Tithing- Let's discuss it

[sk!mom]

This has been mentioned by several on budget threads and I would love opinions on tithing.

Do you give the full 10% to a church? or
Do you consider all charitable donations as part of your 10%?

Someone mentioned time in another thread, do you consider your time as part of your tithe?

Do you consider 10% to be an arbitrary figure and give to churches or charities as you see fit or can afford?

My DH and I were raised that the entire 10% should be given to the church. As we grew as adults, we began to feel that the 10% is not always put to it's best use by a church and now prefer to give to many organizations (including the church) that use it to help those in need.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Full 10% gross income to the church.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

We do not attend a church regularly so I have really thought about where to send my tithe. I did think that until we do find a church we want to attend that we would send our 10% to a charity that we regularly support anyway. I'm not sure if that "counts" as tithing or not and I'm sure if you ask anyone from a church they will tell you it doesn't and to send the money to THEIR church! lol

I know the charity would be grateful for the donation.

 

[cashout]

Full 10% of gross to church. We owe it to God; whether or not we believe that the church is putting it to the best use. My pastor says that it should be 10% of gross plus benefits (company paid insurance, retirement contributions, etc.)

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

Hi, We tithe the full 10% to 700Club. They are set up to help people all over the world, ie. the tsunami relief ,africa,guatemala etc,plus people in my hometown.

 

[Cindy B]

We used to over tithe -- we're talking 15-20%. Then we found out that the church we were going to had two financial books. One book was the "actual" numbers, and then one had simulated records for the members to view if requested. The "actual" book records finally leaked out, and we found that pastors were getting paid over 135K per two person family, thousands upon thousands for travel, summer homes were paid for from the congregration, and a large land purchase of a camp was funded without input.

So after that.. I saw that my tithe was not helping the poor in India or Cambodia so I now volunteer time. After over $60-75K wasted, I will volunteer time.

 

[annsteere]

10% of major income earner's salary to local church. Tithe on secondary and "odd jobs" or moonlighting income given to parachurch organizations. Gifts above 10% ("offerings") given as we feel impressed with a need.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We believe 10% to all--including church. Though most of our donation (we are not 10%..but as high as we can to get it to 10% of take home) does go to our church.

Our church also tithes 10% of its income as well. At least they practice what they preach .

 

[grlpwrd]

I tithe 15%, but not just to church.

 

[threeboysmom]

We always tithe at least 10% gross to our church (believe it is Biblical to do so). Any other charitable giving is in addition to our tithe.

 

[timswoman]

We always tithe at least 10% gross to our church (believe it is Biblical to do so). Any other charitable giving is in addition to our tithe.

Same here. We often give to special offerings as well. We don't think that special offerings are the same as tithes, they are in addition too.

 

[dvcgirl]

I have a question for those of you who tithe 10% or more to your church. How does that work....is it a monthly payment, weekly (like the Catholics do it....pass the basket around)? Are you allowed (by the rules of the Church and God) to save for your retirement and childrens' educations *before* you tithe, or does the church come first? Just curious...thanks.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I believe in tithing as it is hard to sit down to a meal and enjoy it when you know others do not have anything to eat etc.

We do not attend a church, long boring story, but we donate to the local Food Bank, Hospice, donate books to the local libraries etc. I donate my time also. Right now I have several family members in dire straits and I am having to help them out so we are going way over our tithing 'budget".

I believe than ministers should live as well as the median income of their parishioners (not more old drafty homes and cast off clothing as in the good old days) BUT not better. I have a sd who has asked us to pay her way through Bible College as she has heard that "it is a great way to make a lot of money". No, she is NOT on our list to give to.

Slightly Goofy

 

[we3disneygo]

we try to give as much as possible to the 10% and yes I do consider that giving of your time also counts.Our church at Christmas time buys gifts for familes that are living in what's called Y-villiage, it's the YWCA and they have housing for familes till they get back on their feet. we always make sure that someone else has a nice Christmas as we feel blessed.

 

[ReneeQ]

We also tithe 10% of all gross (not net) income to the church. The meaning of the word "tithe" is one tenth. What you give to your church is technically your "offering" not your "tithe." The word "tithe" means one tenth, not "to give." This is Webster's definition of tithe

Main Entry: 1tithe
Pronunciation: 'tI[th]
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): tithed; tith·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English teogothian, from teogotha tenth
transitive senses
1 : to pay or give a tenth part of, especially for the support of the church
2 : to levy a tithe on intransitive senses : to give a tenth of one's income as a tithe

We believe we would not technically be tithing if we gave less than 10%. Other's may not agree with or believe this, and that is fine, we don't all have to agree.

Other offerings we give are over and above our 10% tithe, and include a donation to the building fund at our church, a donation to the missions fund at our church, and support to a local chrisitan radio station.

I must add that your church should be open and honest with how they are spending the money. If there are problems with the books, there are problems in the church. I would not feel comfortable supporting a church I could not fully trust. And you will never agree 100% with how a church spends the money, and that's fine. Once you give it away, you no longer control it. But if the church is not on the up and up, and is being dishonest, they will have to answer for that, not you.

I also want to mention that we have been blessed beyond belief since we started tithing our full 10%. Our church offers an open money back guarantee. If you don't currently tithe 10%, they ask you to try it for 90 days. If at the end of that time you don't feel that God has truly blessed you and that you are better off than before, they will give you every penny back. Can't lose with that type of guarantee. One thing we have found to be true - YOU CAN'T OUTGIVE GOD. And blessings can be in many ways, not just money. Don't expect God to send you a big windfall of money because you start tithing. But you just might find other things improving - health, marriage, family, job situations, etc.

Didn't mean to be so long!

 

[stahshee]

10 perecent.

 

[DiznEeyore]

What I'm curious about is where in the Bible does it say "gross" vs. "net"? Seriously. I'm not being snippy -- just curious, 'cuz I've never seen it!

 

[ReneeQ]

Well, of course, the bible doesn't refer to the terms "gross" or "net." But we ask ourselves "do we want God to bless or gross, or just our net." Also Matthew 22:17 to 21 states

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Remember, just a few generations ago paychecks were not pre-taxed. You received your full pay, then YOU paid your own taxes out of your pay. You ahd your paycheck and paid all your "bills" out of it - taxes, tithe, food, clothing, etc. You didn't consider your pay to be only what you had after taxes.

And don't worry, no snippiness taken. Like I said before, we won't all agree, and this is only what "I" believe, I am only speaking for myself and my family. I'm not telling anyone else they are wrong for doing anything differently than I am.

 

[Maybelle]

Not sure where the scripture reference is, but I believe the Bible asks us to give of the "Firstfruits." That, to me would mean gross, not net, after Uncle Sam gets their share, as well as any pre-tax deductions are taken out.

 

[mickeysaver]

While I respect the whole idea behind the 10%, I just can't swing that. Even if we went without our trips to WDW every few years, we still could not afford that. God knows our hearts. He knows the struggles that we face. It's not to say that we don't do charitable work or make donations to the church, but as far as 10% to the church, no, I just can't do it. We are in the process of trying out a new church and this discussion has been happening in our home too. I just can't see taking money away from our home, our animal's care, and the other charities that we support, just to make the 10% thing happen.

I hope that God will understand, I believe that he does. So, if he can understand, I really don't need for anyone else to. Maggie