Isn't interest income what you can make on leftover funds that can earn interest? The Jewish law surrounding tithing was very complicated. It was detailed out to the utmost specifics so there was absolute clarity. The poor did not pay tithing. (SS or SSDI or Disability income) Tithing wasn't paid on gifts. It was paid on surplus and production. It was never paid on the whole field, only what the field produced. If you had sheep that died or half your field of crops diseased, they were not included as part of the increase. General business and household expenses including food and gas are dead sheep. What is left after the basics to care for your needs is interest or increase. Tithing is paid on that interest or increase. Some say gross. some say net. Some say on gifts. Even to the point of cash and gift values on birthdays, Christmas, weddings, or other special occasions. Basically, depending on the interpretation of leaders, their opinions, and suggestions based on how they were raised or personally applied in their lives. I have seen people pay on their business incomes and struggle to stay in business. Why? They paid on gross earnings from the business rather than having the business pay out dividends or a realized income to them first. I see the same with those running the business of their home. 10 percent on a gross paycheck for 2000 dollars is 200 dollars while if they had 100 left after basic needs to run the home business expenses and affairs, would have been 10 dollars. a difference of 190.00 dollars. 190.00 dollars is not 10 percent on the increase, but rather an overpayment. I have seen those on SS (SSDI, Disability) income who pay tithing only to turn around and have the church write a check for their mortgage and also need a bishop's order for food. In Jewish law, the poor did not pay tithing. They could donate as they saw fit, such as the widow's mite, but it was not required to pay tithing. Ultimately it is between the individual and the Lord and it is not easy when reasoning, mixed with opinions, and judgment, stirs in a mix of uncertainty, guilt, and doubt.
Randal WagnerJanuary 4, 2024
What about tithing on benefits? Healthcare, employer-paid social security, matching 401K contributions, parking spots, etc.? I need to do some praying about this. If I get an answer that I should be paying tithing on those things, I have a lot of back-tithings to pay. I am leaning toward paying tithing on my full SS ck and hope I live long enough to pay the debt.
Very good response from Martin.
Martin QutioOctober 19, 2016
Awesome article, thanks!
Jack JohnsonAugust 23, 2016
It's interesting that in 1838 Tithing was interpreted as paying 10% of the interest you gained in your net worth. This approach would save the average member thousands of dollars a year in Tithing. For example, if you net worth increased by $10,000 in 2015 you would pay $1,000 in Tithing.
JoshMay 15, 2016
How about employer benefits, such as health care? Or how about if your health insurance pays out more for your bills then they received via premium (aka: $6000 premium, but medicals bills of 10000, so they paid on my behalf, an additional $4000).
GordonAugust 6, 2015
Hmm, I've heard the phrase about gross vs. net blessings before. Honestly, I'd rather have net blessings. Gross blessings could be outweighed by cursings, but net blessings means you have at least come out ahead.
Bryce CunninghamJune 17, 2015
Thank you very much for taking the time to do this brother it has been very helpful and insightful for me.
Jose RosadoJanuary 8, 2014
@ Bill Reel
Bro. Johnson is merely expressing his opinion, having a lot of experience as a Church leader. I have also served as a Branch President and in the High Council and happen to agree with most of agree with most of his views.
What allows him to do it is the fact that you dont need permission from the First Presidency to express a personal opinion, which is what he has done. He has not represented any of this as coming as official church policy. This is especially clear in the beginning, and in the last paragraph.
Bill ReelJune 26, 2013
The first presidentcy statement says no person is authorized to define it more specifically then they have and yet you proceed to do so. Don't you sense if they wanted it defined they would have but rather they prefer ambiguity in their definition. What allows you to do what they haven't
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Chris KingSeptember 2, 2024
Isn't interest income what you can make on leftover funds that can earn interest? The Jewish law surrounding tithing was very complicated. It was detailed out to the utmost specifics so there was absolute clarity. The poor did not pay tithing. (SS or SSDI or Disability income) Tithing wasn't paid on gifts. It was paid on surplus and production. It was never paid on the whole field, only what the field produced. If you had sheep that died or half your field of crops diseased, they were not included as part of the increase. General business and household expenses including food and gas are dead sheep. What is left after the basics to care for your needs is interest or increase. Tithing is paid on that interest or increase. Some say gross. some say net. Some say on gifts. Even to the point of cash and gift values on birthdays, Christmas, weddings, or other special occasions. Basically, depending on the interpretation of leaders, their opinions, and suggestions based on how they were raised or personally applied in their lives. I have seen people pay on their business incomes and struggle to stay in business. Why? They paid on gross earnings from the business rather than having the business pay out dividends or a realized income to them first. I see the same with those running the business of their home. 10 percent on a gross paycheck for 2000 dollars is 200 dollars while if they had 100 left after basic needs to run the home business expenses and affairs, would have been 10 dollars. a difference of 190.00 dollars. 190.00 dollars is not 10 percent on the increase, but rather an overpayment. I have seen those on SS (SSDI, Disability) income who pay tithing only to turn around and have the church write a check for their mortgage and also need a bishop's order for food. In Jewish law, the poor did not pay tithing. They could donate as they saw fit, such as the widow's mite, but it was not required to pay tithing. Ultimately it is between the individual and the Lord and it is not easy when reasoning, mixed with opinions, and judgment, stirs in a mix of uncertainty, guilt, and doubt.
Randal WagnerJanuary 4, 2024
What about tithing on benefits? Healthcare, employer-paid social security, matching 401K contributions, parking spots, etc.? I need to do some praying about this. If I get an answer that I should be paying tithing on those things, I have a lot of back-tithings to pay. I am leaning toward paying tithing on my full SS ck and hope I live long enough to pay the debt. Very good response from Martin.
Martin QutioOctober 19, 2016
Awesome article, thanks!
Jack JohnsonAugust 23, 2016
It's interesting that in 1838 Tithing was interpreted as paying 10% of the interest you gained in your net worth. This approach would save the average member thousands of dollars a year in Tithing. For example, if you net worth increased by $10,000 in 2015 you would pay $1,000 in Tithing.
JoshMay 15, 2016
How about employer benefits, such as health care? Or how about if your health insurance pays out more for your bills then they received via premium (aka: $6000 premium, but medicals bills of 10000, so they paid on my behalf, an additional $4000).
GordonAugust 6, 2015
Hmm, I've heard the phrase about gross vs. net blessings before. Honestly, I'd rather have net blessings. Gross blessings could be outweighed by cursings, but net blessings means you have at least come out ahead.
Bryce CunninghamJune 17, 2015
Thank you very much for taking the time to do this brother it has been very helpful and insightful for me.
Jose RosadoJanuary 8, 2014
@ Bill Reel Bro. Johnson is merely expressing his opinion, having a lot of experience as a Church leader. I have also served as a Branch President and in the High Council and happen to agree with most of agree with most of his views. What allows him to do it is the fact that you dont need permission from the First Presidency to express a personal opinion, which is what he has done. He has not represented any of this as coming as official church policy. This is especially clear in the beginning, and in the last paragraph.
Bill ReelJune 26, 2013
The first presidentcy statement says no person is authorized to define it more specifically then they have and yet you proceed to do so. Don't you sense if they wanted it defined they would have but rather they prefer ambiguity in their definition. What allows you to do what they haven't
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