Profile of the Lukewarm: On Charity

I recently finished a book I picked up on a whim from the local Christian book store, "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan. Perhaps the attraction to it was the author's name - Chan. I haven't run into a Chinese author of N.American origin before.

I must say I was skeptical at first, but the book quickly won me over as Chan writes in a very straightforward way. His chapter on Profile of the Lukewarm is worth the price of the book on its own. It is written not to offend, but to spark a soul searching response in relation to Western Christianity (tradition/popular belief) versus what the Bible actually teaches. Here is one:

"LUKEWARM PEOPLE give money to charity and to the church... as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?" Chan, 67.

This really hit home to me because the concept of giving and giving to God and the poor has been on my heart for some time. I was first convicted on my personal giving when I read C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity where he writes in his chapter, Social Morality,

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small... For many of us the great obstacle to charity lies not in our luxurious living or desire for more money, but in our fear - fear of insecurity. This must often be recognised as a temptation. Sometimes our pride also hinders our charity; we are tempted to spend more than we ought on the showy forms of generosity (tipping, hospitality) and less than we ought on those who really need our help."

Am I giving to the point where it pinches and hampers my "daily" wants? No, I don't think so. I need to. In addition, I don't think Lewis is saying that we should give to the point where there is no security, but that the fear of insecurity prevents us from giving more.

After the quote in Crazy Love, Chan lists two appropriate verses 1 Chronicles 21:24 and Luke 21:1-4. I believe giving should cost us something and, more importantly, should be of right reason and intent. It should be part of worship and Christian living which, in turn, includes surrender and sacrifice.

How does this contrast Western Christianity? Simple - an overwhelming majority don't give or only give within their means. I could quote some findings, but I think all you have to do is attend a local church and see.