Do you give 10% to your church?

[Lloyd Smale]

been a catholic all my life. I know they used to tell the parish a percentage to give but ive never heard that once in all of my adult life in any catholic church. Ive NEVER heard of ANY catholic church asking for tax info. If they did id be calling the bishop and complaining. I give what I feel I can afford and it varies week to week and its surely not even 5percent of my income. Bottom line is NO priest can tell you cant be a member unless you give X amount anyway so why even worry about it?

I was raised a catholic and now I go to a christian church. I have a hard time with the money they expect one to give. They want 10% before taxes and I cannot give that. So, am I going to hell because I cannot give 10% of my earnings? I guess I could give if I didn't buy groceries and pay bills. I do repair their electronic gear for free but I was told that was not counted. I would have thought that giving of my time my experience and talent would be accepted as much as a money offering. If I didn't repair their electronics they would be spending some of the money they take in to pay for it from someone else.

When I was a catholic the parish asked for 5%. Now, some churches in my area would like to see Tax info to determine what your going to give. Maybe its more about the money than it is about saving souls anymore. There have been quite a few times when I have witnessed someone going into the church to talk to a priest or paster only to be asked if they have an appointment. Maybe whipping out the old check book would buy some time?

[fatelk]

I believe that you cant out give God . God has always made a way when things get tough , even as a young single Christian when the truck need repair or tires or other bills, even when work was slow there was always O.T. that popped up . God said he would open up the windows of heaven and pour out his blessings on us .

I do respect that and I’m not challenging you on it, by any means, but my question is: if I choose instead to pay the electric bill and only have enough left to give 9%, will I not be blessed?

Should I instead give that required 10% off the top instead of buying groceries, having faith that extra money will unexpectedly fall out of the sky from somewhere to feed my family?

Yes I know I’m making up extreme hypothetical situations, but just to illustrate my thoughts.

[fatelk]

I’m sorry everyone, for contributing to the contention in this thread. It’s just that I’ve been burned a little bit on this issue and have gone through something of a mild crisis of faith, partially as a result. I have some very strong mixed feelings. I’ll bow out now because I feel that I’ve rambled on too much.

[6bg6ga]

I’m sorry everyone, for contributing to the contention in this thread. It’s just that I’ve been burned a little bit on this issue and have gone through something of a mild crisis of faith, partially as a result. I have some very strong mixed feelings. I’ll bow out now because I feel that I’ve rambled on too much.

Why bow out? Got something to share then by all means do it. I'm very opinionated and say what I think and don't care what others may think or how they react. The purpose of a forum is to communicate and share ideas and that is why I started this particular thread.

[Ickisrulz]

I think that God would like to see everyone (worldwide) living a comfortable life. I don't believe he'd want us all living a life luxury and material excess, just comfortable. The impediment to this is that God allows man, for the most part, to manage his own affairs. What we have is due to where we live, our government, how we earn a living and how we manage our money.

The Gospel doesn't promise material blessings anywhere. What it does promise is that God is with us regardless of our circumstances; rich, poor or in prison.

One more thought: Even when Israel faithfully tithed and she was blessed materially as a nation, she still had her poor and the Law provided for their relief.

[6bg6ga]

I understand that some reading or responding in this thread cannot or will not understand how people like me would even dare to question the subject of tithing. While it is ok to question church doctrine is isn't ok to question tithing. People have left the Catholic church and established the Lutheran church just as one example. Other churches have also been established because people didn't believe portions of church teaching or disagreed with what was being taught.

Unfortunately in my case I am locked into a situation where I probably provided too good of a home and I'm still paying on it and its ridiculous taxes. I have a employer that it would seem would rather wrap up money into racing cars than give his employees a raise in the last 11 years. Prices on groceries and essentials are still going up and I don't have much disposable cash to even come close to the written 10% as stated in the bible.

Others have agreed with me on tithing time instead of money and yet some say it isn't recognized. Personal observation here.... I've seen some in the church that I go to that I know do give 10% but yet wouldn't do a thing to help someone in need. I have a problem with that attitude. I seem to have a problem when I am told the more that you give the more you will be blessed like it is supposed to be some kind of contest.

I guess that some of you reading can stand there with a smirk on your face and a condescending attitude. So be it. You do what you can do and you try to live with it.

[AK Caster]

I think that God would like to see everyone (worldwide) living a comfortable life. I don't believe he'd want us all living a life luxury and material excess, just comfortable.

You make it sound like God is a socialist and that hard work should not be rewarded.

[dverna]

You make it sound like God is a socialist and that hard work should not be rewarded.

You may be closer to the truth about God leaning more towards socialism than capitalism. If you think about the parable of the vineyard owner and the workers he hired at various times of the day to harvest his grapes, it may shed some light. He paid them the same whether they worked from 9 in the morning, noon, or were hired at 5:00.

And before anyone jumps on me I know the parable's meaning in the greater sense.

[fatelk]

No offense intended, but you seem pretty defensive about this. It’s a personal thing, between you and God. I’m on your side, but I think that those that give 10% aren’t necessarily wrong either unless they’re pushy and condescending about it.

We’re not all going to agree. Expecting to change anyone’s mind, especially on a matter of faith, will just end in frustration.

[lefty o]

You make it sound like God is a socialist and that hard work should not be rewarded.

i like how folks put this on God, when its the church. heck the catholic church has more money than most countries do, yet they want more, always! it is nothing to do with God as far as i can see it.

[largom]

Then sir you would easily be able to do the math and see that baby animals would also not fit when you consider all the species. So, are you saying that Noah harvested DNA preserved it and somehow manipulated it to arrive at different breeds of canines for example? Questionable that plants were available in seed form given the somewhat limited time Noah had to build the Ark.

I'm sorry but the tale is like a childs bedtime story. Sounds good until you start breaking it down into logical form.

Same as the myth of Adam and Eve.

[Char-Gar]

The Book of Acts, tells us that the the early Christians in Jerusalem, sold all they had and came and gave the money to the Apostles. The Apostles then gave out the good and money to the entire church according to the individual needs. Some real contention arose because one of the ethnic Jewish groups (Hellenistic and Hebrew) thought they were being shortchanged. The Apostles soon grew tired of all the bickering and appointed some men to oversee the distribution.

This leads to several observations;

1. The early church practiced a primitive form of socialism or communal living.
2. Racism and victim-hood is nothing new.
3. Human nature, even Christian human nature is a PITA.

[Thundarstick]

Do you think they did this because the apostles where demanding they give up their possessions, or because they thought it was a matter of days or weeks until Christ return?

[fatelk]

Many things in the Bible are simply recorded as history and are often misunderstood as instructional. It’s “They did this” rather than “You need to do it this way”.

Reading the Bible (or any ancient or foreign text for that matter) without some cultural context or understanding, can be very confusing at times.

[Char-Gar]

Do you think they did this because the apostles where demanding they give up their possessions, or because they thought it was a matter of days or weeks until Christ return?

It is reasonable clear from the NT material, that the folks were expecting Jesus to return in their lifetime. Who knows what the motive was behind this communal approach, but I doubt is was an apostolic demand.

[Char-Gar]

Many things in the Bible are simply recorded as history and are often misunderstood as instructional. It’s “They did this” rather than “You need to do it this way”.

Reading the Bible (or any ancient or foreign text for that matter) without some cultural context or understanding, can be very confusing at times.

True!

[xdmalder]

Here's some info on what tithing was like for the Israelites. Nothing was ever added to this in Scripture.

http://www.askelm.com/tithing/thi006.htm

[Thundarstick]

Spot on!

[Lloyd Smale]

I guess I have to ask this. Do you go to church? Obviously you do if your complaining about how much money they want you to contribute. If you don't go to church your just trying to stir up **** here. If you do go to church don't you think its your responsibility to keep it solvent. Do you think you should go there and give a dollar or even nothing and the rest of the congregation can pay for the heat, electric, maintenance, pastors salary and other expenses. Some will balk at even giving 10 or 20 bucks a week to there church but think nothing of picking up a couple boxes of primers, some bullets, lead, put gas in there Harley ect. God doesn't give your pastor his pay check you and I do. If you truly cant afford to even give one dollar then ill happily pay my share and you can still come to church just like me. No catholic or protestant church I have ever heard of has turned away someone because they cant afford to donate. That said if you can afford it and don't then you will have to answer to God not me for your selfishness. Bottom line is if your so poor you cant even give a dollar then you must have hitched a ride to church because you spent more then that on gas getting there. Id rather you called me to get a ride to church rather then spend that dollar on gas and take that dollar and give it to your church. but I do challenge anyone here to show me physical PROOF that a church bans you because you don't give a certain percentage of you income to support it other then some of the cult churches. Maybe if you feel insecure about how much you donate instead of lashing out at your church here you ought to do some soul searching and park the Harley or get by with not shooting so much this week or take that money your putting away for your next gun and give it to your church.

[6bg6ga]

I guess I have to ask this. Do you go to church? Obviously you do if your complaining about how much money they want you to contribute. If you don't go to church your just trying to stir up **** here. If you do go to church don't you think its your responsibility to keep it solvent. Do you think you should go there and give a dollar or even nothing and the rest of the congregation can pay for the heat, electric, maintenance, pastors salary and other expenses. Some will balk at even giving 10 or 20 bucks a week to there church but think nothing of picking up a couple boxes of primers, some bullets, lead, put gas in there Harley ect. God doesn't give your pastor his pay check you and I do. If you truly cant afford to even give one dollar then ill happily pay my share and you can still come to church just like me. No catholic or protestant church I have ever heard of has turned away someone because they cant afford to donate. That said if you can afford it and don't then you will have to answer to God not me for your selfishness. Bottom line is if your so poor you cant even give a dollar then you must have hitched a ride to church because you spent more then that on gas getting there. Id rather you called me to get a ride to church rather then spend that dollar on gas and take that dollar and give it to your church. but I do challenge anyone here to show me physical PROOF that a church bans you because you don't give a certain percentage of you income to support it other then some of the cult churches. Maybe if you feel insecure about how much you donate instead of lashing out at your church here you ought to do some soul searching and park the Harley or get by with not shooting so much this week or take that money your putting away for your next gun and give it to your church.

Confused? Who is this directed to?