Tithing and blessing the poor

[Traveler]

Should the poor pay tithing? I find it interesting that some are so disrespectful of the poor to think otherwise. Even the poor have every right to participate in and pay tithing. It is always an honor, privilege and an indication of great love and compassion to offer a true sacrifice to help others.

I personally am grateful that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints encourages and allows all to enjoy and participate in demonstrating gratitude and thanks for what they have – be it an abundance or a pittance. That every member (regardless of their station) can in full conscience be a part of giving and paying tithing. And those that receive can also know that the gift they take was given, not just by the rich to whom such things matter little but also by someone that gave out of their of their all in poverty as well.

I know of no better way to allow the giver and the receiver of tithing to be of “one” heart and mind and to avoid an attitude that one is “better” than the other. If anyone has a better idea to maintain dignity, love, trust and honor with G-d’s covenant children, both the rich and poor; I await the example of a “more excellent way”.

The Traveler

[deseretgov]

I dont know why anyone would want to deny themselves the blessings. Especially if they are financially poor.

[hordak]

Originally Posted by Traveler

Should the poor pay tithing? I find it interesting that some are so disrespectful of the poor to think otherwise. Even the poor have every right to participate in and pay tithing. It is always an honor, privilege and an indication of great love and compassion to offer a true sacrifice to help others.

I personally am grateful that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints encourages and allows all to enjoy and participate in demonstrating gratitude and thanks for what they have – be it an abundance or a pittance. That every member (regardless of their station) can in full conscience be a part of giving and paying tithing. And those that receive can also know that the gift they take was given, not just by the rich to whom such things matter little but also by someone that gave out of their of their all in poverty as well.

I know of no better way to allow the giver and the receiver of tithing to be of “one” heart and mind and to avoid an attitude that one is “better” than the other. If anyone has a better idea to maintain dignity, love, trust and honor with G-d’s covenant children, both the rich and poor; I await the example of a “more excellent way”.

The Traveler

I think tithing is one of the best ways for one to show commitment however a mandatory amount can have its problems.(I know it is not manditory for membership but it is for temple attendance IIRC)

I don't think anyone would say the poor should not be allowed to pay tithing. They would say the poor shouldn't HAVE to pay tithing.

[pam]

Remember the story of the widow's mite.

[annewandering]

no one HAS to pay tithing. but if you 1. want to do as God has commanded you will. and 2. you want the blessings you will.

[Kyra]

My mom called me just last night to tell me her testimony of tithing. My parents are not well off (far from it actually) and have bills piling up, but still they have kept paying their tithing and have somehow made ends meet. A couple months ago they came home to find $500 cash in an envelope on their front porch, no idea who it was from. A few weeks ago someone brought them $1,000 and they were told that was specifically to be used for their food storage, which my mom has been extremely worried about and trying very hard. In church one day a member of the bishopric shook my dad's hand and left behind $100.

Sunday when my mom was writing out their tithing check, something told her to pay an extra $50. She really struggled with this because my brother and sisters are already getting very little for Christmas, but she did it anyway. A little while later that same bishopric member gave them another $100. They also had a lesson in church that day about the law of consecration and how literally everything we have belongs to the Lord. Last night a couple in their ward brought them a very, very large amount of money. Enough to pay off a bunch of their bills and give my siblings a decent Christmas.

Tithing is something that I really struggle with, but after seeing the blessings my parents have received throughout their lives, but especially recently, I will have an easier time with it. Tithing is for the poor! I'm so grateful that my parents have set that example for me, even if I haven't learned from it like I should. And I'm soooo grateful to the people who are listening to what the spirit tells them and handing over such large amounts of money! I know though, that if my parents hadn't been paying their tithing like they should have, they would not have received such blessings. No one will ever be able to convince me that the poor and impoverished should not have to pay tithing.

[skylercollins]

I thought I'd repost here what I posted in that closed thread:

One of the biggest things that most people who view tithing the way you do miss, is that when members do what the Church asks, the church will take care of them. It's not about hand-outs, but about faith and commitment. As a private organization, it's much harder to milk the church than the government, and because of that, help comes when both parties covenant to do what is necessary. I've sat in the councils of my ward and know that when members are faithful and do their part, the Lord (Church) does his.

(As my Bishops have often said about those who weren't faithful and had children, "I won't let them starve.")

[MarginOfError]

I think sometimes we focus so intently on Tithing that we forget that tied very closely to Tithing is Fast Offering. The discussion of whether or not those in poverty should be paying Tithing is misdirected. They absolutely should pay Tithing. And if for any reason, their paying Tithing prevents them from meeting the other essential financial obligations, they may seek out assistance from the Bishop. The Bishop may offer them assistance through the Fast Offering fund and other Church Welfare Services.

Tithing and Fast Offering are intended to work together, to allow each individual the spiritual blessings given to those who keep their covenants while providing for the temporal needs for which those resources are required. The Lord really knew what he was doing when he put the two concepts together.

[DigitalShadow]

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I do want to present my feelings on tithing because I think it is a part of why I am an investigator and not a member.

From a non-member point of view, I have mixed feelings about how the church encourages everyone to pay tithing and make it a top priority. I know that it is not about the church making money and that it is a demonstration of faith, but for every "miracle" I've heard about blessings coming to a family that paid their tithing instead of paying their bills, I can't help but wonder how many people went into bankruptcy because they placed tithing as their top priority.

Perhaps it is just my cynical side, but I feel uncomfortable during church or general conference when I hear them go on and on about the importance of paying tithing. Would you feel uncomfortable if you visited a friend who was a loyal follower of the Church of Scientology and you heard them encouraging everyone, even the poor to give money to them?

Obviously, if the church is true, then tithing would be understandable. Unfortunately the skeptic in me is (perhaps erroneously) wary of faith based organizations that practically demand money from their followers for whatever reason. I'm sure members can easily rationalize this by saying that the church is true, end of story, but isn't that the same justification other faiths use to ask for money?

[skylercollins]

Originally Posted by DigitalShadow

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I do want to present my feelings on tithing because I think it is a part of why I am an investigator and not a member.

From a non-member point of view, I have mixed feelings about how the church encourages everyone to pay tithing and make it a top priority. I know that it is not about the church making money and that it is a demonstration of faith, but for every "miracle" I've heard about blessings coming to a family that paid their tithing instead of paying their bills, I can't help but wonder how many people went into bankruptcy because they placed tithing as their top priority.

Perhaps it is just my cynical side, but I feel uncomfortable during church or general conference when I hear them go on and on about the importance of paying tithing. Would you feel uncomfortable if you visited a friend who was a loyal follower of the Church of Scientology and you heard them encouraging everyone, even the poor to give money to them?

Obviously, if the church is true, then tithing would be understandable. Unfortunately the skeptic in me is (perhaps erroneously) wary of faith based organizations that practically demand money from their followers for whatever reason. I'm sure members can easily rationalize this by saying that the church is true, end of story, but isn't that the same justification other faiths use to ask for money?

I doubt that using their money for tithing instead of reducing their debt caused them to go into bankruptcy. A lot of people go into bankruptcy no doubt, especially in Utah, as it seems, but I don't think that if that money was shifted from tithing to debt that it would have prevented the bankruptcy. It would have come anyways. Why was it ever a problem? Because they weren't personally responsible with their finances. Not paying their tithing is not going to fix that. Paying their tithing and using that commitment to become financially responsible will fix their habits and prevent debt problems down the road. That and the Church will help them when they truly need it, so long as they're faithful and pay their tithes as asked.

There's something to changing one's ways (financial, spiritual) for the better when you're financially committed to something, isn't there?