When giving is down in churches, what is the first and typical response? It’s to preach a few sermons about giving (at least that has been my experience in working in churches. Your experience may be different). Because that’s the problem, isn’t it. The people don’t know they are supposed to give. They haven’t been educated enough on giving. They need further verbal prompting and encouragement to give. And so the solution is obvious, “If you teach it, they will give.” How’s that workin’ for us?

In my opinion, it isn’t. Because “knowledge” is not the problem. How money is being spent is the problem

We tend to preach louder and more often about biblical-giving when people are giving less money, when perhaps we should model biblical-spending. It has been my experience that there’s an awful lot of people who are dying to see their hard-earned money make a difference in restoring people in real ways. I hear that people don’t want to simply pay for salaries, supplies, decorations, events, equipment and mortgages. They are longing see their money released in life-giving, restorative and the-least-of-these ways. When people see their money taking care of the poor, the widows, the orphans, the jobless, etc., their hearts and their joy naturally follow. And guess what? They tend to release more money into the kingdom!!! Why? Because we are wired that way.

The year 2006 broke an all-time record in American philanthropic giving, while at the same time churches were reporting all-time lows in giving. I really feel that “giving” is not the problem—people are giving, what the money is being spent on (or perhaps more importantly, NOT being spent on) is the root of the issue.

Dream with me for a second. Imagine if $60-$70 out of every $100 you entrusted to a church is used in such a way? Imagine if a church even went as far as to trust you with your “tithes” for kingdom-type investments in people’s lives all around you? Imagine if 70% of all the church’s donated income went out into the world and community, instead of back into the church? What if, instead of teaching and strongly encouraging people to give 10% to the church, people were empowered and freed to use that money as God personally leads them towards his kingdom? As you dream these things, what is happening in your heart? Are you sensing joy? Fear? What is happening to your apprehension to give? Is it lessoning? Increasing?

“But that is impossible!!” you say. “That is wishful thinking.” “That is an ideal which can never be realized.” If you’re referring to most current churches and how they are systemically structured, I whole-heartedly agree. Their structural overhead is too high and their budget’s too burdened. Now please hear what I am not saying. I am not saying that churches do not commit and give money for restorative purposes. What I am saying that it is typically a very low percentage, mostly due to structural overhead. It is not because of a lack of heart or concern. But even then, imagine if those overburdened churches began to commit at least 10% of their income towards practical, restorative kingdom works?

But what if you started with a new blueprint, one that didn’t require such a large overhead to simply “survive”? What if you structured it in such a way where you don’t need a large gathering building every week? Offices? Staff? Lots of equipment and stuff? What if you designed it to where you could operate on 30% and set aside 70% for missional and restorative purposes? What if part of your goal was to redeem the tithe, putting it back into the hands of the people so they can make a difference in the lives of those around them, instead of mainly funding an organization? This is exactly what a handful of us are dreaming of creating…a place where the tithe is redeemed for missional purposes.

If I knew that 70% of the church’s money was going “out” instead of staying “in”, I would be the most enthusiastic and joyful giver around!! Perhaps that is what God meant when God says that he loves a joyful giver. Perhaps he knew that as you generously transformed the lives of those around you with your money, the natural outcome would be joy. I don’t think it is a command, “Give joyfully or else!!”, as much as it is an indicator of when true and substantial restorative giving is taking place. Joy just happens.

I don’t think we need yet another message on stewardship to get us to give more. I think we need to see our money in Kingdom action. I think we need to be released into the natural joy of seeing our money used to transform and restore—in real and substantial ways—the lives of those in need, both afar and right next door. But that’s just my two-cents worth…

[Update: I read the following article after I published my blog post. I think Aida sheds good biblical light onto the idea of tithing and why people are tending not to give as much, if any: Please Read]

[Note: This was originally titled, "Giving is Down!! Quick, Preach on Stewardship." but I thought I'd soften the edges by asking a question rather than making a statement.]