For Christians only...a question about tithing?

Question

When I tithe can I note on the envelope for a portion of the tithe to go to a specific part of my churches ministry? For example our Church has a food bank to help people in our community who need help. Can I split my tithe and give part as the actual tithe and part to the food bank? Or should my offering to the food bank be a seperate money above my regular tithe?

No G-man I am NOT anti-christian, I am a Christian and wanted answers from other Christians

Paul McDonald: I agree with you totally, I usually give more than 10%

Michelle*: I do volunteer at Church too :-)

Lu: Our pastor puts it this way, if we pay tithes on our net pay, then we are recognizing the government first with our money!!

Answer 1

I think all God is looking for is that you are giving Him the first-fruits of your gifts from Him (your salary). It sounds as if your tithe is not just going toward the church account, but also to spiritual outreach and witnessing - the food bank, which spreads the word of God (and food) to the community!

No matter where your money is going once it gets there, the fact that you're giving it to the church with your best intentions in mind is what counts. Remember Matthew 25:35 "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat..."

I do a similar thing. I give to my church's general fund most weeks of the year, but certain times I will instead send my tithe money toward the radio broadcast fund at a church where I was formerly a member. The thing that counts isn't that you're giving it to this or that church, but that it's in Thanksgiving for God's gifts to you, and for the advancement and spreading of His Word!

Answer 2

If you have a spiritual dilemma about this and cannot settle it in your mind with or without an answer someone sends in, then you need to give your tithe to the church as tithe only and let the church board decide where it is needed most. However it is generally accepted since the money you give to your church is yours; it can be given anywhere you wish it to go. The only time I would change this is if it is for something that does not pertain to matters of the church itself like missions. That is an entirely different thing even if the mission is sponsored by your church because it would take money away from the local church possibly leaving it in a bind.

Everything given to the church to which you go is for the work of the Lord and except for minor things like I mentioned above it does not really make a difference where it is given. If it is a matter which you are not comfortable with and cannot decide then do not cause strife in your heart and soul, give it entirely as tithe and give some more if you can spare it to other things. The main thing to remember is it has to be settled in your mind and not violate scripture in any way, if any decision meets these requirements it is a good one.

I hope this helps some.

Answer 3

Depends on your church. Many churches these days have a Deacons' Benevolence Fund, which does just charity, and doesn't go to the roofing fund or some such. As an atheist/Discordian who sometimes gets dragged to church, I really appreciate this. Doing good is good, even if it is done by "the enemy". If your church doesn't already have one, why not suggest it? Other than that, you might want to ask your pastor for the details.

As for giving to the poor, it is my interpretation (and feel free to diregarded, since I'm not a Christian) that your tithe is *to the poor*, or rather to the service of the Lord, not to your church. So perhaps you should think of it the other way around - give your tithe directly to chairty and other worthy works, and give to your church over and above it, in exchange for having a place of worship and fellowship.

Answer 4

If you believe in tithing, which is strictly an old testament teaching, therein lies the first problem. In Acts, the church lived in a way that was taking care of those in need. Those that have more gave to those with less. No one went without. There is report in Acts that a couple, Acquila and Priscilla sold a house and gave the funds to help the lesser in their church community.
So truly, it is much easier to live the way Americans choose to, by tithing, and witholding from the poor in their own church bodies. But as the Lord said, the first will be last and the last first as Jesus replied to the fighting disciples. It is how we use what we have been given that matters.

If your heart is to give to "benevolance fund" you can memo it as such, which is what many do. It SHOULD get to the right place. It sounds as though you are seeking Jesus' heart on these things and He will reward you accordingly.

Answer 5

Your offering should be a seperate thing. I pay tithes too, and I always fill out another envelope when I want to give money for another cause. God deserves the whole 10% (since it's really His money anyway). There are times when I do have a time deciding if I really want to give all the 10% or not, but I know that God deserves the best. Let me leave you with something my Pastor once told us "God only wants 10% of your income, He could have asked for 90%"

Answer 6

no, tithing goes directly into tithing. nothing else.
if god's put in your heart to give over & beyond your tithing, amen sister..god for it.
but, the 10% of your GROSS income goes back to the lord, back to the church. that 10% belongs to god & nothing else.
now if you want to give another offering or a pledge to help out the food bank ministry, that's all good & up to you. whatever the amount may be, then just be obedient to the lord. god will supply all your needs according to the riches & glory in heaven. he's your provider. he's your everything. god will honor your tithe(that's a commandment), then he'll also bless you & your offerings.

on the envelope, you just write tithe, or put your $$$ amt under tithe.
everything else, under offering, pledge or other.

so tithe is 1 separate area, anything else is another.

be obedient & faithful in your tithing, god honors that. it's a commandment from god.

remember: 10% of your GROSS INCOME, NOT NET/TAKE HOME.....
hey at least god's not asking for the other 90% & leaving us with 10% right?
10% is really nothing. i've been a faithful tither ever since 1991, god's never let me & my family ever go without. that's a honest testimony & the honest to god's truth.
god bless

Answer 7

All the Bible says (as far as I know, please correct me if I'm wrong) is that we should give 10% back to God. I don't know if we should let HIM decide how it is spent, or if we should be able to decide for ourselves. I do admit that I prefer to give my tithe to a more worthy cause than most churches. Churches very often use tithes for things like brand new $10,000 red carpet (when the old (light blue and much less gaudy) carpet was still in good enough condition). That's not using the money to do God's work. I can think of much better uses for $10,000!
Whether to make that decision myself or let God decide is something I've been praying about for awhile now.

Answer 8

May I make a suggestion to you?.....Either get rid of your tithing envelopes and just put cash in the plate or mark the envelope as going to the Churches "General Fund". However, you should have the right to designate your tithe to be used wherever you want it to be used and spent. You should know the answer to your own question. Does your Church have a Pastor or Deacon's?.....why not ask one of them. Your getting into a Church policy I think.....

Answer 9

I'd say first ask your church what they prefer. They may have a system set up.

For me, the "tithe" is not ours to decide but for the church as it is God's money. If you want to give money to a specific ministry at your church, I say cover your tithe and then give over and above your tithe directly to the ministry you choose.

"What? You mean give MORE than 10%? All you church people talk about is money money money!"

My response: I dare you to give more and see how God blesses you!

Answer 10

If you're confused, others in your church would be too- ask the pastor to put a note in the bulletin about expectations. There are some churches that would consider all tithing as a rule of law, not of the Spirit, so you'd have to ask about your particular church.