Ways to Tithe Without Giving Your Money to the Church
How to put your money and effort where your PEOPLE are, not where false prophets preach prosperity for persecution.
Ahoy! And Happy Thursday!
Today’s post is all about how, why, and who not to give your tithe to.
IF ya like this post, I’ll be doing lots more, and am excited to announce that I’ve figured out how I want to price my tiers, so I can continue to do this work but also not demand all your money for no reason. So, subscribe for free bc you’ll still get great stuff from me; and, if ya wanna you can grab my 55% off for the year offer for new voyagers! Happy Sailing!
While I was growing up, one of the biggest Biblical edicts my pastor grandfather HAMMERED home (in Church and at home) was Tithing— which pretty much boils down to:
Giving 10% of your “earnings” or “fruits of your labor” to God, because God gave you the opportunity to earn in them first place.
Granted, a lot of Pentecostal Evangelism is also tied into preaching the Prosperity Gospel — which is essentially what all the televangelists driving Bugattis, wearing Prada, and taking vacations on private jets preach. Talk about the sins of the flesh, yeesh.
Many might even tell you that “prosperity” churches don’t really exist anymore; but, while congregations are a lot more keen to criticizing their religious leaders, the misuse of money in ministry is alive and well.
Thankfully, while there were still issues in my Church community, my grandpa did not preach Prosperity Gospel. He came from a rough, poor upbringing in Iowa, joined the navy, was a mechanic, taught history and math, and was a preacher in a church of probably 80 people in a super rural town in SoCal. He was also a Union Man, and believed in honoring the humility of working people. Maybe to the point of unnecessary piety, but I wasn’t around when he was raising his kids so I can’t be so sure.
What I do remember, is my mom telling me that when she went to school, she literally had to rotate between three dresses until she outgrew them, then she passed them on to her sisters. When I was nominated to go on an international trip with People to People, we fundraised by making food and selling Christmas cookie plates, because I simply couldn’t afford to go. Thankfully, my family recognized my HELL BENT need to go to France and recover parts of my biological soul as well as past life parts1. I’m grateful for this grassroots upbringing now, though when all the rich farmer kids I went to school with were going to their beach houses in San Diego every summer, I maybe wished we had a little Joel Osteen money, not gonna lie, lol.
While I also understood that people use money for gross reasons, I don’t think I’ve ever said “Churches don’t need money,” because they definitely do.
Let’s talk about what Le Bible says about Tithing—not what greedy money grubbing ministers have said, because God doesn’t want us giving our money to false prophets2who perpetuate persecution.
There are a lot of scriptural verses that talk about tithing, so here are a few of my favorites.
Deuteronomy 14:22 says:
“You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.”
Captain’s Thoughts: I love this verse because it shows that Tithing isn’t a money thing. The Israelites did not have VENMO. They had crops they tended, flocks of sheep they kept, and wine they made3. I also love this because it shows that the Israelites were inherently a celebratory people — something that is very clear in all the celebrations that we see in Judaism and Jewish Mysticism. This is also great as an example that God chooses where you put your money — not your preacher, not your “spiritual guru,” NOT ME.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 states that every three years, God wanted those who follow scripture to make sure the fruits of their labor went back into the community:
At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
Captain’s Thoughts: God never said to give all our resources to religious institutions. Why? Personally, because I think God knows that even though we’d hope that the church leaders can be trusted to use our tithe towards righteous community support, God also knows that church leaders are people — and people can be corrupt no matter where they are.
In Matthew 23:23:
Jesus is literally so pissed that He4 goes off about how adhering to Tithe laws doesn’t excuse someone from being an oppressive, awful human:
“You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
Captain’s Thoughts: I personally view this as one of the most applicable modern day scriptures. With much of Scripture, we have to take into account the limited language of the time in historical context. This verse, though, not at all. I strongly believe that no amount of money, volunteer work, water bottles, or potluck dishes you bring to your Church cover the sins of being bigots, homophobes, culturally disrespectful, intolerant, or anti-science/mental health/therapy/vaccines. You can’t pay off God. We see how that concept worked for the Pope Leo X — though can we be surprised that he came up with the selling of indulgences knowing that he was a Medici??? I think not.
The beauty of God’s creation, is that God created all of us, and all of us don’t operate or relate to all or every community — which is good. One thing I said — among a lot of other things — in the interview I did for Soft Power’s Tapped In show, is that one of God’s main lessons is that we should stay in our fucking lane. That isn’t meant to be a limiting statement. It means that we should know who/what/where/when/how we can do what God wants us to do — our purpose, based on who we are. We’re all on the same team, but play different positions; and we aren’t put in those positions to try and do the job of other people.
When it comes to tithing, this is what I mean:
I am a bisexual, interracial and transracial adoptee (Vietnamese, Chinese, French adopted into a Irish, German, Jewish family). I came from a literal orphanage. One day, we’ll talk about the White Christian Colonial “Savior” complex in adoption and foster systems. I have diagnosed AuDHD (Autism + ADHD), clinical anxiety, and depression. Very proudly I am part of the Kink community as a 24/7 collared sub — I recommend the work of Ask a Sub aka
, a GOD GIVEN GIFT to sex education. And, yes, I also come from a pastor’s family.Like the ancient Israelites, I view offerings and tithes as different things.
Offerings are things you give because you want to and feel moved to. A tithe is something OWED. My “earnings” and what I have worked to cultivate, I have done so through the literal grace of God. When I worked with Hathor as my patron deity, I held these same ideals. Hathor was my goddess of hearth and home, and I still keep the paintings of her symbols because I believe her to be a facet of God just like all other gods. I venerate Hathor the way I venerate Mary. Now that I am coming from a Christian lens and post-pagan one, I absolutely believe that Hathor, Jesus, Yahweh would agree that my ability to do my work is one divinely given to me, and that I should put the blessings of my “crops” back into the community that pays me — in support, money, love, opportunities to talk on their YouTube channels, etc. So yeah, giving a tithe to the community I am blessed to support and exist in, is a heavenly obligation I fulfill.
Here’s a list of the ways I tithe:
I choose where my care and resources can be put forward best — which would be my immediate communities that I work within, and that work with me. Not just because it’s where I feel most at home, but also because I know a lot more about how my money/knowledge/effort/etc. can be used for the right reasons in communities that I am a part of.
When I tithe, I don’t always tithe to Churches. I give to foundations, individual people, local food banks, fundraisers for schools, and non-profits for survivors of oppression and violence.
I set 10% of what I earn aside as a “tithe fund.” My tithe doesn’t go to just one place if I can help it. I try to have a “savings account” situation where I can spread around what I’ve got to give in all the places I feel passionate about supporting.
Through my subscriptions. God gives me opportunities to make money or have resources. I view it as a personal sin to keep those gifts out of public circulation. The same way that I view acts of keeping spiritual gifts like prophecy, eloquence, wisdom, or the ability to inspire others a secret to be a sinful act. Again, I want to stay in my lane, and give to those who are thriving in theirs so that they can continue to do so. I subscribe to work adjacent to my own, like
; and, also those who are embracing their God given gifts to help others do the same, like who’s giving some of the most valuable time management and profuntivity tools this age has to offer.Sending money to my friends. OR sending CLIENTS to my friends, since lots of them are also in the same lines of work as I am. I am a lover. My Cancer moon will tell ya that. Not everyone will see this as tithing, but if I can send even a few bucks to friends for a snack that helps them get through the day; funds that they might use towards maintaining therapy appointments; a drop in the bucket towards gender affirming tools, I feel like God would approve.
I don’t tithe with MONEY every month, though I wish I could. I’m a freelance creator, a psychic, a minister of philosophy, a prophet. Historically — even Biblically — these aren’t high-paying or even securely-paying vocations. I don’t have an hourly wage, and actually this current shift to Christianity has left my wallet specifically wanting. When I can’t give cash, I give time. I give advice and love. I give support, hold space, show up as a volunteer. I answer questions online. I make my friends food. I mail out the books, resources, rocks I own or whatever else that I know can help other people. I make batches of HOT OIL FOR THE HOMIES.
In my personal experience, I know that tithes given to our church immediately went towards local rehab centers where my grandpa also held recovery and AA ministry men’s groups; or, to families in need in the congregation, because those families also lived down the street from us so we knew when they were struggling. They also knew when we were. Most churches have a parish where pastor and family live. My grandparents worked for the school district before ministry, so they had a house already that they happily paid for from their retirement money. The money that would’ve gone towards the parish, and the parish itself went to a family that struggled with addiction; alcoholism; much less economic access and privilege. It definitely benefited more from a low-cost place to live than my grandparents ever would have. I believe the pastor that took over after my grandfather ended up letting 20 something youth pastor son, and his wife live there. They had a lot more privilege, access, and church “esteem”….So you probably know how I feel about that.
I personally don’t believe we should give our money to institutions that will use that money to preach that Autism is of the devil; trans people are going to hell; or that God can only be found under the direction of some dude who went to Bible School.
Giving your money to those doing evil, is a sin-no matter who’s name those claim they’re doing it under. If you’re lucky enough to have a Church you trust like I was, by all means give to them as part of your tithing effort. It might feel weird when Churches ask for our money; but when we think about the fact that a church is still a building with electrical costs; pastors need to pay rent; outdated musical equipment needs to be updated; snacks for kids church aren’t just donated by Cost-Co, we realize that money quite literally keeps the lights on.
If not, know that you can still honor a very sacred covenant (promise relationship) with your community, morals, and God(s) without perpetuating financial misuse by religious institutions. I believe money talks, because making money and giving it requires deliberate knowing action. At least for some of us
If your gears already haven’t started churching on how to reflect this in your life, here’s some questions for ya that might help:
What causes, groups of people, initiatives are important to you?
Where do you feel that you, and all you care for or been through, can be of the most help?
What resources are you blessed enough to be able to give? This can be money, but also time, knowledge, effort, connective resources, education, and yes: PRIVLEGE.
What spaces have blessed you, that you feel passionate about supporting in return?
I hope this post gave you some stuff to chew on. Please check out the resources below, and if you feel called to include me in your tithe plan by becoming a paid subscriber, I thank you and am honored.
Captain Dang Out!
I believe past lives aren’t in the past, but that we as souls have access to the experiences of many things happening at once. Like poking a hole from one room to another, to see who’s doing what in there-but in a not creepy way.
False Prophets in my definition are ones who claim to speak and do works for God, but if God saw the works and words they presented…God would say “that ain’t me.” This song from the Shifted Sanctuary playlist is probably one of my favorites to describe part of how I feel about this.
Remember that wine back then was not the same as the boxed Franzia you can find at Vons (Ralph’s for those of you in metro areas). Check out this article: What Kind of Wine Did Jesus Drink?
I use the capitalized pronoun “He” for Jesus, because most historians agree that Jesus himself was a man. I personally believe, that to refer to God as a “He” is okay, since that’s what the Bible says. I also recognize that the Bible is limited to the language of the time it was written. If we’re getting down to brass tax, God is a primordial force of creation and existence. God, to me, is more a THEY than a HE…or maybe an IT.
Thank you for the shout out! ☁️🙌🏾