October 10, 2007
No Strings Attached
According to our elders and the IRS regulations, in order for a tithe to qualify as tax deductible, it must either go into the general fund or be designated to a specific elder approved project. For instance you can’t just give your tithe to a church youth project and expect it to be a deductible donation unless the project has first had elder approval. From the viewpoint of both the IRS and the elders, I understand the need for no-strings-attached donations. However, I can’t help but wonder if the Spirit’s leading isn’t somewhat stifled by the regulations of the IRS and the pet projects of leaders. Certainly the apostles distributed money to those who had need (Acts 4:35), but we also see Cornelius the centurion giving personally to those in need (Acts 10:2). I wonder if Cornelius sought elder approval for his generosity.
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2 comments:
Gail;
-----The elders and IRS make it easier for you to channel your generosity according to their principles. The IRS does it because they are panic stricken that you might turn a non-deductible gift to a friend or family member into a deductible donation using the church as a conduit. The elders then seize upon the opportunity of IRS’s panic to take advantage of both the ignorance of tax law and desire for tax deduction prevalent among the people. Most people are not aware that the tax law does not forbid giving to the church with designations other than what the elders may design. IRS only bars tax deduction for gifts directed to uses the elders fail to qualify. The elders, on the other hand, can refuse to accept the contribution, for that is the right of any donee. Just do not let them get away with blaming it on IRS regulation. That is a lie, and elders are not to lie.
-----You should not allow non deductibility to interfere with your generosity. If you can not afford the taxes, just downsize the gift a bit. The Lord can make do with less, He is that kind of guy. Besides, most of you won’t be able to deduct it anyway. You see, the IRS pulls this little stunt on you called the Standard Deduction. As if they are being big and generous, they give you the deduction of a specific, standardized amount. Then, you deduct that amount no matter how much you gave, or how much taxes, mortgage interest, etc. you paid - unless the total of all those is greater than the standardized amount. If that total is higher, then you deduct all of your qualified contributions and other deductions. But for most people, that total is not greater. Most people use the standard deduction.
-----And those who do (you know who you are) can forget the elders and the IRS. If they don’t think the youth program is important, but you do, give to it anyway. If the church won’t accept a gift designated to a program the elders ungenerously, unscripturally, and busy-bodily refuse to qualify, then go buy what you think the program might need and take it to the gathering yourself. There are godly ways around man’s arrogance. And do not be timid in doing it. For your Lord was not timid when facing down man’s arrogance either. Thus get the joy back into your giving, the IRS out of your spiritual life, and the message of the truth into your elders’ minds. Give according to your principles the Spirit has developed in you. And be the Lord’s for a change.
Gail;
-----The elders and IRS make it easier for you to channel your generosity according to their principles. The IRS does it because they are panic stricken that you might turn a non-deductible gift to a friend or family member into a deductible donation using the church as a conduit. The elders then seize upon the opportunity of IRS’s panic to take advantage of both the ignorance of tax law and desire for tax deduction prevalent among the people. Most people are not aware that the tax law does not forbid giving to the church with designations other than what the elders may design. IRS only bars tax deduction for gifts directed to uses the elders fail to qualify. The elders, on the other hand, can refuse to accept the contribution, for that is the right of any donee. Just do not let them get away with blaming it on IRS regulation. That is a lie, and elders are not to lie.
-----You should not allow non deductibility to interfere with your generosity. If you can not afford the taxes, just downsize the gift a bit. The Lord can make do with less, He is that kind of guy. Besides, most of you won’t be able to deduct it anyway. You see, the IRS pulls this little stunt on you called the Standard Deduction. As if they are being big and generous, they give you the deduction of a specific, standardized amount. Then, you deduct that amount no matter how much you gave, or how much taxes, mortgage interest, etc. you paid - unless the total of all those is greater than the standardized amount. If that total is higher, then you deduct all of your qualified contributions and other deductions. But for most people, that total is not greater. Most people use the standard deduction.
-----And those who do (you know who you are) can forget the elders and the IRS. If they don’t think the youth program is important, but you do, give to it anyway. If the church won’t accept a gift designated to a program the elders ungenerously, unscripturally, and busy-bodily refuse to qualify, then go buy what you think the program might need and take it to the gathering yourself. There are godly ways around man’s arrogance. And do not be timid in doing it. For your Lord was not timid when facing down man’s arrogance either. Thus get the joy back into your giving, the IRS out of your spiritual life, and the message of the truth into your elders’ minds. Give according to your principles the Spirit has developed in you. And be the Lord’s for a change.
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