Comments on: Why I Don’t Require My Children to Tithe or Make Offerings http://www.starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/ a financial voyeur's dream -- all the intimate details of how, where, and why I spend money Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:10:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: QRB http://www.starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-95 QRB Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:43:00 +0000 http://starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-95 Just found your site after doing a web search on this subject. I have been reading/thinking/praying about this subject myself over the past several months. My thought on this is that my job as a Christian parent, first and foremost, is to teach my children Biblical truths while they are under my charge (as instructed by God to parents themselves), "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" - Prov. 22:6 AND "do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord"- Eph. 6:4. Since we are directed in the scriptures to give of our tithes and offerings, then it is my job to not only teach by example (as you clearly do), but to also spend some time showing my children where in the Bible I learned to do so. I agree that forcing them to give "10%" of their allowance does not create "cheerful giver", but I have also seen my children WANTING to tithe as a result. I have also begun to see my 9 year old daughter wanting to give "a little more" each Sunday when she hears of a special need in the church, etc. My point is, I don't MAKE them tithe, but I am obedient in my role as parent by teaching (and showing them in the Bible) my children these things which God has commmanded, and by doing so, they in turn happily give a portion of their own allowance on their own. I believe God blesses them for their faithful sacrifice as much as He blesses "adults" who do the same. Thanks for the blog entry. Great writing! Merry Christmas! Just found your site after doing a web search on this subject. I have been reading/thinking/praying about this subject myself over the past several months.

My thought on this is that my job as a Christian parent, first and foremost, is to teach my children Biblical truths while they are under my charge (as instructed by God to parents themselves), “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” - Prov. 22:6 AND
“do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”- Eph. 6:4.

Since we are directed in the scriptures to give of our tithes and offerings, then it is my job to not only teach by example (as you clearly do), but to also spend some time showing my children where in the Bible I learned to do so.
I agree that forcing them to give “10%” of their allowance does not create “cheerful giver”, but I have also seen my children WANTING to tithe as a result. I have also begun to see my 9 year old daughter wanting to give “a little more” each Sunday when she hears of a special need in the church, etc.

My point is, I don’t MAKE them tithe, but I am obedient in my role as parent by teaching (and showing them in the Bible) my children these things which God has commmanded, and by doing so, they in turn happily give a portion of their own allowance on their own. I believe God blesses them for their faithful sacrifice as much as He blesses “adults” who do the same.
Thanks for the blog entry. Great writing! Merry Christmas!

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-47 Elizabeth Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:10:00 +0000 http://starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-47 Dawn,<br/><br/>Thanks for your input. I can see your point. Still, to me tithing seems like an "adult" activity to me.<br/><br/>I've really enjoyed reading these comments! I'd love to hear more. Dawn,

Thanks for your input. I can see your point. Still, to me tithing seems like an “adult” activity to me.

I’ve really enjoyed reading these comments! I’d love to hear more.

]]> By: Dawn ... http://www.starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-39 Dawn ... Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:53:00 +0000 http://starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-39 When my sons were children attending a Catholic elementary school they tithed a small amount to our church. After 6th grade I let it be their choice and sometimes they did, and sometimes they didn't. I tended to stress giving of time over giving of money when they were growing up. We would make it a family thing sometimes too. I think they have a strong sense of there being something higher than themselves. And I believe they are Christians in their hearts. But they also show interest in Eastern culture religions. To me it is all about the love. As long as they feel the love for themselves, their family and friends, their community, and hopefully the rest of the world ... I don't care what religious affiliation they choose. <br/>Sorry about that rambling ... this is subject matter near and dear to my heart.<br/>Long story short ... I guess I'm for requiring a bit of tithing when they are in their elementary school age years, then giving them choice after that. <br/>Great Post Elizabeth :) When my sons were children attending a Catholic elementary school they tithed a small amount to our church. After 6th grade I let it be their choice and sometimes they did, and sometimes they didn’t. I tended to stress giving of time over giving of money when they were growing up. We would make it a family thing sometimes too. I think they have a strong sense of there being something higher than themselves. And I believe they are Christians in their hearts. But they also show interest in Eastern culture religions. To me it is all about the love. As long as they feel the love for themselves, their family and friends, their community, and hopefully the rest of the world … I don’t care what religious affiliation they choose.
Sorry about that rambling … this is subject matter near and dear to my heart.
Long story short … I guess I’m for requiring a bit of tithing when they are in their elementary school age years, then giving them choice after that.
Great Post Elizabeth :)

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-37 Elizabeth Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:58:00 +0000 http://starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-37 Excellent question, sahmmy, but I guess its not my goal for giving to be "ingrained." Each act of giving that I engage in is a conscious act of will. I would like for their acts of charity, just as their choice of religion, to be a conscious act of will. Excellent question, sahmmy, but I guess its not my goal for giving to be “ingrained.” Each act of giving that I engage in is a conscious act of will. I would like for their acts of charity, just as their choice of religion, to be a conscious act of will.

]]> By: SAHMmy Says http://www.starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-36 SAHMmy Says Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:54:00 +0000 http://starrspun.com/dailydollardiary/2007/11/12/why-i-dont-require-my-children-to-tithe-or-make-offerings/#comment-36 But no matter which (if any) religion they choose as adults, won't the habit of sacrifice become more ingrained if they have given of their own earnings rather than just observing your giving practices? But no matter which (if any) religion they choose as adults, won’t the habit of sacrifice become more ingrained if they have given of their own earnings rather than just observing your giving practices?

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