Interesting Statistic. (Yes, Statistics Can Be Interesting…)

Posted on 05.20.08 in Faith and there are 5 comments.

47% of Christians that make less than $35,000 a year believe strongly that they have a personal responsibility to share their faith with others.

Only 26% of Christians who make more than $60,000 believe strongly that they have a personal responsibility to share their faith with others.

From the Barna Group 2007

So, those with less feel more compelled to share their faith than those with more…

Why do you think that is?

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If I had to take a guess, I would say it is less to do with their faith per-say and more to do with their comfort zone of their lifestyle.

But… it really comes down to a basic truth of life I think.  The more money you have, the less you need Christ (here on Earth).

Find someone like Bill Gates (obviously well over $60k) and they need for nothing, no earthly thing anyway, so translate that over into the already Believer, they are generally ok where they are.

Although I don’t really think $60k is as much as it use to be in the U.S. anymore I do think those who are struggling or in need (even if in their mind) of something financially, they know how much they need a Saviour… translating into wanting someone else (probably in their same financial shape) to know the good news.

I think it also has to do with who each of these groups knows in their normal daily routine.  We usually hang around with people in similar finances as ourselves.  The more money you have, the less you need Christ (in some cases).

In the previous church I went to, there were several “high rollers” who easily made 6 figures.  Those people played more of a background role sometimes, where they would not so much be out on the front lines sharing the gospel.  Instead, they supported ministries financially.  If there were some youth who could not afford to go on a trip, they would come through and pay their way.

While this is not directly sharing Jesus with others, it is making it possible for others too, and I think that it’s a respectable thing.

I have been on both side of this issue.  I think it has less to do with “needing” Jesus, but the comfort zone thing may be more prevalent.

As a general rule, the more you make, the more educated the person is.  And our liberal society has pounded us with the notion that you can’t be a sound intellectual and also be a radical Christian.

The media, comedians, they all make fun of radical Christians in some way.  This world has managed to make being a committed Christian out to also mean you are a weirdo.  And educated, intellectual minded people DO NOT want to be considered as inferior in any way to their peers (other educated people who also make lots of money).

So our social pressure has resulted in otherwise committed Christians being shy about sharing their faith in order to maintain a perception of a high level of intellectualism.  And the more you do it, the easier it gets.

I have gone from being a radical street ministry person, to a highly educated, very respected professional.  And on the occasion that I do share my faith with my clients, they generally are surprised to learn that I am a Christian.  Not so much that I appear to be a person who would not be a Christian, but that someone in my position would speak so freely about Christ.

TOO LONG, PLEASE READ IT ANYWAY.

Those with less also tend to give away a much higher percentage of their incomes to those in need than do those with much.

53% and 74% of Christians don’t feel they need to share their faith?!?!

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