What's a Tithe?

This morning if you were in church at around 9:o0 you missed an interesting Charles Currault expose on a new book challenging the practice of Tithing by some fat guy from a Southern State. I tried to think of something more charitable to say about him but that was the best I could come up with. His wife's former husband had a serious medical illness that nearly bankrupted the family so he thought that the church tithing rule was cruel in the context of such poverty. Rather than address the obvious inequity in the way we finance medical care in this country, he attacks the church and the biblical tithing principle.
Every year in the Presbyterian Church there is that dreaded Non-Sermon everyone squirms at which is the lecture on tithing and stewardship. This is followed by the sending of boxes of envelopes. Pastors try to get creative with it and sometimes let the Deacons do the dirty work for them because it somehow seems unseemly to beg for church funds.

In the Catholic world I have never heard a tithing Sermon. That isn't to say it doesn't happen, I just never heard one. The closest I have seen to it is the Archbishop's Appeal. Even then, the ten percent tithe isn't addressed as mandatory in any sense. If someone making 100k a year gives $500. to the appeal no one reads them the riot act.

One of the biggest differences between the Catholic and Protestant world, it appears, has to do with the way they fundraise and the ostentation with which wealth is applauded and paraded. The models of the Catholic Church are people like Saint Francis of Assisi who married poverty, and many Saints took on vows of poverty - making the statement that Christ identified with the poor, he himself was poor as was Lazarus, the beggar at the gate who beat out the rich man to heaven. Catholic Doctrine tends to shun the American prosperity gospel as it is expressed in Mega-Protestant churches with Pastors riding in private jets and amassing tax-free fortunes.
The tension between the poverty embraced by the clergy and religious in the catholic church and the need to have enough financial strength to carry on the mission is one that causes not a bit of discomfort in terms of practical financial realities. Georgeous buildings with fine art, mosaics, stained glass and sculptures fit for a Museum are found in churches and have to be properly tended to, maintained and protected. This all costs money. It costs money to run social service programs, feeding and clothing the poor, providing medical services for the indigent, assisting pregnant women in need and doing all the wonderful things the organized church does-in a better organized way than the haphazard individual can.
I have noticed that there are devoted lay organizations that have organized for the purpose of fundraising in many places. The faithful are called upon to do fundraising and have quite successfully in the Catholic World through events, luncheons, sponsored retreats and the like. -But they don't compare to what the Protestant world is doing in the multi-gazillion dollar mega-church world it appears.
There is potential for peril in the form and emphasis of fundraising now employed in the Catholic world, which allows the most financially prominent people to manipulate clergy or use them for their benefit.
There is a minor modification in emphasis that might allieviate some of the stresses of having to cater to the more monied of the parishes. Not that all priests are "suck ups" as it were, but there is a way to avoid being made personal religious jigalos of the sugar mommas of parish halls. Tithes operate like the internet fundraising of political campaigns that leveled the playing field. It used to be that political campaigns relied predominantly and exclusively on the most wealthy people to contribute the huge soft money sums to grease the wheels. Then internet fundraising happened and campaigns were succeeding on massive numbers of smaller donations to fill the gap- ten- thousand $25. donations went a longer way than hitting up the party faithful for the huge sums.

The fact that any one person can gain so much influence by virtue of giving lots of money in the catholic church, particularly in any financially insecure or transient population parish, can operate to pervert or distort the message. One self-impressed grand dame in one church who sat on a parish counsel and some funding trust, and donated huge sums relied upon and promised (well, huge enough given the budget) approached me and thanked me for doing volunteer work for her church- in a way that sounded like it was her church -as opposed to the Lord's church. The Pastor was her Pastor in a possessive sense, and the garden her garden (she bought it after all) and the church her Church. This was the oddest thing because the woman didn't even live in the Parish. This displaced sense of ownership seemed to be tolerated because after all- she bought most of it. This just doesn't have to happen- and puts wierdness into church communities that does not have to exist and should not exist. No one owns the Lord. No one should be able to put a Pastor in that sort of a pressured position where he compromises the integrity of his heart's calling to serve the Lord and pay the bills. It doesn't have to be that way.



The Tithe. Catholic Churches should emphasize as Protestant churchs routinely do, the Tithe obligation. The Tithe is one of those biblical concepts that Jesus never abolished in the law. It is as old as Moses. There could even be an internet contribution on a parish website. Why not- Protestant mega-churches have pay-kiosk ATMs right in the lobby to give money directly to the church (no way the homeless street guys can break into that!). The following are verses that discuss the tithe:

Leviticus 27:30" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.Leviticus 27:29-31 (in Context) Leviticus 27 (Whole Chapter)
Leviticus 27:31If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.Leviticus 27:30-32 (in Context) Leviticus 27 (Whole Chapter)
Leviticus 27:32The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the LORD.
Numbers 18:21"I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.Numbers 18:20-22 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Numbers 18:24Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "Numbers 18:23-25 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Numbers 18:26"Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering.Numbers 18:25-27 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Numbers 18:28In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD's portion to Aaron the priest.Numbers 18:27-29 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 12:6there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (in Context) Deuteronomy 12 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 12:11Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD.Deuteronomy 12:10-12 (in Context) Deuteronomy 12 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 12:17You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts.Deuteronomy 12:16-18 (in Context) Deuteronomy 12 (Whole Chapter)

Leviticus 27:30" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.Leviticus 27:29-31 (in Context) Leviticus 27 (Whole Chapter)
Leviticus 27:31If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.Leviticus 27:30-32 (in Context) Leviticus 27 (Whole Chapter)
Leviticus 27:32The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the LORD.Leviticus 27:31-33 (in Context) Leviticus 27 (Whole Chapter)
Numbers 18:21"I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.Numbers 18:20-22 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Numbers 18:24Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "Numbers 18:23-25 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Numbers 18:26"Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering.Numbers 18:25-27 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Numbers 18:28In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD's portion to Aaron the priest.Numbers 18:27-29 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 12:6there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (in Context) Deuteronomy 12 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 12:11Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD.Deuteronomy 12:10-12 (in Context) Deuteronomy 12 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 12:17You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts.Deuteronomy 12:16-18 (in Context) Deuteronomy 12 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 14:22[ Tithes ] Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.Deuteronomy 14:21-23 (in Context) Deuteronomy 14 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 14:23Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.Deuteronomy 14:22-24 (in Context) Deuteronomy 14 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 14:24But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away),Deuteronomy 14:23-25 (in Context) Deuteronomy 14 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 14:25then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose.Deuteronomy 14:24-26 (in Context) Deuteronomy 14 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 14:28At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns,Deuteronomy 14:27-29 (in Context) Deuteronomy 14 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 26:1[ Firstfruits and Tithes ] When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it,Deuteronomy 26:1-3 (in Context) Deuteronomy 26 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 26:12When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.Deuteronomy 26:11-13 (in Context) Deuteronomy 26 (Whole Chapter)
2 Chronicles 31:5As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.2 Chronicles 31:4-6 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 31 (Whole Chapter)
2 Chronicles 31:6The men of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them in heaps.2 Chronicles 31:5-7 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 31 (Whole Chapter)
2 Chronicles 31:12Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Conaniah, a Levite, was in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank.2 Chronicles 31:11-13 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 31 (Whole Chapter)
Nehemiah 10:37"Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.Nehemiah 10:36-38 (in Context) Nehemiah 10 (Whole Chapter)
Nehemiah 10:38A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.Nehemiah 10:37-39 (in Context) Nehemiah 10 (Whole Chapter)
Nehemiah 12:44At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.Nehemiah 12:43-45 (in Context) Nehemiah 12 (Whole Chapter)
Nehemiah 13:5and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.Nehemiah 13:4-6 (in Context) Nehemiah 13 (Whole Chapter)
Nehemiah 13:12All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms.Nehemiah 13:11-13 (in Context) Nehemiah 13 (Whole Chapter)



The Tithe was and is ten percent off the top of your income. The pre-tax, after-tax distinction is really silly when it is a charitable deduction anyway.
It doesn't belong to you- it belongs to God. Everything you are and have belongs to God- giving the top ten percent to his obvious Work and needs in the Church and the people consecrated to serve him in the church is
the first priority. God gave you your job and your health and intelligence to be able to work it.

In the new testament, there is an account in Acts of a couple who were involved in ministry with the Apostle Peter. The couple, Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 had a piece of property which they had sold in order to give the money to Peter for the works of the church. Ananias, however, sold the property and only gave a part of the proceeds to the church keeping some for himself. It says that he did this with the knowledge of his wife. The two of them held back a portion of the sale proceeds- and essentially tried to scam Peter by giving only a portion of it pretending to give the whole amount. Peter knew this happened and asked Ananias - why has Satan filled your heart such that you lied to the Holy Spirit and gave over only part of the proceeds?-- At that Ananias literally dropped dead. Then the wife appeared a few hours later, and Peter asked her if the money was all that was gained in the sale of the property? She too lied and she too was found out by Peter who berated her also and said essentially- how can you too tempt the Holy Spirit--with this conniving. She too dropped dead on the spot.

Peter here was not shy in the least in addressing someone for not turning over what was intended for God's work. Some translations have Peter chastizing "Will You Rob God?"
The obvious point is that you can't get away with Robbing God without dropping dead. The other obvious point is that Peter is totally entitled to read the riot act if people don't properly contribute what they are supposed to in order to support God's work in the world.

If everyone in a church tithed, even the widow's mite might cover the electric bill. If everyone in a church tithed, no one person would or could have the power and control over clergy that made them compromise any principles or feel they had to cater to them in a way that corrupted their integrity or purity. If everyone tithed, everyone would reap the blessings of God who promises that he blesses those who give freely.

Tithing- or "paying forward" to bless people through the church's work is an honor and privilege of being part of God's family. I humbly submit that the Catholic church wouldn't need to get bent out of shape over pennies in candleboxes and bingo attendance if they firmly addressed the tithing issue with the same vigor as the protestant world.