AM I A SUCKER?

This is the season when those appeal letters begin to arrive. We stack them up for some evening in December when we’ll decide what to give to whom. There are so many appeals and most of them are appealing to us. It’s hard to say “no” to anyone, but we say it to many.

There must be 50 worthy groups – or more – in Corvallis. We saw a list of groups that the local thrift shop supports with its profits. The list was incredible. I believe that any need that exists has an advocate in Corvallis. I wonder how there can be enough money to go around.

With this floating in the distant parts of my mind I came across an article in a recent “Christian Century.” The article had the title, “Who Gives?” It is an excerpt from a book the three authors researched and wrote called “Why Americans Don’t Give Away More Money.” (CC 9/7/08 pp. 26ff)

The big print blurb on the middle of the page read:        Most American Christians give either        nothing or very little to church or charities.

That goes against what most people generally think. We see gigantic buildings located on strategic pieces of property with dozens of cars parked in lots and on the streets on Sundays and think that they must be all well-supported. If you only knew how many can’t raise enough funds to repair the roof! In fact        Most church giving is spent directly or indirectly on the        Congregations themselves.

Many American churches are only an offering or two away from financial disaster. The largest part of the budget goes to pay the minister and keep up the building. There’s very little for outside causes.

I remember a community activist calling on me in my church office. She was appealing for funding support of some program. I asked her why she was asking for help from churches. She said that in her experience church people were most likely to support a cause because they already know how to give.

This study seems to think otherwise. About 20% of identified Christians (including Catholics) give nothing to charity. On the other hand 50% of nonreligious Americans don’t give any money. But non-Christian religious Americans are more likely to give at least some money away.

If you belong to a church it is most likely that 60% of the contributions come from 5% of the members. Few tithe (10%) but most active Christians give much less. Those earning below $10,000 gave the most proportionally, averaging 2.3% of income. Those earning $70,000 or more gave an average of 1.2%. Jesus was correct in pointing out that the poor widow that gave a pittance was actually giving a larger share of her wealth than the rich.

This sort of thing drives church leaders crazy. There’s lots of money out there, and there are many who are very generous with it. But a large percentage is not carrying a share of the load, for one reason or another. It is the members who don’t give that are keeping the churches poor.

This problem faces all non-profit organizations. I read lists of those who contribute to various community causes. Many of the same names appear on all of the reports. Those of us with our names on those lists are carrying a larger share of the load than would be the case if more joined the giving. It is quite amazing that so many organizations not only exist, but thrive without support from a majority of the community.

That’s how the uninvited thought popped into may head, “Am I a sucker?” Why am I, with far less resources than so many in our community, feeling a pull to support causes that belong to all of us? I slapped my hand for saying that. Maybe it’s the lack of support by so many that encourages my support. I’m not sure.

I asked myself why we give. It’s not from some religious, legalistic requirement. I guess it’s a habit learned from frugal and generous grandparents and parents. My first charitable giving was probably in Sunday school, where my mother took us to the University Congregational Church, the one where the Gate’s family attended. She gave us something to add to the offering. Later we attended the Christian Church up the street where I continued contributing my mite because it was something I had learned to do. Maybe Bill Gates got his philanthropic passion from his mother in his church. Somewhere we learned how to give and can’t imagine not giving.

I’m a sucker. I invite you to be a sucker too. Amen.    ─ Art Morgan, Thanksgiving Week, 2008