Studies show beliefs on tithing differ from pulpit to pew.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sirach14
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
40.png
Sirach14:
I believe this may be true in the Catholic Church also.
crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1383124.html
Click to expand...
I think that tithing is a concept of recognizing that all we are and all we have is a Gift from God. We are called to give back all in our time, talent, and treasure to fullfill God’s plan.

We can give our time to our parish as a CCD teacher or as the “first pastor” to our children. We can give our talent to the Church to paint the window sills in the summer or we can give our talent to teach our neighbor kid to throw a ball as he doesn’t have a dad to play catch with. We can give our treasure to the Church, another legitimate charity consistent w/ Church teaching or we can even choose to make less money and be a social worker.

However, we need to remember that our local, diocesan, and international Church needs our time, talent and treasure to further its Christ-called mission.

Sirach is correct that too many (including Catholics) don’t have a complete understanding of the stewarship that we are entrusted with by God as described in Genesis and it is manifested in our selfishness. But a change starts in our hearts as we take all we are and all we do to God for guidance. When we think we can and are responsible for things ourselves, we will naturally take too much credit for our accomplishments and thus “hold back” too much as our “fair share.”

P.S. As a reaction to the article: Was anyone else struck by the self-interest? Protestant Pastors whose self-interest and even their compensation is related to the amount in the collection plate would advocate that giving is all about what you give to the local church (and thus to him). Shameful.
 
I do not know how the tithing system work in the US, but in my place. Every protestant tithe monthly 10% to the church (except those who does not hold full time job) Offering is offer during to our service every week to the church as well. But if every one of would to attend other church as visitor, the offering to that church is all up to individual. But most of them do not offer, as they keep their offering soley to their attached church. Just like one of my protestant friend who told me that, he at time brought one of his catholic frez to his church, and when he wanted to do his offering, my frez told him is up to him whether he want or not to offer to his church.
 
My former pastor was one of those who believed that tithing should come from the ‘first fruits’ of our income. Meaning before a person pays bills, buys food or purchases clothing for their young, then the tithe should be taken out of their income.

Our pastor assured us that no one would pressure us to give the tithe or judge us but he urged us to give. There were many speakers at the church who never failed to promise us that God would bless us if we gave our tithe. If we couldn’t afford something then God didn’t want us to have that anyway. God would, they said, provide the neccessities.

We tried to follow this but there came a time when my sons wore holes in their shoes and I simply couldn’t afford to tithe. God didn’t drop those new shoes from the sky. Yes, we could live very, very tight but this stopped being a question of my being frugal and one of simply being able to live.

We were also taught that any money given to charity could not count as our tithe. That had to be extra as did the money that we were urged to give to missionaries.The church would help its own members but my particular church did not seem interested in helping those who weren’t either members or potential members. We didn’t do the charity or soup drives that we do now in my church.

Were does the the number 10% come from anyway? I can’t find that exact amount in the bible although I know that it must be there as most Christians seem to agree on this amount.

Just for the record I do believe that we should tithe but I do it after neccesary bills and food comes out of the check not before.
 
From Deb1: Our pastor assured us that no one would pressure us to give the tithe or judge us but he urged us to give. There were many speakers at the church who never failed to promise us that God would bless us if we gave our tithe. If we couldn’t afford something then God didn’t want us to have that anyway. God would, they said, provide the neccessities.
Click to expand...
This is so warped. (Deb, I know these aren’t your words but that of your former Protestant pastor) The Church teaches that all we are and all we have is a gift from God.

Under this guys logic, if we give back to God what is rightfully His, he will give us more.

We should give out of gratitude and love and not measure the cost:benefit ratio.
 
40.png
happygal:
Every protestant tithe monthly 10% to the church (except those who does not hold full time job)
Click to expand...
EVERY PROTESTANT??? How is this enforced?
 
40.png
b_justb:
By the Department of the Evangelical Tithing Police, duh.
Click to expand...
Really. I know of one church in Ohio who made all members submit their W2’s and then would tell them what their tithing would be. If you could not afford the 10%, you would work for the church at night and on the weekends at minimum wage.
 
40.png
dhgray:
Really. I know of one church in Ohio who made all members submit their W2’s and then would tell them what their tithing would be. If you could not afford the 10%, you would work for the church at night and on the weekends at minimum wage.
Click to expand...
I don’t know which is more funny. The Church asking for the W2’s or the people that actually gave them up.
 
40.png
b_justb:
I don’t know which is more funny. The Church asking for the W2’s or the people that actually gave them up.
Click to expand...
I know, bur the pastor has the members convinced that in order to “be in good standing” they must comply and the church is flurishing.
 
40.png
dhgray:
EVERY PROTESTANT??? How is this enforced?
Click to expand...
Do we enforced?? Not body enforced anything , anyone believe in Jesus will automatic tithe and i don’t see a reason why churches have to make regulation to everyone to tithe. If that so, this is not coming from free will…then why do we have to believe in christianity!!!

Christian believe in my country do their part well (both protestant and catholic) so far i have never heard anybody who don’t offer and tithe…in fact some give even more then what is call…so is all up to individual on how much they wanted to contribute back
 
40.png
dhgray:
Really. I know of one church in Ohio who made all members submit their W2’s and then would tell them what their tithing would be. If you could not afford the 10%, you would work for the church at night and on the weekends at minimum wage.
Click to expand...
Huh? Strange , sound to me is like by making a regulation to all members to tithe…and not thru believes
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top