Are We Called to Tithe?

What could be more important than the salvation of souls in the life of our Catholic Church? Nothing! The very last canon in the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law confirms this. It states: “…the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes” (Can. 1752). A far second to that, but yet still very important part of how a Church functions, is that the Church needs to be run like a business, which includes such things as the administrative and financial aspects. It is our duty and responsibility as parishioners and faithful Catholics to contribute financially to help further the life of the parish and bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others to the extent that we are able.

So that brings me to this question. Are we required to tithe to our parish? I will answer that momentarily…First, what does the word tithe mean? It means 1/10th and therefore means to contribute literally 10% of our income…before taxes. Yes. That’s right…10% of our gross income. One statistic says that “only 5 percent of the U.S. tithes, with 80 percent of Americans only giving 2 percent of their income. Christians are only giving at 2.5 percent per capita, while during the Great Depression they gave at a 3.3 percent rate” (Source: http://www/relevantmagazine.com).

Tithing also includes offering the first fruits of our labor. References to tithing, which isn’t easy but involves a radical trust in God to continue to bless and provide for us, is a biblical concept that goes back to early, Old Testament times, even toward the beginning of creation. In terms of “offering the first fruits of our labor,” let’s refer back to the encounter Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel, had with God. First, Abel looked after the flocks of animals, while Cain was a farmer. Cain made an offering to God from the crops he produced, while Abel brought a fatty portion of the firstlings from his flock. God looked with favor on Abel’s offering but not on Abel’s. Then Cain got angry and killed his brother Abel out of jealousy (Gen. 4:2-5).

The point is to give the “first fruits” of what we have to the Lord who brings us blessing and favor. If we think it was serious what Cain did to Abel, listen to what God says through the prophet Malachi. “Can anyone rob God? But you are robbing me! And you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ Of tithes and contributions! You are indeed accursed, for you, the whole nation, rob me” (Mal. 3:8-9). If it’s a serious offense to rob God by not tithing, then what does God command us to do? Prv. 3:9-10 states: “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce; Then will your barns be filled with plenty, with new wine your vats will overflow.”

If we are called to give the first fruits of our labors amounting to 10% of our income, how good are we at doing that? Let’s compare denominations. “In a 1996 study, Assemblies of God gave 8.3% of their income, while Baptists gave 6.9% of their income. Catholics only gave 2.9%” (Source: https://faithcommunitiestoday.org). The amount of giving was even lower when another study was done 15 years later. “The percentage of a church member’s income given to the church dropped to 2.3 percent in 2011 (the latest year for which numbers are available), down from 2.4 percent in 2010, according to the Empty Tomb study. (Source: http://www/huffingtonpost.com). What these stats mean is that although we as Catholics haven’t given as much in the past compared to other Christians, it does not necessarily have to be that way in the future. There is an opportunity here for a conversion of heart to be more generous.

How well/poorly do different income brackets give? According to one study, “Americans who earn less than $10,000 gave 2.3 percent of their income to religious organizations,” Smith, Emerson, and Snell write, “whereas those who earn $70,000 or more gave only 1.2 percent.” While the actual percentages are slightly higher for Christians who regularly attend church, the pattern is similar. Households of committed Christians making less than $12,500 per year give away roughly 7 percent of their income, a figure no other income bracket beats until incomes rise above $90,000 (they give away 8.8 percent) In fact, in absolute terms, the poorest Christians give away more dollars than all but the wealthiest Christians.” (Source: http://www.tithing.com/blog/giving-statistics/). Speaking of the poor, and while we are called to care for the poor as Jesus has asked us to do multiple times in the Gospels, we aren’t necessarily called to tithe to the poor. That’s where almsgiving comes into play. Rather, almsgiving is giving above and beyond what we are already giving to the Church which could be in the form of a tithe. To give to the poor is almsgiving which means to give an extra-ordinary gift to those in need, whereas tithing, or what we can afford, is intended to go to the Church.

While tithing is a virtuous thing to do, it may not always be a good thing to do especially if we don’t have the right motive(s). Why? In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. [But] these you should have done, without neglecting the others” (Mt. 23:23, Lk. 11:42). What’s more important than the tithe (on the outside) is what is in the heart (on the inside).

Did Jesus come to abolish tithing? No. He didn’t come to abolish the Law, including tithing. He came to fulfill it like he did with love. So the short-answer as to whether or not we are called to tithe is “no,” though we are called to be generous givers. Our standard for giving is Jesus Christ who set the bar at the highest level as he gave everything out of love from his Sacred Heart for us on the cross. Not far behind Jesus is the poor widow who contributed her whole livelihood with two small coins worth only a few cents (Mk. 12:41-44, Lk. 21:1-4). We may not be able to give everything, but we can make a huge difference, I believe a lot more than we think. In the end we let God count the cost.

If we aren’t called to tithe, then what are we to give, and how much? There are six chief laws or precepts in the Catholic Church. According to the Catechism, “the fifth precept (‘You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church’) means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability” (Catechism 2043). In other words, we are to contribute to the support of the Church to the extent that we are able. Some are able to give more, while others are able to give less. This is something that spouses should discuss and take to prayer. Those who give less and therefore can’t contribute very much from their treasure for various reasons can contribute in other ways through their time and talent(s).

The key to understanding how God wants us to give to the Church from a financial standpoint is found in 1 Corinthians 16:2 which states: “On the first day of the week [Sunday] each of you should set aside whatever he can afford.” St. Paul also gives us further direction in this area. He states: “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, ways having all you need, you may have an abundance for good work…” (2 Cor. 9:5-15). So if you freely and cheerfully give from the heart as you offer your time, talent and/or treasure, then your gift is received as an acceptable offering to the Lord.

Even though the Catholic Church does not require one to tithe, those who do so are blessed by God whose generosity no one can match. If you have never tithed before but are able, challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone, try it for a few months, and see what happens. While there are different ways to give, whether it be in the collection basket, by e-giving (i.e. parishpay.com), or by other means, know that your treasure greatly helps to support worthy causes like our parish youth groups (Jr. High and/or H.S), Religious Ed. Dept., which includes Catechism for our kids, and other important parish programs, all of which support our commitment to reach out and evangelize. Thank you for all the ways you reach out and for your generous, sacrificial contributions that continue to support our parishes and the Catholic Church in amazing ways.

In The Spirit of Giving,
Fr. Jeff

Bible References: Lev. 27:30, Num. 18:26; Dt. 12:17, 14:22-23; Neh. 10:38-39, 13:10-14, Mal. 3:8, 10

Author: Fr. Jeff Allan

Biography - Fr. Jeff Allan, was ordained a Catholic priest on June 7th, 2014 for the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD). He graduated from Adrian College in 2001 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice. After working in the pharmaceutical sales industry for almost three years, he felt called to discern the priesthood. Before being ordained a priest, Fr. Jeff was blessed to receive three degrees from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. They include a Bachelor of Philosophy, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB), and a Master of Divinity (Theology). His assignments in the U.S. have included serving at multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit as an associate pastor and currently as a weekend assistant. Fr. Jeff is certified as a hospital chaplain through ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). He has had the opportunity of serving at three Metro-Detroit Area Hospitals since 2017 where he serves in full-time ministry as a Catholic Priest and Hospital Chaplain. View all posts by Fr. Jeff Allan