Nine out of ten businesses will tell you that their revenue is off 20-40% from last year. And who could have imagined the government becoming the majority shareholder of GM, Chrysler, and a myriad of banks? It really is the broadest and deepest downturn in 60 years.
Yet a March 2009 survey of 1,168 churches by Your Church magazine discovered that:
- 33% of churches have been blessed with giving that equals last year (+/- 2%)
- 3 times more churches report an increase in giving (2-5%) versus a decrease
- 65% of churches feel no effect at all from the economy
Business would die for that kind of loyalty these days!
What do you make of this remarkable commitment in light of the recent reports that the church is losing its relevance in America?
Ed,
Perhaps these statistics validate that (as should be the case) a church is not a business. We are a family — loving, caring, giving — not customers/consumers. Our relationships in the church are not constrained by the economy — we are driven by compassion.
And yet, for all of that, we are not loving, caring, giving enough.
Mike
Mike,
I really appreciate your thoughts concerning what the church should be. And family, as you suggest, should be driven by compassion in good times or bad.
However, there has been so much press the past few years about the church failing miserably to be loving, caring, or giving…to be a family. As a result, we have been bombarded with predictions about its demise.
I found it reassuring, that even in these rough times, there still seems to be caring hearts committed to the mission.
Ed
Yes, it is awsome to be a joint heir with Jesus and be in the family.
Ed, this news should be shouted from the roof tops. The family has to continue to spread the word on where and who our confidence is in.
This will build even more faith and momentum to turn the economy around for the family, not necessarily the world economic system. When WE realize that Gods Kingdom and government is not tied to or dependent on the world government, we will be better off.
People listen to your message when they can SEE that you can help them, and you are BEING relevent. That connects with people.
Anything else, your labelled as just a talker.
Peace
Tyrone,
I appreciate your thoughts and agree a critical mistake we’ve made the past 20 years is entangling Christianity and government. We appear to be another special interest group versus a movement to serve as a result of our confidence in Christ.
They’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Ed
Just to be clear. I’m not saying, christians should not be involved in government or politics. We need to be the salt and light in that arena.
I am saying that, this government is not the one we as christians should rely on or look to for all of the answers to the current economic situation.
As my pastors says “We did not come to take sides, we came to take over”.
We do that by getting involved, get in those leadership positions, and then making decisions by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Tyrone,
I think we’ve learned some important lessons the past 20 years regarding our role in government. I agree we need to be the salt of the earth and a positive influence. I agree our country needs more Christian leaders and influencers.
However, the minute we appear to be another special interest group pursuing our own power base we lose our high moral ground…and in turn our influence.
I guess it depends on what “taking over” actually means.
Ed