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I recently started attending a church in my area and I have been enjoying it.
Race, Religion & Politics / 5:54 PM - Thursday October 29, 2009

I recently started attending a church in my area and I have been enjoying it.

Last Sunday we went to a class called beginnings which introduces you to the church. At the end of the class they offered the opportunity to officially join.
We checked the Not at this time but we want to continue to receive info. I don't want to jump in to soon because It's just been a month attending services. Prior to this I have never attended.

Once you join they expect you to participate and help financially. From what I've heard it's a common thing that a church asks for 10% of your income. I've asked a few others who attend other churches and they more or less said the same thing.

Not sure if I'm ready to jump in and donate that much already. Does that make me a bad person? and if I may ask how much do you donate to your church.

Thanks in advance.

Update: October 30, 2009.
I wanted to thank everyone who took time out to respond to my question. I got lot's of Great comments!! :-)

- Asked by usarmy24id, A Mr. Married Guy, Male, 36-45, Celebrity

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hey, todd, my churchs asks for that much too. but i don't even give close to that. mainly because i have a hard enough time paying for my own bills, i am not going to worry about the church's bills.

on a side note, they are also going to be buiilding a new church, preacher house, and some other buildings (i am catholic) and they expect every family that belong to that church to donate $6000 to help with the costs.....my inlaws have belonged to that church for the past 28 years and are very religious and told me they will donate, but not that much.

sometimes i think the churches expect more out of their members.

- Response by nationalguardwife04, A Married Girl, Female, 29-35, Chicago, Medical / Dental

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No, being hesitant to officially join or to donate 10% does not make you a bad person. All churches rely on donations to stay in operation and to fund their outreach programs. But 10% is a guideline, not a requirement. At my church, as well as most others I have attended, there are many members who can't afford to donate anything at all but are still welcome. Others dontate a straight 10% or maybe more if they can afford it, and lots of people, including myself, just donate whatever they want to or can afford on any given day they attend. Sometimes I toss in $1.00, sometimes $5.00 or a little more. The amount varies. Remember that your income is your own business. Nobody in the church is going to obtain a copy of your tax return and then break out their calculator to figure out how much you "should" donate. It's completely up to you and completely voluntary.



- Response by uniquelyme2, A Creative, Female, 46-55, Artist / Musician / Writer

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A tenth of your income was a tithe, once law in old England

- Response by duggers, A Guy Critical, Male, 66 or older

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only what i can afford that week. if its $1 then so be it.

- Response by pizzatroll, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 36-45, Science / Engineering

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The Bible designates 'ten parts' as the appropriate tithe; I wish the Government did the same.

- Response by stillagoodguy1, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 46-55, Celebrity

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Tithing is always your choice.
In my church it is 10% but all of our leaders and the people in the church are not paid, it is all volunteer. So all the money goes either to building churches, buying supplies, or to charity.

- Response by enduring, A Sweet Sarah, Female, 22-25, Who Cares?

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It's usually 10% of your income, but give what you feel convicted to give. If you don't think it's enough you will feel convicted to give more down the road.

- Response by birdland, A Thinker, Female, 46-55, Who Cares?

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Its an act of worship and faith that God will provide for you. I give aprox 10% in all to all the charities I support. The church being one of them. Tithe is tenth by definition. To answer your question no it doesn't make you a bad person. A lot of people in the church don't do that. If you beleive it is God's will then pray about it and for the faith. You're right not to rush in though and also they are not going to be checking your tax records to find out how much you make.

- Response by newnumbersguy32, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 36-45, Financial / Banking

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Please tell me this is a main stream church like Presbyterian or Lutheran or Catholic or Baptist or Unitarian or Congregational or Evangelical and not some cult like Mormons or Scientology -----

- Response by utahmom, A Thinker, Female, 46-55, Managerial

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10 percent of income is standard tithing at most churches, but it's ok if you ease into it. Give what you feel comfortable with. Many Protestant churches have a membership committee where they vet you and let you know what they expect from their members.

- Response by purrzn, A Thinker, Female, 46-55, Who Cares?

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Yes, it has been 10% of ur annual earnings forever that i can remember. I'm Catholic & it's the same as the other religions..
Hardly go to church anymore, but i have NEVER contributed 10% of my earnings. Give what u want!

- Response by spitfire815, A Hippie Chick, Female, 56-65, Who Cares?

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Good for you that you're attending church but when the time is right and you feel comfortable at the church, then join. Not you're not a bad person, you have to want to be part of the church and help and a month is a bit soon. We donate at least 10% of our income as well. We were also donating towards a building fund but we have had to cut back in the last two weeks due to our expenses.

- Response by hulagirl55, A Sportif, Female, Who Cares?, San Francisco, Who Cares?

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Total bull - 10% is coined by churches and not supported by anything biblical. You donate what you can when you can.

- Response by lom2009, A Guy Critical, Male, 46-55

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This tithing business is ridiculous. You tithe, you don't pay in to the 401k, you get old and without enough income to retire, but the damned church got its gilded lilies. Just say no! (thanks, George and Laura, and other famous Republicles). You should be asked to donate according to your means and conscience, not according to some archaic shake down rule.

- Response by stoney07, A Creative, Male, 56-65, Who Cares?

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As a committed Christian, you are called to lead a life transformed by Christ. That includes caring for and contributing (having a heart for) to the needs of the less fortunate. Traditionally, giving has consisted of a tithe (10%), as directed in the Old Testament . . . but that is a guideline, not a requirement. It should be based on what you feel God has moved you to do; it should be in response to the call of the Spirit. Also, as was pointed out in my church recently, a *tithe* does not have to be monetary. It can be a giving of whatever resources you have available, whether that be a particular skill or talent or time or whatever else you feel led to give. It also should be given only after prayerful consideration and with the understanding that God blesses us in order that those blessing be shared.

I hope this helps. I'm glad that you found a church that find so inviting. May God's peace be with you.

- Response by carinabay, A Cool Mom, Female, 46-55, Lawyer

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Well God only wants you to give if it's given from the heart. If your not feeling you need to give then don't.

I think in time you will have a change of heart. Not given doesn't make you a bad person what so ever.

Now you asked this question about given do you think maybe God is putting it on your heart that you need to give? So your looking for confirmation from us rather then God. Ask him to guide you in what he wants.

That said God knows you heart and he's working with you more then you think. Take baby steps and continue to go to church. Remember don't try and do what someone is doing you have to continue falling the path God chose for you. i do stress that continue to pray and build a relationship with God. You've already made the step in the right direction by going to church.

God Bless

- Response by tleeb, A Guy Critical, Male, 36-45, Dallas, Other Profession

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Give what you can easily afford. One can't buy his way into Heaven. :-)

- Response by seductivepisces9, A Thinker, Female, 29-35, Cleveland, Self-Employed

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If you like the Church, keep going! That is what I did. I just tossed a $10 or whatever I could afford in the collection plate....Honestly, you could mention this to the pastor, and say you really can't afford to give 10% and this is stopping you from joining....I think he might want to hear this, as I am sure more people have the same thinking as you!

- Response by kmf1, A Life of the Party, Female, 46-55, Indianapolis, Administrative

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The idea of giving 10% came from one of the deciples,Paul I think it was, gave 10% of his possessions to Christ ar something like that.The way I feel about giving is, give what you want. I know of certain denominations who will hound you for the money worse than a bill collector.

- Response by trhjr1, A Guy Critical, Male, 56-65, Retired

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All I gotta say is this is why I make my donations to the church via the internet rather than sticking an envelope with my weekly offering in that basket that gets passed around. No one else needs to know how much you can give; but never give more than you can comfortably afford. I come in around 10% over the course of a year; but that's approx how much I give to all the charities and philanthropic causes I support.

- Response by lioness21, A Player, Female, 26-28, Consulting

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Any church that 'requires' a certain amount is a scam, unless they can get Jesus to personally write the tax receipt.

Other members pressuring you to give more than you are comfortable with is also no good... YOU give what YOU are comfortable with.

- Response by mutolo, A Rebel, Male, 29-35, Regina

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No it doesn't make you a bad person for wanting to find out as much about the church before you become a member, if anything it makes you more informed and able to make a more conscious choice of whether or not you want to become a member...when I donate to my church it is usually anywhere between $5 and $20 depending on what I can afford...my church has never once made any indication that donating a certain amount makes one 'better' than another, my church is just happy when they get donations and help to pay for the many services they try to provide...:D

- Response by fastball, A Cool Mom, Female, 36-45, Edmonton, Student

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It's gets expensive being holy.

- Response by drumboi2, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 56-65, Who Cares?

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THERE IS NO SET AMT.....THAT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD.

THEY CAN "SUGGEST"....BUT NOT "DEMAND".

Your eternal salvation does NOT DEPEND ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GAVE !!!!

GOD KNOWS WHAT IS POSS FOR YOU......and so do you.



- Response by nuttyprofessor, A Guy Critical, Male, 56-65, Transportation

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Let me guess..Mormon? Their "beginnings" classes are less formally known as "fund raisers". IT's a scam. Don't let ANYONE tell you that giving a church 10% is EVER an ok thing to do. churches spend money paying for fancy buildings and trying to promote their religion in remote places. Why not give you money to an actual CHARITY that actually helps people?

- Response by girldownunder, A Life of the Party, Female, 29-35, Sydney, Medical / Dental

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give what you can; some churches keep records so they can send you a statement for your taxes; and so they can plan on renovations and helping other charities. I am sure they are glad you are there.

- Response by ruffian, A Sportif, Female, 36-45

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Your not a JEW - Tithing is only for orthodox Jews!!!

- Response by rafiki910, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, Who Cares?, Boston, Body Work

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Most churches in my area ask for ten percent, but don't require it. Personally I don't go to church but if I did I wouldn't pay for it.

- Response by An Alternative Girl, Female, 22-25

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