There is a good bit of statistical evidence to suggest that as many as 8 out of 10 American "self-identified" evangelicals do not tithe. While there may be a variety of views regarding the issue of tithing, it seems to me that this figure is far more revealing that we here in the States are willing to admit.

There is a reason why Jesus said that it is not possible to serve God and money. I believe it is because money more than any other thing offers the most enslaving substitute for God. It seduces with its offer of security, power and opporunity. It enslaves with what it demands in return for what it pretends to offer. And I think that the statistics on giving reflect the sad reality that many Christians have bought the promise money offers.

Jesus said in the parable of the shrewd steward that if one cannot be trusted to handle earthly wealth how can they ever be trusted to handle true wealth. Could that explain the lack of real power in the Western Church. Why are so many of the catagories of social distress reflected at almost the same rate in the church as in the secular culture? Is is possible that we have chosen to serve money, and the outcome is impotency. Why are so few converted? Is it possible that the dirty little secret in the American church is that for all our lamenting about the big old secular culture bogeyman that the real problem is the lack of sacrificial faith and obedience routinuely identified by Jesus and the apostles as the ordinary outcome of coming to faith in Christ.

For me the most glaring evidence for this is the pathetic way in which Christians give. The works of the kingdom - care for the poor, needy and the most marginalized require a response that demands sacrifice on the part of those who are blessed with so much. Jesus said the fields were white for harvest, but the workers were few. He could have added - you have to be willing to go where those fields are white. The co-opting of the American Evangelical church by the mentality of consumers looking for the best religious goods and services are only the most obvious symptom of a far more sobering reality - we have become so sated by the affluence that faith plays almost no real role in our day to day life in God. Nothing pinches - so nothing with regards to the purposes of God seem that urgent. This I fear is a luxury only the wealthy (which by world standards is virtually everyone in the US), can afford.

When one lives in a culture as materialistic and obsessed with consuming as ours and she sends her seducing siren song over ever possible imput medium conceiveable - is it possible that most of the church here doesn't know it — because no one looks any different than anyone else. Its hard to know you are screwed up if being screwed up is the norm and being a disciple is so anomolous that the numbers are just too tiny to make a difference — at least for the moment. Actually - in spite of the pessimistic tone of this post — I actually have great hope for the church, and its impact in the world. Mostly this comes from time spent in Brazil, and close connections to what God is doing is Africa. I witnessed ordinary Christians in great numbers who regarded sacrifice and faith that really stretched them as normal Christian life. That is a sign of great hope. I am somewhat pessimistic about the US - but I am here plugging away within my own Christian Community. We are presently moving our congregation into an urban community, preparing to do some pretty risky stuff - for which I am greatly thankful. I am also certain there are pockets of faithful radicals out there who long for the same kind of faithful witness to be the norm for the church rather than the exception. Peace

Andrew

After years of being unquenchably materialistic, I now tithe and give offerings faithfully; and I know that this article and the subsequent comments may very well prick the heart of someone that does not, but it would be nice to, at least some of the time, shift the focus to what God is doing, rather than what ‘we’ are not.

God is marvellous, and it would be nice to share our experiences of His wonderful goodness with our fellow brethren across the globe, rather than analyse areas that others are falling down. We all fall down in one area or another.

May God bless you all.

Curtis (from London)

In Christ, Miranda