Churches that teach its okay not to "tithe"

[AndOne]

I am curious to know if anyone knows of any Christian church/denomination that teaches that it is okay not to tithe.

I'm not looking to discuss the right/wrong or obligation to tithe - as it is getting hashed out on another thread - I'm just curious to know if there are any churches out there that teach "to give what you can - its alright if you can't make 10 percent of your gross income."

Being in the military, my family moves every 2 or 3 years which means we have visited/joined a lot of different churches and though many have different doctrinal views on many theological issues - they all agree on the whole 10 percent issue.

So how about it - anyone out there know of any?

 

[seebs]

As I said in that other thread:

The RSoF makes absolutely no requirements at all on monetary contributions. I mean, none.

The ELCA Lutheran Church I went to as a kid did a collection plate, but they had no formalized tithe that I know of. I assume that's standard for ELCA-affiliated Lutherans.

My mom says that she has been Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian, and none of these required tithing. At a time when our family income was $30,000/year, we were contributing $900, and that put us up in the top 1% or so of the congregation. The church, however, was able to pay its pastors and such well enough. (They didn't pay the female employees very well, but this was more shortage of clue than shortage of money.)

My mother-in-law says that the US Presbyterians don't do this. They suggest 1 1/2 to 3 percent of your income to the church. You may want to give more, but you may also want to use your money otherwise. There is also a per-member membership fee the individual congregations pay to the national organization, but it's nowhere near 10%. When she was raised, as a Baptist, they put in a fixed amount of money (a dollar a week), and that was it.

So, in short, there are no churches I can think of which do this tithe thing as you describe it, and it sounds like horrific legalism to me.

 

[RhetorTheo]

AFAIK, the Catholic Church does not require tithing.

 

[RhetorTheo]

The Unitarian Universalists don't require tithing, and I'd imagine the same of other liberal denominations such as the Congregationalists.

 

[AndOne]

Seebs -

"RSoF?
Thanks for the other information - maybe its just bad luck on my part - but most of the churches (none of the denoms you mentioned though) have really laid some guilt trips on people (in one way or another) for not tithing. I agree it is very legalistic.

Roll Troll - Interesting that Catholics aren't required to do this. Can any Catholics confirm this?

 

[seebs]

RSoF == Religious Society of Friends, aka Quakers.

I am pretty sure that, if Catholics were required to tithe, or even clearly told to, they would.

One of the things I've really liked about ChristianForums is the number of people I meet who have never even seen a given teaching, when I've never seen anything else. It's one thing when you have an issue like "women in ministry" where there's widespread disagreement, and I knew about that disagreement. It's another thing entirely to grow up never having heard of tithing outside of Biblical-era Judaism, and then to run into someone who has never seen a church not require it.

 

[AndOne]

I don't want to say that the churches I've attended have said "you had better tithe or else!" But every church I have held membership in has taught that you "should" tithe. I realize there isn't much difference - but there is a subtle one. That being a heavy burden of guilt gets laid on the person who will not or cannot tithe to the point that they do not feel welcome in church any longer. That is not only legalistic but wrong! In my opinion tithing has no bearing whatsover on your standing with God and those who claim Christ as savior should be welcome into a Christian fellowship regardless of what or how much they give.

 

[RhetorTheo]

I have attended a number of churches that closely track how much money each person gives in tithing, and they use guilt on those who do not. I would often put money into the collection plate in cash, rather than checks. So, they would assume that I was not tithing, even though - at least for one year - I was tithing well in excess of 10% of my gross income. Even if I had not been tithing, it was none of the business of the church leaders, and sinful for them to take the tax writeoff tabulations and use that to judge people.

 

[Palatka44]

I have attended a number of churches that closely track how much money each person gives in tithing, and they use guilt on those who do not. I would often put money into the collection plate in cash, rather than checks. So, they would assume that I was not tithing, even though - at least for one year - I was tithing well in excess of 10% of my gross income. Even if I had not been tithing, it was none of the business of the church leaders, and sinful for them to take the tax writeoff tabulations and use that to judge people.

Amen to this I too have been in this situation. Because I would Give in cash and did not disclose my income I have been denied work in the Church. I do not know about what others think but doesn't service count as an offering?

 

[waas_MI]

I have attended a number of churches that closely track how much money each person gives in tithing, and they use guilt on those who do not. I would often put money into the collection plate in cash, rather than checks. So, they would assume that I was not tithing, even though - at least for one year - I was tithing well in excess of 10% of my gross income. Even if I had not been tithing, it was none of the business of the church leaders, and sinful for them to take the tax writeoff tabulations and use that to judge people.

I am honest here. I go to Christ the King Church in Ann Arbor, MI ( Catholic ).
They send us envelopes by mail. We are expected to use a
envelope for each Sunday. Usually I pay by check. So they know
how much I give. They even keep track of the amount.
By the end of the year they send a statment so that you could
use that when you file for taxes.

But hey, no one questions us whether we put 10% or less.
No Obligation on that so far ?

Every Sunday they give a brochure. This has how much they own
for their mortgage and also lists how much they have paid.
This is just to show that they are thankful for the generosity.

I remember once the sent a letter saying that they were
kind of short for the budet. That's it.

Waas_MI

 

[Reformed Baptist]

I don't believe in tithing as a doctrine my church teaches it but I see it as an out pouring of my salvation. I tithe because I believe in the message my church is sharing with this lost world.

 

[waas_MI]

I have been a catholi for more than 30 years. Never heard a church say that they needed 10% of my money. Or they never talked about the word TITHING.
Only after I came to America I heard this term. That was through the Internet.

I am not trying to back up the catholic church but they never did ask for 10%.
I guess they want the money to come out of true love ( My opinion )