What Christians Believe about Giving

For those of you new to Free Money Finance, I post on The Bible and Money every Sunday. Here's why.

This piece on the relationship between the welfare state and Christianity contains some good stats on what Christians believe about giving. Here are some highlights:

In the study, 56 percent of all clergy say Christians are under a biblical mandate to tithe 10 percent of their income to the local church, while another 12 percent feel Christians are under this 10 percent mandate, but the gifts do not necessarily have to go to the local church.

Twenty percent believe there is a biblical mandate to give, but not any specific amount or percentage.

However, among the people who attend Protestant churches, only 36 percent feel there is a biblical command to tithe 10 percent to their local church, while another 23 percent believe there is a biblical mandate to tithe, but not necessarily to the local church.

Twenty-seven percent feel the Bible commands Christians to give, but not a set proportion or amount, while 10 percent believe Christians are under no mandate to give anything.

Very interesting indeed. Here's what I get out of these findings:

• 66% of clergy think that Christians are commanded by Scripture to tithe while 20% believe in what I call "generous giving." Does this mean that 14% believe that Christians shouldn't give anything?

• 59% of Christians (church members) think tithing is scriptural, though a greater percentage thinks it doesn't have to be to the church. Unfortunately, the study doesn't tell us what percentage believes in "giving generously" and what percentage doesn't believe in giving at all, so we're at a loss there. But we can say that a majority of Protestant church-goers believe in tithing over generous giving, a finding I found to be stunning based on how many actually tithe. More on that later.

Now on to the ever-popular "gross versus net" discussion:

Among people who do believe in tithing (whether to the local church specifically or to any type of organization), an ongoing debate is whether the 10 percent should be figured on gross income or on net income (after taxes).

Churchgoers who believe in tithing are equally split over this: Forty-eight percent believe the tithe should be figured on net income while fifty-two percent say it should be on gross income.

The snarky response is "do you want God to bless your gross income or your net income?", but to me the best argument for tithing on your gross income is from Proverbs 3:9-10 where it says:

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

"Firstfruits" means "before anything else" which includes taxes. Thus the tithe comes off the gross. Tithing on net income advocates say that many of the services the tithe was meant to pay for is now covered by our taxes, so we should tithe after taxes are deducted from our income. I'm not buying that argument.

So now that we've covered what Christians BELIEVE about tithing and giving generously, let's look at what the DO:

In a 2003 study, researchers discovered that the number of Americans who give ten percent of their income to the church "dropped by 62 percent in the past year, from 8 percent in 2001 to just 3 percent of adults during 2002," the Barna Research Group said.

And Roman Catholics were even worse than their Protestant brethren. Of Catholic respondents, none reported giving 10 percent of last year's (2002) income to his or her church.

Barna, study revealed that among born-again adults, 14 percent reported tithing in 2001, but only 6 percent said they did so in 2002. Among evangelicals, nearly 9 percent of those surveyed reported tithing.

A couple thoughts:

• Yikes!

• BIG gap between what people believe and what they do. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, that's how people act with their money in many different areas -- saving, spending, investing, etc. -- they know what they should do with it and yet they do the opposite (in many cases.) Reminds me of Romans 7:15:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Comments

[Kirk Kinder]

I saw a comment somewhere recently stating that God asks that we give 10% to him (or charity) while the government takes 40%. There certainly is something wrong there. And, this could certainly explain one reason why tithing isn't as common as it should.

[guinness416]

Re "Roman Catholics were even worse" I grew up in a catholic family with some more devout members, in a catholic country, went to catholic schools and have been in and out of catholic churches my whole life and I never heard the word "tithe" in a modern sense until I started reading american moneyblogs. I know yankee catholics are probably influenced by fundamentalist protestants next door, but would you expect catholics not to be worse?

[T Hunter]

Please feel free to criticize or offer alternatives to what I will say:

The money that goes to taxes are not first fruit, specially when you have them taken on the payroll and don't get them in cash form at all.

If you planted a field and crows came to eat some of your corn, would consider the corn in the stomach of the crows a "fruit"?
"Fruit" is what comes to your hands, not what the crows ate.

Having said that, the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver, so in that aspect, everyone should give accordingly and ask God for help in loosening the grip if they give too little or begrudgingly.

To pay attention to gross or net is indication that you're not giving so cheerfully as the Word tells you to do.
It sounds more like an attempt to follow a rule, trying to earn merit and do for yourself what only God can do (make you a generous, gracious person).

[TMS]

It is hard to think about money the way God wants you to. But I'll tellya what: the smartest financial decision I ever made was to give back 10% and then some, and at the same time give my financial worries to God and just trust that He will provide for our needs.

The results have been impressive and beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Not just financial results, but spiritual and personal relationships have resulted that I never would have experienced otherwise.

It is truly better to give than receive. When times get hard, decide to give more. Freaky things tend to happen, in a good way.

[Matt]

10% is, and has been, a goal of mine for several years. However (can you hear the excuse coming...), I haven't come within shouting distance of a tithe yet, and am not sure how it would be possible. I'm 30, and make a good salary, but have a mortage and a pile of student loans as big as a second mortgage. Despite my decent salary, I'm practically living paycheck to paycheck, and my employer just slashed salaries across the board by 10% (ironic).

I believe the Lord wants a cheerful giver more than a rule follower, so I do what I can, but it irks me to have the "tithe" debate trotted out once again.

[Bill]

I give about 33% of my gross to various charities. This works out to be about 50k per year.

I support two types of good work. Mostly my money goes towards sustainable efforts to provide basic clean water, medicine and food to those that need it most. For example, water and sanitation related diseases kill about 5000 children every day. I couldn't sleep at night without trying to do something about that.

Locally, I give to those who are doing practical things to help the homeless and the old. Those our society seem to forget about.

I wouldn't dream of giving to any of my local churches - they do not seem properly focused on putting the money to good use; I have investigated them and its a shameful waste.

[Sarah]

Bless you Bill. I do what I can but nothing matching your contributions. For many years I wandered in the darkness before understanding that a personal connection with my God was possible. That loving him did not mean fancy buildings while an innocent child was allowed die for the sake of some water.

[Isaac]

What I believe is a shame is how those in charge of our government are out saying people need to pay more in taxes to 'help' their fellow man. Yet when you examine their tax records, they give less than even the 10% I believe to be the biblical starting point. If more Christians gave to their churches or para-church organizations at least the 10% those organizations would be more effective in meeting those needs which the government inefficiently tries to handle. During the Great Depression Aimee Semple MacPherson and her charity section fed thousands in Southern California strictly on the donations of the members of her church, not government grants or programs. If everyone in America gave 10% of their income to charities aimed at helping those in need we would not need to expand Unemployment and other entitlements, or raise taxes to meet those needs.

It is time for 'the Church' to step up and fulfill our call to our fellow man instead of relinquishing responsibility to the government of man. Jesus fed 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread, how much more can he do if we give willingly from the blessing he has provided for us.

If 10% is too much start with 1% and work your way up. Its amazing how much money is like sand, the less you hold onto it tightly the more there seems to be. The tighter you hold on, the more it slips through your hands. Test God, he is happy to prove himself far and above what we can imagine.

Thank for discussing the various perspectives regarding this issue, and allowing all to comment and discuss in a mature and responsible manner. One last thought, the richest men in the world are the ones who have given the most. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are 'the richest men' in the world, but as a percentage they give significantly more than 10% of their worth away to charities and foundations, yet they still continue to do well financially. Hmmmmm, makes you think.

[certifications]

It is really interesting topic, because most people do practice giving things on the name of God. If we just study the voice of God, than we can clearly can obstruct that what HE wants from His creatures that how we spend, but one thing that I just want to mention here that when you give on the name of God don't think much , don't calculate just give as much as you can, because HE give us so much things which we don't deserve. and this in return surely give us satisfaction and calmness.

[HG]

This article should be called "What Christians Believe about Tithing"

True Giving goes beyond a "tenth" of your gross income. True giving goes beyond monetary substance... Matthew 25:35-40

Also, why do people publish on how much they give? Why not publish on the IMPACT that comes from your giving... I guess you already have your reward on earth.

[Andy]

As a Catholic, I have never been urged to give 10% directly to the Church. I have seen recommendations of 10% giving, but only a portion is allocated directly to the Church so the quote about Catholics doesn't surprise me.

If you count your gross income when giving from your first fruits, do you count some of the taxes as part of your giving? A pretty hefty percentage goes to the needy already.

[Sarah]

I also give significantly but not to my local church which has taken a vow of poverty; they suggest we give it to those who really need it. The hungry etc.

[Michael]

Deciding what to tithe can get complicated pretty quick. If you have a garden, do you still tithe 10% of what grows? If you believe in giving it to your church, does your church have a way to distribute/use it before it goes bad? What about employer match for retirement accounts?

Do you tithe before sticking money into the Roth IRA, or when you take it out, or tithe before, then tithe on the increase above what you put in.

What about in-kind gifts? Say someone gives you a $600 couch (my inlaws just gave us such a couch). Do you tithe on the value of the couch?

In the end, everyone is accountable to God. As long as you're going to feel comfortable with what you did on judgment day,I guess you're good.

My wife and I pay 10% on net and cash gifts, and try to give generously on top of that (but don't count anything additional as tithing.)

[wsbsteven]

When I started giving, it wasn't 10%. As time passed more was asked of me and my giving increased until finally I was 10% Net (when I did the math). I'm not sure I totally buy a flat 10% for all but I've found that if you start giving that you will end up being in the 10% or greater range.

[Cynthia]

From what I've read in the Bible, I believe as a follower of Christ, I'm asked to give 10% of my increase - that for me means gross income and I do this. I also give of my time and my expertise. There have been numerous times when this was quite a sacrafice but their have been numerous times when I was able to write checks for 4,5 and 6+ thousand dollars!

I believe that the sacrifice, makes us more grateful for the gifts, talents and abilities that God has given us. I believe it allows us to have faith in God, and also to be more contieous of the decisions I make. Even before I became aware of financial principles like I've learned at this site and others, I knew that I had to plan on how to pay my tithes. That kept me from making some decisions that would have greatly restricted my cash flow.

I haven't always been able to meet my obligations as I see them, but it's rare that I don't give back to my local church what I believe God has given to me.

[Mike]

I want to give, but I financially cannot afford it...at least not right now. The government takes more than 50% of everything I earn when you consider income taxes, social security, medicare, parking/speeding tickets/fines, government fees like licenses, gas tax, taxes my employer pays on my behalf, sales tax, etc. People don't realize how much we are really being robbed by our government. I for one would be happier without ANY government compared to the one we have now.

[Apex]

There was a time in this country where federal income tax rates in the higest bracket were 92%. Then there was state tax on top of that.

If tithing is on gross then for some people at some time the more they made the more they would go in debt by tithing.

Clearly this could not be valid. This is not true today. But if tithing is always clearly on the gross, how does one deal with situations like this? What about when the govt takes over national health care and SS and Medicare start to blow up the and current debt and deficits which are exploding result in taxes going up to 50 or 60% at the federal level (other nations already have taxes like that)? Is tithing still clearly on the gross then?

[FMF]

Apex --

Depends on whether or not you believe the Bible changes based on laws/programs passed by the government...

[Apex]

FMF,

I don't believe the Bible changes. But I am disappointed in this response because it doesn't mean the Bible has to change. Galileo was considered a heritic for suggesting the earth revolved around the Sun because the Bible clearly states that the earth does not move (He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved -Psalms 104:5). We think differently about that passage today that Christians did 400 years ago. Did the Bible Change?

For instance, I know some pastors who believe farmers should tithe on their gross. For example they should bring 10% of all the grain or atleast the proceeds of the grain as a tithe. Clearly that is what the bible states. However with modern farming/business, there isn't even 10% left after expenses (rent, seed, fertilizer, chemicals, equipment, operating loans, hired labor costs, fuel, etc.) It is not at all uncommon for a farmer to have gross receipts of 1 million dollars and have very little left as net income, maybe 50K after all the expenses are paid (and these don't include living expenses). But the bible says you tithe on the gross right? And a farmer is about as close to the bible examples of bringing in the whole harvest. Clearly the enterprise of farming today is not the same as raising crops and livestock was in old testament days.

Other than a few very strict literalist, very few Christians would argue for tithing on the gross of a business or farming, most can understand how that doesn't work and wouldn't be the same as the person raising grain in the old testament. So the bible must not be talking about that (or else its irrational, I can't think of a third option).

Given that we now operate under a system that forcefully removes a very large percentage of our incomes (1/4 - 1/2 depending on how you want to measure it and how much you make) and a system that didn't exist when the tithe was first instituted in the old testament (no taxes were collected when God asked for the first fruits from Cain and Able), it seems reasonable to ask the question of whether tithing on the gross income of an individual is the same concept that was laid down as the tithe originally.

It seems to me that the tithe is the concept of giving up 10% of that which has been given to you. Or if you like the concept of giving up 10% of your increase. Just like in farming the 1 million is not your increase, only the 50K is, it seems analogous that gross income is not your increase, only what the government doesn't confiscate is the increase. That is the amount which you are entrusted to make your decisions with.

I brought up the 92% tax issue to point out what happens when you hold strictly to the gross income view taken to the extreme (an extreme that actually happened). The rule becomes absurd at that level and I can't imagine that a single person would would tithe on the gross when taxed at 92%. So thats why I asked when taxes are too high to tithe on the gross? There must be a point or else there is something wrong with the math component of the universe.

As I think about it, the only thing that seems rational to me (and I believe God is rational) is 10% of that which is entrusted to you. And as I read the Bible I think thats actually what it says both implicitly and explicitly at points. And the money you pay in taxes clearly is not entrusted to you (or atleast mine isn't).

So I would enjoy hearing why you believe gross income is the Biblical standard in light of the examples I am discussing above. Namely, does the bible require tithing on money not entrusted to you (taxes). Does this still hold regardless of how high the tax rates are such that the tithe could exceed the sum total of all the money you have left after taxes?

I am willing to conceed that God is more interested in the heart.
I am willing to conceed that God loves a cheerful giver not a penny pincher.
I am willing to conceed that you can be blessed on your gross instead of your net if you so desire.

I am interested in the definition of the tithe and if a tithe is 10% we must know what it is 10% of or it doesn't mean much.

Micah says to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, and I am merely trying to define what "the whole tithe" is. Call it an intellectual exercise if you will.

[FMF]

Apex --

I've been over much of this previously (for instance, how a tithe is different for a business versus an individual). To get a true flavor of what I think (then you can choose to agree or disagree with it as you like), I suggest you read my "The Bible and Money" category archives (here: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/the_bible_and_money/). You'll have to slosh through a bunch of other "Bible"-related pieces to get to all the tithing ones, but if you're interested in an intellectual exercise it should certainly fit the bill. :-)

I will say that "that which is entrusted to you" is a very slippery slope. For instance, what's really yours to spend and what's not? Taxes? Ok. How about food, clothing, and shelter? Everyone needs these, right? Certainly a minimal amount at least should be deducted from your income since it's not really entrusted to you, right? What about a car? You need transportation to get to work or you can't earn an income. So the amount you spend on a car isn't really part of your income that should be tithed on, correct?

See what I mean?

In the end, I don't think it's really about the money. It's not even close to being about the money. The purpose of tithing it to teach us to put God first in our lives(http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2006/11/the_purpose_of_.html). It's the attitude of the heart that's really important. So which attitude is right: looking for the letter of the law and seeking to only fulfill it and no more or possibly going above and beyond what's "required" and giving offerings on top of that?

Like with many issues in the Bible, there are several interpretations (that's why we have so many denominations), so there's really not "one answer." (not only to this but to anything -- prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit, baptism, etc.) On the topic of tithing, I choose to believe the one that I feel most accurately represents the spirit of the Bible -- to put God first -- above everything -- above taxes, above food, above clothing, above shelter -- above everything.

[Apex]

No response necessary. I apparently am not able to present my inquiry clearly enough to engage a discussion on the issue I was interested in or else you are not interested in engaging in it, which is fine also. You can just say so if thats the case too.

1. I will say that "that which is entrusted to you" is a very slippery slope.

If you decide its entrusted to you. You decide on the food and shelter even if its a ncessity. Same as it was in the old testament.

2. In the end, I don't think it's really about the money. It's the attitude of the heart that's really important. So which attitude is right: looking for the letter of the law

I conceeded all those points to try to skip past this part.

3. there are several interpretations, so there's really not "one answer."

I was interested in your defense of yours.

Since 50% of people professed a belief in the tithe but only 3% did it maybe its moot.

[FMF]

Apex --

OK, so if you're simply back to wanting to know what I think, your best bet is to read the past posts. That or I need to post a 20-page response to what you're asking, which really won't work.

I'm not trying to be difficult, hope you don't think I am, but I do not have the time or energy to go over what I've been through before several times.

[Apex]

Fair enough.

Before I go through your past posts is there an answer in there that addresses the point I brought up regarding whether you feel the Bible requires tithing on money not entrusted to you (taxes) and if this still holds regardless of how high the tax rates get?

I suspected there was a good chance this particular element of gross/net had not been addressed specifically which is why I asked about it.

If you feel that you have addressed that issue specifically in your past posts I will probably take a look but I don't want to dig if it isn't there.

Thanks.

[Kirk Kinder]

At T Hunter....your kidding right. Are you saying that you didn't earn the salary that goes to taxes just because it is taken out before you put it in your hand? How about self-employed folks who pay quarterly taxes? They get it in their hands before paying. How is that different from someone who makes the same salary, but has a payroll deduction. The tax base is exactly the same.

It just amazes me how people justify paying outrageous taxes. If you enjoy paying such high taxes, then you are going to enjoy the next few years. I just found it odd that I give 4X as much to the government as I do to charity, especially when charity spends the dollars more effectively.

[FMF]

Apex --

No. If that's what you're looking for specifically, I haven't posted on what you should do tithe-wise if taxes go up to 90% plus. Then again, I haven't posted on what to do for retirement, investing, etc. if taxes go up to 90% plus...