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In Chapter 4, Patricia Snell reports that the authors' in-depth interviews confirmed the previous chapter's findings and underlined two other important issues. Many pastors feel uncomfortable talking about Christian giving and consequently do not provide significant teaching for their congregation. In addition, the widespread consumerism and materialism of the culture—expressed above all in our incessant advertising—seduces many people into making extravagant decisions about major purchases like houses and cars and smaller things like recreation, eating out, vacations, etc.; and the result is that most families are financially pressed in spite of enormous wealth.
In their concluding chapter, the authors summarize their findings. They think there are five primary reasons for the fact that "the wealthiest national body of Christian believers at any time in all of church history end up spending most of their money on themselves." The most important is our society's "institutionalized mass consumerism." The second is the failure of pastors to deal with the issue. The third is that many Christians seem to be confused about the meanings, expectations, and purposes of faithful Christian giving. Fourth, some have distrust about whether their donations will be used wisely. Finally, the near total privatization of the topic means that almost no American Christians discuss their giving with anyone else.
The level of self-centered materialism systematically described here is truly staggering. The publisher should have used an earlier title that was considered: Stingy Believers. The book should drive us to our knees. A good deal of the problem is that pastors are not leading their congregations to think clearly about this issue. I have often said (without any hard data) that I do not think one American pastor in fifty is talking about God's concern for the poor as much as the Bible does. Perhaps that is changing a little thanks to Rick Warren's recent significant leadership in this area. But overall, our pastors, seminary professors, and denominational leaders are simply unbiblical in their failure to lead their people into persistent, honest wrestling with faithful Christian stewardship of resources and the way that generosity could advance Christ's kingdom.
I am not a sociologist, and I will not pretend to evaluate in detail the sociological scholarship that undergirds this book. Knowing that the authors are distinguished sociologists, I assume their scholarship is solid. I am convinced that Passing the Plate is urgently important for the American church. Every pastor should read it and beg God for the courage to insist that his or her congregation deal directly and systematically with this topic in an ongoing way. Every seminary professor and church leader should read it and take its lessons to heart. And every informed Christian layperson should pray over this book, asking God for a biblical understanding of stewardship and the strength to act accordingly.
Ronald J. Sider is professor of theology, holistic ministry, and public policy at Palmer Seminary and president of Evangelicals for Social Action. He is the author of The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience (Baker).
Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Books & Culture magazine.
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