Tithe

[Mammoths]

Which religions require 10% giving or some specific minimum?

 

[Kliska]

There are various Protestant denominations/Evangelicals that preach the 10% tithe, but it varies widely from congregation to congregation. The LDS teach tithe as well, I believe.

 

[Horton]

Which religions require 10% giving or some specific minimum?

The Catholic Church does not “require” any specific tithe. Of course the Church must be supported so it is up to parishners to give as they are able. Some give 10% some give more, some less.

I give the same amount every week at Mass. It is a under 10% of my income buy I give freely to other church programs or activities. I’ll buy tickets to fund raising dinners, raffles, or other stuff that comes along during the year. I also give to other charitable organizations so in reality I tend to put more than 10% toward my Church and community but who’s counting right? I’m pretty sure God isn’t going to send me to hell if I fall short here & there. If it wasn’t for taxes I wouldn’t use the envelopes or write checks, I’d just give the cash.

 

[NeuroTypical]

Mormons tend to tithe 10%, but how that’s calculated (gross or net, etc) is up to the individual. The guideline is “one-tenth of our interest annually”. That keeps the lights on and all our buildings paid for.

We’re also big on service to other members, and in our community, thinking of it as a tithe on our labors. Here in Colorado Springs where I live, Catholic Charities operate the Marion House soup kitchen, that’s a favorite for us. Also road clean-up, helping people move, fix their houses, stuff like that. I’ve done National Park reforestation service, and hauled logs after a forest fire, and helped a gazillion people move over the years.

We also tend to fast one day a month for two meals, and give the money we would have spent on that food as a ‘fast offering’. That forms the welfare arm of my church. Members in dire straights can receive funds from fast offerings for things like medical bills, food, utilities, etc.

We also have a humanitarian aid fund, and spend something to the tune of $40 million/year on various humanitarian projects across the world.

We also have a thing called a “Perpetual Education Fund”, geared towards helping members in poor countries break their cycle of intergenerational poverty. Low-interest loans for qualified education that will enable the member to to earn more money. The member pays the money back after the job is had, and the interest funds the administrative expenses. I think this program has a default rate half or less of standard US student loans.

I’ve paid at least 10% of my net pay, plus fast offerings, plus smaller amounts for Humanitarian aid, and PEF, for 20 years now.

 

[Horton]

Mormons tend to tithe 10%, but how that’s calculated (gross or net, etc) is up to the individual. The guideline is “one-tenth of our interest annually”. That keeps the lights on and all our buildings paid for.

We’re also big on service to other members, and in our community, thinking of it as a tithe on our labors. Here in Colorado Springs where I live, Catholic Charities operate the Marion House soup kitchen, that’s a favorite for us. Also road clean-up, helping people move, fix their houses, stuff like that. I’ve done National Park reforestation service, and hauled logs after a forest fire, and helped a gazillion people move over the years.

We also tend to fast one day a month for two meals, and give the money we would have spent on that food as a ‘fast offering’. That forms the welfare arm of my church. Members in dire straights can receive funds from fast offerings for things like medical bills, food, utilities, etc.

We also have a humanitarian aid fund, and spend something to the tune of $40 million/year on various humanitarian projects across the world.

We also have a thing called a “Perpetual Education Fund”, geared towards helping members in poor countries break their cycle of intergenerational poverty. Low-interest loans for qualified education that will enable the member to to earn more money. The member pays the money back after the job is had, and the interest funds the administrative expenses. I think this program has a default rate half or less of standard US student loans.

I’ve paid at least 10% of my net pay, plus fast offerings, plus smaller amounts for Humanitarian aid, and PEF, for 20 years now.

I believe the key word in the OP question is “required”. The LDS must meet with their bishops once a year with their tax documents to ensure they have paid the 10%. To have the temple recommend an LDS member must be current in their 10% tithe.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

I have heard the Eastern Orthodox want 10% and are very adamant about it.

Any EO’s confirm or deny this?

 

[Mammoths]

I believe the key word in the OP question is “required”. The LDS must meet with their bishops once a year with their tax documents to ensure they have paid the 10%. To have the temple recommend an LDS member must be current in their 10% tithe.

From the horses mouth, “this thread is about REQUIRED giving AMOUNTS.” All religions are favorable to charitable donations. However, in my mind there is a difference between recommending charity, requiring charity, and requiring a specific minimum percentage of income. I am curious what different religion’s specifically practice. In other words if your religion encourages charity but doesn’t require it, that’s interesting to me. Please don’t bend the truth. If the encouragement comes in the form of an audit from your bishop followed by possible censure if levels are insufficient, that is a requirement.

Here is an example example. I used to attend Assemblies of God. Nobody got audited for giving but the doctrine was that 10% of one’s income should be give to God–first your home church and then to other Christian charities. I disagreed but because of my belief in pastoral authority I decided to comply. I ended up being evicted from my rented house.

 

[arthra]

Which religions require 10% giving or some specific minimum?

Baha’is have what we call “Huququ’llah” which translated means the right of God: Arabic: ﺣﻘﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ‎‎, “Right of God”).

*“lt is incumbent upon everyone to discharge the obligation of Huquq. The advantages gained from this deed revert to the persons themselves. However, the acceptance of the offerings dependeth on the spirit of joy, fellowship and contentment that the righteous souls who fulfil this injunction will manifest. If such is the attitude acceptance is permissible, and not otherwise. Verily thy Lord is the All-Sufficing, the All-Praised.”

• (Compilations, Huququ’llah)

Every Baha’i of good standing reviews their expenses during the year… after deducting the expenses we have a spiritual obligation to contribute 19% or Huquq and send the amount to certain designate persons who then receipt the amount and forward the proceeds to those administering the Cause in various parts of the world where it is most needed.

No one solicits 'Huquq" from us. It is our personal responsibility or spiritual obligation.

As Baha’is we cannot solicit contributions from non-Baha’is and so it falls on us to have the privilege of contributing the “Huquq”.

 

[Mammoths]

Baha’is have what we call “Huququ’llah” which translated means the right of God: Arabic: ﺣﻘﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ‎‎, “Right of God”).

*“lt is incumbent upon everyone to discharge the obligation of Huquq. The advantages gained from this deed revert to the persons themselves. However, the acceptance of the offerings dependeth on the spirit of joy, fellowship and contentment that the righteous souls who fulfil this injunction will manifest. If such is the attitude acceptance is permissible, and not otherwise. Verily thy Lord is the All-Sufficing, the All-Praised.”

• (Compilations, Huququ’llah)

Every Baha’i of good standing reviews their expenses during the year… after deducting the expenses we have a spiritual obligation to contribute 19% or Huquq and send the amount to certain designate persons who then receipt the amount and forward the proceeds to those administering the Cause in various parts of the world where it is most needed.

No one solicits 'Huquq" from us. It is our personal responsibility or spiritual obligation.

As Baha’is we cannot solicit contributions from non-Baha’is and so it falls on us to have the privilege of contributing the “Huquq”.

Thank you for sharing. This is the kind of information I was hoping to get.

 

[Mammoths]

There are various Protestant denominations/Evangelicals that preach the 10% tithe, but it varies widely from congregation to congregation. The LDS teach tithe as well, I believe.

I am hoping some can shed light on that variation from their own experience.

 

[ATraveller]

Some ‘non-denominational’ ones don’t ask for treasures in the form of money only but talents and time (though 10% is hard to determine for these) or a mixture.

 

[Kliska]

I am hoping some can shed light on that variation from their own experience.

Nondenom pastor taught mandatory 10% tithe (to start with, because the OT tithe was actually closer to 30%), but anyway he taught mandatory 10% tithe, and firstfruit offerings. He also taught not to take a tax break from the money. There wasn’t any actual way to track who was giving and who was not, so it was personal conscience based. He taught it was God that would punish if He was shorted and God that would reward if tithe was given, not him. So, I guess it’s perspective on if it was “enforced” or not.

Another different nondenom evangelical church taught mandatory tithe as part of financial health (this was taught while they were in debt for a huge new building). I don’t know if they tracked giving or not, I left soon after that sermon.

 

[superwimp]

Mormons tend to tithe 10%, but how that’s calculated (gross or net, etc) is up to the individual. The guideline is “one-tenth of our interest annually”. That keeps the lights on and all our buildings paid for.

We’re also big on service to other members, and in our community, thinking of it as a tithe on our labors. Here in Colorado Springs where I live, Catholic Charities operate the Marion House soup kitchen, that’s a favorite for us. Also road clean-up, helping people move, fix their houses, stuff like that. I’ve done National Park reforestation service, and hauled logs after a forest fire, and helped a gazillion people move over the years.

We also tend to fast one day a month for two meals, and give the money we would have spent on that food as a ‘fast offering’. That forms the welfare arm of my church. Members in dire straights can receive funds from fast offerings for things like medical bills, food, utilities, etc.

We also have a humanitarian aid fund, and spend something to the tune of $40 million/year on various humanitarian projects across the world.

We also have a thing called a “Perpetual Education Fund”, geared towards helping members in poor countries break their cycle of intergenerational poverty. Low-interest loans for qualified education that will enable the member to to earn more money. The member pays the money back after the job is had, and the interest funds the administrative expenses. I think this program has a default rate half or less of standard US student loans.

I’ve paid at least 10% of my net pay, plus fast offerings, plus smaller amounts for Humanitarian aid, and PEF, for 20 years now.

I have heard that all the money given to the church for all the various offerings goes into one pot.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Nondenom pastor taught mandatory 10% tithe (to start with, because the OT tithe was actually closer to 30%), but anyway he taught mandatory 10% tithe, and firstfruit offerings. He also taught not to take a tax break from the money. There wasn’t any actual way to track who was giving and who was not, so it was personal conscience based. He taught it was God that would punish if He was shorted and God that would reward if tithe was given, not him. So, I guess it’s perspective on if it was “enforced” or not.

Another different nondenom evangelical church taught mandatory tithe as part of financial health (this was taught while they were in debt for a huge new building). I don’t know if they tracked giving or not, I left soon after that sermon.

Yeah, I had a non-denom pastor who harped on the 10% over and over and over.

Always quoting Malachi that you are robbing God if you don’t give 10%.

I once asked a practicing Jew if he gave 10% and he said absolutely not. He said the government already takes out a big chunk of his pay and gives it to the poor, no need for him to give another 10% on top of that.

 

[Mammoths]

Yeah, I had a non-denom pastor who harped on the 10% over and over and over.

Always quoting Malachi that you are robbing God if you don’t give 10%.

I once asked a practicing Jew if he gave 10% and he said absolutely not. He said the government already takes out a big chunk of his pay and gives it to the poor, no need for him to give another 10% on top of that.

Interesting point here. It’s amazing how 10%ers harp on the money for their own pulpit. It seems the New Testament mention of collections is primarily about feeding the poor. It seems that if we were to choose between a new building or caring for the poor, God would prefer we love our brother.

 

[NeuroTypical]

The LDS must meet with their bishops once a year with their tax documents to ensure they have paid the 10%.

Horton, I don’t know where you got your information, but you’ve been sadly, woefully misinformed. I’ve been paying tithing since 1996, and I’ve never shown a bishop a tax document, or been asked for one. I’ve lived in five different areas in two states in that time, and met with probably ten or more bishops.

I’ve heard the notion that I “must” meet every year several times from critics of my faith. I’ve never been told I “must” meet by any church member or church leader.

The ‘meet with their bishops once a year’ thing is called Tithing Settlement, and yes, it happens. The bishop asks a question: “Are you a full tithe payer?” You answer yes, no, or part-tithe payer. He checks a little box. When folks ask what constitutes a full tithing, the bishop brings out the scriptures, and doesn’t advocate for gross or net. He doesn’t ask for proof.

Yes, to have an active temple recommend, and LDS member must be current on tithing. That part is true.

The OP’s question: “Which religions require 10% giving or some specific minimum?” Nobody will kick you out of my church for not paying tithing. It’s heavily recommended, we teach about it, we ask about it, you can’t enter the temple without it, but no, it’s not required to be a member.

 

[NeuroTypical]

I have heard that all the money given to the church for all the various offerings goes into one pot.

They just made me financial clerk. I’m still learning the job, but there are umpteen pots. Fast offerings are tracked locally, tithing and all the others are sent to Salt Lake.

I mean, at the end of the day, all the dollars in all the pots can be added up to a single number, so depending on how you look at it I guess you could say there’s one big pot. But there are lots of smaller pots inside that pot.

 

[TC3033]

They just made me financial clerk. I’m still learning the job, but there are umpteen pots. Fast offerings are tracked locally, tithing and all the others are sent to Salt Lake.

I mean, at the end of the day, all the dollars in all the pots can be added up to a single number, so depending on how you look at it I guess you could say there’s one big pot. But there are lots of smaller pots inside that pot.

I think it can depend upon where you go too, but this is how the parrish my wife and kids go to handle theirs. There will be the normal general offering…then they come back around for offering for the stained glass repair…then the offering for pew refinishing…then the offering for…

 

[Horton]

Horton, I don’t know where you got your information, but you’ve been sadly, woefully misinformed. I’ve been paying tithing since 1996, and I’ve never shown a bishop a tax document, or been asked for one. I’ve lived in five different areas in two states in that time, and met with probably ten or more bishops.

I’ve heard the notion that I “must” meet every year several times from critics of my faith. I’ve never been told I “must” meet by any church member or church leader.

The ‘meet with their bishops once a year’ thing is called Tithing Settlement, and yes, it happens. The bishop asks a question: “Are you a full tithe payer?” You answer yes, no, or part-tithe payer. He checks a little box. When folks ask what constitutes a full tithing, the bishop brings out the scriptures, and doesn’t advocate for gross or net. He doesn’t ask for proof.

Yes, to have an active temple recommend, and LDS member must be current on tithing. That part is true.

The OP’s question: “Which religions require 10% giving or some specific minimum?” Nobody will kick you out of my church for not paying tithing. It’s heavily recommended, we teach about it, we ask about it, you can’t enter the temple without it, but no, it’s not required to be a member.

I know several active LDS who have talked about their settlement meeting with the Bishop to determine if they had indeed paid their 10% that year and the need to provide a tax return. I also know several former LDS who have explained that process in great detail.

So if you’ve never had to prove you’re current on your tithe, how do you get a temple recommend?

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Interesting point here. It’s amazing how 10%ers harp on the money for their own pulpit. It seems the New Testament mention of collections is primarily about feeding the poor. It seems that if we were to choose between a new building or caring for the poor, God would prefer we love our brother.

I wholeheartedly agree.

My current Catholic parish requests we give 5% to our Church and be charitable in the world and give 5% to other causes like helping the poor. I like this approach much better. No guilt trips and long winded speeches about how you are living under a curse because you don’t give 10%.

Anyway, there is no New Testament mandate for 10% and these pastors who push this are well aware of this.