what is a tithe in church

A tithe is a custom dating back to Old Testament times and adopted by the Christian church whereby lay people give one-tenth of their income to the church. Tithing is currently defined by the church as payment of one-tenth of ones annual income. Tithing is an act of worship and obedience to God, and it is also a way of showing gratitude to God for his blessings. The word “tithe” comes from the Old English language meaning tenth part or one-tenth, which means 10% of ones income. Tithing is a source of income for the church, and the church uses the money to pay upkeep costs and stay in operation. The church may also use tithes for paying pastors, ministers, and other church staff members, funding outreach programs like soup kitchens and donations for the needy, maintaining the church building and equipment, supporting the Sunday school and other church programs, and donating to local charities. Although tithing is not specifically mentioned in the New Testament, Christians believe that everything they have comes from God, so it’s only natural that they “tithe” a portion of their earnings in thanksgiving to the God they serve.