Do you have to pay a % to your church?

[lisad123]

was talking to a friend today, she told me her sister has to sign a form to arrnage to a certain % of her wages when she joined a church (born again christain I think). I was surprised tbh.
I dont agree with passing collection plates either, but wondered how many people have to pay the % to their church?? I always thought this was gossip tbh

I'm just curious is the comment that one would tithe the gross in order to get your gross income rather than net income blessed? How do you derive that particular principal?

Sorry, Ladymuck, but I think you can probably work that out on your fingers

Sorry, but I don't understand. You said "Oh and you tithe before tax, because that is the income you want the Lord to bless.
I know it sounds incredible, but that's God for you.
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I've seen churches who encourage a tithe of 10% of net income (though of course they do get tax back on that too), but I haven't come across the principal of tithing on gross "because that is the income you want the Lord to bless"?

Sorry - my cut and paste has spectacularly failed, but you get the drift I hope.

I don't think there is a biblical distinction between net and gross of taxes. It is a matter for your own conscience, but with the principle that the more you give the more you are blessed.

The teaching to look at is the parable of the widow's offering - Mark 12.

The Widow's Offering

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything?all she had to live on."

• the more you give of what you can afford - not versus richer or poorer people.

But then that principle doesn't support tithing does it? It would seem odd that 10% would be required equally from someone earning £100k and from someone earning £10k.

Are there any NT references supporting tithing?

I think tithing, itself, is an Old Testament concept.

And in OT spirit, it is legalistic.

Christians should do what is right by their hearts, and that means to give as much as you can.

Actually, my belief about the story in Mark 12 is that it's not an instruction about giving at all.
I read it, in the context of the end of chapter 11, as a rebuke against those who would require offerings from the destitute. Those that the people of God are commanded to care for, not drain finances from.

hello kayharker!!! have been wondering how you were! (tis i fm!)

that's if you are who i think you are. oh gawd ... don't want to mention old name either.

your name that is

No!

Our church has a "free will box" at the back and nothing is EVER passed around. Visitors should have no obligation.

At Christmas and occassions we have a special collection it is advertised and people asked to put money in marked envelope in special Bucket at the back.

As members we DO give by Standing Order, someone has to pay the PAstor and bills, but what we give is between us (& treasurer who knows) & God. No pressure, ever. Even when CHurch was totally re-built, which has been done with NO debts

I think tithing was reasonable in the middle ages when the church paid for the upkeep of orphages, schools, hospitals, the work house etc. But nowadays a lot of that is paid by taxes. I do not see why the church needs so much money.

In olden days the poor widow would have been given more support from the church than she tithed. However this is not the case now.

I see nothing wrong with a collection plate, but I prefer gifts to be made in envelopes so that its secret precisely how much an individual gives.

We 'pay as we go' in the collection basket.

The problem with a collection plate is that it is not a tax-efficient way of giving, among other things.

It can put guests in a difficult position too.

If you give by, say, standing order though, do you not feel awkward ignoring the collection plate? Or do you give to that as well?

We don't pass around a plate at our church. We have a box near the entrance, but it is not easy to spot unless you know it is there. We do not expect visitors to contribute to the running of the church, which is the main reason for having our cash collection this way.

The only time we have plates is when we are having a special service with a specific beneficiary in mind, for example on Remembrance Sunday when we give the whole collection to the British Legion. On those occasions, I would make my donation.

mrsmHARKTHEHERALDANGELSSINGet hello

At our church people who give by standing order are handed out special cards to state they are giving by standing order. They put the plastic card into the collection plate.

I have to say, that is a really weird set up, Really Tired. Why do they need to have plastic cards?

We pay by standfing order as do most other regular churchgoers. Where is the embarrassment in passing the plate? Surely it is only God Who matters and He knows everything. Other people may not know, but do they have to?

We don't pass plates because we don't expect visitors to support the running of our church, we encourage tax-efficient giving, and it takes a boat-load of time in a congregation of 400+.

An author I read referred to passing the collection plate with his "I tithe monthly by direct debit expression" when he had forgotten to bring any cash ....

We are encouraged to tithe at our church, but we are always reminded that its not how much you give it's what it means to you! We are not only encouraged to tithe on our earnings but our time too!
The way I think of it is that God owns 100% of everything, he takes 10% and gives me the other 90%.