God Gas!
No, I’m not talking about flatulence! I’m talking about plain old gasoline.
Last night I saw a news story on one of the local Cincinnati channels about a gas station where the price was only $2.07 per gallon. I was floored when I saw that because gas prices have been hovering at around $2.45 for the past week or so.
Here’s what was so cool about this: the reason the price of gas was so low is because a local church donated $1500 to the gas station so that people in the community could save money! That’s awesome! And while people were getting gas, church members were checking people’s fluids, washing windows, etc.
What a great way for a church to bless its community–with no strings attached!
Click here to see one of the news stories that aired (you’ll have to watch the commercial first; then the story will play). Check out the church’s website here and the pastor’s blog here.
29 Mar 2007 markus
Markus Watson
I’m just asking: is it really that cool? Have we churches just assumed that servant evangelism is completely Biblical and unknowingly taken this a tad too far?
Let’s work this out: people are sick of the high gas prices because they drive gas consuming vehicles too much. A church helps offset the high prices to make it look like they care and get some good publicity.
Is this what God wants from his church? Where is the countercultural message here? We like to cite that Jesus went around fulfilling needs but I think this is an incredible misunderstanding of Jesus’ ministry.
It just feels like we’re playing up to our country’s consumeristic mindset. Is it better to take that $1500 and give it to an organization that could put it to work helping those who truly need it? I know this question can be asked about many ways that churches spend money, but has this been thoroughly thought out?
Just asking . . .
Wow, Steve! Pretty cynical… ;-)
You’re probably right, though. There probably are a million better ways that $1500 can be spent. But instead of complaining, I’d rather cheer that a church is doing something good. Maybe it’s not as good as some, but I think it’s better than most.
The church could have purchased 150 $10 gas cards and given them to single working moms throughout the community. I’d bet that some of those who guzzled the $2.07 gas were more excited about finding cheap gas than thanking God for the discount.