How to Tell the Difference Between Offering and Alms

Offerings and alms are different in how the money is used.

There are three types of monetary giving in Christianity, and a lot of emphasis is placed on giving of one's financial resources. Many Christians, especially clergy, believe that money becomes representative of the self. For example, if you give a certain percentage of your wages to the church, then you are also giving that same percentage of yourself to the church. Telling the difference between monetary gifts is only a matter of how much and where the money is directed.

Instructions

1. Decide who the money is going to. Offerings are delivered to the Church, and alms may go through a religious agency that serves to benefit the poor or to a secular charitable organization directly.

2. Determine what the money is being used for. Offerings are used by the Church to help support its infrastructure. This may include maintaining the staff, supporting repairs of the building, or even creating a new chapel. Offerings are used at the Church's discretion, and you will not have control over where the money goes. Alms, on the other hand, will go directly to aiding the poor. This may include suffering small businesses, homeless individuals, shelters or local orphanages.

3. Determine how often the funds are being donated. Offerings may be given in the form of a large lump sum directly to the Church. Alms, however, are encouraged to be donated on a more regular basis to meet the needs of a constantly suffering population.

Tips & Warnings

• The difference between offerings and tithes is that tithes will be collected during every Sunday church service. The amount of money given is usually significantly less than an offering, though it is expected, according to the Bible, to be 10% of one's earnings.

References

• Faith Writers: What Is the Difference Between the Christian Tithes, Offerings, and Alms?