It's that time of year when many in leadership positions in churches give thought to how they might celebrate the coming Christmas season, and how they might determine and secure their church budget for the coming year.

Meanwhile, as they do this, the business world devises its own elaborate plans to remind humanity-at-large that Christmas is just around the corner and it would be good if we all started our holiday shopping as early as possible. Obviously, their goal is banking big bucks, not contemplating Christ. It is making money, not managing God's creation.

Whenever any publishing house or fellow student of the Word suggests that I look through a new translation of the Bible, I begin by running through a little checklist of about twenty verses to see if the translators truly grasped the story and the message--or "adjusted" them to match their own theological position.

I am delighted by the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation of Matthew 1:1, "An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah"--rather than "Jesus Christ." Many see "Christ" as merely another name for Jesus, or as Jesus' last name. It is not that. It is a title--another word for "Messiah." The central message of the New Testament is that Jesus was and is the Messiah, that in Him the Messianic Age has broken in, and that He is the full and final Word of God, Torah, Law, Truth. The implications for the church and the world are enormous! After all, there are many who are quite happy to believe in a Jesus who died for their sins and assures them of eternal life, but not quite so happy to hear that this same Jesus, this Servant-Messiah, calls us to follow Him as Lord in servant-discipleship in all we think, do, and say.

Now, a word about those budgets! The more I grapple with the mind, manner, mission, and meaning of Jesus, the more I am convinced that God is calling many churches to a radical change in thinking. The need in Christian circles is not to get people to give more , but to inspire them to hang on to less--to rob less . After all, there is no such thing as "Christian giving," for we cannot give what is not ours. There is only "Christian managing." As we suggest in several of our study manuals, the First Article of the Apostles'; Creed might do well to begin, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker and Owner of heaven and earth.";

Jesus' parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21) contains challenging insights. Jesus reminded the rich man that it was the land, not the man, that produced abundantly--and God owns the land. Jesus also reminded him that his very life was being lent to him by God, and that very night God would demand that the rich man's life-on-loan be returned to its Owner. He was about to die!

Big truths? Yes! Essential truths? Yes! Crossways International would consider it an honor and a joy to help you share more about these Christmas and stewardship/budget truths--not to mention other great Biblical truths--with your people through the use of our study materials. Please call us. And note that when you do so during normal business hours, a real person will speak with you--for our focus is not machines, but ministry.