Do you give 10%????

[roxie]

I see many young families who can barely pay their house payment and buy shoes for the kids. I think this keeps many of them from attending a church and I find that very sad.

 

[Nickel]

I may be wrong, but I thought they helped La Plata by donating their time to help rebuild.

I was talking about my church, not the town of La Plata. If I remember correctly, Facchina did the rebuild of our church.

 

[MMDad]

I see many young families who can barely pay their house payment and buy shoes for the kids. I think this keeps many of them from attending a church and I find that very sad.

Which part is sad? That they can barely care for their kids, or that they can't attend church?

 

[DD214]

Of course one must remember what is directed in Deuteronomy 14 regarding what to do with your tithe if you are unable to make it to church due to a situation beyond your control:

22 Each year you shall tithe all the produce that grows in the field you have sown;

23 then in the place which the LORD, your God, chooses as the dwelling place of his name you shall eat in his presence your tithe of the grain, wine and oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, that you may learn always to fear the LORD, your God.

24 If, however, the journey is too much for you and you are not able to bring your tithe, because the place which the LORD, your God, chooses for the abode of his name is too far for you, considering how the LORD has blessed you,

25 you may exchange the tithe for money and, with the purse of money in hand, go to the place which the LORD, your God, chooses.

26 You may then exchange the money for whatever you desire, oxen or sheep, wine or strong drink, or anything else you would enjoy, and there before the LORD, your God, you shall partake of it and make merry with your family.

**EDIT** I should note that this post was not directed at the post regarding the families with financial hardships. That is a very sad situation indeed, both not being able to take care of their kids, and that they feel that they are not able to attend church. I think that a family in that situation could really benefit from a supportive church community.

 

[MMDad]

I guess that clears it up! (except the smilies don't help).

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I never have...
Though I've made the decision that when my fiancee and I sit down to talk about our budget after we get married and choose a new church, we're going to build it into our budget.

What budget? You buy what you want, when you want it.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Something to think about.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8


<sup id="en-NASB-28963">6</sup>Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

<sup id="en-NASB-28964">7</sup>Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

<sup id="en-NASB-28965">8</sup>And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

I do not give for the approval of any man. I give because it is right before God. Our church leaders do not drive fancy cars and our church is one of the least ornate. Our church gives much of what is received in tithes and offerings to support those in need and missionaries.


The amount that is given is not the issue. It is the attitude in which it is given; giving should be done joyfully not grudgingly.

Mark 12:41-44

<sup id="en-NASB-24715">41</sup>And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.

<sup id="en-NASB-24716">42</sup>A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.

<sup id="en-NASB-24717">43</sup>Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;

<sup id="en-NASB-24718">44</sup>for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."

I do know that the tithe is what is prescribed and it does not matter whether it is money, time, or goods. It should be given to the work of God and not to the community.

If you feel an organization is not using your tithe and offerings correctly, then find another that uses what it receives more wisely. I think you can divide your tithe to give to more than one Christian organization, your church, a radio ministry, the Salvation Army, the Gideons, but it should be an organization that openly recognizes and proclaims God.

 

[Danzig]

I choose not to rob God.

And I choose not to let the "church" rob me.

If god wants my money he can come to me for it.

I am not paying to build bigger churches, or pay off lawsuits of people who's kids where molested by priests.

They have more than enough money and seem to mismanage it just fine without adding more of my money.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Something to think about.
I do not give for the approval of any man. I give because it is right before God. Our church leaders do not drive fancy cars and our church is one of the least ornate. Our church gives much of what is received in tithes and offerings to support those in need and missionaries.

I know someone with a Jag...

 

[2ndAmendment]

And I choose not to let the "church" rob me.

If god wants my money he can come to me for it.

I am not paying to build bigger churches, or pay off lawsuits of people who's kids where molested by priests.

They have more than enough money and seem to mismanage it just fine without adding more of my money.

Maybe you are going to the wrong church.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I know someone with a Jag...

Not any of the church officials at my church. You?

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Not any of the church officials at my church. You?

Not exactly a church official, but someone very active.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Not exactly a church official, but someone very active.

So. Only the pastor and co-pastor are paid at our church.

If I could tithe and afford to get a H1A, I would.

 

[Midnightrider]

the way i see it, god has no need for money, and this whole tithing thing is an example of what organized religion is really all about- making money. Next time our in church look around and estimate the $$$ rolling in if everyone is giving their 10%.
Where does all that money go???

 

[Chasey_Lane]

So. Only the pastor and co-pastor are paid at our church.

If I could tithe and afford to get a H1A, I would.

You said it, not me.

our church is one of the least ornate.

 

[sleuth]

What? :shrug:
It's really more of a problem for me than her. She already tithes. Therefore, I've got to make the decision to take it out of my income.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

What? :shrug:
It's really more of a problem for me than her. She already tithes. Therefore, I've got to make the decision to take it out of my income.

Who say's who have to take anything out of your income? If she's already doing it, shouldn't that be enough? Why not split it 50/50?

 

[sleuth]

Do you donate to the Red Cross? United Way? Or anything else? I know that there are fundamentalists here, but if you are giving in some way, you are tithing, and if it is at least 10%, it's what you owe to your ancestors and fellow man. If you choose to do that through your church, more power to you.

I haven't, though I've considered doing my tithing through organizations that adopt poor children, or through places like St. Judes.

Honestly though.. I've just never been able to build it into my budget. It's much easier to build it in from the start, and as soon as I really get to do this "fresh start" (i.e. get my work to send me home long enough to find a new house, etc.), I'll get to build it into my budget instead of trying to squeeze it in as an afterthought..

 

[2ndAmendment]

the way i see it, god has no need for money, and this whole tithing thing is an example of what organized religion is really all about- making money. Next time our in church look around and estimate the $$$ rolling in if everyone is giving their 10%.
Where does all that money go???

If your church is using the tithes and offerings correctly, it goes to help those that are less fortunate in the church, community, missionary work, and things like that as well as paying the salary, if any, of church workers, maintenance of the church property, and paying the bills of the church. If it is not and is just accumulating wealth, then maybe you should question the church officials about it, or find another church that is more Biblical in its actions.

The tithe is prescribed in the Bible. The Jewish priest would use part of the tithes and offerings for their own sustenance and then store the rest in the temple storerooms. In times of famine or other community need, they would distribute from the storerooms to supply the needs of the people. If your are following God's word in your belief, then the tithe is the minimum. You also give other offerings in addition to the tithe.

 

[sleuth]

Who say's who have to take anything out of your income? If she's already doing it, shouldn't that be enough? Why not split it 50/50?

10% x (her income) + 10% x (my income) = 10% (our income)...

:shrug: Makes sense to me. If she tithes, but I don't, then we're not giving 10%.