Taxes vs. Tithe

[Limbwalker]

I don't feel bad towards him. I just think sometimes people just need to understand how they come across to others. I had a friend that used to always get bad service or was treated rudely on the phone. The reason why is because she always came across as having a chip on her shoulder.

Kevin, some folks just don't like being asked questions, for a number of reasons. Some find it rude, others don't like to have to explain their choices, others think folks are trying to "get in their business," etc. I'm getting the impression you're one of those folks.

I ask a lot of questions so I can try to understand why people do what they do. It's a curiosity thing, but also with the hopes I'll learn.

Folks who don't like being asked a lot of questions probably won't like me all that much. Those who are also naturally curious probably will.

I work with a very intelligent, and very curious woman who had 100's of questions when she first came on. After a few weeks of being "badgered" to death, I put her on a "10 question limit" per day. LOL. I was half-joking, of course, but it was my way of reminding her she was spending a lot of time asking everyone questions when she could answer some herself. I wasn't angry with her for asking so many questions. On the contrary, I was inspired by her curiosity. Years later, she and I still joke about the "10 question limit."

But I do see others who become visibly angry when they are asked a lot of questions. I always wonder why. Do they feel their time is more important than the person asking? Do they think the other person is being lazy or just trying to stick their nose where it "doesn't belong?" I don't know. I have always appreciated someone who asks questions in order to learn.

Asking questions in order to gossip is another thing entirely though.

Anyway, sorry if you felt badgered. I'm sure there are a lot of other threads that you'd enjoy reading instead.

[Thumper]

"Taxes vs. Tithe "

Very complex question in today's world. My take on it is completely different.

I'd for sure not tithe to the Catholic Church, they haven't earned it, nada. Their support of illegal immigration and protecting their child molesters is flat wrong. The Catholic Church in the US for the most part supports LWS, the same ones that are pro abortionist. The bible teaches otherwise. As for our tax dollars paid, they're siphoned off, wasted, and/or given away. Best way to keep taxes down and stop abortion is to give your tithe money to the Tea Party or GOP. They're the ones who support Christian values, not the Catholic Church.

[Artos]

"Taxes vs. Tithe "

Very complex question in today's world. My take on it is completely different.

I'd for sure not tithe to the Catholic Church, they haven't earned it, nada. Their support of illegal immigration and protecting their child molesters is flat wrong. The Catholic Church in the US for the most part supports LWS, the same ones that are pro abortionist. The bible teaches otherwise. As for our tax dollars paid, they're mostly siphoned off, wasted, and/or given away. Best way to keep taxes down and stop abortion is to give your tithe money to the Tea Party or GOP. they're the ones who support Christian values, not the Catholic Church.

Let's not have the train take a dirt road amigo...that is a whole other debate that divides fellow believers. Let's leave the judging up to God.

My sister and I were raised Prysbetrian, went to an Episcopalian grade school & now she is a practicing Catholic & I don't claim any religion, but am currently attending and a member of the Southern Baptist Church. I will keep going as long as I feel they are following the word.

We've had those discussions here before and is a certain way to get the thread whacked.

[Limbwalker]

"Taxes vs. Tithe "

Very complex question in today's world. My take on it is completely different.

I'd for sure not tithe to the Catholic Church, they haven't earned it, nada. Their support of illegal immigration and protecting their child molesters is flat wrong. The Catholic Church in the US for the most part supports LWS, the same ones that are pro abortionist. The bible teaches otherwise. As for our tax dollars paid, they're siphoned off, wasted, and/or given away. Best way to keep taxes down and stop abortion is to give your tithe money to the Tea Party or GOP. They're the ones who support Christian values, not the Catholic Church.

Thanks for illustrating my point above about the misinformation that gets spread about the Catholic Church.

Let's not have the train take a dirt road amigo...that is a whole other debate that divides fellow believers. Let's leave the judging up to God...We've had those discussions here before and is a certain way to get the thread whacked.

I'm not sure that isn't his goal actually.

[Kevin]

Kevin, some folks just don't like being asked questions, for a number of reasons. Some find it rude, others don't like to have to explain their choices, others think folks are trying to "get in their business," etc. I'm getting the impression you're one of those folks.

I ask a lot of questions so I can try to understand why people do what they do. It's a curiosity thing, but also with the hopes I'll learn.

Folks who don't like being asked a lot of questions probably won't like me all that much. Those who are also naturally curious probably will.

I work with a very intelligent, and very curious woman who had 100's of questions when she first came on. After a few weeks of being "badgered" to death, I put her on a "10 question limit" per day. LOL. I was half-joking, of course, but it was my way of reminding her she was spending a lot of time asking everyone questions when she could answer some herself. I wasn't angry with her for asking so many questions. On the contrary, I was inspired by her curiosity. Years later, she and I still joke about the "10 question limit."

But I do see others who become visibly angry when they are asked a lot of questions. I always wonder why. Do they feel their time is more important than the person asking? Do they think the other person is being lazy or just trying to stick their nose where it "doesn't belong?" I don't know. I have always appreciated someone who asks questions in order to learn.

Asking questions in order to gossip is another thing entirely though.

Anyway, sorry if you felt badgered. I'm sure there are a lot of other threads that you'd enjoy reading instead.

I think I just don't follow your arguments. You get mad when someone assumes something about you based on their posts, then you assume something about me based on my post (which is incorrect but I dont really care). I never said I felt badgered, but you keep getting defensive anytime someone doesn't agree with you or gets annoyed with your tone or presentation. Then you do a classic passive aggressive apology and tell me to find another thread lol I gave my answer to your question, so I am done posting. I do think this is an interesting thread though.

[Limbwalker]

Kevin, that's just it. I'm not making an argument. I'm asking questions. That's also why I get annoyed when folks assume they know what I'm thinking. Again, I'm asking a pretty simple question.

You keep badgering everyone for an answer

I never said I felt badgered,

You might enjoy your day more if you just didn't open this thread.

[SwampRabbit]

Thanks for answering.

That's all I was asking! And I agree with you 100% !

I didn't really say anything different from what I said before.

[capn]

Since my family is now supported financially by the generous giving of others, I'll add my two cents. I do not believe that the 10% figure is applicable in New Testament times. What we see introduced in the New Testament is the idea of sacrificial giving. That is what I believe our giving should be... sacrificial. You should be regularly giving of your time, talent, and treasure (all three, not just one) to your local church body. The amount of your giving should be sacrificial, meaning that it should make a big enough dent that it is not taken lightly and is genuinely noticed. For a college student paying his way through school, giving $5 out of a paycheck may cause him to wonder if he will have to miss meals. For the owner of a large and successful business, giving $50k may not cause him to blink and could even be motivated by selfish purposes. You can clearly see this support level in the early church in Acts.

After giving faithfully and sacrificially to the local church body, you have special needs like missions organizations (for example, Blast & Cast or Campus Crusade for Christ) that impact people the local church can not. This giving, whether it be time, talent, and/or treasure, should be over and above what's given in support of the local church body. Often times the local church will even organize efforts to help support these organizations. Again, you clearly see examples of this type of giving in Acts in support of Paul's missionary journeys or of local churches that were in areas of famine and great need.

As one of the recipients (in the second group), I can honestly tell you that ever giver matters no matter how large or how small. The ones that are especially appreciated and treasured are those givers that clearly understand your mission and want to go well out of their way to encourage and support it. Those kindred hearts matter more than $50 or $5k. God will provide for my family's needs and the needs of the organization/mission, but it is incredibly exciting to see people come alongside you and become the means of God's provision. I could tell stories upon stories. The most meaningful donation that I have ever received was $20... I'll never forget that one.

Also, as one of the recipients, I expect to be held accountable for what's given. Both by the givers and by God. If you find me to be like one of the corrupt televangelists living in a mansion based on your giving, you should send your money elsewhere so that it can be put to maximum use in the kingdom. But, what you'll find is that I'm working for approximately 50% of what I could make on the open job market. Arguably less. The extreme examples often touted as reasons to not give are really just that... extreme examples. I work with a lot of churches and members of ministry and I know to the dollar what most of them make. I don't know a single one that draws an exorbitant salary. I know a few that are very well off... but they hit it big before joining the ministry, not from drawing a minister's salary. Abuse of funds happens for sure, but it is very far from the norm and is not a valid excuse to not give to responsible organizations that are truly making a difference in the world.

[Ricky T]

You can only tithe off what you produce. Ten percent of however much corn you produced would be my tithe, just as ten percent of the money I produce (gross) would be my tithe on my salary.

"He who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously will also reap generously and with blessings."

[BowSlayer]

One of the things that makes it very hard to understand organized religion is that many churches, when you join, will expect to see a W-2 so they will know how much the 10% will be that they can expect from you. I have personally heard this. I was gone from church for about 40 years until I started back about six years ago. We don't have memberships that require you to be voted in by the congregation and nobody, not even the preacher, knows individual giving except our church treasurer. That is between you and God. We give, monetarily, what we can and give of our time and effort every chance we get. All we expect is that you come with the love of Jesus in your heart and God will lay on your heart what you should do to support the church and His ministry.

I've been to many churches and have never heard of one asking for a w2. That's crazy.

[BowSlayer]

Here's a little food for thought. Your tithes are tax deductible. So, do you pay your tithes post tax and then write them off also? You aren't taxed on the monies you tithe so tithes should be on your gross. Just my take on it.

[metalmangeorge]

Before Tax, After Tax, 10%, 5%, 100% the number does not matter to God. What matters to God is why you gave what you gave, what is in your heart when you give. God does not need your money. God wants you to give of yourself, your talents, your time, your prayers, and yes if you can your money. Any and all of it, but most importantly He wants you to do so freely out of the abundance of your Heart, not so much the abundance of your pocket book.

Couldn't have said it any better.

[SaltwaterSlick]

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION --

One version that is easily read ...
.

Yes sir agreed. This is a good translation to read for a general understand of the intended thought of the original author's intent. It is not however a good one for exegetical word/thought study.

For anyone who'd like to have and read/study multiple translations with all manner of background supporting commentaries, dictionaries and historical background, I'd highly recommend you go to www.e-sword.net and download the free software to your PC and download the e-sword Lite to your smart phone. There are literally dozens of translations of the Bible that are available for free along with the more modern translations that are copyrighted available for a very reasonable purchase. With it, you can read from your phone or PC or Laptop or all the above. Along with that, all manner of other resources are available to assist in your study of God's word. There is an exhaustive reference section, most of which is free to download that will give you reading/studying material for life. For instance there is a reference guide called The History of the Christian Church... It's 12 volumes! All of the old ancient writings of non-canonized authors are included such as the Gospel of Thomas and the writings of the church leader Polycarp... These things will give you a very detailed look at the historical times of the first century church and in the case of the Gospel of Thomas, a lot of insight in to the life of Jesus as a child. Go to the site and look around. I use it daily in some manner. It is fun to read a particular verse or verses in one translation and then read them in another... the subtle differences will often give you a new understanding of the passage that you had not seen by reading just one translation.

[SPUD]

We tithe on the gross to the church we are a member of, no questions, even when there is overtime involved. The way I see it, if you give on what you have left after taxes and insurance, you didn't bring the first fruits.

[TxAg]

You keep badgering everyone for an answer that doesn't exist. And yes, you come across as badgering, confrontational and hard headed in your response. That means people return that energy back to you.

As someone just reading the comments with no strong opinion either way, I will say that I agree with your thoughts.