Church AWOL on Its Call of Duty

Adapted from empty tomb release

Unlike video gamers who reported in record numbers to buy  the new "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," the church in the United States appears to be AWOL on its call of duty outlined in Matthew 25 and 28.

That's the conclusion of the 21st edition of The State of Church Giving, produced by empty tomb inc. as a measure of faithful Christian discipleship in America. (empty tomb uses all lower-case letters in its name).

According to a press release, the organization contends that, "In one day, church members could raise at least an additional $6.1 billion to impact two key global challenges: reducing child deaths and sharing the Gospel with those who have not heard it."

The State of Church Givingcalculates membership for a set of U.S.-based denominations was analyzed over time through 2009. These denominations posted almost 111 million members in the U.S.

"If each member donated the cost of a video game, that is, $55, these Christians would raise $6.1 billion in one day," said empty tomb's press release. "That would provide $5.1 billion to apply to ending child deaths, and $1 billion for global evangelization."

The organization chose reducing child deaths and global evangelization as its defining goals because they represent the direct instructions given by Jesus to his disciples.

"Many Christians point to Jesus' parable in Matthew 25:31–46 as a 'call of duty,'" said the press release. "In those verses, Jesus says when the "least" are helped, Jesus is helped. Consider one need of the "least." An additional $5.1 billion a year could reduce most of the global preventable deaths in children under age five.

"Many Christians also point to Matthew 28:18–20 as a 'call of duty.' Jesus says to take the Gospel to all nations. One source estimates that more than 3,000 groups of people globally have never heard about God's love through Jesus. The State of Church Givingcalculated a ballpark cost of $1 billion a year to meet this need."

The release also noted that, "So far, church leaders have not presented a clear goal at the scale that would meet these two needs."

The State of Church Giving cites the development of a "unified budget" used by most denominations as one of the operational deficiencies in current giving.

"The unified budget approach was developed to help both local congregations and denominations overcome a problem," the release stated. "Pastors complained about the many different offerings being taken. With a unified budget approach, fundraising in the church became more organized. However, over time, leaders at the local and denominational levels became protective of the money needed for their own operations. The unified budget became the ceiling for fundraising, rather than a way to establish a firm base from which to impact the world in Jesus' name."

Data in The State of Church Givingthrough 2009 suggests side effects of the present unified budget approach. Of every dollar donated to a congregation, an average of 14 cents went beyond local operations for the larger mission of the church in 2009. In 1968, the amount was 21 cents.

Of each dollar that was donated to a congregation in 2009, an average of 2 cents was spent on denominational overseas missions, meeting both spiritual and physical needs. Church member giving to their congregations in 2009 was 2.38 percent of income. That amount was down from 3.11 percent in 1968.

Meanwhile, church membership declined as a percentage of U.S. population as well.

The new report concludes, "The very revitalization of the church in the U.S. might depend on embracing Jesus by embracing the least."

More information at empty tomb inc.