Posted by:
melissa3839
(
)
Date: November 15, 2010 07:26AM
Well a year ago, I came back to the church after being inactive for 15 years. And a couple months ago I left again, because I learned a bunch of things I never knew as a kid.
One of my biggest problems was with tithing. The bishop really started pressuring me to pay it. I asked him if it was 10% before or after taxes/bills. He gave me this "Haha, nice try" smirk, and said,
"Well, even your taxes are a gain, because you use the roads and sidewalks you are taxed for, you benefit from use of other public things you are taxed for, so it is an increase in privilage and luxury. Even the home you enjoy, and the utilities you enjoy are an increase in privilage and luxury. So all your your income, even before taxes, is an increase."
See, I'm married to a foreigner, who has a widowed mother back home. She's too old to work, so we support her. Its a poor country she lives in, so she can survive alright on $250, maybe $300. Then we have our rent which is about $950 per month. Plus utilities, water, garbage, etc. After all is paid, and his mom is taken care of, we only have about 8% to live off of (food wise) for the rest of the month!!
I told my bishop that, and he just looked at me like he thought I was bull****ing him. It just digusted me how he seemed to have NO pitty for the fact that we couldn't afford the various things we would need throughout the month, if we paid tithe.
He was like,
"Well you know the church has a food order program. What you spend on groceries is about the same as your tithe. You could pay your tithe with your grocery money, and then just use food from the chruch."
I was like, "So I give 8% of our income, and we depend on the church for all our food?? Without paying the 8%, we can afford to buy our own food! How about we just support OURSELVES like responsible adults, instead of taking away from the food order program--- which is meant to feed people who REALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO FEED THEMSELVES. That's like giving the church tithe, and then just taking it right back. Doesn't make any sense!"
I'm sorry, but I would just feel crappy using up the church food supply, when we CAN afford groceries, and there are people out there who really need that program. That's just not right.
Not to mention the fact that at the time, my husband was the only one working, and he is not a member (has no interest in being one either). So how can I ask him to give up 10% (or 8%) of his income, to a church he's not even a member of!
I told the bishop that too, and get this--- He actually suggested that I ask my husband for grocery money, pocket some of it, and then pay at least PART of the tithe with it. What????? A bishop encouraging me to lie to my husband? Oh that's just great. Sorry, but I DO NOT lie to my husband. Even a small lie hurts, because its a betrayal of trust.
Screw them.
Edited 14 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2010 07:49AM by melissa3839.