Christians giving less to church?

  According to a recent Barna survey, Christian giving is at its highest level this decade. However, less of that money is going to churches, and the percentage of those who tithe remains low.
  The entire born again community gave a mean of $2,000 to all churches and charities. However the percentage of born again Christians giving to church dropped to 76%, the lowest level in a decade. Meanwhile, the percentage of adults who tithe has stayed constant since the turn of the century – between 5% and 7%.
  George Barna said one must put the shift in giving into perspective. “[T]heir donation decisions must be seen in the larger context of the changes occurring in a wide range of religious behaviors.  With millions of people shifting their allegiance to different forms of church experience, and a more participatory society altering how people interact and serve others, many Christians are now giving their money to different types of organizations instead of a church.”
  At the same time, evangelical Christians were the most likely to donate to church and other non-profit organizations with more than four out of five giving at least $1,000. They were also the most likely to tithe.
  www.onenewsnow.com, 4/14/08