Why do we care about church fraud protection at Weeds In The Garden?

To be honest, well, we love honesty. Church Fraud Prevention is one way to combat a hurtful, damaging form of dishonesty. Why, though, do we love honesty?

Honesty Is A Major Part of Who We Are

For one, most of us have backgrounds in accounting. We like numbers. We constantly work with them, and when you’re working with numbers you need to know the exact ones you’re dealing with, otherwise everything gets thrown off. You all remember high school algebra, right? Well, maybe you don’t, but if you do then you know what we’re talking about here. You’re teacher would ask one question, then to answer the next, you had to have the correct answer to that previous question. We remember this, and we know the importance of having the right numbers. But that’s not the only reason we love honesty.

The other thing that defines us is our faith. As big of a reason for honesty as our love of math is, our love of God is bigger. With out love of God comes a respect of, and love for, the Bible. We read our Bibles, we study our Bibles, and we take the message from God within our Bibles to be truth. We take it as honesty. In that message we see a Church Fraud Prevention as a strong opposition to lies and dishonesty. As leaders, we take this verse from Hebrews to heart:

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
-Hebrews 13:18

Watch Out For Wolves

This is a request of prayer by leaders, for leaders. And this is our request for you. There are evil men out there who have no love for the church. If you love your church, if you love The Church, then you need to be aware of those who do not live honorably, and who would seek to destroy the Church. This includes Church Fraud Prevention.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
-Matthew 7:15-20

God Takes Dishonesty Seriously

Although fraud has been all over the news – with companies, and banks, and even countries falling apart due to greed, lies and dishonesty – many Christians today still do not believe it can happen in their church. But they must. As leaders in the church, we are called on to look out for the flock, and to guard against lies. Since the beginning, the Lord has told us that lies are wrong and evil.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
-Exodus 20:16

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
-Proverbs 6:16-19

The Responsibility of Church Leaders

As Christians, we know we are not to do this ourselves. We know the Lord does not want a dishonest word to escape our lips. But, as the verse above from Matthew reminds us, we also have a responsibility to protect our churches from it. The Lord has allowed some of us to be leaders. He’s given us a gift, and with this gift comes a responsibility.

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
-1 Peter 5:2-3

And with that responsibility comes the opportunity for more.

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
-Luke 16:10-12

From what we can tell, the Lord has told us in the Bible that lies are wrong, that they are evil, and that we are commanded to protect the flock from evil. We take that command seriously, and we hope you will too.