Most correct way to tithe

meanderingbrook · 07/09/2023 19:00

Sounds very rules based. I think the thing is if you are doing this to look acceptable or good to others it's the wrong motivation. Tithing doesn't make you good. Being good, becoming more like Christ, should make you want to be generous and loving towards others. Not only with money or through tithing but seeing how you can meet needs. How do people need you to help? What can you offer them? Sometimes it can just be a friendly smile and stopping for a chat with someone who's feeling a bit lonely. Sometimes it can be offering baby sitting to someone who is stuck.

NotTooOldPaul · 07/09/2023 19:27

I find tithing helps me budget. I try to give a total of 10% to charities and split it so I give 5% to my church and the other 5% to other charities.
I’m not exact in this but it just helps keep me on a reasonable amount.

Original poster

Paulapeake · 07/09/2023 20:17

I'm doing it to meet expectations. I thought I should add 20% onto what I earn to compensate and then give 10% of the figure. Then I could replicate what a taxpayer would pay.

OP posts:

meanderingbrook · 07/09/2023 20:39

Paulapeake · 07/09/2023 20:17

I'm doing it to meet expectations. I thought I should add 20% onto what I earn to compensate and then give 10% of the figure. Then I could replicate what a taxpayer would pay.

That is sad! Who is putting this pressure on you? It is wrong!

If you give, if you don't do it from the heart, it is not you giving! It is you being made to feel frightened! Don't be motivated by fear. Be motivated by love! Which has to be given and can't be taken!

LapinR0se · 07/09/2023 20:40

Whose expectations?

Elphame · 08/09/2023 09:05

That’s sad to read. The leaders of the vast American churches have built personal fortunes on the back of creaming off money from hard working people who have much less.

If you want to tithe do it because you want to and have a thought as to where the money is going and how it will be used. There is no spiritual merit in funding someone else’s luxury life style.

mostlydrinkstea · 08/09/2023 17:11

There are no rules except those that the church leader has decided on. From memory the C of E suggests 5% of income and I would assume that is net and not gross. When we have been really poor we have upped our donation of time if we were unable to give financially beyond a few pounds in the plate.

Cazzovuoi · 08/09/2023 17:18

I need to start a church

Geneticsbunny · 08/09/2023 17:20

Yep. I agree with others. Please don't give if you are doing it as an obligation, especially if it is because of other people and what they might think about you.

God loves you for who you are and where you are and wouldn't want you to tithe unless you want to and only once you have a deep relationship with him. Otherwise it is a bit like expecting someone to take over paying your rent on a first date!

CarolinaInTheMorning · 08/09/2023 17:21

My mother tithed based on net income, not gross.

pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 17:22

I would not stay in a church where there was that pressure.

That said, I wish my Luke warm CofE congregation felt the desire to be more generous. It's tricky!

mostlydrinkstea · 08/09/2023 17:22

Is this church an independent church or a mainline denomination? How are they spending the money? There are a couple of things to be wary of. One is the prosperity gospel which is that if you give you get more back. The other is that of 'preacher's sneakers' which is the phenomena of preachers wearing trainers that cost more than most of us make in a year or driving sports cars or owning private planes.

Most churches are run on donations and need to pay for staff, buildings and utilities but there should be transparency to see where it is going. We spent an eye watering amount on fuel last year and this year we will be advising people to wear a big coat and thick socks. It's all in the annual accounts which are on the charity commission website.

BitOutOfPractice · 08/09/2023 17:23

Blimey! 1384 called and they want their tithes back!

whose expectations op?

pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 17:23

@mostlydrinkstea we greeted people with hand warmers and blankets this year, with hot water bottles available too.

mostlydrinkstea · 08/09/2023 17:26

@pickledandpuzzled. Yes we had blankets and there was fierce competition to get close to the aged heaters.

EducatingArti · 10/09/2023 09:52

Tithing is an Old Testament rule. The New Testament guidance is to give proportionately (ie rich people give more than poor people) and to decide in your own heart how much you want to give, willingly and cheerfully. If you are really well off, that might be much more than 10%. If you are on a tight budget then that might be much less than 10% and if you are really struggling, that might be a token 10p
If you are at a church that is insisting on a 10% tithe then please start to have a think generally about how controlling they are, how legalistic they are on what people do ( eg telling people they should attend Bible studies and prayer events as well as Sunday services - nothing wrong with these per se, but it is the "ought to" and putting pressure on people to do it that is problematic).

PrimitivePerson · 10/09/2023 22:47

Don't even think of giving anywhere near 10% of your income. It's a huge amount and no church has the right to pressure you into doing it.

I did it for ages, and it made me poor. It also ended up funding the activities of a vicar who was committing really awful acts of abuse. To say I'm angry at being conned into that is a massive understatement.

harerunner · 14/09/2023 06:15

Paulapeake · 07/09/2023 20:17

I'm doing it to meet expectations. I thought I should add 20% onto what I earn to compensate and then give 10% of the figure. Then I could replicate what a taxpayer would pay.

I'd urge you only to consider tithing once your pastor demonstrates that he is abiding by all the other Old Testament laws too, and is instructing the church to adhere to all of Leviticus's strictures... Obviously he won't be (and it's a pretty safe bet your pastor is a "he".

But if you must tithe, there's a reason you don't have many deductions or pay much tax.... because you're a low earner (either that or you have an elaborate tax evasion set up 😆), so those who pay a higher proportion of their take home pay are much more able to do so. A tithe for someone on low income is already incredibly ruinous. Please, please don't make it even more so... but better still, don't feel obliged to pay it, and consider why your pastor has cherry picked the Bible, and trying to guilt you into paying an Old Testament pre-Christian tax applicable to Israelites 😂Pastors who promote this are grifters, pure and simple.

harerunner · 14/09/2023 06:19

Paulapeake · 07/09/2023 11:45

I'm finding guidance around tithing confusing. I've been told it should be 10% of income before deductions. But I don't have many deductions, only a small amount of national insurance. Should I compensate for this and if so how?

Reading this again, I find it sad and disturbing that you've been "told" to do this. Any church that does this sounds controlling and cultish. It's manipulative spiritual abuse.

PrimitivePerson · 14/09/2023 10:43

harerunner · 14/09/2023 06:19

Reading this again, I find it sad and disturbing that you've been "told" to do this. Any church that does this sounds controlling and cultish. It's manipulative spiritual abuse.

Show quote history

I have a highly tuned spiritual abuse detector, and I completely agree. Give what you can and want. It's no-one's business but yours.

TheMountainsCall · 14/09/2023 10:59

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9:7

No compulsion. Anything you give is between you and God.

Maatandosiris · 18/09/2023 05:36

Well according to the Old Testament the correct way to tithe is to acknowledge 10 of your grains fruits and sheep to God as they belong to him )not the church)

in the New Testament you should use whatever you have to alleviate poverty. Giving money to be recognised or because you feel forced to do so is a no no.

Giving money to the church is a get rich scheme by religious institutions.

cut out the middle man. Give what you want or can to charity- that’s much more in line with the bible.

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 18/09/2023 20:36

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly nor under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

The OT Leviticus verses say to give a portion, specifically a tenth (tithe) of whatever you make, back to God. God does not need our money but it's more about blessing others out of our own abundance. However, our giving doesn't necessarily mean just financial, we can give our time or our talents and skills. It's all more about changing hearts, taking our focus off ourselves and helping others.

Churches can't operate on fresh-air, so it makes sense that those who feel moved to do so, give money according to their ability and prompting in their heart.

MadamPia · 25/09/2023 22:31

I wish a church would breakdown this verse about tithes!

Deuteronomy 14:22–27 (ESV): 22 “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23 And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there, 25 then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the LORD your God chooses 26 and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27 And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.