VANITY - Gross or Net? If you tithe - on which do you tithe?

5/23/2003 | Frapster

[Frapster]

Pardon the vanity folks but my wife and I were debating an issue about tithing. We are both committed Christians but we were debating whether it was correct to tithe on the gross or the net? And not just in terms of personal income but in terms of a business. If we own a company that is grossing a certain amount do we tithe on the gross of that amount or the net (what we pay ourselves?)

[Frapster]

I wish this place did polls.

[alisasny]

From what I gather its on the gross not take home pay. So if I make 1000 a week but only take home 600 my church would want 100 a week if they are asking for 10 %.

[netmilsmom]

We do the net.
Or just do it this way, take all your cash on a Sunday morning, throw it up in the air and God will take what he wants ;-).

[week 71]

Well if you tithing to the Aaronic priesthood, you should probably tithe your gross. If not, give what the Lord puts on your heart. It may end up being 25% of your gross. cheers

[Bikers4Bush]

I believe the church expects you to tithe on the gross. I don't.

[My2Cents]

Good comment. And true.

[Always Right]

After overhead, I don't even have a 10% margin. If I gave 10% of gross to Church, I would have a huge negative net.

[GrandmaPatriot]

We tithe on gross. My feeling is 10% from the total, not 10% after this tax and after that tax and after another expense. Pretty soon the amount is no longer a tithe but an amount that is arbitrary.

[circles]

"And once again tithing is 10% off the top. That's gross income, not net. Please people, don't force us to audit. Now I'm going to pass this around a second time. Brother Ned, you'll do the honors."

[alisasny]

I don't agree either. I feel you should give according to your means. I never liked this idea of tithing. My church wants 5 % of gross for the church and 5% for other like minded charities. This does not include all the extras like the Bishops appeal building funds and every other fund imaginable like the extra donations for flowers, christmas, novena's etc, religious instructions for the kids and on and on and on. Frankly when all is said and done at the end of the month I am lucky if I have 2 percent in my bank account of what the church wants via tithing.

[tru_degenerate]

Nice, suggestion. I'm going to try that. I have always been puzzled by this two. I always figured gross. What you grossed is what you actually make? But since I don't tithe, who am I to say which is right?

[mabelkitty]

Are talking about the House of Government Taxes, because that is what your church sounds like. Sheesh!

[gas_dr]

God wants you to tithe your first fruits -- which I assume is the gross instead of the net because then you are giving second fruits. (Abel gave the first fruits of his labor, and God was pleased). However, in the New Testament, Jesus tells the parable of the Widow's mite and tells us God loves a cheerful giver. I think that implies in the New Testament way, that God wants what you can give cheerfully. If you tithe begrudgingly, then you are not fulfilling HIs wish. There are also other things to tithe, for example time and talent. Some thoughts from a lay person...

[Bikers4Bush]

I'm in the same boat. If I gave them what they wanted I wouldn't be eating.

[Tamar1973]

Torah says that the tithe is to come from your increase.

For example, if you owned 20 head of cattle and G-d blessed you with 5 new head of cattle during the year, you would present either 1/2 of a cow or the equivalent value in money or other items of value and bring them to the temple. If He blessed you with 10 new head, you would either give one of them to the temple or the monetary equivalent.

But what some people don't know is that the tithe wasn't collected every year. It was collected for the temple every third year, other two years you were to save it up so you could afford to go to jerusalem and attend the 3 annual feasts which required temple attendance and have enough money to help the local levites and the poor in your area to go with you.

When Christians say that you must literally give 10% of your income every week to their ministry, they really oversimply what G-d's word says about tithe.

I would encourage you to do a word search in your bible and read EVERY verse and every chapter that have texts relating to tithe and learn it for yourself.

You have a duty to know for youself and not simply depend on the traditions of men to know what is right in G-d's eyes on these kind of matters.

[cpprfld]

"And once again tithing is 10% off the top. That's gross income, not net. Please people, don't force us to audit. Now I'm going to pass this around a second time. Brother Ned, you'll do the honors."

I was thinking of that quote.

[tru_degenerate]

True True

Church has gotten too expensive.

[em2vn]

Tithing is of the old testament law. It is not of new testament teachings. Under the new testament we are directed to give as we have been blessed. If you have been blessed a great deal then give a great deal. If you have been blessed to a lesser degree then you give in a like manner.
Tithing as is frequently taught today is much like those teachings that Paul confronted which demanded of the Christians that they be circumcised as the old testament taught.
Don't allow yourself to be pulled by the two testaments. Adhere to the new, if you are a Christian and rejoice in the freedom it gives you from the law of the old testament.

[B-bone]

Personal opinion. Not sure what my church would say on this. Not sure exactly how the Bible would treat business gross income--hopefully my church and the Bible would agree.

Tithe on your personal gross, not on your personal net. This would be different that your business gross. Your personal gross is your business net.

[alisasny]

Its insane and the public school system is no better with all the fees for everything like field trips and other nonsense, all the fundraising activities all year, school pictures which are now 32 bucks for the package. So sad they even do a 2nd picture in the spring with no notification and send the pictures home without you even knowing they were taking them. Its a heartbreaker to have to send the nice pictures back because you just dont have the money right now. I figure I spend at least 1000 bucks a year on all the frivolous school items and supplies for my two kids. Some free education!