Came across an interesting article this weekend that talks about a topic I’m not really comfortable talking about... giving money to church.

Here’s what the article said...

“An annual study of church giving shows most church money goes to activities within the congregation collecting the money.  Only a small percentage goes to outreach, evangelism, or benevolence activities outside the congregation.”

“Sylvia and John Ronsvalle of Champaign, Illinois-based Empty Tomb inc., in their sixteenth annual study of church giving, say that Christianity in the United States is becoming a “maintenance organization’ that - if trend continue  soon will be spending 100 percent of its resources on maintaining its current programs and activities.”

“The average US congregations member gave 2.56 percent of personal income to the church in 2004.  That’s down 18 percent from 1968, and below giving levels from the early 1930s at the height of the Depression.  Instead, Americans spend almost four times as much on entertainment as on church giving.”

Ok here are my thoughts on this one. 

I’m saddened that the church in america spends so much money on themselves.  I’m guessing this has to do with buildings, staff, insurance, maintenance, equipment, and the many many tools that it takes to pull of sunday services (sound equipment, projectors, computers, musical equipment, software, printing, handout materials, etc)

To me this is a great argument for organic churches.  They don’t require any staff, no buildings, no debt to pay off, no fancy equipment, no insurance.  The money collected in simple gatherings of believers can be distributed to those in need in the group and the rest can be used to support the poor in our communities, or to organizations and missionaries that raise their support.  And each group can decide where they want to use the money. 

I remember reading something that said that more than 80% of funds given in a simple church can be used directly for ministries outside of the group (missions, local charities, etc).  If you think about that, it’s pretty amazing, and a great stewardship of our funds.

I’ve heard people say if you want to see where your priorities are, just open your checkbook and look at where you are spending your money.

Ok, Church lets open our checkbook and see where our priorities are... staff, building funds, construction funds, maintenance, insurance, operating expenses.  And while these are not always bad things... they have become the main priorities in our checkbooks!

It’s no wonder people in these building are giving less today than they did during the depression!  People don’t want to give their money to maintain a country club... they want to be a part of something bigger than that.

I think if the local church flipped it’s priorities in spending, and spent way more outside the building, people would start giving more.  Whenever we become inward focused, we loose our sense of mission and people become unhappy.  If we keep our focus on seeking and saving the lost, people will give everything they have to be a part of that!