Tithing, the old paths

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Guess I agree it's not everyone's biz what individuals make. But you have brought this up before... is it a seriously sore subject with you?

It seems it's fairly simple to know approximately what the income of is... given one's occupation, region and tenure etc.

Some salaries are made public by those that employ them. I have no great reservation in folks knowing my personal income.

Translate that in terms of privacy and what you want the Government to know about you. You have no idea what some folks do as side jobs or investments. Some folks look like they have more money than others. There are those that we may think we value in a class, and behind the scenes they own laundry services and multiple rental units. You have no idea and it is not the idea that the preacher knows how much we make. It is the lose lips of the office staff in most churches...

[SOUNWORTHY]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

4. It allows those who have no business knowing what you make in a year, know what you make in a year.

Just give a few thousand more every year and confuse everyone..make them think you are richer than you are. God won't care and neither will your pastor, if you have one. Now wasn't that an easy solution.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Neck

Translate that in terms of privacy and what you want the Government to know about you. You have no idea what some folks do as side jobs or investments. Some folks look like they have more money than others. There are those that we may think we value in a class, and behind the scenes they own laundry services and multiple rental units. You have no idea and it is not the idea that the preacher knows how much we make. It is the lose lips of the office staff in most churches...

Guess we could make the case the government should know what we make - that is if we believe income tax is legit (I have my doubts).

Churches and preachers on the other hand... I can't think of any good reason they must know the parishioners income.

My point was, I don't much care who knows what. Not so sure it changes the way I give - but that's just me.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

4. It allows those who have no business knowing what you make in a year, know what you make in a year.

With the way our churches are set up with tax exempt status, it has become necessary for the church or religious organization to furnish people with proof of their donations. The only way this can be done is by record keeping. I get a statement each January signed by the secretary of our church (a part time employee) listing each check or cash contribution by date. Now, this is only if I have placed it in an envelope with my name on the outside each time I give. On a couple of occasions my pastor has stated that he does not look closely enough at the financial records and has no idea who gives what. I believe him.

I am treasurer of a local FGBMFI group. So I know how much is given by each person if they write a check and I can furnish them a statement at the end of the year listing their contributions. I know this is different from tithing, being offerings, so it does not reveal the income of those who give.

As far as the tithing, I mark all my giving as offerings. Some times the offerings are designated for special causes like coats, backpacks, bus repair etc. I've noticed that when I get my statement each January, whatever was designated as an offering but not for a specific offering was listed as tithes. I have not made an issue of that and do not plan to.

I also contribute in other ways to our church such as buying groceries for the pantry, and buying juice, paper plates and napkins for meals on Sundays and Wednesday nights for which I do not get credit on my statement each year. I am sure that if I spoke to the secretary each time I brought something like that she would give me some type of receipt for a contribution but in my opinion that is unnecessary. God keeps track and He's the only One that matters for stuff like that.

P.S. If I thought that money was being mishandled by a church or organization, in my opinion I would not be a good steward if I continued to give to that organization or church. I would give elsewhere.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by SOUNWORTHY

Just give a few thousand more every year and confuse everyone..make them think you are richer than you are. God won't care and neither will your pastor, if you have one. Now wasn't that an easy solution.

Our money is dispersed pretty far. If anyone thinks we are actually tithing, they would assume that our combined income is around 5 to 6 grand. I fully believe in earmarking what I give so it goes to a specific cause.