Churchgoers Say They Tithe But Not Always to the Church

Most churchgoers say the Bible commands them to give, but their tithes don’t always go in the offering plate. A recent LifeWay Research study found that half of Protestant churchgoers believe their tithes can go to a Christian ministry rather than their local church. A third say tithes can go to help an individual in need. And more than a few—18 percent—say tithes can even go to a secular charity.

“For many churchgoers, tithing is just another term for generosity,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. The study surveyed 1,010 Americans who attend Protestant or nondenominational services at least once a month, as well as 1,000 Protestant senior pastors.

Most churchgoers believe they are commanded to give. Many believe in the idea of tithing, often understood as giving away 10 percent of a person’s income. Eighty-three percent agree when asked, “Is tithing a biblical command that still applies today?” Eight percent say it is not. Ten percent aren’t sure.

Most of those in the South (85 percent), as well as the Northeast (74 percent), say tithing applies today. So do African-American (87 percent) and white churchgoers (80 percent). Those with evangelical beliefs (86 percent) say it is a biblical command for today. So do 79 percent of other churchgoers. Many Baptists (87 percent), Pentecostals (86 percent), nondenominational churchgoers (81 percent) and Lutherans (68 percent) agree as well.

More than half (54 percent) of churchgoers say they give at least 10 percent of their income to the church. That includes 37 percent who say they tithe and 17 percent who say they give more than 10 percent. One in 5 (20 percent) give regularly but less than 10 percent. A similar number (17 percent) say they try to give but aren’t always consistent. Eight percent say finances make it hard for them to give. Two percent do not give to their church.

“Even those who can’t tithe believe that giving matters,” McConnell said. “Most churchgoers say they give—even if it’s a struggle.”

The more churchgoers attend services, the more likely they are to tithe. Fifty-seven percent of those who attend services at least once a week say they give at least a tithe. That drops to 28 percent for those who go once or twice a month. A third (35 percent) of those who attend once or twice a month say they are not consistent in giving—compared to 14 percent of those who attend at least once a week.

Those who go one or two times a month are twice as likely to say finances make it hard to give.

Source: Read the original report