The Substack Tithe
When and how to pay it forward
We step to the side of our regular programming today to put a name to something that’s on my mind lately. I’m talking about The Substack Tithe, by which I mean the time, talent, and treasure that Substackers choose to invest in building up others on the platform.
There is a widespread sense of community on Substack, which makes this a natural place where a writer with paid subscriptions can set aside 10% (or another percentage) of revenue to subscribe to other Substacks, especially smaller ones that do not have immediate utility for the donor. This is one way to manifest The Tithe. It’s not the only one.
Tithing is an ancient tradition, and for those who are wondering How can I pay it forward? How much is enough? Or too much? a little history of that tradition could provide some guidance.
In parts of the ancient middle east, farmers and warriors gave one-tenth of their produce or their spoils of war to gods or kings. A tithe was a “tenth” in Old English; Hebrew, Greek, and other languages had words with similar meanings, related to the portion of a tenth part.
In the Old Testament, the patriarch of Jews, Abram, gives “a tenth of everything” to the priest Melchizedek, who blesses him after a military victory (Genesis 14: 18-20). In the New Testament, Christ chastises people who tithe by law but fail to practice “justice and mercy and good faith” (Matthew 23:23).
A similar principle to this last one is articulated in the Tao Te Ching, part 38: “A man of the highest virtue does not keep to virtue and that is why he has virtue. A man of lowest virtue never strays from virtue and that is why he is without virtue.” In the paradox from the Tao Te Ching as in the passage from Matthew, the highest virtue does not come from following rules of virtue, such as a 10% tithe; it comes from internalizing the Tao, or good faith, or “The Way.”
All of these wisdom books suggest that the offer of a percentage of one’s produce or income must be voluntary and secondary to good faith, humility, and thanksgiving. The person who tithes acknowledges that they have been on the receiving end of good fortune or blessing, and they give some of it back. The point is to experience relations of abundance with a mindset of good faith and virtue.
In the ancient tradition of “the tenth,” only people with property tithed. Poor people were on the receiving end of other people’s tithes.
In the American Episcopal and some other church traditions, voluntary tithes are reckoned not only in “treasure,” but also in “time” and “talent.” One gives what one can by any means.
In the three months I’ve been most active on Substack, since Notes launched, I have observed that the Substack culture combines personal advancement with the advancement of others. Writers grow their readership by boosting and responding to other writers. If it’s not genuine, the new readers fall away, so there is a built-in mechanism to ensure that we seek out fellow writers in whom we have genuine interest and confidence.
The point seems to be entering “the Tao,” the Way, “good faith,” “blessing” — the “set” of mind and spirit that keeps goods flowing in all directions. One puts time, treasure, or talent out in the system in an attitude of faith and trust because one wants to live a life of faith and trust. That’s it. Habitual tithers will say: When your time of need arises, you will be provided for. But the act of giving, at the time of giving, ensures nothing more than voluntary participation in an economy of trust and care.
Your turn:
The comments below are a perfect place to link your Stack or someone else’s if you have or know about:
A page or service that promotes other writers;
An idea for giving time, talent, or treasure without counting the cost;
What your tradition teaches about tithing.
Fascinating. I am still somewhat in a daze about the generosity of this community of writers. I've studied gratitude for several years and concluded that there is a strong bond between gratitude and generosity. It is out of gratitude that generosity flows. Perhaps it's out of the gratitude for this container that holds our writings, that all this generosity springs. All I know is I'm grateful to be here and I want to help all of us succeed in raising our voices. Love the idea that we are a guild ... and a guild takes care of its members. May we continue to find ways to support each other. Thanks, Tara.
At this point I'm a reverse tither. My paid subscriptions coming in are about 10% of those going out! I also try to return others' generosity in recommendations, notes, and comments.