Comments on: Why Do Christians Give? Philanthropy Or Christianity?

By: FinancialBondage.org

FinancialBondage.org — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:01:48 +0000

What is sad is that less than 3% of Christians tithe. That is pathetic. Financial bondage truly has it’s grip on many Christians. God does not need our money. He had plenty. Tithing is a trust issue. It would seem that many Christians do not trust God with their finances.

By: FinanceDad

FinanceDad — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:15:55 +0000

I'd be curious to know where other Christians stand on tithing? I've recently read that the stat for American Christians tithing is around 2-3%, versus 10% or more. Anyone? FinanceDad´s last post ..Buy fruit and vegetables when in season and on sale and freeze them to save money!

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:19:17 +0000

I have instilled in me a belief that I should give because I have the ability to do so. How much I give and who I give to are tempered by other outside factors, but I don't know that I would have that belief in me were I not raised to be a Christian David/Yourfinances101´s last post ..The Money Crashers

By: Joe Plemon

Joe Plemon — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:11:16 +0000

I too think it is great that Kev can be very generous. I used to be an agnostic and I wasn't like Kev; all I ever thought about was myself. Only after Christ came to live in me and started changing me did I start to become generous. I still have a long way to go, but Rob's summary statement, "Christians give because Christ is in them. It is that simple" certainly applies to me. I give because of Christ, not because of any nobility in myself. Joe Plemon´s last post ..Recipe for Greatness…It May Surprise You

By: Cents

Cents — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:42:30 +0000

As a life-long Christian, I agree that we are called to give. It's easy to forget but our money isn't really our money. I truly believe that God rewards those who give even when they themselves are struggling. It's an act of faith. That said, I have been guilty of not giving as much as I should sometimes because I feel I need to make sure I provide for my family when in fact God is the one who provides. I am still a "work in progress" Christian and I believe so are those that go to church and don't give at all. I do have to agree with Kev on a few things. Non-Christians can be much more giving than Christians at times. I recently found out at my church (evangelical), only about 15% of the members tithe consistently! Wow. Cents´s last post ..How to Save Big with Bing Cashback

By: rob @ dollars and doctrine

rob @ dollars and doctrine — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:56:30 +0000

Kev,
I agree with you more than you think. I am willing to bet I know more stingy Christians than you do!! Haha. That is why I do what I do at dollarsanddoctrine.com I think Peter put it best. The post is only designed to show a difference in motivation. The post is designed to show that a Christian, more and more consumed with Christ, will begin to become more generous. It is simply the source of generosity, living through and out of us. That is why Christians who take their faith seriously will find themselves giving more and more. I know many non-believers that give, but yours/their motivation to give is different. Christ gives through me. I know that might sound strange, but its what I believe. As to why so many Christians are so stingy (actually, evangelical Christians are statisically the highest giving subgroup in America…I will have to consult my “archives” to quote the article), but I tend to agree that many American Christians are in fact stingy. This is because most American Christians make much of the riches of this world, and little of the riches of Christ. That is why dollars and doctrine exists.

By: Jason @ MyMoneyMinute

Jason @ MyMoneyMinute — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:36:47 +0000

Agreed - our motivation for giving is different, or should be anyway. All the reasons given on why we give are merely the positive byproduct of the fundamental reason for giving - to emulate and pass along Christ's example. Jason @ MyMoneyMinute´s last post ..Your Financial Goals: Review & Renew!

By: Peter Anderson

Peter Anderson — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:02:42 +0000

I don’t think the article said that non-Christians can’t be giving, or that people only give if they’re religious? I agree with you that Non-Christians can be very giving – and I think that’s great!

To me the article is saying that the motivations behind the giving of Christians and non-Christians are different. While I can’t completely speak to the motives of the non-Christian, the Christian is motivated by his relationship with Christ, and his desire to live like He did.

I agree with you that there are Christians who aren’t very giving, and aren’t living out their faith, but that is more than likely because they don’t have a close walk with Christ, and because they’re human. We all fail from time to time, and sin. I know I at times can let me relationship with Christ start becoming less important, and at those times I end up becoming a more selfish person. That’s part of the human condition, and why we need Christ – and his example!

By: karyn sweet

karyn sweet — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:54:05 +0000

@ Kev I think a Christian who doesn’t at least strive to be giving (or loving or thankful, etc) isn’t really trying to live a Christian life. They’re Christian in name only. As for the giving habits of nonreligious people or people of other religions, is not that they can’t be just as giving – they just have a different motivation than a Christian. A Muslim person might give because it’s one of the pillars of faith. A Buddhist might give because money is illusion anyway. An agnostic might give because they feel it’s the right thing to do. And I think they’re all good reasons.

By: kev

kev — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:43:35 +0000

I don’t buy it.

I’ve met more than a few Stingy Christians, and more than a few generous, giving, charitable non-Christians. Like me! My wife and I give quite a fair bit to charity, and we’re agnostic. And we’re not the only ones. I have an atheist friend who would give you the shirt off his back.

We also know many very giving Christians; but we’ve encountered a few who wouldn’t give you a penny if Jesus himself came down and told them to smarten up and give you a penny.

Some give, some don’t. You’ll never convince me that it has anything to do with ones’ religious inclinations, because I’ve seen so much evidence to the contrary.