Recent studies on church trending reveal some disturbing…well trends.
1) There has been a downturn nationally in church giving. 2001 in evangelical churches the average person gave 4.27% of their income. This is down from 4.74% in 1985 and down from 6.15% in 1968. The rate has fallen to 3% today.
2) 2003 – Tithing decreased 62% from the previous year.
3) 2004 – Giving reached its lowest level of donations since the Great Depression.
Also note income contributed by age:
25-34 .8%
35-44 .89%
45-54 1.06%
55-74 1.92%
75+ 3.22%
Conclusion – The older generation accounts for 19% of all people (65+), but give 46% of all donations. Ages 55+ give 67% of all donations.
Perhaps even more disturbing research reveals that what a 75 year old gave at 35 years old is significantly greater than what a 35 year old is giving percentage wise today. 17% of people say they tithe, but only 3% (some say 6%) of people actually give 10% of their income to the church.
Much of this is the result of an outlay of history. The so-called “greatest generation” came out of the “New Deal” and World War 2 developing a trust for institutions. Baby Boomers, in contrast, learned skepticism as the product of the Viet Nam, the 1980’s church scandals and Watergate years. This anti-institutional sentiment caused increasing suspicion of institutions, including the church. Thus, they are increasingly less likely to give to it. Just like your income tax statistics where over 50% do not pay any taxes at all, there are over 50% of believers who give nothing to the church.
What is the answer? It is 3-fold:
- We must be more effective at communicating God’s principles of stewardship, excluding realms of unadulterated materialism.
- This is primarily a discipleship issue. We are generating a co-dependent believer, looking for relief rather than growth. We need to systematically grow believers into maturity to the whole measure of the fullness of God (Eph. 4:11-13), who understand God and how His kingdom works.
- We must stop giving all the promise and half the answer. We promote prosperity through giving (because it helps meet our need) without talking about the issues of stewardship (giving, saving and retaining wealth) and value (people are remunerated according to value).
