Why Christians (Don’t) Give

John H. Armstrong November 22nd, 2010

It was the title that initially captured my interest. One of the authors, Dr. Christian Smith, is a noteworthy teacher at Notre Dame whose previous books have caught my attention. His newest book, Passing the Plate: Why American Christian's Don't Give Away More Money, co-written with Michael O. Emerson and Patricia Snell, is truly worthy of the interest of all church leaders. After the book was released Christian Smith did an interview with Ministry & Leadership (Winter 2009) that I have read several times now. His research and insights are extremely important in my view. (The quotations I use below are taken from this interview he did on this book.)

Smith's conclusions are stark and unsettling.

"If American Christians gave generously, they could generate unbelievable amounts of resources and make a huge influence in the world. But for the most part they don't."

Read that again. It is astounding frankly.

I saw a July 4th special on Fox News Channel titled: "What's So Great About America." It featured John Stossel and included interviews with Dinesh D'Souza, which was one of the primary reasons I recorded the program on my DVR and watched it. There was a lot in this special to celebrate about the real America, not the one stereotypically misrepresented by some in the media. But the broadcast was way off in praising Americans for their amazing generosity. While it is true that we get involved like no other nation, especially in crisis like that in Haiti, we are still not extremely generous, at least so far as our standard of income goes.

Smith adds,

"Most American Christians give very little; a significant minority gives nothing. The vast majority of the entire American Christian enterprise, organizationally speaking, is funded by a small minority of generous people. If the number of generous givers was expanded to include most American Christians, they could virtually change the world."

That is astounding if you think about it at all. We "could virtually change the world." In the light of all Jesus said about our money and his kingdom I wonder how most Christians will account for this in the Last Day?

John H. Armstrong is founder and president of ACT 3, a ministry for the advancement of the Christian Tradition in the third millennium. He is a former pastor and church-planter, of more than twenty years, the author/editor of eight books, and the author of hundreds of magazine, journal, and Web based articles. John has served as the editor-in-chief of ACT 3 Review: A Journal for Faith, Church and Culture since its origin in 1992. But most importantly, he is our go-to professional religionist.

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