Do you tithe?

[allieisme]

You guys are confusing me...maybe I'm just tired
Are you not supposed to tithe from your gross and then again off of your tax return? We were tithing net and swithed it to gross, since in the bible it says give your first 10%, not after your taxes being taken out, then give 10%

 

[Andry]

um, i thought it was whatever % off our taxable income? ie. say i tithe $100, so i can claim 40% of that on my income tax - that only comes off the amount that the gov't taxes me. so i can take $40 off my taxes... it is not a return of any of the money that i've tithed, it's a deduction of my regular tax amount for being a charitable citizen.... but then what do i know, taxes confuse me. i leave that up to my accountant.

oh, and i've never had enough income to even get taxed. so i really dont have a clue what i'm talking about.

Hypothetically, if you and the government don't owe each other for any benefit or deduction (so that you're tax return is $0.00), but you did have a $100 donation to church that year, you would put on your tax return a $100 donation to a non-profit organization. What would you get back from the government? That's right, $40.

Now who's $40 is that?

 

[LynneClomina]

yep, i tithe off my income tax, i'm gonna start titheing off my gross (never thought about that before, but hey, i only started working last october, i dont have the whole "income" thing down pat yet....). the question here is, they money you can declare from tithing, is it kinda a refund of your tithe? so that you didnt actually tithe your whole amount? or is it separate? i dunno tax laws enough to have a clue.

 

[LynneClomina]

Hypothetically, if you and the government don't owe each other for any benefit or deduction (so that you're tax return is $0.00), but you did have a $100 donation to church that year, you would put on your tax return a $100 donation to a non-profit organization. What would you get back from the government? That's right, $40.

Now who's $40 is that?

huh. i dont get none of that back from the govt. my accountant says to hold on to the reciept so that i can claim it in the future, becuase it would do nothing for me, becuase my tax return was $0, and the deduction only applies if i have a positive amount - they dont "pay out", so to speak, if i dont have any taxable income - my income is too low.

 

[Andry]

huh. i dont get none of that back from the govt. my accountant says to hold on to the reciept so that i can claim it in the future, becuase it would do nothing for me, becuase my tax return was $0, and the deduction only applies if i have a positive amount - they dont "pay out", so to speak, if i dont have any taxable income - my income is too low.

Well ok, if you don't have taxable income, I believe you can 'carry' that donation for 5 years until your income is taxable. But check with your accountant!!

 

[Dust and Ashes]

Well ok, if you don't have taxable income, I believe you can 'carry' that donation for 5 years until your income is taxable. But check with your accountant!!

If you are tithing off your gross, you are already tithing off everything the government takes since they are getting a % of your gross. Unless of course you are getting back more than you paid in (earned income credit, etc.) That's not to say you shouldn't give out of your tax return, just that the tithe is already paid.

 

[Trish1947]

LOL, anyone have any camels we can swallow or knats we can strain?

 

[Deb4given]

No, I don't tithe anymore. After actually studying the bible for myself about what God said, I learned that I am suppose to give what God lays on my heart.

Did you know that there were 3 different tithes in the bible, and one of them was suppose to be saved all year long and then you got to throw a party for your family? Bet you didn't know that, cause pastors don't preach that. Did you know that Malachi was not about you, but about the priests and THEIR robbing God?

I have been a spirit-filled Christian for 24 years, I tithed and gave, I did all that I thought I was suppose to do, and then I actually studied it out for myself. What an eye opener.

When I was doing my studies, I also came across a great website called The Truth about Tithing...something like that. It has all the scriptures and it explains it so well. When you get done reading, you won't be able to refute what you have read, it is entirely biblical, and your eyes will be open. He doesn't give his point of view very much, he just shows you in the Word how deceived we have been.

I know this is an individual thing between you and God. But, if you have been faithful with your tithe and you still aren't making it very well, don't shake your fist at God and ask Him why, because the Word is very clear.

 

[TheScottsMen]

Letting my mine go round and round today at work. In Genesis 14:16 it says that Abe brought back everything he won after defeating his enemy, he gave Melchizedek a 1/10 of that, his winnings (Genesis 14:20), his abudance? Not his normal day to day living expenses? btw: I'm for tithing just wondering what everyones view is on that.

 

[Mercy Me]

I am always surprised when people say the New Testament does not command us to tithe:

Matthew 23:23 (Jesus speaking)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Don't know how to get around that, no matter how many things I read that say we are not under the law to tithe.

 

[Deb4given]

Letting my mine go round and round today at work. In Genesis 14:16 it says that Abe brought back everything he won after defeating his enemy, he gave Melchizedek a 1/10 of that, his winnings (Genesis 14:20), his abudance? Not his normal day to day living expenses? btw: I'm for tithing just wondering what everyones view is on that.

Abraham gave the spoils (10%) he gave the 90% back where it came from. He didn't give his own belongings or income.

 

[Deb4given]

I am always surprised when people say the New Testament does not command us to tithe:

Matthew 23:23 (Jesus speaking)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Don't know how to get around that, no matter how many things I read that say we are not under the law to tithe.

Jesus did teach about tithing, this does not mean that he taught tithing as a New Covenant doctrine. In fact, his teaching of tithing in Matthew 23 and Luke 11 only prove that Jesus approved of tithing while the law system was in place and had jurisdiction over those under its tutorship (Gal. 4:4). Jesus could not declare the tithe invalid before Calvary because, in doing so, he would have been declaring the entire Old Covenant Law invalid before Calvary.

In this verse,(matthew 23:23) justice, mercy and faithfulness are heavier and weightier than the rules for tithing spices, evidently because the former reflects the nature and character of God

 

[Andry]

Jesus did teach about tithing, this does not mean that he taught tithing as a New Covenant doctrine. In fact, his teaching of tithing in Matthew 23 and Luke 11 only prove that Jesus approved of tithing while the law system was in place and had jurisdiction over those under its tutorship (Gal. 4:4). Jesus could not declare the tithe invalid before Calvary because, in doing so, he would have been declaring the entire Old Covenant Law invalid before Calvary.

In this verse,(matthew 23:23) justice, mercy and faithfulness are heavier and weightier than the rules for tithing spices, evidently because the former reflects the nature and character of God

Ahem, Abraham tithed before the law. As far as 'giving what God lays on your heart', tell me, is that 'usually' more than you're tithes and offerings would have been, or less?

 

[TheScottsMen]

Ahem, Abraham tithed before the law. As far as 'giving what God lays on your heart', tell me, is that 'usually' more than you're tithes and offerings would have been, or less?

I must have missed it? What is the scripture verse?

EDIT:
I read that wrong. I agree, he tithed before the law. But couldn't someone easily say that the sabbath observance was before the law (i know many of my jewish friends state that), and that sabbath and other feast are talked about in the book of Revelation (Feast of Tabernacle, etc..)

 

[TheScottsMen]

"And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. "And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

"And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

"This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16-19).

So, in this defense, should we keep the feast of tabernacles now because it was in the OT?

 

[Andry]

I must have missed it? What is the scripture verse?

EDIT:
I read that wrong. I agree, he tithed before the law. But couldn't someone easily say that the sabbath observance was before the law (i know many of my jewish friends state that), and that sabbath and other feast are talked about in the book of Revelation (Feast of Tabernacle, etc..)

Paul already addressed the sabbath. You cannot be justified by a 'day', or new moons, or sabbaths, or food or drink.

At the cross, what happened?
- some things were abolished, eg. ceremonial law
- some things went from physical to spiritual, eg. circumcision of the flesh to circumcision of the heart
- some things went through unchanged, eg. Davidic praise from Psalms, tithe/offerings

One of our 'discoveries' as a Christian is figuring out which did what.

 

[TheScottsMen]

Why is the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated after Christ returns? If (and im not disagreeing with you) it was done away with, why celebrate something that the Lord nailed to the cross, get rid of something just to bring it back?

 

[Andry]

Why is the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated after Christ returns? If (and im not disagreeing with you) it was done away with, why celebrate something that the Lord nailed to the cross, get rid of something just to bring it back?

That's assuming a pre-mill dispensational position, yes?

 

[Deb4given]

Ahem, Abraham tithed before the law. As far as 'giving what God lays on your heart', tell me, is that 'usually' more than you're tithes and offerings would have been, or less?

I was only refering to the scripture that was indicated.

And it has been my experience that I am giving about the same amount. But, now I am giving to the poor, and to missionaries etc.

I found it quite hard to go to a church where the pastor has new boats,4 wheelers, name brand clothes etc and there are many people in our own body that can't buy their children new clothes.

I am not allow to post the web page yet...when I do, I would like someone to read it and refute it if possible.

I am still working out my salvation with fear and trembling. I don't believe I know everything, or better yet much of anything. But, I do know what I have done for many many years, maybe even longer than a lot of you,(tithe) and I do know what God has revealed to me for the last few years. I kept studying and it was only the last few months that I have changed my giving.

 

[Dust and Ashes]

What about from a purely practical standpoint? How is the church supported if no one tithes? I know that a large church with many wealthy people will have a surplus but what about smaller churches that don't have the luxury of wealthy members? God gave His best for me in Jesus, how can I justify to myself giving Him my leftovers?

I attend a small church (<100 members) and only a small % tithe. I'm not judging them as that is between them and God but it does irk me when they get an attitude about the church not being able to provide snacks for their children after Sunday School. "Like, where are we supposed to get the money for snacks, dude?!?!? There sure ain't any in the offering plate."

Sorry, rant over.