I posted some quotes on Christian giving at Giving and the Christian Heart. One of the points quoted in the post was:
$10 billion would sponsor 20 million children for a year, and just $330 million would sponsor 150,000 indigenous missionaries in countries closed to religious workers. $2.2 billion would triple the current funding of Bible translation, printing, and distribution. $600 million would be enough to start eight Christian colleges in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
These figures only begin to spend that extra cash. What Christians could do—if they managed their money in a way that gave priority to giving a portion away—is astounding.
The point about what could be done if Christians would give what they could is well taken. However, may I suggests that how that money is spent depends on local congregations and church leadership. Perhaps we are assuming too much when we say that these billions of dollars would go to Bible translation, mission work, and training schools for ministry? My belief is that even if this extra amount is giving to the church in America it would be spent mostly on larger buildings, video venues, and other inward focused line items. Do I have stats to back up this claim? Not off the top of my head, but I do not think my hunch is too far off.
The church is exhorted to be “rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Does the size of our buildings and the number of multi-sites reflect an American church that is “generous and ready to share,” especially for the advancement of Christ’s global kingdom? What do you think?
Your quote included: “$2.2 billion would triple the current funding of Bible translation, printing, and distribution.” I think this is where we should start. Getting the Bible in the hands of people who don’t already have it in their language is not only spiritually transforming but socially transforming as well. There are 2200 languages representing 200 million people who don’t have even one verse of the Bible. I would love your thoughts on my post about how to solve this problem here.