A majority of US pastors don't subscribe to the biblical commandment of tithing 10 per cent of your income, a new study has revealed. 

Published by polling company Barna, the Revisiting the Tithe & Offering study found that out only 33 per cent of pastors surveyed, agreed with the traditional ten per cent. 

Around 21 per cent of pastors didn't have a clear share of money that Christians should give but said it should be "enough to be considered sacrificial" while 20 per cent said Christians should give as much they are willing.  

For most pastors in the US, giving outside the church it is not considered tithing, while 70 per cent said tithing doesn't necessarily have to be financial. 

The study also revealed the concept of tithing is not "well understood" by Christians. 

According to the report, only 43 per cent of Christians can decisively define what tithing means. 

That figure grows to 59 per cent when it comes to practising Christians, while 18 per cent of church goers said they are able to recognise the term but can't define it. 

One in five said they wouldn't be able to say what tithing means.

The study also revealed 21 per cent of those who identified as Christians said they set aside ten per cent or more of their salary for tithing while 25 per cent said they .. give at all.  

When it comes to US adults, 39 per cent of those surveyed said they were "familiar" with the term but the same percentage say they are "unfamiliar" with the term. 

The 22 per cent left said they recognise the term but cannot recall its meaning.