Nate tackles tithing mandates, Thanksgiving myths, and women pastors with biblical precision

Is Tithing Biblical? Thanksgiving History & Can Women Be Pastors?

What happens when your church stops just short of calling tithing a commandment but strongly implies you are being disobedient if you do not give ten percent? Nate heard exactly that kind of message and decided it was time to address whether is tithing biblical command or simply a principle worth following. Add in a history lesson about the first Thanksgiving that might surprise you, plus a deep dive into whether women can be pastors, and you have got two hours of theological clarity with zero apologies. Here is what unfolded.

Is Tithing Biblical Command? The Scriptural Answer

The short answer is no. Tithing is not a New Testament command for believers today. Nate walks through every major passage used to support mandatory tithing and shows why they do not hold up. Cain and Abel’s offerings in Genesis 4 were voluntary, not commanded. Abraham’s one-time gift of a tenth in Genesis 14 came after a military victory and was never repeated. Jacob’s vow in Genesis 28 was conditional and personal. Even under the Mosaic Law, the tithe was not ten percent but closer to twenty-two to thirty-three percent of agricultural produce for Israelite farmers. None of this applies to Gentile Christians under the New Covenant.

The biblical standard for New Testament giving is found in 2 Corinthians 9:7: each person should give what they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Nate personally tithes ten percent and believes the principle has value, but he draws a hard line against teaching it as obedience or commandment. If you want to explore more on what the Bible really says about tithing, GotQuestions provides a helpful breakdown of Old Testament versus New Testament giving.

The Thanksgiving Story You Were Not Taught

Should Christians celebrate Thanksgiving given the complicated history between colonists and Native Americans? Nate says absolutely yes, and here is why. The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was not a celebration of conquest but a feast of genuine cooperation between the Plymouth Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people led by Massasoit. They had a formal peace treaty and helped each other survive. That peace lasted fifty-four years until King Philip’s War broke out in 1675 after Massasoit died and colonial expansion created unbearable pressure. The revisionist narrative that paints Thanksgiving as a celebration of genocide ignores the actual history of mutual need and alliance. Christians have every reason to gather, give thanks to God for His provision, and remember that even in a fallen world, moments of peace and cooperation are worth honoring. For a fuller exploration of what Christians should focus on during Thanksgiving, GotQuestions offers solid biblical perspective.

Can Women Be Pastors? The Bible Is Clear

The third major topic of this episode tackles whether women can serve as pastors or elders in the church. Nate walks through 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:5-9, which repeatedly use masculine pronouns and specifically state that an overseer must be “the husband of one wife.” Paul explains his reasoning in 1 Timothy 2:13-14: Adam was formed first, then Eve, and Eve was deceived. Whether modern readers like that explanation or not, it is the apostolic reasoning given. Women served powerfully as deaconesses like Phoebe, prophetesses, and judges like Deborah, but none of those roles are equivalent to the office of elder or overseer. Nate points out the inconsistency of pastors who demand obedience to tithing while ignoring the plain qualifications for church leadership. If we are going to take Scripture seriously, we take it seriously across the board. For more biblical discussions on church structure and leadership, explore our Theology Unpacked category.