Romans 13 and Revelation 13

[sojourner]

I haven't itemised deductions in years. I think I did 25 years ago, but it's been so long that I can't remember.

In any case, there is nothing wrong or immoral about deducting a donation.

I think it might actually be wrong NOT to deduct a donation if you are eligible to do so. In the past, contributions were deductible only if the taxpayer itemized, and for most people the standard deduction was more beneficial. But starting in 2026, donations up to $1000 ($2000 married filing jointly) are deductible even if you don't itemize.

The math works like this: Let's say you are married filing jointly, and in the 20% tax bracket. There isn't one, but let's keep the math simple; the principle is the same regardless of the bracket.

You can give $1000 to the church and not take a deduction.

Or you can give $1250 to the church and claim the deduction, which reduces your tax bill by $250 (20% of $1250). The church gets $250 more, the government gets $250 less, and the net cost to you is the same. Why would anyone not do that?

Because you cannot donate in secret. Matt 6:1-4

I suppose if you truly want it done in secret, the receiver shouldn't know about it either should he? At any rate I don't think anyone is giving to the poor and reporting it to the IRS so you can be "seen by them" in order to be "honored by them"

[ken_sylvania]

I think it might actually be wrong NOT to deduct a donation if you are eligible to do so. In the past, contributions were deductible only if the taxpayer itemized, and for most people the standard deduction was more beneficial. But starting in 2026, donations up to $1000 ($2000 married filing jointly) are deductible even if you don't itemize.

The math works like this: Let's say you are married filing jointly, and in the 20% tax bracket. There isn't one, but let's keep the math simple; the principle is the same regardless of the bracket.

You can give $1000 to the church and not take a deduction.

Or you can give $1250 to the church and claim the deduction, which reduces your tax bill by $250 (20% of $1250). The church gets $250 more, the government gets $250 less, and the net cost to you is the same. Why would anyone not do that?

Because you cannot donate in secret. Matt 6:1-4

I suppose if you truly want it done in secret, the receiver shouldn't know about it either should he? At any rate I don't think anyone is giving to the poor and reporting it to the IRS so you can be "seen by them" in order to be "honored by them"

Maybe the tax deduction is their way of honoring donors...

[JohnH]

Because you cannot donate in secret. Matt 6:1-4

Sure you can.

You can donate via a donor advised foundation which costs $100 to set up with Fidelity. Then you can direct donations of stocks, bonds, cash, or other securities. The name of the original donor is not disclosed.

[sojourner]

Because you cannot donate in secret. Matt 6:1-4

I suppose if you truly want it done in secret, the receiver shouldn't know about it either should he? At any rate I don't think anyone is giving to the poor and reporting it to the IRS so you can be "seen by them" in order to be "honored by them"

Maybe the tax deduction is their way of honoring donors...

I suppose I can't speak for others. I see it as an opportunity to give in a way that actually helps someone in need as opposed to giving it to the government and whatever they are going to use it for.
I'm also not announcing my giving in the streets with trumpets.
Actually, in full disclosure, I never have in fact, reported my charitable giving to the IRS. (I plan to take a look at that tho. Changes may be forthcoming.)
I just think Matt 6 is being misunderstand.
God wants us to give for the right reasons.
The emphasis is on giving from a heart that is in the right place.
If your giving in secret than there's a good chance your doing it for the right reasons.

[JohnH]

You can now deduct $1000 per person as a deduction even if you don’t itemize.

Most plain people can’t take advantage of this since most plain people have so many kids they don’t owe any taxes anyway.

[JohnHurt]

Because you cannot donate in secret. Matt 6:1-4

I suppose if you truly want it done in secret, the receiver shouldn't know about it either should he? At any rate I don't think anyone is giving to the poor and reporting it to the IRS so you can be "seen by them" in order to be "honored by them"

I handed an envelope with some cash "in secret" to a friend whose apartment burned down and he knew that is was my donation to him. He told everyone about the gift, thinking it would honor me. If anything, it was not honor but created a false pride. I don't do that anymore. I should have slipped it to him anonymously.

You have to follow the instructions of Christ perfectly, or it will cause other problems.

I used to give 10% of my income to the church in the form of a check. I had a good income at the time. In every church I attended, they would ask me to sit on the church board or give me some sort of honorary position. I really thought it was because I was knowledgeable about the Bible that they would give me these honors. The real reason is that they saw my checks, with the amounts and my name on it. It was not in secret, as Christ said.

My friend who also knew the Bible very well would never even be recognized at any church, and was always treated like a stranger. If he never came back, they did not care. I asked him about his donations to the church, and he said he never gave them any money, but gave direct to the needy in secret. So he was never caught up in the "church system." He was free.

I was always deceived by the "church system" and really got caught up in the politics and drama that happened there. My friend was only caught up in Christ. I finally figured it out after many years of various issues that money always brings.

So to get this "straight", let's read the instructions that Christ gave:

Matthew 6:(1) Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

(2) Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

(3) But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

(4) That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

No reward from the Father if anyone knows about your donation. Don't even let your other hand, your own self, know what you are doing. Nobody.
If you do it correctly, then Christ said the Father will reward you openly.

If you are giving to a church openly so that you can have the honor of men, then the honor of men is your only reward.

I don't see how it is so hard to follow these instructions.

Anonymous giving is quite fun. You can act quite surprised when they find it and try to figure out who did it. You can also make it look like it came from someone else.

It is even easier with people you don't know, or live in another part of the world that you will never see again.

Giving in the Name of Christ is also a good thing. If I help someone I don't know, (it doesn't always have to be money), I tell them that Jesus told me to do it. Since they don't know me and will never see me again, I won't get any honor of men.

[JohnHurt]

Because you cannot donate in secret. Matt 6:1-4

Sure you can.

You can donate via a donor advised foundation which costs $100 to set up with Fidelity. Then you can direct donations of stocks, bonds, cash, or other securities. The name of the original donor is not disclosed.

The Foundation would know.

[JohnHurt]

I suppose if you truly want it done in secret, the receiver shouldn't know about it either should he? At any rate I don't think anyone is giving to the poor and reporting it to the IRS so you can be "seen by them" in order to be "honored by them"

Maybe the tax deduction is their way of honoring donors...

I suppose I can't speak for others. I see it as an opportunity to give in a way that actually helps someone in need as opposed to giving it to the government and whatever they are going to use it for.
I'm also not announcing my giving in the streets with trumpets.
Actually, in full disclosure, I never have in fact, reported my charitable giving to the IRS. (I plan to take a look at that tho. Changes may be forthcoming.)
I just think Matt 6 is being misunderstand.
God wants us to give for the right reasons.
The emphasis is on giving from a heart that is in the right place.
If your giving in secret than there's a good chance your doing it for the right reasons.

That is a great witness.
If you tell the IRS about your charitable donations then it is not in secret.

It is the same money, the same amount of sacrifice, regardless of how you give it.
Why not try giving it like Christ said and see if the "Father rewards you openly?"

Yes, let's put ourselves to the test of what Christ has instructed, and see what He has said about the Father's rewards (which won't be money, power, fame, lands, or all that.)
The reward might be Psalms 127:3-5, or one of the many other rewards of our Father, much better than money.

[JohnHurt]

You can now deduct $1000 per person as a deduction even if you don’t itemize.

Most plain people can’t take advantage of this since most plain people have so many kids they don’t owe any taxes anyway.

That would be a good reason not to tell the IRS about your Christian charity.

[JohnH]

You can now deduct $1000 per person as a deduction even if you don’t itemize.

Most plain people can’t take advantage of this since most plain people have so many kids they don’t owe any taxes anyway.

That would be a good reason not to tell the IRS about your Christian charity.

If your Christian charity meets certain thresholds, it is unlawful not to file a proper return. If it is a church you don't have to file anything.

I don't think wilfully breaking the law is a good idea when there is no compelling reason to do so.