity.
Faithraising, Not Fundraising
So how did we drift so far from that mission and message?
A better way begins with a better mindset — one rooted in for-ness. With the right motives and a heart aligned with Scripture, we can emphasize:
- Relationship over revenue
- Transparency over pressure
- Trust over tactics
That’s what I call faithraising — cultivating faith in both giver and receiver.
When our fundraising reflects the Father’s heart, it stops being an Ick and starts being an act of worship. With a Spirit-powered renewal of the mind, even our methods can mirror the mission.
Run the play.
Sign me up for faithraising.
Finding Our Place in the Story
- What motivates my generosity—transaction or transformation?
When I give, do I see it as a way to support a cause, or as a sacred partnership in God’s work of shaping lives, including my own? - How can I cultivate trust instead of tactics?
Whether I’m raising funds, serving, or leading, what would it look like to approach people with transparency and relationship rather than pressure or persuasion? - What would “faithraising” look like in my sphere of influence?
How might I encourage others to see giving not as loss but as an act of worship that grows faith in both giver and receiver?
Leave a Reply