Tithing Americans?

I wanted to send this article to show how most Americans are doing in regards to tithing. As it says in Malachi 3:8-9, not tithing can bring a curse and you can see that financial stress may be a result of that curse rather than the blame of any one particular individual or industry. Anyway, I thought you might find this interesting and I put some references from our own web site at the end. The first is our tithing booklet and the next is our managing finances booklet.

Few Churchgoers Tithe Linda Pateo of Gardendale, Ala., says she and her husband, Robert, try to give 5% of their income to their church and 5% to Christian charities, but it's difficult with three children in college. "I have strong feelings that God expects first fruits," Pateo said. "Sometimes we fall short. It's something we are all called to do." A recent poll by pollster George Barna shows that only 5% of Americans say they tithe, or give at least 10% of their income to religious congregations and charitable groups. According to other studies on church giving, congregants give an average of 2.58% of their income to their churches. That's down from 3.11% of their income in 1968, according to studies published by Empty Tomb, a ministry that studies church finances. "Tithing is in decline," said the Rev. William Hull, a research professor at Samford University and a Baptist minister. "The older generation was taught to tithe. It's not being taught very much any more." Malachi 3:8: "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings."Topics: Giving, Stewardship, Tithing Source: USAToday.com, May 31, 2008, Greg Garrison,
http://www.ucg.org/booklets/AT/
http://www.ucg.org/booklets/MF/