greetings and happy Sunday to you my friends here, so sorry that I have not been able to post yesterday because of network problems. I hope we are all in the same train trying to put in our individual best to the growth of this platform.
I am so worried about this particular issue that I am about to discuss with you guys here, often time I see alot of prominent men of God, individuals drag this issue of tithing in the church and I begin to ponder about it. The holy book which is holy Bible said a lot about this tithing and also talked about arms giving and thanksgiving. But right now, what I want to share with you is the tithe and tithing and how some men of God present it to their followers . I am not in any way trying to say that my opinion which I am about to share with you is the best and must be followed. But I know that you are in a better position to choose and make the right decision on this topic when I am done with my story.
Let me tell you right now, in my own opinion, I do not believe that the method at which this tithe collection by some pastors/ clergy men is the right approach to follow. I will start by saying that any Pastor or clergyman that collects the tithe offering from his members in the church in the disguise of "pay your tithe to me directly is a thief".
Some men of God that trick and compel you to bring in your tithe to them direct so that they will pray to God to release financial blessings on your behalf should not be allowed to be called a men of God. The word of God in Deut: 14 verse 23 and Malachi: 3 verse 10 explained where you have to bring in your tithe to.
God in his benevolence stated in the holy Bible about the laws of tithe in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy chapter 14 verses 22-29) which said;
22. Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
23. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.
24. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away),
25. then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose.
26. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.
27. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
28. At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns,
29. so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
When you go through these verses you will understand that the so purpose of tithe offering and proceeds in the old testament is for you to enjoy with your family in the house of the Lord annually, give out to those that you are better off, the homeless, less privileged and the poor and also for the Levites who were in the temple as servants because they had no other job doing to earn a living.
Some gullible pastors and clergymen in sheep clothing we have in our society today, have refused to adhere to these teachings rather they twist every word to suit their gullible Iife style. I tell you it's really high time we told the truth without fear or favour.
Also in Deuteronomy (chapter 14 verse 23, 25-26) God gave instructions on HOW, WHO and WHERE to eat your tithe, and verse 27-29 instructed you about the people who should not be neglected, also he stated a particular number of years we are to give tithe for these people mentioned.
In all the instructions God gave, he did not mention the Pastors or clergymen, etc in all of his instructions. Read the verses yourself and let the Holy Spirit guide you.
In this present day so many people have been deceived and brainwashed into believing lies rather than truth. Even when the truth is there stirring at their faces, they choose to believe in the lies they have been fed with from their pastors and clergymen.
Some men of God who have derailed from the path of truth now sees church business as a fast and easy money making venture, so they will do all within their power to cover the truth about tithing rather they confuse their members into believing the part that suits them.
My apologies if am sounding disrespectful to your opinion and belief and also I also apologize if I am going contrary to the teachings you already have about tithing.
Also when you read (Malachi chapter 3 verse 6-12), it says here,
6. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
7. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8. “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings.
9. You are under a curse your whole nation because you are robbing me.
10. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
11. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, says the Lord Almighty.
12. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. This portion of bible did not tell you to bring in one tenth of your produce to the temple for your pastor to take, rather it said you should bring it to the store house of the temple.
Because of how lucrative and very profitable the church business have become, they wear suit and polished shoes, go about with security and in the most expense cars and private jets and the same people comes to you and tell you that as a Christian you cannot be poor and prosperity is 100% sure and you will surprised to see some of the church members running to the offering box to drop money into it, all in the name of "I claim the prayers" even go extra length to run and drop money at their feet as they preach to them, the little money they should have used to take care of themselves and family after the program, these gullible men goes in their room and drink red wine, laugh rejoice for a wonderful profit made and you sleep, you that drop your little money will go back and start starving and die in starvation.
The New testament didn't not talk much on tithing rather Jesus Christ was emphasizing on Love and that was why he said he didn't come for the rich but for the poor, to give them hope and to liberate them from the shackles of the wicked one and that was why he took out from the 10 commandments the greatest which is “love your God and love your neighbor as you love yourself” but you that call yourself a pastor or clergy man you now turn the message around and start to feed from the poor, after you siphon their little money from them.
I believe if the right teachings and norms can be looked into and these men of God change their old ways of life and embrace true teaching and practice, the world will be a better place.
Thank you for coming by and reading my article.🙏
Indeed religion is just a way for some people to fool others, as you said, a business. To whom should we give tithes then if we can't trust to give it to the leaders? Many leave the church because of what they see others do. It's not hard to unsee or to have a blind eye.