Do you tithe 10%

I made this a Poll so you can hide your answer from us if you’re afraid to say

Ok backstory, I am a bad human being and have never really been a churchgoer since I became an adult.

My parents were big time members of a huge church back in Atlanta (Dad was the paid bell choir director, a retired gig that paid him around $30K a year- so obviously if they pay the bell choir director that kind of cheddar they are a good size church)

But in the last 2 years my kids became a part of their church and more importantly the youth group, which they had a ton of fun *& did some actual work also..

So I am trying to find them a church home here in Colorado, but since I cant hide under my parents cloak of involvement any more I am actually going to have to show up, and this means they will want my money… We already visited one church yesterday and the pastor asked “Where are you from and what do you do for a living?” of course when they hear engineer I am assuming they are thinking $10K/year!!!!!!! (nope aint gonna happen)

But for those of you who go regularly do you really give 10%? Hopefully off the net and not the gross?

I think if we are active members (kids) we need to pay something but I cant see honestly any more than a hundred or two hundred a month? And Even that you would have to pry out of my wives cold dead hands….

Also it should be noted that I have never been to a church where wearing a Denver Broncos jersey was acceptable attire but apparently at the Broomfield United Methodist Church that is strongly encouraged…

There is no option for zero in your poll. I don't go to church, but I think last time I was in one (Unitarian, is that even really a Church?) I threw $5 in the collection plate. That was like 3 years ago.

Don't worry, it's a tax deduction. Sure I'll help subsidize your religion.

So I chose the <$100/month but I only give when we go to Mass which is quite infrequently now. I have never been very active in the church (roman catholic) and truly have never understood the "tithing". I figure I "tithe" too much to Uncle Sam to pick up another dependent.

Kudos to those that do attend, tithe and are active in their religion. As long as they're happy with the arrangement, good for them.

Road Guy said:

I think if we are active members (kids) we need to pay something but I cant see honestly any more than a hundred or two hundred a month? And Even that you would have to pry out of my wives cold dead hands….

Also it should be noted that I have never been to a church where wearing a Denver Broncos jersey was acceptable attire but apparently at the Broomfield United Methodist Church that is strongly encouraged…

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Our church is like that...you can tell who's playing based on the jersey's that day. Also, if noon Mass is light, the Broncos are playing the early game. Packed? They play prime time. Come as you are and all that jazz. I did notice that yesterday the family that usually wears all Cowboys stuff wasn't wearing any of it...

mudpuppy said:

Don't worry, it's a tax deduction. Sure I'll help subsidize your religion.

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:Locolaugh:

Our church doesn't require a 10% tithe to go to the church. It's 10% donations total, with a certain percentage to the church. I think we hit around 6% to church, 4% to others.

(MP)Then this poll isnt for you...

Trust me you have no bigger proponent of the flat tax or nationwide sales tax then me...

discussion for another time, I still bet I pay more in taxes than you do (lets talk in April)

Whatever I feel. Sometimes more than 10%, other less than 2%. Never really cared about that. Never will.

My kids and I contributed in the worship team, never got paid, never asked for it. Once, another church invited us to conduct the worship session and to sing some songs before the message. They paid us for doing that. I accepted the money but then, after the service dropped the envelope with whatever they paid us in a special box they had for special offerings. From my point of view I owe God more than I will ever be able to pay.

mudpuppy said:

There is no option for zero in your poll. I don't go to church.

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This.

I think the fact that the church itself is tax exempt despite it's involvement in government is tithe enough...

I added 0 for you (which is what I currently have paid the last 20 years)

I am not a huge fan of "church" to be honest. but it has been great for my kids and they have experienced some things they wouldnt in the normal world, but I (being a responsible individual) cant let them go and be a free loader either..

What does really bother me though, we checked out several church’s websites and I would say 99% of them had several videos that were basically about how you can give money to the church. Like on the main page, very disturbing IMO…

Church’s will prey on the elderly and encourage them to give their life savings all to the church instead of their children. Seen that happen a lot of times (personally)

Road Guy said:

discussion for another time, I still bet I pay more in taxes than you do (lets talk in April)

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Ok, but the ground rule is you have to divide your number by two since it represents you and your wife. Or better yet, figure it as a percentage of gross income.

we usually give $15-20 when we attend. so less than $100 a month. If the topic of money/tithing was a huge topic for them then we wouldn't attend there. But we also haven't officially "joined" either. That whole process is weird to me. Having to be interviewed to determine if they want you as part of their church. The we attend doesn't do that, but others did and we kept looking.

I don't tithe 10% (cash donation to church) and never have. I give more money now than I used to and have always given a lot of time. My guess would be that very few people give 10% of their income to the church. The numbers would be huge and most churches don't have balance sheets like that. I have never liked the "tithing campaigns". It has to be what you think is right. Just start with what you think is right.

So, when I was a staunch fundamentalist, Biblical literalist, I tithed 10% of my gross earnings. When I was a militant atheist, I loathed the concept of any church asking for money. Now I give what I can when I happen to go. If the church provides a decent service, provides opportunities for my kids to have social interaction, gives my wife and I a community (and doesn't take a hateful stance against any group of people), then I'll give them some money.

If I walk in and they spend half an hour asking for money, the place seems basically dead, or they subscribe to a philosophy that I find revolting, they won't get a dime, but I will happily eat the donuts and drink the coffee in the fellowship hall afterwards.

I don't give 10% to the church. I'm Catholic and they basically say that we all need to discern for ourselves what to give of our time, talent, and treasure. I do give a lot to my parish, my diocese, and to charities of my preference.

We haven't found a place yet but this is great feedback... Sapper I agree with you dead on this one...

Wife and I just don't want to be at a place that is always hitting you up for money...

Ours doesn't hit us up for money too badly. They're continually begging for people to work the fundraising dinners and such though. Working that stuff can be pretty entertaining though since the alcohol flows pretty freely at Serbian events.

I haven't been to church (ok, I went to Easter Service maybe 10 years ago to appease my MIL) since 1986. But, I have noticed that every time I draw near anything associated with a church (funeral, newsletters, etc) they have their hands out asking for money.

Money ruined organized religion, for me.

I think the fact that the church itself is tax exempt despite it's involvement in government is tithe enough...

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True.

Without sounding too churchy, there should be a field for >10%. We give 13-14% of our gross income. We are about as conservative as they come, without being Amish, and do our best to do what the Bible says, as we interpret it. Deuteronomy says to tithe off your increase. Now I won't argue about it, because its not clearly defined, but I am trying to err on the side of giving more than God asks for, rather than less. We are at church, for one thing or another, 3 times a week or more. As the Dark Knight said above, I've been blessed far too much to try and pinch pennies with God. I've heard that you cant out give God. There are living examples in my church and family that have proven that. Some that gave sacrificially when they had nothing, now give astounding amount of money out of their abundance.

Sooo...our church looks at tithing a little differently. It's a missions based church, we give away more than 40% of what comes in the door, and we are aiming for more than 50%. So when we tithe, we sponsor someone to go on a mission trip by donating $500, or we buy supplies for building community center, or we buy groceries and prepare lunch for 40 camp counselors who are working at the week-long summer camp held at our church, or...You get the picture. It's hard to say exactly how much we tithe every year, but I would say it's less than 10%...it should be more. We never think that we have enough to be able to write that check, but some how there is always enough.

In terms of what the atmosphere is like at our church...we have the attitude, that anyone can come, however you are. Our pastor founded the church after he met a man that was nearly killed in a motorcycle accident. He invited the man to his church, and he actually showed up, but that man felt like he had to sit on the back row because he was covered in tattoos and wore jeans. Our pastor quit and started our church after, that. That philosophy fits with what we believe...Christ didn't sit down and break bread with just the elite and well-dressed, He surrounded himself with those who were more than a little rough around the edges...

SO, after saying a lot more about my faith than I probably should have...RG, I would encourage you and your family to keep looking. You'll find a "right" fit. Stay away from religion and you'll be OK.

badal said:

Without sounding too churchy, there should be a field for >10%. We give 13-14% of our gross income. We are about as conservative as they come, without being Amish, and do our best to do what the Bible says, as we interpret it. Deuteronomy says to tithe off your increase. Now I won't argue about it, because its not clearly defined, but I am trying to err on the side of giving more than God asks for, rather than less. We are at church, for one thing or another, 3 times a week or more. As the Dark Knight said above, I've been blessed far too much to try and pinch pennies with God. I've heard that you cant out give God. There are living examples in my church and family that have proven that. Some that gave sacrificially when they had nothing, now give astounding amount of money out of their abundance.

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Out of curiosity (and I'm not trying start an argument here), but can you explain to me what God needs money for? And US dollars at that, which isn't really worth all that much these days.

badal said:

We are about as conservative as they come, without being Amish, and do our best to do what the Bible says, as we interpret it.

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Not trying to start anything, but....I think you can do one or the other, but not both.