My church has gone to on-line services and supplemented them with midweek on-line prayer and worship services. If anything, there may be more people having some form of contact with our church now than pre-COVID-19. In addition I lead a weekly early morning on-line men's study and even the small couple's study we belong to has been "meeting" via Zoom. While I know church leadership is anxious to go back to in-person services and children's activities I am hopeful that they show patience. We do remind folks that tithing (on-line or via mail) still helps fund the church, important outreach and charitable activities. Its not a heavy-handed message though.
Speaking of which - the large number of mouth breathers attending these churches would substantially increase the risk of coronavirus infection. HO HO HO
Well, those of us who can afford to help out others should do so, whether via a religious based organization or not-- I made a few small donations to causes in which I believe over the last few weeks. I kind of doubt that giving my money to Kenneth Copeland is an efficient way to help those in need (same goes with some secular non-profits), but not all religious leaders are like him.
If you've lost your job, you're tithing 10% of zero. If you still have a job, still making bank, and you know your fellow congregants have lost jobs and are turning to the church for help with their rent, etc, is that a good time for you to decide you need to preserve cash for your own household? Now, should one tithe from their stimulus check? Personally, I'd say no. The stimulus is not your fruit. You didn't earn it. Just like if the deaconate gave you $500 to help you pay the rent, it wouldn't make sense to turn around and give $50 back. That money is effectively charity so you need not tithe from it. Of course, you can if you want. Don't know if folks feel differently.
