Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/8/2009

Question
I want to write something that my pastor said last week. I only know exactly because I have the tape. Now that I listened to it a few times I have a question.
__
"...God works miracles but he wants obedience. Today God is telling many people in this church to sow a seed. This isn't about money, this is not about dollars and cents and checkbooks. This is purely about obedience and God wants some of you; most of you to sow a seed. He doesn't specify an amount; give this much, give that much but God works miracles. Do you want a 99 cent miracle or a 99 dollar miracle? What about a thousand dollar miracle? It's up to you. You get what you pay for, am I right? Sow that seed and watch miracles happen before you even get home... You pay to see a those pop singers and rock singers but you won't pay to see a miracle?..."
____

This took me a while to get word for word but I had to, because I don't know if I should say something to my pastor or if I am just missing the point. I am only a 17 year old guy but I am President of my youth ministry. It seems like my pastor is saying we can buy miracles but I am probably misunderstanding. Please help am I being too critical or do I have a valid concern to talk to the pastor?  

Answer
Hi Coral,

Thank you for this great question.  I am very sorry for my late response.  I have several thoughts that may help.

First of all, any time that you are bothered by a message, you should talk to your pastor, not to get him to account for his words, but so that you can understand him better.  I can see where you may think that he is saying you can buy the power of God... If that is actually what he is saying, I believe that he is wrong.  I just can't imagine that he is actually teaching that.

A few verses he may be thinking of are the following:

Malachi 3:10-11
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Matthew 9:29
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2 Corinthians 9:6
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

These verses do indicate that if you have a little faith, then you will have little miracles... if you have great faith, you will have great miracles.  When it comes to money, if you give a little, God will reward in kind, if you give excersizing great faith, God will reward in kind.  You are not paying for miracles per se, you are excersizing faith.

I hope that this helps.  I do think you should talk to your pastor so he has the chance to teach you more directly... just do not come in a confrontational manner, but a teachable manner.

In Christ
Pastor Don