The news about the Church can be pretty discouraging these days. In a recent column, former syndicated talk show host and author Dick Staub talked about the decline of Christianity in America. According to one survey he cited, the percentage of believers shrank from 86 percent to 76 percent since 1990.
That isn’t entirely undeserved, Staub said. He cited such factors as sex scandals involving various leaders, the spread of greed and consumerism in the Church instead of caring for the poor, and endless splits that have created 38,000 denominations.
As one who writes frequently about the Church and people of faith, it is painful to admit that such critiques are on target. Indeed, I recently interviewed a seminary professor who estimates that ecclesiastical crime costs the Church worldwide more per year ($27 billion) than is given to missions ($25 billion.)
Providing purpose
In spite of such depressing news, there are also good stories about the Church, something that is worth remembering as you gear up for the Easter season and the annual influx of guests.
One appears in the April issue of Christianity Today, where Mollie Ziegler Hemingway discussed the value that faith-based groups bring to the public sphere. She noted that a British atheist used to laud the work of mission churches in Africa but lament their evangelism.
However, recently he wrote that he can’t deny the truth that faith motivates not just the missionaries but the people they are helping. Providing material means and know-how for economic development doesn’t produce change, but providing Christianity does, he admitted.
"We can safely say that the teachings of (best-selling atheist author) Richard Dawkins have never inspired anybody to move their family to sub-Saharan Africa to dig wells," Hemingway commented.
Giving despite downturn
Even more encouraging is word of a recent survey by LifeWay Research, which talked with 1,000 Protestant pastors during February to ask how the economy is impacting their churches.
The average church saw offerings grow four percent last year, a time when many businesses and individuals were pulling in their horns. In addition, 45 percent of churches say offerings since January of 2008 have been about what they budgeted. Twenty-six percent are receiving more than budgeted and 27 percent are receiving less.
"While the public’s faith in almost every other type of investment has crumbled, faithful givers continue to support churches," said Scott McConnell, associate director of the research organization. "If current trends continue, the majority of churches will likely meet their budgets this year."
Director Ed Stetzer says that churches willing to meet financial needs will find increased opportunities to do so. The survey found that 62 percent have had more people request financial assistance in the past year than in previous ones.
"When times are tough, the church can be at its best—being, doing and telling the good news of the gospel," Stetzer said.
Indeed, leaders have shown how much they care. According to the survey, 27 percent of pastors have paid for ministry items out of their own pockets more often than normal. That figure jumps to 34 percent among pastors whose salaries held at last year’s level and 55 percent among pastors with reduced salaries.
This at a time when Uncle Sam is projecting trillion-dollar deficits and two of the Big Three automakers are in danger of disappearing. Those who doubt that Christ changes hearts will have a hard time explaining away such generosity.
