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Romney's tithing raises issue in other churches
Sacramento Bee ^ | January 26, 2012 | Jennifer Garza

Posted on 01/26/2012 9:34:45 PM PST by WilliamIII

Mitt Romney's tax returns reveal that the Republican presidential candidate does something fewer Americans do these days: He tithes.

Romney's 2009 and 2010 tax returns, released Tuesday, show that he and his wife, Ann, gave 10 percent of their income, about $4.1 million, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple reported income of about $43 million for the two years.

LDS church members must tithe to participate in temple rituals. Nearly 80 percent of Mormons tithe, a poll released this month by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows.

While tithing among Mormons is high, it is at an all-time low – less than 3 percent – among many faith groups, according to an October report by Empty Tomb, a Christian research organization. The theology behind tithing is also being questioned, with many saying the mandate to contribute 10 percent is not biblical.

Tithing has its roots in the Old Testament – "Bring all the tithes to the storehouse," from the book of Malachi – and means one-tenth of income.

"The New Testament says a Christian is saved under grace and it does not teach tithing," said Russell Kelly who argues against it on his website, www.shouldthechurchteachtithing. com. "A lot of people would rather stay home than go to church and hear about it. All it does is make them feel as if they're cursed for not giving 10 percent."

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: inman; lds; mormons; romney; tithing
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To: Elsie; Zakeet
I always get more from money I give. What I contribute always comes back to me.

Never got my check. Must be in the mail. Oh wait, I moved and forgot to tell them forty years ago. Meantime we found a more valid charity to give at least 50% of our income.

The silly myth talking point that it always comes back is just Morgbot propaganda.

61 posted on 01/27/2012 5:36:27 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Elsie

Do you pay tithing on Social Security?


62 posted on 01/27/2012 5:41:12 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Graybeard58

I had a small roof/deck over my basement exit door, about 6’ * 6’.

It was accessable from our bedroom with a door. (fire safety I guess)

The insurance folks made me put a rail around it so no one would fall off, even though it was not a ‘deck’, but an almost flat roof.


63 posted on 01/27/2012 5:46:01 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
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To: Utah Binger

I don’t get SS


64 posted on 01/27/2012 5:47:01 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
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To: WilliamIII

There are two things I don’t bring up much at church to avoid arguments: That tithing is an old testament concept, like animal sacrifice, and my views on eternal damnation.

And now that I live in the bible belt, a third thing: alcohol

That is, except when one of these is actually the topic of discussion or a lesson.


65 posted on 01/27/2012 5:49:07 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: goat granny

If my two females would ever conceive (highly unlikely, but...) my goat herd would INCREASE.

If I got over 10 kids; I’d have to give the pastor one.

Wouldn’t he be THRILLED!


66 posted on 01/27/2012 5:49:35 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
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To: WilliamIII

I consider my taxes to be the “tithe” and what I give is new testament free will giving. Remember, Israel was a theocracy. Their tithe was the equivalent of their tax.


67 posted on 01/27/2012 5:51:19 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: AppyPappy

I wasn’t talking about Mormons. I was talking about Christians.


68 posted on 01/27/2012 7:18:36 AM PST by bramps (Hypocrites in High Places)
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To: WilliamIII
Mormons are normal and mainstream
69 posted on 01/27/2012 7:39:40 AM PST by colorcountry (In order to practice tolerance, I must first disagree. But when I do, I'm accused of being intoleran)
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To: cuban leaf
There are two things I don’t bring up much at church to avoid arguments:

At least in the conservative Christian circles I frequent, there are topics assured to raise legalistic arguments from otherwise very orthodox Christians: tithing, homeschooling, entertainment choices, alcohol, and Sabbath observance.

I'll follow Paul's advice in Romans 14 on these issues. If someone is convinced that God's Word teaches them something which I disagree with, I'll not deliberately give them offense by practicing something they object to if I can help it. However, their interpretation of Scripture on these controversial issues is not binding on my conscience.

70 posted on 01/27/2012 7:41:26 AM PST by CommerceComet (Governor Romney, why would any conservative vote for the author of the beta version of ObamaCare?)
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To: greyfoxx39; Colofornian; Elsie; svcw; Zakeet; Tennessee Nana; FastCoyote; aMorePerfectUnion; ...

Ping to post 69 because I believe you all will get a kick out of it.


71 posted on 01/27/2012 7:45:16 AM PST by colorcountry (In order to practice tolerance, I must first disagree. But when I do, I'm accused of being intoleran)
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To: Elsie

My thoughts?
1) Mitt Romney is free to tithe whatever he wants.
2) Rules governing tithing are contrary to scripture.
3) Christians should not burden their brothers and sisters with rules and regulations, like the 10% tithe.
4) People who “name it and claim it” or who expect to receive back more than they donate, should consider the possibility the Bible wasn’t talking about cash.


72 posted on 01/27/2012 7:46:20 AM PST by CitizenUSA (Bad? Bad is easy. Anyone can be it. Being good? Now that's something special!)
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To: CommerceComet; cuban leaf

CC, you are coorect in your actions.

I follow this: Ephesians 5:11

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you” (Eph. 5:11-4).


73 posted on 01/27/2012 7:56:06 AM PST by colorcountry (In order to practice tolerance, I must first disagree. But when I do, I'm accused of being intoleran)
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To: bramps

Yeah but it proves that you don’t need paid pastors to justify 10%.


74 posted on 01/27/2012 7:59:40 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)
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To: CommerceComet

—I’ll follow Paul’s advice in Romans 14 on these issues. If someone is convinced that God’s Word teaches them something which I disagree with, I’ll not deliberately give them offense by practicing something they object to if I can help it. However, their interpretation of Scripture on these controversial issues is not binding on my conscience.—

Yup. I live in a hotbed of Baptist (pronounced Babdis) churches and a lot of people I work with are anti-alcohol. The county in which I work just went “wet” and the county in which I live is “moist”. I started to discuss the subject when we were talking about the issue on the ballot. I quickly stopped. ;-)

My biggest dissapointment is that now that Sam’s club here has beer, they are still 25% more expensive than the private liquor store at the border of my moist county.


75 posted on 01/27/2012 8:00:50 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: cuban leaf
—I’ll follow Paul’s advice in Romans 14 on these issues. If someone is convinced that God’s Word teaches them something which I disagree with, I’ll not deliberately give them offense by practicing something they object to if I can help it. However, their interpretation of Scripture on these controversial issues is not binding on my conscience.—

I suppose that means that you view Mormons as fellow Christians. What about those other "words" they have that Mormons call "scripture," like the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants.

You do know, don't you, that the Pearl of Great Price teaches of multiple Gods don't you? How do you combat that belief, or do you think Paul would just turn a blind eye to that heresy instead of taking it head on? Do you think Paul would consider that teaching just a disagreement with what God's Word says?

76 posted on 01/27/2012 8:21:39 AM PST by colorcountry (In order to practice tolerance, I must first disagree. But when I do, I'm accused of being intoleran)
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To: colorcountry

LOL!


77 posted on 01/27/2012 8:24:59 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Elsie

Rhetorical question: Do normal people pay tithing on SS?

I know about the abnormal people. (like me)


78 posted on 01/27/2012 8:33:39 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: colorcountry

—I suppose that means that you view Mormons as fellow Christians.—

A couple of things: The quote you pulled from my post was a quote I pulled from another post. They were not my words. :-)

Also, you will be hard pressed to find someone more “anti-mormonism” than me (notice I said “mormonism” and not “mormon”). I almost became one back in the very early 80’s before becoming a Christians.

Heck, I saw The Godmakers back in 1983 and had a ton of material (pre-internet) back in the mid-1980’s that was “stolen” by a resident mormon where I worked. I followed Saints Alive back before the internet too.

And believe me, I’ve made no secret of it here on FR. I get Freepmail pinging me on Mormon threads all the time. ;-)

So yeah. You are preaching to the choir here. :-)

One last thing: To cut the original poster some slack (the stuff I quoted), I think he is talking about “non-bullet doctrine*) stuff.

*Bullet doctrine: A phrase a friend of mine uses to label doctrine he holds strongly enough to take a bullet for.


79 posted on 01/27/2012 8:36:20 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: rusty millet
Clearly there is no agreement on how, why or whether to regarding Christian tithing. Reading on the topic, I've seen it all from the no tithing required to just consideration of tithing after tax as the Devil trying to trick you into putting money before God.

Their idea was all your money is really God's; forget all that rendering unto caesar stuff and if you're richer or poorer it's just God micromanaging your finances.

Among the more bizarre ideas I saw was that no person can decide where the tithe is to be used. I'm not sure how that works since churches are built, occupied and run by people.

People point to Leviticus yet ignore other parts that include diet and specific penalties for behaviors including stoning.

In the quote you offer from Matthew, He's speaking to Pharisees, Jews who naturally would be tithing. He is holding them to the standard of Jewish Law to highlight their hypocrisy. You seem to suggest Christians are not Christians if they aren't good Jews first and foremost.

80 posted on 01/27/2012 8:38:11 AM PST by newzjunkey (a FL win returns Romney to the "inevitability" path.)
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