Have you found yourself tipping generously these days? Americans are of a mind to be generous with those working hard to deliver food and supplies and the things we need during social distancing. But fears and uncertainties also arise. Even for people who are fully able to pay their bills, the specter of some disturbing economic scenarios gives rise to the temptation to cut back on giving to ministry for the time being.

We should do our best to fight against that impulse by continuing to donate to the ministries we have been supporting, and even increasing our giving if we can.

Many ministries are modifying or adding to their programs in order to address the effects of the covid-19 pandemic. We have an opportunity to help them do that.

Churches that aren’t meeting are suffering financially from not being able to pass the offering plate. But they’re spending to ramp up community outreach, online innovation, mailings and other ways to stay connected.

Christian colleges and universities still have to pay the bills even as they develop online offerings and other means of keeping students on track to finish the school year.

Any missionary or overseas ministry you support has likely had to regroup or refocus in some way in order to deal with the coronavirus. Overseas evangelistic and relief organizations now have to spend more because the nations they work in are ill-equipped to deal with covid-19 due to bureaucratic chaos, insufficient healthcare, and subpar sanitation.

Media ministries, especially Christian radio outlets, need reliable support to maintain and enhance their efforts to encourage families through music, teaching and commentary.

As government passes laws to preserve businesses and individuals harmed by its efforts to contain the pandemic, the Left capitalizes on the crisis to sneak in socialist policies. Think tanks and groups that seek to advance conservative values need resources to prevent the carnage that could follow

Now’s the time to give, if you can.

A study by the Manhattan Institute explains why it is so hard for middle class families to make ends meet. The author, Oren Cass, distilled his research down in a Twitter post. “In 1984, the typical male worker could cover a family of four’s major expenditures (housing, health care, transportation, education) on 30 weeks salary. By 2018 it took 53 weeks. Which is a problem, there being only 52 weeks in a year.”

Christopher Ingraham wrote about this in the Washington Post, saying “This chart is the best explanation of middle-class finances you will ever see.” The chart shows the annual expenses for a family of four and plots on top of that the median male income. The margin between income and expenses gets smaller each year until the annual household expenses exceed the median male income.

The chart in the report helps to explain why families feel the financial pinch. The cost of basic necessities has increased faster than male income. Until recently we have had a booming economy with a record-setting stock market. But many families are still struggling to bring in enough income to cover housing, health care, transportation, and education.

The research focuses on male earnings because historically men were responsible for providing for their families. In the past, they were often the sole breadwinners. Today they are still seen as the primary providers for their family. Oren Cass concludes that the typical male worker a generation ago, “could be confident in his ability to provide for his family not only the basics of food, clothing, and shelter but also the middle-class essentials of a comfortable house, a car, health care, and education. Now he cannot.”

That is why it has become more and more difficult for families to make ends meet.

As we all know, the virus crisis has created a financial crisis. Companies and businesses cannot survive for long when they are closed down. But the greater crisis is what could be called a paycheck crisis. People who live paycheck to paycheck cannot go for very long without dire economic consequences.

One survey last year by Bankrate confirmed what previous surveys originally discovered. A majority of Americans are economically vulnerable. Their survey found that only 40 percent of Americans would be able to pay for an unexpected $1,000 expense from savings. That expense could be an emergency room visit or even car repair. The percent confirmed previous surveys from 2014 through 2018.

What about the remaining 60 percent? More than a third would need to borrow money in some way. That could be through their credit card or perhaps through a personal loan from family or friends. Another 14 percent would reduce spending on other things, while 10 percent didn’t really know what they would do.

The current economic downturn may cause many of us to rethink our priorities. What Americans used to consider luxuries are now considered necessities. Most Americans (80%) own a smartphone. That same portion of households own at least one high definition flat screen television. A majority (60%) of Americans dine out at least once a week. A significant percentage (20%) of American families dine out three or more times a week.

Changing habits might be a possible short-term solution. But most Americans are already hitting a financial wall. They may welcome the government check of $1,200 being promised, but what they really need is a job and a steady paycheck. The virus crisis is making it very difficult for more and more Americans to pay their bills.

Whether you are a Christian or not, you are benefiting from the positive impact of Christianity on your life. That is the premise of the book by Dr. Rodney Stark, America’s Blessings: How Religion Benefits Everyone Including Atheists. His book is a perfect response to atheistic professors who criticize America and the Christian foundation of this country.

This book is a natural one for the professor to write since he has talked about the positive contribution of Christianity to Western civilization. Since we live in a country that Stark describes as “unusually religious” we shouldn’t be surprised that many of the blessings that Christianity has brought to the world can be found in America.

He says people who attend church tend to donate more than others. In previous commentaries I have talked about the research by Arthur Brooks that found the same things. Rodney Stark says that: “religious people dominate the ranks of blood donors, to whom even some angry humanists owe their lives.” Christians also “are far more likely to contribute even to secular charities, to volunteer their times to socially beneficial programs, and to be active in civic affairs.”

Religious Americans also enjoy better physical health. They have “an average life expectancy more than seven years longer than that of the irreligious.” In fact, much of this difference remains even after the effects of “clean living” are removed.

Rodney Stark also talks about another topic we have discussed in previous commentaries: the fertility gap. The fertility rate for religious people is much higher than for secular people. He cites Eric Kaufman’s book, Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? That book points out that when you look at Europe, the population is declining, except in the religious sector.

Despite what you might hear from atheists and skeptics, Christianity has been a blessing to America and the world.