What if Americans Paid Tithing?
In 2016, Americans donated $373.25 billion dollars to charities — that’s more than the GDP of 160 countries[1] of the 190 countries tracked by the International Monetary Fund. While very generous, this staggering number only accounts for 2.1 percent of the US GDP. And despite American’s generosity, poverty remains both at home and abroad. Debate swirls regarding how much we give to international aid, funding social welfare such as Obama Care, and accepting refugees. I live in Seattle, and our city with all of its wealth and two of the largest companies in the world has a homeless crisis. These issues beg the question of whether more generosity would solve any or all of these problems. Given my religious background, I decided to ask the question a little differently: “What if Americans paid tithing?”
Historically, tithing, or paying a tithe, meant giving a tenth of your income to a religious cause. It goes as far back as Abraham in the book of Genesis (14:18–20) where Abraham gave a priest named Melchizedek “tithes of all [he possessed].” While tithing is not a foreign concept to many faiths, most religious Americans do not pay a full tithe and most faiths do not require it or talk much about it. But if you move past the debate on whether tithing is required by God and just consider the impact if Americans paid a tenth of their income to charity, the numbers are compelling.
If Americans donated a tithe (10% of income after taxes) to organizations of their choice, the sum total of donations would exceed $831 billion annually. This is the equivalent to the combined endowment of 35.3 new Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations. It’s enough money for a 40% increase in public schools spending[2], and a double spend increase for the following: the National Endowment for the Arts[3], the Nation Institutes of Health research[4], FEMA[5], homelessness assistance[6], and the US foreign aid budget[7] while still having over $42 billion to spare.
Imagine the impact this would have. Teachers would have the resources they need and be paid appropriately. America could feed the homeless while giving them adequate support to get back on their feet. The arts would flourish in revitalized growth, and medical research previously unsupported could be realized to the benefit of all humanity. Cities wasted by natural disasters could rebuild at an unprecedented pace. Churches of all religions could grow, providing much needed community and family strength. Abroad, the US would stand out even further as a world leader in generosity and charity — helping the distraught regardless of nationality. All of this would produce a fly-wheel effect of accelerated growth and prosperity across the world.
Before you throw out tithing as an impossibility, allow me to share how tithing would look like for the average American — you may be surprised how the numbers play out. The chart below uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics report for 2016 for consumer expenditures. The far left column separates spending into different categories, and the columns to the right show how the average American spends in these categories on a monthly basis. Slight reductions in unnecessary categories (such as eating out and alcohol) and tempered spending in others (such as owning a more affordable home, buying a used car instead of leasing to save on payments and insurance, etc.) make paying a full tithe achievable.
Some may suggest the government should raise taxes and create new social programs instead of relying on others to choose to donate. I disagree for two reasons:
One, have you ever had an enjoyable visit to a government office such as the DMV? Government is notoriously inefficient, particularly with money, and politicians have far too much power over how money is spent. Rather, Americans should be free to choose where they donate. Thousands of local charities and churches are far more capable of doing more than any single government entity.
Two, freely giving has a greater effect on the giver than paying taxes. When you consciously choose to give rather than to keep for yourself, your heart and mind change too. You become more conscious of those around you and less self-centered. You become less materialistic and more interested in important aspects of life like family and service. The greatest effect of Americans paying a tithe will not be the money given to thousands of worthy causes but the longer-lasting change on American’s hearts.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’ve been taught since I was little to choose to pay a tithe and donate a generous fast offering. Since I took my first job as a teenager, I’ve followed what I’ve been taught and chose to donate at least 10% with every paycheck I’ve received. There were times when donating wasn’t an easy decision — my family was very poor when we moved to France for my PhD program. I remember ending one particular month with 1 euro left in my bank account. Yet, I believe God helped me especially during those hard times to remember the refuges I passed on the cobblestone roads begging for food and remember the times when generous people helped me.
Regardless of your income, I encourage you to make the changes in your budget to donate a tithe to whatever organizations or persons you feel deserve it. More than ever, America needs a change of heart to rally together in support of all that is good. No government should or can force this through taxation — it’s a choice for each of us to make.
[1] http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/01/weodata/index.aspx
[2] https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66
[3] https://www.arts.gov/open-government/national-endowment-arts-appropriations-history
[4] https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/budget
[5] https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/FEMA%20FY18%20Budget.pdf
[6] https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/fy2017-homelessness-assistance-budget.pdf
[7] https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/FEMA%20FY18%20Budget.pdf
