(Note: this question is for non-religious people as well)
Do you give 10% (or more) of your income on a regular basis to church/charity?
Why?
Ok, so it was a lame opening.
Do you feel tithing blesses you? Can you name a time where you feel you have been blessed as a result of your giving?
If you go the charity route, what’s your favorite charity to give to and why?
If you are a Christian, do you believe tithing is optional, or commanded?
I can’t afford to give very much, but I always make an effort to contribute to the Salvation Army. They help people without any strings attached; they’ve paid for my insulin when I couldn’t come up with the money for it; during WWII they were simply wonderful to the soldiers (like my Uncle Serges)!
They do marvelous work, SA. They helped a friend of mine with one of her utility bills once after she had been sick and unable to work for several months.
Yes I do.
I do believe that tithing is a biblical principle, as to whether it’s mandatory, I dunno, but it does say to be generous.
Why do I do it? Mainly because I feel privaleged to live in a society where I earn an above average wage, where all in all I enjoy a very high standard of living. If I can give back into my community and into the world, then I should. As I said before, I believe it to be a biblical principle. Also, giving to my church and its building fund, I am laying down something for the future, for those who I may never know, and who are not necessarily yet in the church.
As to personal blessing, to be honest it’s not the point, it has nothing to do with why I tithe. I can’t name a specific instance where I can say I was blessed as a result of tithing. What I can say is that I have never lacked anything I have needed, and very few things that I have wanted.
Matthew 6:1
From Luke 11:42 (NIV):
I don’t know if that qualifies as a commandment or not but it seems fairly clear that Jesus felt that tithing was one of the things that a Christian (or anybody) should do.
I tithe and I consider it a priviledge, not a responsibility. I also feel that if your are tithing to “get blessed”, you’re not really tithing, you’re investing in a dry well.
Here in Ireland, well anywhere I’ve lived in Dublin anyway, every house gets a little envelope dropped into the house every week from the local ubercatholic on behalf of the local church. When I’ve told them I’m not interested in giving they always look at me quite strangely.
So no I don’t tithe.
I do not tithe. I probably come in around 5% or a little less and I give because I enjoy it. I give to the Red Cross because of the help they gave my parents in the flood of '96. I give to the Salvation Army. I give a large amount to Toys For Tots because I grew up poor and it makes me sad to think that a child might get nothing for the holidays. Sometimes I give to the Make a Wish foundation.
A visiting speaker from Ghana to our church in South Africa once reminded us of the difference between “giving” and “getting rid of”. The former is sacrificial while the latter is not. This was not to say that “getting rid of” is a bad thing - when those in need benefit from our hand-me-downs, then that can only be good, but we shouldn’t try and fool ourselves that we have been “giving”.
As JC put it:
FWIW, the whiff and I do tithe.
Grim
I do.
Most of my tithe money goes to Yeshivas and Jewish outreach organizations. (Just for the record, those are organizations that educate non-religious Jews about Judaism, not organizations that seek to convert non-Jews to Judaism.)
I’m not sure what you point is - Toys For Tots (in our area) will only except new toys. While I guess I “got rid of” nearly a thousand dollars of new toys last year, it was money that I could have spent on me…
10%?! Even after taxes that’s a massive chunk of change, which I like to devote to myself.
In fact, it’s pretty much all the money I have left over that I get to spend on me-- the rest going to rent, utilities, food, clothing, and my RRSP (which hopefully means I won’t be dependent on charity when I retire).
I have devoted my time and specialized skills for various community groups, but I’m not doing so at the moment.
Khadaji, I don’t think grim’s comment was aimed at you–just a general remark that happened to fall after your post.
I don’t tithe, but, as I’m now finally making enough money to have some extra to give around, I’ve been expanding the circle of charities I give to: The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, the SPCA. Does anyone know of a reputable organization doing relief work in Afghanistan? I haven’t been able to find one that looks trustworthy.
I’m not sure exactly how much I give, ‘cause I just give to new charities when the mood strikes me, and continue to contribute annually when they send around the beggin’ letter. I probably give less than 10%, though. Oughta compute it some time.
It’s not for religious reasons, 'cause I’m an atheist. It just feels good to contribute to worthy organizations that are helping people (er, and critters, in the case of the SPCA).
Oh, and I ditch old clothes at the Salvation Army, despite the fact that I disagree with their religious principles, because they’re the only charity in town that takes used clothing, and it pains me too much to throw wearable clothes away. I don’t know what Grim would make of that. 
I’m an atheist, but I give what I can to certain causes—some charities, some institutions, some political/activism groups. I certainly don’t feel “blessed,” whatever that means. Just trying to do the right thing, as opposed to what the entire U.S. government seems to feel about atheists.
Yes! First of all it is an honor to be able to give back to the God who gave so much to me. It may only be a tenth or sometimes even less, but I feel blessed each time I do. My life right now is blessed far more than I ever imagined it to be. I won’t say it’s only because I tithe, but I do feel blessed.
I’m not sure it’s commanded, since God says to test him in Malachi 3:10, but he says the “Floodgates of Heaven” will be opened for all who do.
Indeed, it was just a coincidence…
**
Go for it bro, it’s more than I do - if I like an item of clothes it gets worn until it falls off my back, if I don’t, then it seldom gets worn. When we moved countries a few years ago, we took all our clothes to a similar charity in SA, and will probably do the same when we return home…
Grim
Once when yours truly lost his job, we were unable to tithe without not meeting our financial obligations, so we cut back to 5% until yours truly got another job.
FWIW, tithing is a great discipline because most folks of modest means cannot both tithe AND overspend on the various vices available to us today.
Yet does is not say in the Bible that when one gives it should be in secret, just between ourselves and God? I don’t see anyone here bragging or thumping his chest, but is this a good forum for this topic? Should we be talking about this at all? Maybe focus more on the reasons for/benefits of tithing but not so much whether between ourselves and God we have decided to tithe.
I contribute yearly to Planned Parenthood.
I give to the collection at church and to various charities as the mood and the wallet move me. It is definitely not 10%, however, I feel that since our government spend a large portion of our tax money on social welfare programs, to which I contribute and from which I receive nothing, I feel like I’m covered. Unlike 2000 years ago, or even 200 years ago, people aren’t dependant upon the Church (or local temple or whatever) to provide fo the needs of the widows, orphans and disabled. The money I donate to the Church helps the maintenance, building and schools. Also, I donate goods to the refugee settlement organization.
I used to contribute to United Way, but since they were not allocating my contribution to the non-UW agency as I requested (I wanted my contribution given to the local humane society), I’ve stopped donating to them. I’ll give directly to Catholic Charities and the humane society to prevent my dollars being given to Planned Parenthood.
When I was unemployed and couldn’t contribute cash, I volunteered to do the church bulletin and also gave blood at the Red Cross.
StG