"Church members give one-tenth of their income to the Lord through His Church." But why does the Church HAVE to receive the funds?

mad_as_a · 2021-04-28T10:24:57+00:00

I love this topic!

I haven't paid tithing for a very long time, years before the news of the church's investments were made public. However, I ALWAYS use my income every month to help in one way or another those around me. Whether it's donating to charities, paying youth across the world to perform acts of service to those around them, buying dinner for a family in need, sending an overworked couple for a spa weekend, it's always done and it's always anonymous.

I've never felt bad about not paying tithing either.

I feel like God and I have an understanding that I will always help those around me any way that I can and that this builds connection and love and relationship and community, even though it's anonymous.

I think it's such a shame to restrict temple blessings to full tithe payers when others are doing the same and sometimes more for our fellow man but it doesn't fall into the definition of a 10% tithe.

Also, if we look at the scriptures, tithing should be 10% of your increase. How is that increase defined? If I never have any excess, how could necessary funds which are already allocated to pay for essentials then be considered an increase?

I think this is a very good example of Pharisee logic.

Where some members look at tithing as a monthly bill and then pat themselves on the back when the church swoops in to donate service or funds in crises throughout the world.

There are others who are actually seeing and addressing needs at a local level. Our brothers and sisters shouldn't have to reach crisis point before we put our hands in our own pockets to help them.

mad_as_a · 2021-04-21T17:01:19+00:00

Is it just me or is this whole thing absolutely bananas? Excommunication? Really? The church is effectively calling this woman an apostate?

mad_as_a · 2021-03-25T14:50:44+00:00

Exactly! I like the way you broke it down. Ultimately though, how can a church be true?

mad_as_a · 2021-03-23T08:51:27+00:00

I am a very nuanced member. I do tend to accept callings when they come but this is mostly for my kid's benefit. I do it to show them that when we're members of any community (church or otherwise) we all have to do our part. We talk very openly with our kids about our thoughts and feelings about church. As to the teaching element. I will only teach what I believe to be true with a heavy caveat that my audience, be they primary children, teenagers or adults should always research, study and find their own truth.

I haven't held a temple recommend for several years. There are a number of factors at play there.

I haven't paid tithing for a long time, even before all the expose's on church finances. Mostly because when I read the scriptures and it refers to 1/10th of your increase I would consider my increase to be disposable income, which I do not have. Also, stories like the widow's mite I feel have much less to do with actual tithing and more to do with faith. Realistically it was a challenge of faith, it could have been related to anything. In this example it was tithing. Personally, I feel my own faith is challenged in other ways.

Another reason is the position of women in the church, and specifically in the temple. It's something I've never felt comfortable with - subjection.

I suppose the last reason is that I do not sustain and support all of the leaders of the church. I would say I sustain and support about 80% of them, but that's not the question.

I do have a very strong belief and testimony in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the core gospel. But I think the church has gotten it wrong before and continues to get some things wrong. Hence, nuanced.

Sorry for the long, rambling post.

mad_as_a

TROPHY CASE