Spiritual amnesia is the greatest issue facing the church today.

When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied… Do not say to yourself, "My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth. (Deut 18:12-18)

"The problem with affluence, then, is not that there is anything wrong with prosperity itself but that material abundance often leads to spiritual amnesia."

Spiritual amnesia is the greatest issue facing the church today.

Because we have been so richly blessed, we have forgotten the source of these blessings. We somehow think that the blessings came because of what we did and that it is up to us to keep those blessings. It is hard to let go when you think they belong to you. That's why Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Matt 6:24)

For evidence of this spiritual amnesia all you need do is look at the giving records of our people. Most ELCA Lutherans give less than 2% of their income to charity.

When you compare this to the biblical mandate of the tithe (10%) you can see the disparity. Also, according to scripture, a tithe is to be just a beginning point for our giving.

We are called to go beyond that as we think of the needs of others.

For this reason I have felt called, as the synod's pastor, to address this spiritual amnesia in as direct a way as I can. I have started visiting with pastors and congregations to equip, empower and encourage faithful stewardship.

Over the next two years I hope to visit with every pastor and congregational council and stewardship committee/team in our synod. For I believe our very "souls" are at risk because of the abundance we have.

As a part of his Sermon on the Mount Jesus also said:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in haven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

May you find your treasure in God, and not in the blessings that God gives.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Jim Stuck

Note: Bishop Stuck will be visiting each congregation during the next two years. You can see a month by month schedule on his journey here.