SolaScriptura
Puritanboard Brimstone
It seems to me that if one tithes based on one's gross income, then one does not need to pay a tithe of one's tax refund. The reason being that this is money on which you've already tithed, and the government was - in effect - just holding this portion of your income.
However, if one tithes based upon one's net income then it seems obvious that a tax refund should be subject to tithing since it is money that has not previously been received by you.
Additionally, some people, like myself, get a tax refund that is larger than the taxes I paid based upon IRA deductions, tuition payments, etc... in those cases I think the difference between what you have already paid a tithe on and the portion that was not previously tithed would, for the person paying tithe on the basis of gross income, need to be subject to a tithe.
Of course, the Lord loves a cheerful giver and I think that those who can reasonably afford it should give their refund to the work of ministry as an offering. (You know, those people for whom their refund isn't a part of their planned budget and they end up just "blowing it" on themselves.)
Do these seem like reasonable guidelines?
[Edited on 2-22-2005 by SolaScriptura]
However, if one tithes based upon one's net income then it seems obvious that a tax refund should be subject to tithing since it is money that has not previously been received by you.
Additionally, some people, like myself, get a tax refund that is larger than the taxes I paid based upon IRA deductions, tuition payments, etc... in those cases I think the difference between what you have already paid a tithe on and the portion that was not previously tithed would, for the person paying tithe on the basis of gross income, need to be subject to a tithe.
Of course, the Lord loves a cheerful giver and I think that those who can reasonably afford it should give their refund to the work of ministry as an offering. (You know, those people for whom their refund isn't a part of their planned budget and they end up just "blowing it" on themselves.)
Do these seem like reasonable guidelines?
[Edited on 2-22-2005 by SolaScriptura]