In this episode of the Ask A Christian Podcast, host Nate tackles two hot-button issues that keep showing up in church: Is tithing really a biblical command? And should Christians celebrate Thanksgiving given the complicated history with Native Americans? On the tithing front, Nate heard yet another sermon that technically didn't call the 10% tithe a command—but strongly implied you're being disobedient if you don't give it. Sound familiar? Here's the thing: Nate actually tithes 10% and believes in the principle, but he's drawing a hard line against treating it as a mandatory commandment. We dig deep into what the Bible actually says, from Cain and Abel's offerings to Abraham's one-time gift, through the Levitical law (which was actually 22-23%, not 10%), and into New Testament giving principles like 2 Corinthians 9:7, which teaches that giving should be voluntary and cheerful, not under compulsion GotQuestions. The key question: Can churches demand obedience to something God never commanded? We walk through every major scripture on tithing—Genesis 4, Genesis 14, Leviticus 27, Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 14, Malachi 3, 2 Corinthians 9, Hebrews 7, and more—to show why the tithe is not a New Testament command. But we also explain why generous, first-fruits giving is still a powerful biblical principle worth practicing. Then we pivot to Thanksgiving. Is it okay for Christians to celebrate, or does the dark history of colonialism make it problematic? The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was actually a moment of cooperation between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people, marking 54 years of peace GotQuestions before things tragically fell apart. We explore the real history (spoiler: it's more nuanced than your elementary school pageant suggested) and explain why Christians can—and should—use this day to genuinely thank God for His blessings. We also tackle the woman pastors debate (because apparently these topics always come in pairs). Nate breaks down 1 Timothy 2-3, Titus 1, and why "husband of one wife" means exactly what it says—plus why the Junia debate doesn't change the clear qualifications for church elders. Bottom line: Read your Bible. Take it seriously. Don't add commands God didn't give, and don't remove the ones He did. Whether it's tithing, Thanksgiving, or church leadership, accuracy to Scripture matters more than tradition or convenience. For more content, visit: https://www.askachristianpodcast.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:08 - What does the Bible say about tithing? 04:47 - Why Nate believes in tithing but opposes teaching it as a command 07:24 - The slippery slope of implying obedience without saying "command" 09:28 - Tithing before the law: Cain and Abel's offerings 13:17 - Abraham's one-time tithe in Genesis 14 16:34 - Jacob's conditional vow 17:00 - The Levitical tithe system (22-33%, not 10%) 18:00 - New Testament giving: 2 Corinthians 9:7 23:11 - Malachi 3:8-10: Testing God in giving 28:22 - Levitical, festival, and poor tithes explained 33:42 - Should Christians celebrate Thanksgiving? 37:16 - History lesson: The first Thanksgiving in 1621 39:01 - 54 years of peace between Pilgrims and Wampanoag 40:47 - Why the peace collapsed: King Philip's War (1675-1676) 48:37 - What Christians should be thankful for 123:40 - Can women be pastors? The biblical case examined 1:41:48 - The Junia debate in Romans 16:7 1:54:07 - Closing thoughts: Just read the Bible HASHTAGS #AskAChristianPodcast #Tithing #BiblicalGiving #ChurchOffering #Christianity #BibleStudy #ChristianStewardship #Thanksgiving #WomenPastors #ChurchLeadership #BibleTeaching #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndFinances #1Timothy2 #ChristianLife
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