Mr. Vinson

I go to the Nazarene church. (Do you know of this denomination?) Our pastor is a good man, but once in a great while he will preach about tithing. My brother and I were questioning the reasons behind this. It seems to us that if tithing were of utmost necessity in God’s mind, He would really stress it more often.

My question is: in your experience, do you think “pastors” as a whole, in their reasoning; really teach tithing as a biblical principle, having been taught and won’t buck the system, or as lack of faith that money will be provided for their church, building fund or whatever?

I just can’t believe that any man (preacher) that is trying to do the right thing would not really be sure he is giving good instruction (tithing, sabbaths etc.) before preaching it. That to me would be a frightful thing to do.

Thanks

M____

Hi M____,

I’m sure there are different reasons why different pastors teach tithing. All the reasons you mention are an incentive for a minister to teach tithing.

Contrary to the teachings of orthodox Christianity, the law is an all or nothing at all proposition. You cannot pick and choose what parts of the law of Moses you think should still be lived and preached.

Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

This is the hardest subject in scripture to understand. I have written a long paper on this subject entitled ‘The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit.’ Check out that paper if you have any questions about the place and function of the law of Moses.

Paul’s answer to your question is that most pastors are “ravening wolves, not sparing the flock.” I’m sure there are exceptions to this rule, but that is the rule.

Mike