Is Your City As Stingy As Mine?
- 03.07.10
- Money, Sacrifice
- 6 Comments
What’s your town known for? Mine? Well, Albuquerque is known for – among other things – its famous stretch of Route 66, having the longest passenger tram in the world, being voted the fittest city in the U.S. in 2007, the famous 1945 quote from Bugs Bunny when he said, “I should have made a left toin at Albukoykee,” and for being one of the stingiest cities in America.
Albuquerque is tied with Toledo, Ohio as the fourth least generous city in America. The extensive 60-city study was done by the Albuquerque-based Tijeras Foundation in 2008. Through their research, they were able to discover the average percentage of household income given to charity by people in these cities.
The most generous city in America? Birmingham, Alabama. The least generous city? San Antonio, Texas. The Tijeras Foundation commented that even Birmingham and other top cities have a long way to go, noting that few Americans (evangelical Christians included) approach the biblical tithe of ten percent.
Here’s the top 10 and bottom 10 lists with the percentage of household income given to charity in each city:
TOP 10 MOST GENEROUS CITIES IN THE US
1. Birmingham 3.6%
2. Memphis 3.4%
3. Columbia, SC 3.2%
4. Greenville, SC 3.1%
5. Atlanta 3.1%
6. Grand Rapids 3.1%
7. New York 3.1%
8. Naples 3.1%
9. Charlotte 3.1%
10. Tulsa 3.1%
TOP 10 LEAST GENEROUS CITIES IN THE US
1. San Antonio 1.7%
2. Pittsburgh 1.8%
3. Tampa 1.8%
4. Albuquerque 1.9%
5. Toledo 1.9%
6. Austin 2.0%
7. Boston 2.0%
8. Honolulu 2.0%
9. Ft. Lauderdale 2.0%
10. Orlando 2.0%
That is sad. Even the most generous cities average less than 5%. No wonder Welfare and Medicaid exist today. I wonder, if Christians gave generously (more than a tithe) could we do away with the government programs? Isn’t that what God intended?
I think Chris’s thoughts are backwards. Charitable giving is low (in part) precisely because federal welfare programs exist as they do today. After the gov’t finishes confiscating an ever growing portion of our hard earned money there isn’t much leftover. Gov’t doesn’t, has never and will never do anything as well as if it was done privately.
And that is exactly what I was saying, Chad. If we did it God’s intended way, we would not need government intervention.
It seems like both of you are saying the same thing. I agree that the local church should be doing more in the community to provide for – at the very least – its own parishioners. If churches would stop throwing so much money at buildings and programs and strategically pour more money into their local communities, maybe the welfare needs of people would diminish. Huge issue. Huge problem. But one that the local church MUST address and seek to remedy as much as it can.
Interesting data from the Barna Group: Despite the economic turmoil, tithing has remained relatively stable. Overall, 7% of all adults reported donation levels equaling at least 10% of their income, finds Barna Group research. This is comparable to the figure prior to the economic downturn. Tithing levels to both churches and other charities were highest among evangelicals (24% give at least 10%), non-mainline Protestants (13%), churchgoers (11%) and non-evangelical born-again Christians (10%). Those over age 45 (9%) were nearly twice as likely as those younger (5%) to tithe. Income level is not a factor: Just 9% of upscale adults gave at least 10%, while 11% of the downscale set gave the same proportion. (Barna.org 2/8/10)
One problem, as Mike mentioned above, is that churches themselves don’t model giving. Only about 5% of the local, American, churches’ income leaves the church for any kind missions work (local or cross cultural mission). I have to add that of that 5%, less than 1% of it is invested in reaching those ethnic groups who don’t yet have access to the gospel. Almost all of the money that Christians give is given for their own benefit! Ouch!