How broadly do you guys define who you tithe to?

[Gnarwhal]

We heard the bishop's annual appeal today at Mass, and while it may not be directly related, I was thinking about the USAID stuff and just generally knowing where our money goes (or not).

I know protestants would consider almost anything to fulfill an obligation to tithe so long as the recipient was Christian and the funds were supporting some kind of Christian cause. That got me thinking that rather than give to any of the charities or my parish, what if I tithed to my favorite Catholic podcast? It's small time but growing. Would I be missing the point by giving to them?

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

We heard the bishop's annual appeal today at Mass, and while it may not be directly related, I was thinking about the USAID stuff and just generally knowing where our money goes (or not).

I know protestants would consider almost anything to fulfill an obligation to tithe so long as the recipient was Christian and the funds were supporting some kind of Christian cause. That got me thinking that rather than give to any of the charities or my parish, what if I tithed to my favorite Catholic podcast? It's small time but growing. Would I be missing the point by giving to them?

I'm not Roman Catholic or Orthodox .. but I don't tithe (I'm not an Israelite), I give - I do like the minimum 10% guideline, but that's not a NT law or even instruction for the Gentile believer, yet everything we owe is His ..

All faith-related giving could be included if you want to calculate your 'giving' percentage ... including your podcast.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I may one day figure it out.
I am still saving for home repairs.
Now I have credit payments to pay.
But atm I am giving what I can.

 

[RileyG]

I am Catholic with a disability and live with my parents. I technically work full time, but barely make $20,000 per year. To be 100% honest, I last "tithed" when I was in college which went to the campus ministry.

I need to get my priorities straight.

God bless

 

[Gnarwhal]

I am Catholic with a disability and live with my parents. I technically work full time, but barely make $20,000 per year. To be 100% honest, I last "tithed" when I was in college which went to the campus ministry.

I need to get my priorities straight.

God bless

It’s tough to tithe, especially when we’re low income. I like what one parish always said, “please consider giving as your means allow.” I always struggled when I was making about what you make.

 

[RileyG]

It’s tough to tithe, especially when we’re low income. I like what one parish always said, “please consider giving as your means allow.” I always struggled when I was making about what you make.

That's true. On the other hand, I need to stop wasting my money on useless junk. Maybe I should make that a goal for this coming lent and start giving back? Hmmm...definitely food for thought.

 

[Lady Bug]

We heard the bishop's annual appeal today at Mass, and while it may not be directly related, I was thinking about the USAID stuff and just generally knowing where our money goes (or not).

I know protestants would consider almost anything to fulfill an obligation to tithe so long as the recipient was Christian and the funds were supporting some kind of Christian cause. That got me thinking that rather than give to any of the charities or my parish, what if I tithed to my favorite Catholic podcast? It's small time but growing. Would I be missing the point by giving to them?

It's not wrong to give to a podcast but I suppose I see it this way: whatever parish means the most to me, and is the one that I want to see survive and thrive, I focus on them first. Whether I give it directly to the parish or indirectly to the parish via DSA, that's one's choice, but I focus on bettering the needs of my parish first.

 

[Bob Crowley]

We heard the bishop's annual appeal today at Mass, and while it may not be directly related, I was thinking about the USAID stuff and just generally knowing where our money goes (or not).

I know protestants would consider almost anything to fulfill an obligation to tithe so long as the recipient was Christian and the funds were supporting some kind of Christian cause. That got me thinking that rather than give to any of the charities or my parish, what if I tithed to my favorite Catholic podcast? It's small time but growing. Would I be missing the point by giving to them?

Ideally I hope I can give 5% to the church (the weekly or monthly donation - in my case I give electronically) and another 5% to charity.

At the moment I'm giving more than 5% to the church as I retired 4 years ago but haven't reduced my church donation. I've just left it as is.

So I'm well behind on charitable giving.

Hopefully I'll get there one day. But overall I try to give 10% as a general guideline.

When I was Presbyterian I remember the pastor saying, half joking, that "if all our parishioners gave 10% our treasurer wouldn't know what to do with it all... well, not for a while anyway.."

Maybe in the same sermon he quipped "I've worked with church budgets for years ... you know, paint the door this year, fix the window next year..."

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Tithing isn't a requirement for Catholics. Giving to help the poor is, but no one is
required to go into destitution doing so.

This was a requirement for Jews but I'm not sure if this is still a requirement for them.

 

[Gnarwhal]

That's true. On the other hand, I need to stop wasting my money on useless junk. Maybe I should make that a goal for this coming lent and start giving back? Hmmm...definitely food for thought.

That's not a bad idea. Lord knows I waste my fair share of money (all on food, I rarely spend on anything else).

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

Tithing isn't a requirement for Catholics. Giving to help the poor is, but no one is
required to go into destitution doing so.

This was a requirement for Jews but I'm not sure if this is still a requirement for them.

Correct .. tithing is part of Mosaic Law .. and there were multiple tithes, not just one .... It's connected to the Temple and Priest system as well, so because these are gone for now Biblical tithing isn't fully possible.

For Gentile believers Paul never speaks about tithes, but joyful and voluntary giving, yet everything we own is God's.

I don't object to churches who encourage believers to give a lot, but I do object to churches that pressure attendants to give a lot to that particular church.

 

[WarriorAngel]

It's not wrong to give to a podcast but I suppose I see it this way: whatever parish means the most to me, and is the one that I want to see survive and thrive, I focus on them first. Whether I give it directly to the parish or indirectly to the parish via DSA, that's one's choice, but I focus on bettering the needs of my parish first.

Whichever is your parish, they suggest.
Priests leave and new ones come in...
So if you can give to both then that's fine too.

I was told whe4n I moved here not to worry about transferring to join.
I am still a parish member 2 hours away.
But I give where I am.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Maybe I should find resources to send to the Church I used to go to.

Sadly it seems with young people leaving not many attend.
When my daughter got married on Nov 2, we attended regular Mass at the Church [because she wanted to get married there]
and so few people.
I can remember raising my kids there and it being packed.

 

[LoricaLady]

Someone mentioned that tithing is part of the Mosaic law. True. Also part of the Mosaic law is that thou shall not murder, thou shall not steal, thou shall not covet, thou shall not have other gods before you, and so on.

And oh yeah. Part of the mosaic covenant was that we to love the Lord with all our hearts and souls and minds, love our neighbors as ourselves, and even love our enemies. Yes, all that wasn’t something new added to the New Testament.

Messiah mentioned that the Pharisees were tithing their little herbs and spices. He didn’t say they shouldn’t do that. He said they should do that but that they were neglecting more weighty matters.

Thus we see tithing being supported by Messiah. And nowhere do we see tithing being said to no longer be valid.

Since some churches are great, and some are highly questionable, and since I don’t go to churches anyway, because I am what’s called Hebrew roots, and since the Bible never tells us to go to church, I personally give my tithes to Compassion international and to Orphans’ Promise. They uphold the gospel and help hungry children at the same time.

 

[LoricaLady]

Well, I just saw a reply to my last post. But when I got on my iPhone to reply to it, it was gone. But it was making a valid point so I will address it here.

The poster in question talked about giving beyond the tithe,
In his church, for example to Compassion international. That is great that they do that. I also give beyond the tithe because we aren’t just told to tithe, we are told to give in other ways too.

But no percentage is provided for giving in those extra ways.
I trust the Lord to convict me , if needed, in those other areas.

 

[Michie]

Aren’t you talking more about almsgiving? Tithing is not always financial. It can include time, talent, or treasure.

 

[LoricaLady]

Aren’t you talking more about almsgiving? Tithing is not always financial. It can include time, talent, or treasure.

In the Bible, I see what you call, apparently, treasure being offered up as a tithe. Such treasure would include livestock and agricultural wealth as well as money in various forms, gold and silver, and so on.

If there’s anything in the Bible about tithing
from one’s time or talents, I don’t see it personally. People did offer their time and talents in various ways. But, again, if that is ever called a tithe, I surely don’t see it.

When the topic of tithing is being discussed, I don’t see anything but the offering up of tangible material blessings.

Alms giving is not the same as a tiithe. A tithe was used for things like building or repairing the temple, supporting the rabbis involved in the sacrificial slaughter of animals, and much else related to the temple.

Alms giving was for the poor. As mentioned above, tithing was not the only way in which the Israelites, and therefore us I believe, were to give. We are told to give generously to the poor and that we will be rewarded if we do so. But no percentage is
placed on that as with the tithe.

 

[RileyG]

Aren’t you talking more about almsgiving? Tithing is not always financial. It can include time, talent, or treasure.

I agree!