How’s your church handling the recession? Mine is not doing so great. Giving has plummeted, according to my pastor, and for the first time in the church’s five-year history they have been unable to meet all of their monthly obligations. I was shocked to hear that out of our congregation of more than 100 people, just 16-18 people give to the church. I also learned that my pastor only knows the big picture of our church’s financial situation– he does not know how much each member gives.
I attend a fairly small, contemporary Christian church. We meet in an office complex and offering plates aren’t passed around. There’s just a simple box on the back wall of the sanctuary where people put in their offering. Our pastor says he was never comfortable with the public nature of passing around the offering plate which is why we don’t do it. He doesn’t talk much about money, but last Sunday he did.
My pastor reminded us that God isn’t interested in the size of the gift– He’s interested in the size of the sacrifice. Often if we lose our job or our income is slashed, the first expense we look to cut is our giving. What we’re doing is cutting ourselves off from the very One we should be running to. According to recent research from the Barna Group, during the past several months, one of the ways that adults have adjusted to their financial hardships has been by reducing their charitable giving. In total, one out of every five households has dropped its giving to churches or other religious centers. It’s painfully obvious to most of us (or at least anyone with a 401k) that nothing in this world is a good investment. That’s why we are told to store up our treasures in heaven.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20)
There is some good news for faith-based charities. While 43 percent of Americans are cutting back on donations to non-profit organizations according to a survey conducted by Wilson Research Strategies for Dunham+Company, faith-based charities may not see as big of a drop as other charities. The survey found that 81 percent of people who attended church services more than once a week plan to give the same or more money in 2009 than they did in 2008.
So what about you? Will your tithe be the first thing cut our of your budget because of the financial pinch? Or will you trust that God will more than handle your needs when you step out in faith?