By Rosel Cloud

It seems that the United States of America is getting a bad rap. Americans are frequently criticized for being selfish, materialistic, and self-absorbed – “greedy capitalists”. But is this true? Figure 1 shows the Real Rise in U.S. Giving since 1954. This chart is adjusted for inflation and shows that U.S. actual giving has increased from $54 billion to $390 billion between 1954 and 2016. 

The total increase in giving is influenced by the increase in population, but Figure 1 also shows that U.S. per capita giving has increased almost four-fold from $333 to $1,204 between 1954 and 2016. Again, these figures have been adjusted for inflation. If Americans are selfish and self-absorbed, how can one explain this dramatic rise in giving per person? 

United States giving amounts to 1.44% of U.S. GDP (Gross Domestic Product). This is more than any other nation, and almost twice that of second place Canada. (Philanthropy Roundtable 2021)

What accounts for this extraordinary and unique pattern of giving by U.S. citizens? One has to consider the fact that the Church is still important in American cultural life. American Christians give to a variety of causes: the local church, missions, nonprofits, youth organizations and more.

They live out Paul’s command in Philippians 2:3-4: 

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Americans give 39% of their donations to religious organizations, and another 52% to help the disadvantaged: education, human services, health, and overseas. Only 10% of U.S. giving is to purely secular causes such as the arts and nature.

American Christians do not give under duress, but freely and joyfully as commanded in the New Testament:

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver…” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

While giving is not transactional, Christians know that God blesses those that help the needy:

“He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)

Finally, Christians practice good stewardship over the funds they give. They seek out trustworthy organizations to be the recipients of their giving. They also participate in the work of nonprofits by volunteering and by going abroad on short- and long-term mission trips. 

Christians are committed to spread the gospel to the lost. They give to further The Great Commission, as expressed in Matthew 28:19-20. They give (and go) to spread the gospel to the “remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

Again, the United States excels above the rest of the world in providing aid to other nations.

Figure 3 shows that the $43.9 billion that the U.S. gives for overseas aid, dwarfs the giving of all other nations, including the UK, which comes in at second place with $4.9 billion. (Philanthropy Roundtable 2021)

Not only are Americans generous with their money, but they welcome immigrants – legal immigrants. Americans are proud of their heritage of welcoming immigrants seeking a better life and escaping oppression and persecution in their home countries. While some people are convinced America is inherently bad, this is far from the truth. Americans welcome those who come legally. A recent survey revealed that fully 66% of Americans view immigrants as strengthening the country through hard work and talents. (Budiman 2020) Other surveys and interviews show that Americans prefer legal immigration, controlled by the rule of law. They see that illegal immigration benefits cartels, coyotes, and others who prey on the weak and defenseless. So, this is consistent with Americans’ generosity and concern for others. 

Christian Americans know that real generosity comes from a cheerful heart. It does not come from the government.

When the government tries to do the work of the Church chaos results. Families are torn apart. Poverty becomes generational. Cities descend into lawlessness.

The government should reward good behavior and punish evil, but it has no business providing charity.

To begin with, government must tax to give.  No one who is taxed feels particularly joyful, even when assured that these government programs benefit the poor.

Secondly, government is inefficient. Central planners are incapable of determining where aid is truly needed. By contrast the neighborhood priest or pastor knows how to direct aid to the helpless.

No, Americans get a bad rap from politicians and the media. They are often described as greedy, selfish, and uncaring, but this is not the truth.

As the data show, the United States gives generously – more generously than other nations.

As a nation founded on the Bible, the citizens of the United States have given and continue to give generously to help the unfortunate in this country and abroad. 

Works Cited

Budiman, Abby. 2020. Key findings about U.S. immigrant. August 20. Accessed October 12, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/20/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/

Philanthropy Roundtable. 2021. Statistics on U.S. Generosity. Accessed October 12, 2021. https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/statistics/u.s.-generosity

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org 

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