[ Previous ] Home Page | 1996 Index | 1997 Index | 1998 Index | Next ]
Silver & gold have I none:
Abject poverty or mind-boggling riches?
by David B. Barrett
| Church member personal income | $11.1 trillion |
| Pentecostal/charismatic personal income | $1.3 billion |
| Giving to Christian causes | $193 billion (2%) |
| Church income | $94 billion |
| Parachurch/institutional income | $100 billion |
| Ecclesiastical crime | $9.6 billion |
| Income of global foreign missions | $10.5 billion |
Bakcground
"Silver and gold have I none," said the Apostle Peter in the Temple Gate in Jerusalem, "but such as I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" (Acts 3:6).
Throughout the history of the 59 neglected generations, Christians have complained that they didn't have adequate resources to obey the Great Commission. To hear some missions protagonists, one would t hink that the church has lived in a state of abject poverty.
However, this is utter nonsense. From 1980 to 1988, Christians acquired 42 million computers with a capital value of no less than $273 billion. And they were backed up by a new kind of Christian army: 200 million Christian computer specialists (50 million computer professionals, 150 million other computer literates). The fact is, the church has always had enormous resources of both money and people, more than enough to evangelize the world many times over. The staggering size of these resources is documented in the table given above.
Neither are the churches short of reliable, regular income. In 1996, for example, Christians will give $193 billion to operate organized global Christianity. The problem arises at management levels.
Question
How can mismanagement and non-cooperation by a few destroy even the most massive global plan?
Case Study: The Interchurch World Movement
The Interchurch World Movement was launched in 1918 to seek "complete evangelization of all life" and "conquest of the world for Christ" in one massive "forward movement." It received vast support from the entire range of 34 major denominations and 85% of all USA Protestant missions. In 1919, its motto was "The giving of the whole Gospel to the whole world by the whole church," and aimed to include virtually all church-related activity. In 1920, it hosted a World Survey Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, where 1,700 church members produced a massive 2-volume "World Survey" book, with a plan proposing world evangelization in three years. In 1920, member denominations raised $336.7 million budget--but refused to release it.
In just seven days, IWM collapsed in financial fiasco and bankruptcy.
Summary
There are several other instances of similar collapse. A major ministry begun in 1969 brought in $150 million each year for world evangelization, but collapsed in 1988 due to scandals involving the top management.
Why do we focus on these "negative" stories rather than on those plans which are alive and being massively implemented (like The JESUS FILM project)? Because these instances of collapse should serve as a warning to us all. No plan is immune to human failure. We must constantly be on our guard to watch against potential problems.
We hold in our hands the charge to bring life to the world. Although He could preach the Gospel Himself, divinely, throughout the world, He has chosen, for His own mysterious purposes, to work through human hands. Because of His choice, we are responsible for a great treasure - a pearl of infinite value. We must watch every step we take, lest we trip over a rock or a tree root and drop the treasure on our way to share it with our fellow human beings.
Steps to take