Are the people in your congregation affluent? Do they live in the suburbs and hold college degrees? Is this God’s blessing or a warped portrait of a disciple of Christ?

Rich, educated suburbanites are populating growing American evangelical churches today, according to Dave Olson, director of the American Church Research Project.

Addressed the Mission America Coalition annual conference Oct. 12 in St. Louis, Olson said that while the evangelical church is growing fastest among the higher income, college-educated, suburban population, it is declining fastest among the least educated, in areas with the highest poverty rates.

That’s problematic theologically, according to Olson. He admonishes church leaders to restore the Christian community to a better understanding of the message and mission of Jesus, saying the Church should be, "less self-righteous, individualistic and materialistic. It needs to be more biblical, Christo-centric and holistic."

Concerning materialism, it seems capitalism has corrupted American Christianity. Spending statistics would suggest that the treasure of believers today is nowhere near heaven.

It isn’t surprising that U.S. Christians are wealthy. According to Pastor Brian Kluth, president of the Christian Stewardship Association, financial assets and material resources of most Americans (including Christians) has increased over the last 10 to 20 years. It is surprising, however, that giving has not increased.

Maybe that's because more churches are teaching about "getting" instead of giving. According to a Time magazine poll published in a Sept. 10 article about the so-called "prosperity gospel," 61 percent of adult Christians in America agree that "God wants people to be financially prosperous."  Another 49 percent disagree that "poverty can be a blessing from God."

While prominent (and rich) church leaders such as Rick Warren (gives 90 percent away) and Joel Osteen (reportedly stopped taking a salary after success of book) decry the so-called prosperity gospel, the underlying message of accumulation is preaching loud and clear from American culture. And, some would argue, American economics.

So whatever happened to the Christian idea of giving it all away?

I heard a sermon recently in which the minister toned down Christ’s invective to the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and follow him. He preached that the passage didn’t really mean Christians should sell everything, but that a 10 percent tithe was good enough.

I was shocked. Is this a kinder, gentler Christianity catering to the rich, young rulers of today with placating faith practices that don’t get in the way of car payments and mortgages?

Shouldn’t faith be more of a challenge? More importantly, shouldn’t it be differentiated from the challenge of consumerism?

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