Expert: Dean Gade - 7/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Dean

I'm a newbie Born Again Christian. My question concerns:
Tithing with gaining on income tax.

I tithe to my church without claiming my tithing at income tax time.
My fellow church member says that I should claim my tithing and take advantage of my tithing.

My beef is: When I tithe or give to A.A. as a member I did
not claim it on my income tax because:

If one give from the heart and for no gain just to give. If one gives and than claims that tithing on their income tax they are getting back some of their tithing in their income tax. So the one that give and claims it is not really giving with the NO GAIN of their tithe.

Example Dean. If you ask me for lets say a $100 dollars and you say Ray I'll give it back to you. And I say No Dean its O.K. you can keep it. That's Giving without any GAIN in my mind.

Dean I hope you understand my point. My church brother just doesn't understand where I'm coming from. I'm not against tithing but others claiming it on their income tax
are not really giving ~ so how giving really are they ?

GOD BLESS YOU DEAN

Ray Monaco

ANSWER: You are right.  But so is your church brother...since there are no rules on tithing for Christians.  For us, tithing in not under Law as it was with the OT Theocracy.  Tithing is similar to the honoring a particular day for the Sabbath:

Rom 14:5-8

5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
(from New International Version)

Some have told me that they tithe their income BEFORE taxes and others AFTER.   Some give their tithe only to their church while others give some of it to charities that they have chosen. etc.

So, do as you are led by God's Spirit in this matter. There are enough reminders that God honors things done for Him "in secret".  Don't sin against your conscience.  If God has led you to not claim it because you want it totally dedicated as a sacrifice, God will certainly know your heart in this matter and receive your tithe as such.

On the other hand, don't judge your church brother in this matter because, as you say, he doesn't understand where you are coming from.  We are each at different levels of maturity in Christ.....but all those putting their trust in Christ are His brothers.

2 Cor 9:6-8

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
(from New International Version)




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dean

On another matter but still in the realm of giving. My brother says I should claim my tithing on my income tax because its legal to do so. I agree with him wholeheartedly.
However, that's not my point. My principles will not allow me to claim my tithing due to the fact (of which my fellow church brother just doesn't see)

If one claims his tithing and claims it on his taxes, is it not TRUE that when he gets back his return some of his tithing is in that CHECK.
So what is he really giving from his heart if he's looking to get BACK WHAT TITHING HE GIVE ! ! !

What's your feeling or common sense about this matter. Its not what is in the BiBle its about GIVING WITH NO RETURN IN MIND.

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DEAN
Mr.Ray Monaco

Answer
It is a matter of your principle of having no gain from what you give vs. his principle of receiving what the secular law allows.

Looking at scripture, both are shown as commendable.  God tells us to look at the GAIN (temporal, physical gain) when we are faithful in our tithe:

Mal 3:9-12
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
(from New International Version)

True, the blessing is from God and not the state but yet it is God who encourages us to receive a physical blessing as well as the spiritual blessing when we act in the obedience of faith.

On the other hand, if the tithe is given only as "a tax write-off" it gets into the realm of Cain's offering where his heart was not right with God and his giving perfunctory rather than a thankful offering to God.

God doesn't need our offerings.  He owns "cattle on a thousand hills" and needs nothing from us.  Tithing, for those who choose to follow it, (and I wish that all Christians would) is our own test of our own faith:  "Will God still take care of my physical needs even if I give 10% of my income..and possibly gifts and thankofferings besides..to the work of His church on earth?".

We cannot see into the heart of others to discern their motivation.  Only God can do that:

Rom 14:1-4
14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
(from New International Version)

Tithing is NOT for us "under the Law" any more than eating certain foods or honoring special days.  We who tithe do it because the requirements given to the children of Israel by God does reveal a lot about God's will.  But we are under grace according to our new nature and there is to be no condemnation against that..... even though the old nature sometimes needs to be convicted by the Law and repent.

But there is NO LAW demanding tithing for those who are in Christ.  It is not a part of the 10 Commandments but was part of the ceremonial and civil law of the OT Theocracy.

It is good to witness to those who call themselves brothers and sisters as to the manifold blessings we receive (which is still a "return/benefit") from tithing.  It IS common sense because it is helpful in our walk with Christ and helps us in our dependance on and peace with God.  But they don't "have to" do it our way.