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Question by Cowardly Yamster: If tithing is just “freely giving,” does charitable donation count?
I was told that it is freely giving:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index_ylt=AtMdQx1PTQjPxPwkD_4sGzfsy6IX_ylv=3?qid=20080224165751AAJVdpb
so does any sort of charitable donation count? What if I give to the campaign for equal rights for gays (Human Rights Campaign)? What if I give to Planned Parenthood? What about an atheist charity (Gates foundation)? Do THOSE donations count?
Greatest answer:
Answer by mamasquirrel
Jesus only said “give to the poor”.
He didn’t say, “You have to give by way of your church.”
So, whatever you choose…its your option.
Give your answer to this question below!
Comments are closed.
C. L. Richardson Oct 18 2011 - 10:22 am
Giving money to causes that oppose God’s Word doesn’t count as a tithe. Technically a tithe is what you pay to the church so that they can help the community. But buying food and clothing for starving families is just as good. As long as it’s going to a God-worthy cause that HELPS other people and doesn’t just help them sin more.
flatfootfred Oct 18 2011 - 10:49 am
If the donation doesnt go for Gods work it doesnt count. Gays and atheists donations dont count.
I am the ARMENIAN Oct 18 2011 - 11:37 am
Those charities are propagating sinful lifestyles. I hardly think God would consider them to be legitimate.
Alex62 Oct 18 2011 - 11:45 am
Works for me!
Bob L Oct 18 2011 - 12:01 pm
Tithing is a Biblical means of supporting your church.
Charitable donations to entities other than your church are not tithes.
Primus Pilus Oct 18 2011 - 1:00 pm
If it is for a reason God hates, it is against him.
Sister of the blue eyes BoC Oct 18 2011 - 1:51 pm
Tithing is giving to God, if you are giving to the Gates Foundation because you feel that that is where God wants you to put it, it’s fine.
My thought would be like if my atheist neighbor needs some help buying food, and I took my tithe to the grocery store and filled their fridge – I think God would be pleased with that.
I would rethink Planned Parenthood or the HRC.
ecterbob Oct 18 2011 - 2:03 pm
Tithes go to a church, anything above that is a gift and can go where you like as long as it helps somebody.
BTW, Melinda Gates, who was the driving force behind her husband Bill using his immense wealth for good, is a devout Catholic. So the Gates Foundation is really a beautiful example of what can happen when atheists and believers work together.
John S Oct 18 2011 - 2:53 pm
A “tithe” is 10%, and it goes to your church. “freely giving” is whatever else you want to give to who ever you want-but does not count.
Mobius Oct 18 2011 - 3:35 pm
Actually, those who preach tithing as a requirement for Christians do not define it as “freely giving”. That would come under the category or “offerings”. Those who preach tithing as a requirement for Christians are taking one of the hundreds of Old Testament Laws of Moses and applying it to Christians (why just this one law?). Jesus did not preach tithing and Paul said that you should give freely as you feel led to give. If you feel led to give to secular organizations who help people instead of to a church, that is between you and God.
dub-a- licious Oct 18 2011 - 4:31 pm
Actually tithe is 10% of your gross income. That is what God wants you to give. After that, you can decide whether or not you wish to give more to charitable works. Tithe goes directly to the church and is used to finance the church, pay the pastor, etc.
Fundie-fied Oct 18 2011 - 4:49 pm
Charitable donations count in the *tithing sense* to Christian charities.
Why be bothered with whether or not it *counts* if youre not donating to a Christian charity or if youre not a Christian?
Is this a real question and you need help on this or are you baiting?
Mark Anthony Oct 18 2011 - 5:21 pm
Counts for the groups your giving it to. I would not consider them charities. How about going to a homeless shelter and help out those taking care of them. No money just your time.
loveChrist Oct 18 2011 - 5:59 pm
we are to bring 10 percent into the storehouse for the orphans and widows..i believe when you are helping someone (not meaning anything like your suggestions haha)if they should be hungry,in need of clothes etc it is tithing
sas_fanatic Oct 18 2011 - 6:00 pm
absolutly… the point of tithing is to give to anyone who need help
mark185 Oct 18 2011 - 6:26 pm
Paul talks in several places how the faithful need to care for those called by God to preach. This is akin to the tribes of Israel caring for the priestly tribe of Levi.
Tithing was established as 10% by Abraham. Personally, I believe it should go to support your Pastor and the ministries of your local church.
Anything over 10% is called an offering, like sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament. In my opinion these can go to your church, missionaries you wish to support, the poor (above what your church does), and other christian charities.
I do not believe that just giving to any charity from PETA to Greenpeace is what giving to the Lord is all about. Neither of those organizations are Christian nor promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Giving to charity, and claiming it as your tithe, often means you’re fooling yourself, for God knows your heart…and to give to non-christian charities under the guise of tithing shows that your heart is not for the Lord. Rather it shows your heart is for yourself, and you will put your money where you want it, and try to feel good about it by calling it a tithe. Wrong answer.
Emilio E Oct 18 2011 - 6:35 pm
It really depends on your belief system – I attend a huge church that is absolutely overflowing with monetary blessings – in fact the pastor doesn’t even take a church salary – his book sales support his family as comfortably as anyone can imagine so when I place my check in the offering plate each week, I write something in the lower left hand corner of the check: “homeless ministry”. What I believe and what others preach is going to be as different as day is from night – I do personally want to do something that I think God would approve of – so that is what I do. I have to feel comfortable with it or it is all in vain. Read what wikpedia says – very interesting:
A tithe (from Old English teogoþa “tenth”) is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a (usually) voluntary contribution or as a tax or levy, usually to support a Jewish or Christian religious organization. Today, tithes (or tithing) are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes could be paid in kind, such as agricultural products. Several European countries operate a formal process linked to the tax system allowing some churches to assess tithes.
Tithing also has a non-economic, juridical sense, that dates back to the Middle Ages. See Tithing (criminal law)
Biblical teachings appear to indicate that although tithing was practiced extensively in the Old Testament, it was never practiced nor taught within the first-century Church. Instead the New Testament scriptures seem to teach the concept of “freewill offerings” as a means of supporting the church (see I Corinthians 16:2 and II Corinthians 9:7). In fact the earliest groups sold everything they had and held it in common to be used for the furtherance of the Gospel (Acts 2:44-47). Such practices are testified to in the Acts of the Apostles. Also in Acts one can find a narrative relating to a man and wife who promised to sell a piece of property and donate it to the Church. Instead they only brought part of the selling price before the Lord and were struck dead for lying to God (Acts 5:4). These were clear examples that the first-century Church did not establish nor insist on a 10% (or tithe) rule but instead emphasized freewill giving. Clearly the Church believed in making offerings of money or goods to God dependent upon the conscience of its members.
It is thought that tithes were not adopted by the Catholic Christian church for over seven centuries. Although initially rejected, they were mentioned in councils at Tours in 567 and at Mâcon in 585. They were formally recognized under Pope Adrian I in 787. Tithing in Christian churches today is frequently preached from the pulpit, but denominations and sects view tithing differently. As tithing was only a requirement found in the Old Testament, some consider it to be a practice that has no place in modern Christianity. Others, such as Word of Faith advocates, espouse that tithing, which is inspired in the individual by God, will enable blessings, usually financial, with references to ten or hundredfold increases. Some organizations, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expect active members to pay an honest or full tithe.
aznfanatic Oct 18 2011 - 7:17 pm
7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.
This may be out of context, since you could argue we always (generally) have the church. But I believe giving to the church is the best cause, because i am Christian. I would still donate to other causes, but not liberal ones. If you are trying to just fulfill requirements then don’t bother. Only give to the church if you can do so happily.
superpest_99 Oct 18 2011 - 7:36 pm
Tithes are not the same as offerings. Tithes are a set 10% of your income while offerings can be any amount. Tithes are for the ministry only, given to support pastors, missionaries, Bible study leaders, and for such things as $ ‘s needed to print, publish, and distribute Christian literature. Offerings can also be given in addition to tithes for the above, but are usually used for helping the poor, for other causes of the church, for helping victims of disasters, etc…