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?)

[Always Right]

True True. Church has gotten too expensive.

So you suggest giving more then someone nets? I guess I will have to take out a loan to give....

[anniegetyourgun]

"You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God." Exodus 34:26 This would suggest bypassing paying anyone (including Uncle Sam) else first. And always remember, the Hebrew premise of a 10% tithe was considered only a starting point - a minimum.

Also keep in mind Mal 3 - it is the only place in scripture where God calls us to test him. He tells us if we bring the whole tithe (otherwise we rob God), He will throw open the windows of blessing upon you. And, He never lies.

[billbears]

Good question and one I've considered for awhile. I heard a person in church saying one time that nowhere in the New Testament does it say that we are supposed to tithe, instead give what we choose to be a cheerful giver. Not saying I agree with it, just found the argument interesting, although now that I think on it, I can see it's an argument that could be used by someone that doesn't want to give as much

Personally, I consider the net to be the answer, although I can see the gross being considered as well

[Oberon]

We are both committed Christians but we were debating whether it was correct to tithe on the gross or the net?

Two pieces of advice:

1. Don't give out of legalism, but out of your heart to give.
2. Don't behave as though giving is a burden... it's not. It's an opportunity to share in God's work.

That being said, in this house we pay the church before we pay the government.

[tru_degenerate]

I give what I can when I can. I have a wife and three kids. We got to eat.

When did tithing become all about money? Are there not other ways to give?

[Right_in_Virginia]

I think it's supposed to be gross. (I do net)

[vae_victus]

"Tithe" is to be done on the "increase." And God deals with individuals, not businesses, so that money would still be your own increase. However, as a Christian, you should be dealing with God on a personal basis, not a legal basis. To me, that means you give God what He personally tells you to give.

[najida]

I was always taught "Time, Talents & Tithe"...
IOW, you give the most of what you are able to give out of each.

[Zavien Doombringer]

It is the Actual pay before taxes...

Your earthly god already took it's tithe, it's called with holding.

[dram]

I feel your pain. My son just graduated from high school. I think the whole thing cost me at least a thousand dollars.
Pictures, cap and gown, invitations, more pictures from graduation, yearbook. I told my son he needed to return his gown after graduation and he said, "no, we get to keep them"! What? No wonder I paid $50.00 for that gown. I now own it.

What really stinks is that they tried to get the kids to pay for their sashes from various organizations like honor society, honors grad., Key club, etc.. Parents raised a stink so the kids a freebie on sashes/cords. I am still surprised they didn't ask for a deposit for the diploma!

[Always Right]

"Tithe" is to be done on the "increase." And God deals with individuals, not businesses, so that money would still be your own increase. However, as a Christian, you should be dealing with God on a personal basis, not a legal basis.

Or maybe God can come up with 17,000 pages code so that we can all figure out what our income is like the IRS does.

[3Lean]

What is the purpose of tithing? Answer: To support the work of your church. What is the work of churches? Answer: A whole lot less than it used to be. Churches have passed the responsibility for the sick, poor, elderly, young, etc. on to government.
When 40% (or more) of my income is confiscated by governments, much of it to be spent on programs that were much more efficiently administered by churches in the past, I feel little compulsion to donate as much to those same churches as was previously considered adequate.
100 years ago churches collected 10% (or less) of their members' incomes and took care of much more. I will support the church and other charities because I choose to, but in reality I'm sure what the government confiscates (from my gross, by the way) more than satisfies the 10% tithe.

[LiteKeeper]

It is neither. Your "tithe" today is the equivalent of your income tax; what you give to the Church is your free-will offering.

Does God require me to give a tithe of all I earn?

Paying Your Taxes, pt 1

Paying Your Taxes, pt 2

[mabelkitty]

He's been telling me to be more generous this year, and not just with the cash. So, I have been. I'm thinking it might not be enough, so I'm going to have to keep my eyes open - I think I'm missing either a person or a situation that I am supposed to be helping.

[I'm ALL Right!]

Gross

[banjo joe]

Net. When the Lord gets the gubmint off my back, He will get more.

[MalcolmS]

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.

I pointed this passage out to a pastor once. He wasn't impressed. If one wanted to be literal, one could argue that since the original poster (presumably) celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, that covers the feasts. Your taxes fund welfare which takes care of the poor. If you give 3-4% of gross to your church, that should cover the rest.

On the other hand

Luke 6 38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

So the question you might want to ask is, how much do you want to get back?

[tru_degenerate]

I have a meeting with my new church. I will ask them this weekend. Although I already no the answer.

I have been turnde off by churches. I was going to this one church and the pastor kept showing slides about his $2,000,000 dream.

The church I attend now, or should I say was attending, we had a falling out. But I love the pastor but what I get from the Bible no longer matches what a lot of churches preach. So they don't get the reaction out of that I think they want to see. I am mostly unmoved.

[alisasny]

The newest thing in my area are these bound books the kids make in elementary school. If you do not purchase the book your kid worked on all year they dont get one. So for about 25 bucks I had to buy my daughters book where she has one page that is a riddle and my sons book on his state project Nebraska. Which at least he did with only one other child however I really see no use for this book other than to make its way up to the attic not to long from now.

Now regarding the religious instructions. Apparently the instructers are all volunteers and all you have to buy are the books which cost, get this 75 bucks for some paperback books per year and TITHING ENVELOPS for your children,,,,I kid you not.

[tru_degenerate]

WOW!!!

Strong words banjo.