Tithe
Tithe refers to the practice of setting aside a portion of income, traditionally one-tenth, to be given for religious or charitable purposes. The term originates from the Anglo-Saxon word "teotha," meaning "tenth." This concept is deeply rooted in the Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Islam, and Christianity—and is often associated with ancient biblical practices. In the Old Testament, tithing was seen as a mandatory offering, with specific guidelines for supporting priests and aiding the poor.
In contemporary times, while the ideal of giving 10 percent persists, many religious communities allow for greater flexibility in both the amount and the distribution of donations, enabling individuals to support various charitable causes alongside their places of worship. Muslims practice zakat, giving at least 2.5 percent of their wealth, while Jewish individuals may contribute tzedakah, representing acts of justice and charity. Despite the encouragement to tithe across these faiths, participation varies, with studies indicating a decline in tithing among Christians in recent years. The practice remains a topic of discussion and debate, reflecting changing attitudes toward financial contributions in religious contexts.
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Tithe
Tithe is a portion of income set aside to be given for a specific purpose, such as to a religious denomination or house of worship. The word tithe is derived from the word teotha, an Anglo-Saxon word for "tenth." Therefore, the tithe is most often thought of as being an offering of one-tenth of one's income. The three Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, which all connect their religious lineage back to a single forefather, Abraham—can trace the concept of tithing to before the first book of the Old Testament of the Bible.
Background
In Genesis, chapter 14, Abram—who later was renamed Abraham—defeats an army to rescue his nephew, Lot. He appears before the king and priest, Melchizedek, and presents him with a tithe of 10 percent of all the spoils of the battle (Genesis 14:17–24). This is an offering of thanksgiving to God through the priest, and it is implied in their conversation that this is owed as part of an established practice.
Later books of the Old Testament reiterate the tithe, with Leviticus (27:30, 32) and Numbers (18:21–32) indicating that the tithe is to go to the Levites, the house of Israel dedicated to serving as priests. In the book of Malachi, God urges the people to bring the full tithe—the full 10 percent—to him and promises blessings for those who do (Malachi 3:8–12). The concept is addressed in numerous other places in the Old Testament, such as Proverbs 3:10, which urges the giving of "first fruits" of a person's income to the Lord.
In many cases, these tithes or offerings were not in the form of money but in another form, such as goods taken as spoils of war or the first yield of a harvest. This giving was not optional. The Old Testament texts called for three separate forms of tithing: an annual tithe that went to the priests, who had no other form of income; a feast tithe that was used for the needs of the temple; and a third-year tithe that supported the poor. These added up to more than a simple 10 percent of income but were considered to be the minimum, with the faithful expected to try to give more when possible.
While a tithe provided support for the priests and the temple and was a means to assist the poor, Old Testament tithing was also considered an act of worship. The practice was meant to put God in a place of priority in the believer's life. It was also intended to remind believers that all that they possessed came to them from God's goodness and to encourage them to trust in God's future provision.
Overview
In contemporary times, the Abrahamic religions continue to hold to the concept of giving some percentage of one's income for the good of others. The guidelines are less rigid, however, than those imposed in the Old Testament. While 10 percent is still often held up as the ideal minimum standard, most faiths offer more leeway in the percentage to allow for personal circumstances. In addition, the giver generally has more discretion in dividing the percentage donation so that it is directed not only to the house of worship but also to charities that help those in need.
For Muslims, zakat—the compulsory offering of at least 2.5 percent of one's cash and other monetary holdings—is the Third Pillar of Islam. There are additional requirements for sharing from the value of animals and other property. It is intended to not only provide funds to help people experiencing poverty but also to help the giver learn discipline and become free from the love of material objects.
Members of the Jewish faith vary somewhat in their giving practices. Some believe that since there are no longer Levites, the rules about tithing are not valid. Many, however, adhere to the practice of giving tzedakah, or gifts of charity, to help those in need. To the faithful Jew, tzedakah offerings represent justice and doing what is right to help those in need.
Christians generally endorse the concept of tithing. Catholics and the major Protestant sects, including Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and others, all hold the giving of at least 10 percent of income to charitable causes as a standard. However, the notion of tithing is not necessarily universally accepted among Christians. For example, a 2013 study by the National Association of Evangelicals found that 58 percent of its directors did not think the Bible mandated tithing.
Despite the call to and endorsement of the practice of tithing by religious leaders and organizations, the practice of tithing is not universally followed. A 2012 study by the Pew Research Center reported that about 90 percent of Muslims worldwide offer the zakat. A survey released by the National Study of American Jewish Giving in 2013 showed that Jewish Americans gave to their house of worship or other charitable organization at double the rate of non-Jews.
According to a 2011 study by the Barna Group, a Christian research organization, the rate of tithing among American Christians dropped to less than 4 percent in that year. This represented a drop of as much as 40 percent over the 5 to 7 percent totals found by the same group over the previous decade. However, this result referred only to giving to the person's church and did not include donations made to other charities. Still, a study published in 2023 found American Christians tithed only an average 3 percent, indicating tithing remained low in the 2020s.
While some people are financially unable to adhere to or simply ignore the concept of tithing regardless of their religious organization's position, there are others who stand in specific opposition to it. Some Christians say that it is not required under the New Covenant enacted between God and humankind through the life and death of Jesus Christ. Others take issue with "prosperity preachers," including some televangelists, who routinely assure their followers that tithing leads to increased wealth and financial gain. As the 2020s progressed, generational differences and declining in-person church attendance also led to decreases in tithing, although many took advantage of digital options available to tithe. While tithing continued its downward trend, faith-based contributions to charities by individuals remained steady.
Bibliography
"Donors Proceed with Caution, Tithing Declines." Barna, 10 May 2011, www.barna.com/research/donors-proceed-with-caution-tithing-declines. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
“Giving USA: U.S. Charitable Giving Totaled $557.16 Billion in 2023.” Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 25 June 2024, philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/‗news/2024/giving-usa-us-charitable-giving-totaled-557.16-billion-in-2023.html. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
Kamman, Samantha. “Which Denomination Tithes the Most?” The Christian Post, 3 May 2023, www.christianpost.com/news/study-reveals-which-denomination-tithes-the-most.html. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
Teichner, Martha. "To Tithe or Not to Tithe." CBS News, 1 Mar. 2008, www.cbsnews.com/news/to-tithe-or-not-to-tithe. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
Tomlinson, Michael J. “Quickshot: The Decline of the Tithe & Individual Giving: A Call to Action for Nonprofit Organizations.” BDI, 26 Mar. 2024, bdiagency.com/the-decline-of-the-tithe-individual-giving-a-call-to-action-for-nonprofit-organizations. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
"Tzedakah: Charity." Mechon-Mamre, www.mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/tzedakah.htm. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
"The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity." Pew Research Center, 9 Aug. 2012, www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-executive-summary. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.