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[personal profile] sylvar
DISCLAIMER: This is not a rant. I think Jodi is a good person. Why else would I be marrying her?

This Sunday, Jodi was shocked to hear that I put two dollars in the envelope for church offerings. She thought it was way low; I explained it was all I had, and sometimes I put in a five, but I was never sure exactly what most people do or what was expected.

Then again, I once horrified my aunt when I offered a two-dollar tip on a haircut. I usually went to a six-dollar barber and tipped one, but I knew I was at a classier place so I doubled the tip. My aunt looked at me like I'd just blown my nose with the boss's necktie, and took a few more dollars from my hand and gave them to the hairdresser.

Jodi says she thought it was supposed to be a 10% tithe. If I ever give that much, I want to write a check and get a receipt for tax purposes! She thinks this is pure-dee tacky. I think it's good sense.

I'm also trying to make sense of Deuteronomy 14:25-26, which seems to be saying that I should offer this tithe to God by having a fancy dinner in God's honor. Which I don't object to -- I can see spending two days preparing a feast as a deliberate way to celebrate our blessings. (But I don't think I could spend 10% of my yearly income on it!) Or does this mean I should spend 10% of my income on eating out? I probably *do*.

And then there's 2 Corinthians 8:10-15, which seems to be saying I shouldn't worry about how to carve out an extra 10% from my budget, but I should actually go and set up their spare computer as a web and e-mail server instead of just talking about it.

I dunno; what are y'all's thoughts on all this?

Date: 2003-11-11 11:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] loucheroo.livejournal.com
My personal thoughts (but keep in mind, please, that i am not following a faith that has mandatory tithing... well, unless you count the exhorbitant fees they charge to belong to a synagogue :P) are that you give what you can at the time. Give what you feel comfortable with. I know that you haven't been feeling great about money lately, and i think it's great that you put in what you did. I always thought that was the point of tithing, right? to help the church to the best of your ability?

As for tipping the hairdresser, i usually do about 20% for my hairdresser. Then again, my hair is impossible to get right, so finding someone who does what i think is a good job deserves a lot...
but again, you give what you're comfortable with, you know? Sorry if that's not helpful...

I always felt that the bible is meant to be a general guideline as opposed to hard and fast rules... that's just me, though. Not the most religious person, you know LOL

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