In the Pews: 'What does the Bible say about tithing?'
This week we venture into the ever-debated topic of tithing. Tithing is the religious practice of giving 10 percent of your income per year to the temple or today, the church. To answer one question off the bat, the Bible doesn't exactly mandate whether that is before or after taxes. I would argue after. The 10 percent is retained for the purpose of honoring God, paying for priests, and making sure the poor and helpless (widows, orphans, etc.) survive.
The recipients of the tithe remain the same today. However, I wonder how the laws about tithing today should be interpreted. If some of our tax monies go to help the poor and the helpless then certainly our tithe should be taken after taxes. Or, does it go even further, and part of our taxes, the part that goes to help government programs for the poor, actually counts as part of our 10 percent? To answer these questions and more you have to look at what the Bible speaks about tithing.
Tune in to this week's video blog to find out more:
Darcy Crain-Polly Darcy is the associate minister at The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor.
Comments
W. Vida
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 10:35 p.m.
Hi JE, //keep your money/ reject superstition// The giving of money reminds us that all things are a gift from God and that even money is not ours. Christianity is not superstition. It is true.
W. Vida
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 10:33 p.m.
And Treetowncartel, //will I be denied entry because I only gave 9% over the course of my lifetime?// Christianity has never said that salvation is a condition of giving a tithe. Most Christians don't actually tithe.
W. Vida
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 10:31 p.m.
Hi Treetowncartel, The Romans spent the first 300 years of Christianity's existence trying to snuff it off the face of the earth. It was only embraced when Constantine converted. Before and after Constantine the Church acted as a balance of power for the government often challenging them for abuses. Further, pretty much every religion has rules about giving so it is hardly a reason why the Romans would "adopt" Christianity.
W. Vida
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 10:28 p.m.
Hi Macabre Sunset, //Since this is part of the religion, and a piece of the recipe for salvation, and pays for your church attendance, I see it as a violation of tax law that people are allowed to deduct the tithe from their taxes.// How can it be a violation of the tax law when the tax law grants this exception? //This means the government is losing billions of dollars that could go to programs that help everyone. Instead, many churches use this money to stockpile property (which takes it off the tax rolls) and it doesn't help anyone.// I have been active in 4 churches in my life. None of them stockpiled money. All of them cared for the poor. All of them focused on caring for the city and community that they were in. Most of the labor for their charitable work was volunteer. Most of the money was given by people who really couldn't afford to give but gave because they believed in the work being accomplished. Take away the churches and our communities would be hurting pretty bad. That is why the government has historically given them tax breaks.
JE
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 9:40 p.m.
keep your money/ reject superstition
Ignatz
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 3:21 p.m.
@treetowncartel, Well, if you put it that way, I'm in 100% agreement.
sbbuilder
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 3:16 p.m.
Take a deep breath, and relax, you guys. Nowhere in the Bible does it say you MUST tithe. Just like the practice of fasting. The Bible doesn't mandate fasting either. That is not a requirement for salvation. Is it a good practice? How much is sufficient? Those are questions that must be answered by each individual.
treetowncartel
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 2:05 p.m.
@ Ignatz,I don't dispute anything you said, they switched over from 12 gods to 1 yes, and they had taxes before the switch. I was merely commenting on the use of religion to further goals that have nothing to do with religion. If there are pearly gates, and it is the only way towards salvation, will I be denied entry because I only gave 9% over the course of my lifetime? Does anybody know if the indigenous people of North America have this component woven into their faith system?
Ignatz
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 1:53 p.m.
@treetowncartel: They were "tithing" to the Roman government long before the Christian mythology was widespread. No one dared call it illegitimate, either. Taxes are as old as the ages. Besides, in this country we can elect a new leader. Not that it might do any good.
treetowncartel
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 1:32 p.m.
Why do you think the Romans adopted christianity? It legitimized their taxation methods. Now we tithe to our own government(s), on a sliding scale none the less.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.
Since this is part of the religion, and a piece of the recipe for salvation, and pays for your church attendance, I see it as a violation of tax law that people are allowed to deduct the tithe from their taxes. This means the government is losing billions of dollars that could go to programs that help everyone. Instead, many churches use this money to stockpile property (which takes it off the tax rolls) and it doesn't help anyone.