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Christianity Today, October, 2007 |

Christian Vision Project

The Dread Cancer of Stinginess

When it comes to missions giving, donor dependency may not be the greatest problem.

John Rowell | posted 10/02/2007 08:15AM

North Americans have wealth to share with the developing world, but in many respects, we have become increasingly reluctant to share it. One reason is our fear of creating unhealthy dependency in those ...

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Rodney

Posted: October 09, 2007 8:53 AM

Great article. One problem, though, using 2 Cor. 8-9 as supporting evidence. The situation Paul faced was exactly the opposite of the current situation. Paul encouraged his church plants to give to the mother Church in Jerusalem. So, to be consistent to the historical situation, it would be like churches started by American missionaries sending their money to us. In other words, there were other reasons behind the relief offering Paul collected during his third mission trip.

Patrick Beard ioiusa.org

Posted: October 08, 2007 12:00 PM

I have witnessed the same type of generous spirit (as the church in Sarajevho) at work in the Ethiopian missionaries we help to support. I would like to see an article that explores the issue of dependancy deeper in the context of a body. There is no such thing as the "American Church" or the "Ethiopian Church", there is only the Church. Personally I know that I am dependant on my Ethiopian brothers and sisters as much (if not more) than they are on me. Their prayers have helped to sustain our family in the darkest of times, and their faith spills over into our local US congregation. Thank you CT for publishing this article!

Mike Soderling MD

Posted: October 08, 2007 9:36 AM

I have lived and served in Central America these past 6 years and can say without reservation that dependency is one of the most significant factors inhibiting social and spiritual progress in this region of the world. I am familiar with Ralph Winters work and have read Glenn Schwartz's book mentioned by the author of this article. Neither of these wise and very experienced Christian leaders would propose the West stop giving to the needs of the poor. The problem that needs to be addressed is how to give in a healthy way which avoids dependency. Creating partnerships that allow for a healthy interdependency, the biblical model, is the chore we must face. I dare say the authors 18 years of experience pales in comparison to the lengthy amount of time Dr Winters and Mr Schwarz have spent researching this problem. An excellent resource for building true healthy partnerships is Phill Butlers book "Well Connected." Another good read is William Easterly's the White Mans Burden."

Teci Pulido

Posted: October 05, 2007 12:15 AM


Very insightful. I completely agree. :) When in doubt, err on the side of grace...I especially love your last line. :) God is so loving and giving that it's unfair already, and who are we to do less :)

Donna Van Maanen

Posted: October 04, 2007 9:43 AM

Thank you for your insights! The "dependency school" aften fails to take into account the wests control of the world's wealth and the responsibility we have in the face of injustice and inequality. Rather than resist giving what would happen if we resisted the power acpect of giving? What if as people of the Kingdom of God we gave not as Americans but as poeple whose first citizenship id defined by the Kingdom? What a privilege it is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ along side people of cultures, languages, andworldviews than mine. I try to get the "us/them" out of my vocabulary and my thinking. I'm sorry to say I am ont there yet. But when I do giving takes on a whole new meaning.

Solly

Posted: October 03, 2007 10:00 AM

It is sad how Western countries through unfair economic practises have reduced third world countries like Africa to eternal poverty with out end in sight. Swistzerland import large unprocessed cocoa from countries like ivory coast for further processing by its established chocolate industry. The same country have put in place punitive measures/ restrictions on imports of processed cocoa products. It also control the price it pays. How will the farmers in ivory coast move to higher value add products for higher prices ?. If they do that they will be shut out of lucrative western markets. Shame !

Scott Williamson

Posted: October 03, 2007 9:01 AM

I think the reason people don't give more is lack of focus. They're bombarded by appeals from all sides, and throw up their hands, and say, "Enough!" This applies on the personal level and on the organizational level. A missions board I served on at my previous church had a harried, scattered approach to things, and wasn't very effective, until some new people came on the board and instituted some principles for giving. The church I belong to now has no missions board. It contributes to its national association and maybe some other causes but has no intentional program of giving. I hope to work to change that. I hope to convince people in this church that an inward-looking church never thrives. My personal giving has declined recently since I began tithing. I occasionally shoot off a donation to a local home for unwed mothers. I hope also to develop a personal program of intentional giving.

Erick

Posted: October 02, 2007 9:07 PM

The lowest of us here in the US living in the top 10 percent of humanities wealth should never have to worry about giving even a small portion of our money to aid in the spreading of the Good News to others. It is hard to tell someone the Good News of Jesus while they lay in the mud starving, help the body and the soul, one depends on the other. When I give my money it is to God, then it is out of my hands. In this case I find high regard for a people to generously give to another church in need, their money or not, they did not decide to steal it or waste it but worked with God honestly and did a Good act. Perhaps they know that if they get a building it will do more damage than good or feel the money a burden, maybe they want the building, maybe they don't. With God it just always seems to work out right, He puts it in our hearts. Just give what we can work to Love Each Other, God, Son & Holy Spirit without Judgment.

Brian

Posted: October 02, 2007 7:53 PM

The previous comments for this article all strike at important issues in giving to "the least of these". I find a greater challenge in filtering out ministries who seek after their own greed and not in building the Kingdom of God. (Phil 3:18-19). Additionally, I do not think it is inappropriate to ask a congregation to build itself toward a day when its needs may be met locally and to create incentives to do so. It is not unusual for the wealthiest congregations in the poorest parts of the world to gain a disproportionate share of international support. This is not a dependency argument, simply an argument for wisdom and stewardship.

Tim Jones

Posted: October 02, 2007 2:42 PM

The greatest weakness contributed by Western thought to dependency situations is the unrecognized and insidious assuption that missions in foreign cultures must, or should, look like missions in the Western cultures from whence comes the aid. Christ seemed curiously silent upon the necessity of having an adequate facility. Paul seemed more concerned that each believer come to the gatherings for worship to share what God had done for them, rather than ensuring the "church" have an adequate facility. Perhaps the assuptions we bring to the debate of what church should be must be revisited. Aid should be directed to building the Kingdom of God and disciples - not brick and mortar or virtual internet cathedrals.

Jude Dickson

Posted: October 02, 2007 2:23 PM

I really wonder if our brothers are trying to change or re-write the scripture to suit their own personal and selfish ideas. I have never seen in the scripture where it is written "don't give, don't help or withhold from the needy". What I have always see right from my childhood is give! give!! help!!! help!!!! - Luke 6:35-38, Acts 4:32-36. Please, those who believes on the dependency school of thought should hold that to themselves and stop to discourage others from giving out. I guess the spirit of Ananias and sapphira is at work in the mist of believes again. Or are they wearied in much studies (Ecclesiastes 12:12) that they can't comprehend scriptural values anymore? Let's not hinder the spreading of the gospel with our stingy ideology. God gave us Jesus and Jesus gave His life for us. Let's give and alow God to bless us back. Remember always that a giver never lack. Let of, giving for missions. The blessings are immeasurable. God bless you real good - in JESUS name - amen.

Lorie

Posted: October 02, 2007 2:22 PM

When we are teaching them to fish, it is wonderful to bring the bait and equipment. By American/western standards, they will still be poor, but they will have the resources they need to present the Gospel message. For those who want a Bible in their own language, how can we stand back and say wait until you can afford it. How absurd! We have Bibles galore collecting dust, let those who are willing to take the risk of translating and distributing Christian material have our financial support at the very least. What sad is so much is measured by dollars and cents, rather than by interdependent, body of Christ, philosophy. I am happy to let the voice of God to the nations come from someone of any color, language, financial background, or culture--if they are happy enough and willing to let me share the message by praying for them and sending a few dollars, I will trust that God can take care of the dependency issues. Problems arise when nationals live at westerners style of living.

David Bogosian

Posted: October 02, 2007 12:36 PM

There is no evidence that when Paul was raising money for the poor in Jerusalem it had anything to do with constructing buildings or paying the salaries of professional clergy. I think this is a gross misapplication of what was happening in the first century. If we want to follow a biblical model for church growth, it really is quite free from all the "large-capital" scenarios we find presented by the author. It is really we in the West who suffer from a dependency syndrome because we think that church growth is dependent on money, especially our money. Therefore if the church is going to grow in non-western countries it must have buildings, and professional clergy, and seminaries, etc. The reality is that the fastest growing church movements throughout history have not required these trappings. What we are basically doing with our money is "franchising" our version of Christianity and replanting it in foreign soil, complete with pew, pulpit, sound system, and projector.

Carrie

Posted: October 02, 2007 12:30 PM

I fully agree with this article & this is something I feel very strongly about. Jesus commands through his Word that we are to give to those in need. I believe the reason we have the poor in this world (which Jesus said we will always have) is so we would always have opportunity to give. James 2:14-19 implies that giving and meeting the needs of our brothers & sisters is faith in action. And faith without deeds is dead. Pr. 19:17, 21:13; Duet.15:7 are just a few of the scriptures addressing giving to the poor. Another thing to consider is that indigenous people learn differently than we do. They are oral learners, whereas we are literate learners. They are more likely to respond to the gospel given from their own people in their own cultural style. Our money is best invested giving to native missionaries rather than western missionaries in a foreign country.

John G. Pierce

Posted: October 02, 2007 12:22 PM

I agree with Wayne. As for John's comments, I think he missed the point completely. The article was talking about giving to help churches in their work, not to end poverty, and not via any government agencies. The author of the article was talking about authority in the churches, not in the government. Often the leaders of the countries are exactly the way John describes them, but that is entirely beside the point that Mr. Rowell was trying to make.

Bill Bray

Posted: October 02, 2007 12:18 PM

This is fantastic wisdom. How proud we have become of our American selfishness! We actually boast of our suspicious behavior toward native missionaries and prideful refusal to give them what they need to do the work of Christ. Ministry which needs funding but which we refuse to do or can no longer due because of political and military dangers, especially in the Muslim and radical Hindu worlds. The Biblical pattern is inter-dependance and covenant. The New Testament method of finances was sharing between the churches as each had need! How could we ever get to our present state of glorified greed? Frankly, if we don't begin to share with the needy brothers again, I think that the Lord will certainly judge us for our selfishness--and in fact I think it is already happening to the older churches and missions who practice greed in the name of good missionary practice!

Deb	Posted: October 02, 2007 12:14 PM

Please give. My husband and I were sports missionaries who had to leave "the field" because we didn't have enough financial support. There are consequences to the materialism that most Americans chase rather than using their resources to further the spread of the gospel in the whole world, not just their little suburbia. Thanks to those globally minded Americans who are faithfully looking for places to give where their (I mean God's money which He has entrusted to them) money will be used wisely. God bless those who give freely with no strings attached.

John	Posted: October 02, 2007 12:12 PM

"Historically, one root of unhealthy dependency has grown from the Western presumption that because we are often more wealthy, we are somehow more worthy to hold positions of authority over national leaders. This presumed connection between giving and governing is a uniquely Western contribution to the degrading dynamics of dependency." So who should hold authority, the kleptocratic leaders of many of these countries? For generations, charities, Christian and otherwise have poured untold billions of dollars in aid into developing nations, yet, as the article points out, "3 billion people survive on less than $2 a day." Worldwide poverty is a failure of governing by (usually) socialist leaders who somehow live in multiple mansions and drive Bentleys while their people starve. No amount of aid, which is often misdirected to the military or sold on the black market anyway, will change that. Teach them to fish, as the old saying goes, if you want to end poverty.

Wayne

Posted: October 02, 2007 11:18 AM


This article is very balanced and fair. I struggle also with being generous but not creating dependency.

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