Here’s the fuller picture;
Biblically, a tithe is the first tenth of one’s increase, set apart for God. For us in the modern world, that’s 10% before taxes.
In the Old Testament, Israel gave tithes to support the Levites, the temple, and the poor. That’s 30% on top of what the civil government required.
In the New Testament, Christians aren’t commanded to tithe in the same legal sense, but cheerful, generous, intentional giving is strongly encouraged.
The tithe began as:
A covenantal practice: giving the first tenth of produce, livestock, or income (Leviticus 27:30–32).
A means of supporting the Levites, who had no land inheritance (Numbers 18:21).
A provision for the poor, the sojourner, the widow, and the orphan (Deuteronomy 14:28–29).
A liturgical act: bringing the firstfruits to God as worship.
In many churches today “Tithing” usually means:
Giving10% of your income to your local church.
Supporting the church’s ministry, clergy, missions, and community needs.
Practicing gratitude and trust — recognizing that everything ultimately comes from God.
Some traditions treat the tithe as a baseline, with offerings and Alms given above the tithe.
The Anglican Church in North America, which is our tradition, frames our giving as stewardship, and as:
A spiritual discipline
A way of participating in God’s work through the church
A practice rooted in Scripture and Christian tradition
While the ACNA doesn’t legislate a 10% tithe, we assume:
Regular, intentional giving
Support of clergy and parish life
Almsgiving as a Christian duty
Anglicanism assumes that Christians give generously, regularly, and sacrificially as part of their worship.It does not mandate a percentage, but it does root giving in Scripture — where the tithe (10%) is the historic baseline.
In ACNA teaching and practice, the tithe is often presented as:
The tithe is not merely a tax; it is a sacramental acknowledgment that everything belongs to God.
The New Testament shifts the focus from a fixed percentage to a transformed heart that gives freely and sacrificially.
Christians should give more than the tithe, because grace exceeds the law.
Emphasizes that stewardship is a response to God’s grace and that giving is tied to gratitude and obedience
Anglicanism’s theology of giving is:
Eucharistic (thanksgiving)
Communal (supporting the Church and the poor)
Biblical (rooted in both Testaments)
Formational (shaping the heart toward God)
For us, tithing is:
A discipline
A response to grace
A participation in God’s mission
In answer to the question: What happens if you cannot? If you are not able to tithe for lack of resources that means most likely that you are financially over committed and need to get your finances in order, either by increasing your income or reducing your spending. On the other hand. If you cannot find that level of generosity in your heart it likely means that you either lack gratitude to God for His provision or that you lack trust in God for your future security. Either way, there is perhaps some difficulty in your Spiritual Life that is preventing the love of God to show in your giving. Acknowledging a spiritual difficulty is an important element in our growth in Discipleship.
In any case, God desires of you that whatever you give, you give willingly and cheerfully. And if you, for whatever reason, are unable to tithe, you should know that you are still a beloved child of God. He desires that you cast all of your cares on Him and rely on Him for all of your needs.