New struggle with tithing

[Anonymous]

I have mentioned this in other postings: There was a time, after I joined the church, where I did my best to follow all the rules & regulations

of the church (not just some). In addition, I said yes to every calling that came along. In return, I thought I would have special spiritual access. Not in the sense that God would talk to me directly but I would have “intuitive” answers to prayer in time of spiritual challenges. I assumed it would come from “the gift of the HG”. A special feeling of comfort or counsel from church leadership or General Conference (Bishop). Maybe there would be a scripture that would come to me for comfort or guidance. So, when my major “spiritual challenge” came along, I waited for an answer or inspiration,

or counsel, or comfort. When it didn’t happen, I got angry & stopped all activity at church. In return, the church stopped most activity with us.

Like Home Teachers, etc. When someone would come by or we saw someone at the mall, I was always friendly not hostile.

I took a long time before we came back to church. When I did, everything I used to believe in has changed. I’ve tried to develop a belief that

my spiritual journey is “progress not perfection” & Jesus Christ is the center of my faith & everything else is second (or third).

I don’t believe that my final judgement will not be similar to an IRS audit. (Full tithe payer.)

I do believe it will be more about how I treat other people.

[Anonymous]

Old-Timer wrote:

I have paid tithing my entire life, and I am a grandfather now. I have paid on net income, since paying on money I never get (taxes, etc.) makes absolutely no sense to me.

During the pandemic, we have helped our kids and others extensively with basic living costs. Paying tithing on net income would mean not helping others as much – or using a credit card for tithing. To me, that would be stupid – so I have paid tithing on my net income AFTER true necessary living expenses and my “donations” to those expenses for others. That means my tithing has been essentially zero for some time. Our “surplus” comes from my wife’s income, and she pays a full tithe on her net income.

We both declare, in good conscience, full tithing payment.

My conscience is clear.

I agree. Early on in my church experience I was told do you want gross blessings or net blessings? I paid on gross for a while, then started paying more on net. Then I gave to some other charitable options and subtracted that from my tithing.

I think the individual determines what their 10% is and what an increase is.

My conscience is clear as well.

[Author]

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