will you cease to give

[Full Quiver]

There is word that a bill before Congress now will eliminate the tax deduction for giving to charitable organizations? Will this hurt churches? Will you give less, more, or the same? Do you even consider the tax deduction?

Personally I don't consider the tax deduct UNLESS I am asking someone to donate and then I offer them a receipt.

[one love]

tax deductions are meaningless to my giving to the Lord. I think it will hinder giving to the poor and those that run NON-Profit organizations, such as food shelters etc.

[Pastor Bill]

I don't think it will effect personal giving from the majority of people, BUT it will most likely cut the giving by major corporations and the very wealthy, as much of their giving is for that tax break. Especially in this economy it'll would be harder to explain why you are laying people off while also donating amounts well over their salaries to someone else.

[RamboPreacher]

no.

[rough_rider]

no.

Ditto!

[nobodyyouknow]

While this may trickle down over time with the huge spending that is going on I believe that now that is just for people making over $250,000 per year. Also it will limit the amount of interest paid on home loans as well as charitable contributions and not totally eliminate it. I expect we will start seeing taxes increase on almost everything because we are about to spend a fortune as a government.

[Paully_44]

Do you even consider the tax deduction?

Of course I do. At this time, it is a tax deduction and i utilize it fully. However, if the deductions were no longer allowed, it wouldnt affect the amount I give.

[bibleguy]

It may have a lesser affect on us here on Jude2, but it will certainly affect the American Christian world as a whole. I have been expecting this, as happened in Egypt, "Make the same bricks, just get your own straw."

Churches register as "charitable organizations," but is that what the fundamental definition of the church is meant to be? (Yes, pure religion and undefiled is visiting the widows and fatherless, but while we are called to do good to all men as we have opportunity, is that the be all and end all of God's calling on His bride.) As such, seeing we have so defined ourselves to the State, we will be required to continue that work, only now with diminshed support due to the removal of tax incentives.

[Pastor Bill]

I still say this is not going to effect churches as much, because most individuals don't give in order to get the deductions, as the amount they give in a year isn't going to make a huge difference. In fact it won't get them back more than they gave.

Where it is going to impact is the large companies that do need the tax breaks, and the extremely wealthy. So far they aren't putting it in the offering plates at my church, what about yours?

This probably won't hurt churches half as much as other charities, because those that are faithfully giving will continue as their income allows and their faith holds.

[Mike Vande]

With a liberal president in office, and a liberal congress backing him up, do you really think the first legalized tool for social engineering and wealth redistribution is going to go away? Not likely. The flat tax has been held up precisely because the liberals believe if there is no selfish reason for those horrible rich people to give money to charities, they won't, and they are probably right. And, they can't deprive the churches of charitable deduction status without leaving themselves wide open for charges of discrimination.
Nah, it won't happen anytime soon.