Ask The Pastor
February 2008


If Noah's family (members) were the only people saved from the flood and God told them to be fruitful and multiply, wouldn't that be incest - which is a sin - so why would God do that?

Your question is age-old. The problem is, you are trying to view the situation through the eyes of one living under the law of the land today. Romans 5:13 says: "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law."

You cannot judge what they did back then by today's standards. It would be sin now because of our law, but in that moment sin could not be imputed because there was no written law yet. They had no yard stick to measure their behavior by; and besides, this is what God told them to do to remedy the situation on the planet. This is one where we have to trust God and out our own views aside.

 

My husband and I are faithful tithers, giving 10% of our gross income every week. We want to be faithful and obey God's word. We have had many discussions with family and friends, and everyone has a differing opinion. When we receive our income tax return, should we also tithe on this, or could it be considered a seed? Some say that because we have tithed on our gross throughout the year that we have already tithed on the return we receive. We want to continue to be faithful and do what God expects of us. Can you give some insight?

Because you tithed on your gross income you have already paid tithes on your tax return, since the overage you paid the government was part of the amount you based your tithes on. Now it's up to you whether you want to give from that return. If you do, it is a seed or an offering. It's good to be so careful to obey the Word.