Tithing Is NOT Mandatory!

Dear Scott,

I read with interest your recent answer to a question from a woman who said that tithing was ‘not negotiable’ at her church. As a Christian, it sickens me that the church would do such a thing. It is between you and God ‒ not you and your pastor. The apostle Paul says to give according to what you have been given (1 Corinthians 16:2). Personally, I choose to tithe, as I have been convicted by the Lord and can easily afford it (though I could pay off my house quicker if I did not). But it is NOT mandatory.

Edward

Hi Edward,

I actually had a lot of readers respond to last week’s tithing question, and they all agreed with you:God doesn’t charge a 10 per cent toll on your wages before he’ll open heaven’s boomgates. (I chose your comment because you quoted scripture. So, on behalf of all my fellow sinners, thank you for the Sunday School lesson.)

That being said, one of the fastest ways to break the curse of entitlement, materialism and Kardashian-ism is to support a worthy cause that you truly believe in. Better yet, studies repeatedly show that we get more pleasure from spending money on other people than on ourselves. Still, no one should be guilted into doing it, nor should they put their children’s basic needs before it.

Scott