Tithing Question

[canard78]

I respect people who take part of their income and put it towards charity, i truly do. But that's not tithing. Tithing is returning a percentage of the Lord's money to Him. When we set the conditions for how we will give money to Him, we're not returning what is already His, we are keeping it to do what WE want with it.

It's no different than owing money to a bank and instead of paying it to the bank, taking the exact same amount and giving it to some guy on the street for his own car payment. It's a very nice thing to do, but doing that does NOT satisfy the obligation you have to the bank in the least.

When we take tithing and give it to a charity, it's a very nice thing to do, but it does not satisfy the obligation that we have to the Lord.

I'm a traditional tithe payer, but I guess the point some people are making is that you can still return a tenth to the Lord, but not via the church. 'In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'

[Stargazer]

I'm a traditional tithe payer, but I guess the point some people are making is that you can still return a tenth to the Lord, but not via the church. 'In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'

I recall reading about a man who was not originally a member of the Church, who received a testimony of tithing. He wasn't particularly excited about the various churches he attended before the found the LDS Church (which he then joined), but he felt that proper thing to do in all circumstances was to give his tithing to whichever congregation he was attending at the time. If I remember correctly, the ministers of these churches thought he was odd to stick to the 10%, but were not averse to accepting the donations.

Waltzing around giving money to whatever YOU want to give it to, well, that's still you doing your will, as if it were your money, which it isn't. When you give it over to a separate institution for them to use in the Lord's service at their discretion, then you would be closest to doing with it what the Lord expects you to do. Regardless of whether that particular Church is truly the Lord's Church, you are doing the best you can with the knowledge you have.

On the other hand, I suppose you could found your own denomination, though, and then it would be OK. I guess.

[canard78]

I recall reading about a man who was not originally a member of the Church, who received a testimony of tithing. He wasn't particularly excited about the various churches he attended before the found the LDS Church (which he then joined), but he felt that proper thing to do in all circumstances was to give his tithing to whichever congregation he was attending at the time. If I remember correctly, the ministers of these churches thought he was odd to stick to the 10%, but were not averse to accepting the donations.

Waltzing around giving money to whatever YOU want to give it to, well, that's still you doing your will, as if it were your money, which it isn't. When you give it over to a separate institution for them to use in the Lord's service at their discretion, then you would be closest to doing with it what the Lord expects you to do. Regardless of whether that particular Church is truly the Lord's Church, you are doing the best you can with the knowledge you have.

On the other hand, I suppose you could found your own denomination, though, and then it would be OK. I guess.

I'm very happy with a donated 10% to the church - I was just looking for the scriptural context for it being paid to a church/denomination. I may have missed a reference that's more specific.

[bluebell]

I'm a traditional tithe payer, but I guess the point some people are making is that you can still return a tenth to the Lord, but not via the church. 'In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'

I understand that's their point, but it just isn't supported by scripture. Tithes were given to the Lord, via His authorized servants. Abraham paid tithes to Melchezidek. Malachi declares that tithings must be made to the 'storehouse', implying that someone else, and not the giver, decided what was to be done with them.

No where do the scriptures seem to indicate that tithes could be donations to the charity of your choosing.

Edited November 20, 2012 by bluebell

[mfbukowski]

I'm very happy with a donated 10% to the church - I was just looking for the scriptural context for it being paid to a church/denomination. I may have missed a reference that's more specific.

I think the problem is how to give it to "The Lord" and the nearest forwarding address I have for Him is in Salt Lake. Since I believe that this is his church, I suppose that will have to do.

The others do good stuff, but they are not "The Lord".