Practicing Christians in America are significantly more likely than non-Christians to donate to charity, according to a new study that also found that Americans who read the Bible and attend church are more generous than those who don’t.
The “State of the Bible: USA 2023” research from the American Bible Society found that 95 percent of practicing Christians say they donated to charity in 2022, compared to 51 percent of non-Christians. Practicing Christians also donated more money ($5,350) on average than non-Christians ($3,163).
In order to be considered a practicing Christian, a person has to “identify as Christian, attend church at least once a month, and consider their faith very important in their lives,” according to the research. Roughly one in five Americans are a practicing Christian.
“Throughout the data, we keep seeing the same general story: when people fully engage with biblical teaching, they are much more likely to donate generously,” the report said.
Those who have a strong faith are “significantly more likely” to be generous with their money, the report said.
Meanwhile, committed Bible readers are also more likely to donate to charity, with 92 percent of Americans whom the research labels “Scripture engaged” donating to charity in 2022, compared to 54 percent of those who don’t read the Bible. Scripture engagement is defined as “consistent interaction with the Bible that shapes a person’s choices and transforms their relationships with God, self, and others,” according to the American Bible Society.
It is not surprising that Bible reading leads people to be more generous, the study said.
“The Bible urges believers to give,” it said. “Often, it refers specifically to financial giving. We have examples of Joanna, Susanna, Mary, and others who supported Jesus’s ministry ‘out of their out means’ (Luke 8:1–3). Barnabas sold the property to fund the early church (Acts 4:36–37). Paul commended the Macedonian churches for their ‘rich generosity’ (2 Corinthians 8:1–5).
“... Again and again we see people transformed by God’s Word, with hearts pried open by God’s love, people of faith moved to share what they have with others -- even if they don’t have much to spare.”
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.