Why Christians Don't Give

For those of you new to Free Money Finance, I post on The Bible and Money every Sunday. Here's why.

Here's part 2 of my thoughts on Christianity Today's piece on giving and the church. Like last time, I'll list some of their comments and my associated thoughts. We continue with the indictment of American Christians' giving:

The average, regularly attending churchgoer gives 6 percent of after-tax income, but that's a mean skewed by a handful of very generous givers. The median annual giving for an American Christian is actually $200, just over half a percent of after-tax income. About 5 percent of American Christians provide 60 percent of the money churches and religious groups use to operate. (It's these people who skew the average.) "A small group of truly generous Christian givers," say Passing the Plate's authors, "are essentially 'covering' for the vast majority of Christians who give nothing or quite little."

Median giving is $200. Is this pathetic or what? But the facts get even more brutal:

In addition, America's biggest givers—as a percentage of their income—are its lowest income earners. "Americans who earn less than $10,000 gave 2.3 percent of their income to religious organizations," Smith, Emerson, and Snell write, "whereas those who earn $70,000 or more gave only 1.2 percent." While the actual percentages are slightly higher for Christians who regularly attend church, the pattern is similar. Households of committed Christians making less than $12,500 per year give away roughly 7 percent of their income, a figure no other income bracket beats until incomes rise above $90,000 (they give away 8.8 percent).

Well, at least there's a bit of brightness in there. It appears that the $90k+ incomes are being generous (on average.) I guess it's the vast majority of the middle-of-the-pack earners who give little to nothing.

So why are Christians not as generous as many of them could be? Quite simple -- they're spending what they have on themselves:

A major reason Christians don't give more is because many can't. Fixed costs in households have increased from 54 percent to 75 percent of family budgets since the early 1970s. "A mere two buying decisions—the purchases of homes and cars—are enough to lock household budgets into tight budgetary situations for decades," they say.

It doesn't get better with larger incomes, says Bill Walter, a financial planner for 35 years at Church Growth Services, a South Bend, Indiana-based consulting firm that helps churches raise money in capital campaigns. In fact, a high income often means more debt. "Oftentimes there's a misperception that if we have this really wealthy church in this well-heeled neighborhood, achieving the campaign goal ought to be a slam dunk." Instead, Walter says, "Many of the folks in the well-heeled neighborhoods driving Lexuses and going to their summer cottages are doing this all on credit."

So in other words, Christians, like non-Christians, first decide what they want to spend on themselves. Then, once those decisions are made, they see if there is anything left over. If there is, they might tip the church a bit. If not, they simply don't give.

Quite simply, they place their desires above those of the church. It's that simple.

Another part of the answer, the researchers found, is that some would-be donors don't trust how churches and religious organizations would use their donations. Only 9 percent of church-attending Christians say this is an important reason for their lack of giving—but majorities in several church families (Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Catholics) say they don't have high levels of trust in their denomination's management and allocation of funds.

If this issue is a concern for anyone reading this, I suggest you find a new church. If you can't trust your church with "your" money, you can't trust them with much.

I'll cover more of this (depressing -- though insightful) piece next Sunday.

Comments

[Sarah]

While the actual percentages are slightly higher for Christians who regularly attend church

Isn't this the problem right here? People calling themselves Christians who can't be bothered to attend church? If you go regularly and put $5 in the plate each time you will already be above $250 in contributions a year.

[Ken]

I found the article rather confusing. In some parts it looks like it relates to all charitable giving and in other parts it seems to be referring only to giving to churchs and other religious institutions. If it's the former than I agree it is a very sad commentary. If it's the latter then I have little or no problem with it.

[Kin]

Giving money to people who need them could be important and helpful. More so importantly though, instead of focusing the issue on money, is how people (and in this case, Christians) choose to live and in so doing, also choose to give what they can to both people they know and not know, and I mean not just money. Just a thought.

[aa]

Americans need to trust the government with their tax money (think bailouts), if they can't, they need to find a new country to live in???

[bubba]

perhaps folks would give more if the
government did not take 40 - 60% of
their income.

10% to the church
9% to the government (total, all levels, all taxes)
(church gets more than the government)

[HG]

It's disappointing how people limit the concept of giving by writing such articles. The last time I studied the scriptures, God’s giving surpassed a 10% monetary contribution to a local church. If that’s what you mean when you say, “Why Christians Don’t Give”, your view is limited.

Christ said, “For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” (Mat 25)

If your article had included Christians not feeding or clothing the hungry and naked, or Christians not giving their time by visiting the sick or those in prison, or fellow Christians not meeting the necessities of their brothers, widows, parents, those that bless them spiritually, then I could understand the title “Why Christians Don’t Give”.
However, like many of those who understand honoring the Lord with their substance and first fruits (Pro 3), you only spoke of giving tithes so that churches can “operate”. Okay, operate by doing what?

It’s time to look at the big picture. God so loved the world that He….

[Paul]

I noticed one point in the article that concerned me. Tithing is supposed to be the first thing in your budget. I interpret this to mean before taxes are paid. Therefore, I choose to tithe on the gross, not the net after-tax take home pay. I find it amazing how easy it is to adjust my consumption and be a little less selfish when I put the Lord first in my budget.

[msoori]

Religious organizations have become big businesses. Instead of giving to the religious organizations, its much better to give to people in need directly. True Giving is when you give without prejudice or ulterior motives. Giving to the church is giving with a motive to expand and convert others. When you see the true suffering of man, feel their pain, and give without expecting anything back or imposing your ideas or expectations, that is the truest and highest form of giving.

[Ms]

Most disturbing for me is the idea that people should be forced or pressured into giving to their churches. Also there is this hubris "I give x% and others should also give this much". I remember a while back a person's question about this issue was discussed here. He was angry that other people he knew did not donate as much. This is not good religious policy where others have to be cast as sinners for a person to consider himself a good christian. How about giving what one likes and stop at that?

[Jim]

"if the government did not take 40 - 60% of their income."

It doesn't.

Taxes in the US are about 30% of income on average and thats skewed upwards by high income earners. Typical Americans making median level income would have a tax rate around 15-25%.

Jim

[Jeff]

Jim-

What about state income tax, sales tax, property tax...

[JimL]

and payroll tax,tax on retail purchases (which runs us about 7.25% in our area), tax on utilities/phone, personal property tax (I pay $1000/year for our two cars), tax on gasoline,etc.

If you really want to see what you are paying in tax, keep your receipts, etc and add it all up. You will be amazed as to how much you are really paying.

[karen]

I have found that another reason people are not giving like they used to is so many professional beggers that go from church to church expecting handouts. They don't have regular jobs because begging is their job. there is a man at our church that does just that. Our pastor passes the offering plate 2 times, once for the church, 2nd time for this man "for gas money to come to church" but he only comes on Sunday nights to collect his offering and get a box of food from the food bank. A lady that has known this man for many years said he has always done that at every church he goes to. Is he going to other churchs when he isn't at ours collecting on Sunday morning and Wednesday night? I have had to do so much praying over this man. God forgive me if I'm wrong but the Bible does say that a man that doesn't take care of his family is worse than an infidel.

[Pastor Jack Wilson]

I noticed that many of these answers are either by non believers or those who are still drinking milk and not meat.
Government, expenses, taxes or any thing else should not affect your giving. It is God who takes care of your Necessities and may even cause you great blessing if He sees fit. Yet we are to rely on Him for all things and give as He has instructed.
One person begrudged giving to the church. He perhaps never read that the Tithes were to be brought into the storehouse. God's house will be the one to Dole it out. So if your neighbor needs financial help, don't take that from the tithe, that belongs to God. Give over the tithe or ask your Pastor if He would be able to help.
Selfishness and self centered attitude is probably the biggest reason for poverty today.