Every pastor who collects tithes is nothing but “a thief and a robber.”

As far as many pastors are concerned, the most important scripture of all is not to be found in the word of Jesus. Neither is it even in the New Testament. That scripture says: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’” (Malachi 3:10).

This scripture is drummed repeatedly into Christians on Sundays. However, the only time Jesus mentioned tithing in scripture, he pointed out that it was not a weighty matter of the law. (Matthew 23:23). Hebrews says people only receive tithes “according to the law.” (Hebrews 7:5). It then insists tithing (and everything else under the law) has been annulled: “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless.” (Hebrews 7:18-19). Nevertheless, mercenary pastors continue to insist on the payment of tithes.

Latter-day Pharisees

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for keeping part instead of the whole law. (Matthew 23:23). That is what tithe-collecting pastors do today. If we insist our congregants must pay tithes, we must also insist that they keep the rest of the law. James says: “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10). Therefore, if we insist on tithing, we should also refrain from eating pork. We should stone adulterers, execute homosexuals, kill Sabbath violators and restore blood-sacrifices.

Tithe-collecting pastors counter this by maintaining the payment of tithes pre-dated the law. Here Abraham is cited as the cardinal example of someone who paid tithes before the promulgation of the Law of Moses, as did Jacob, his grandson. However, such arguments are disingenuous.

Before the law, tithing was at best an example but not a commandment. Moreover, pastors fail to mention that Abraham only tithed once in his lifetime. When he did, he did not even tithe his own money: he tithed the spoils of war. He gave ten percent of the plunder he took when he rescued Lot to Melchisedec, king of Salem. But then he did not even keep the rest but returned it (all ninety percent) to the king of Sodom.

For his part, Jacob also tithed only once. He did this in a “let’s make a deal” arrangement he offered to God: “Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.’” (Genesis 28:20-22). This kind of deal about accepting God only under certain self-serving conditions should certainly not be a term of reference for any serious believer.

Lies upon lies

The first lie pastors tell Christians is what some have referred to as “the eleventh commandment:” “Thou shalt pay thy tithes to thy local church.” But the bible says no such thing. The storehouse of Malachi was not a church. It was a place where food was kept.

Pastors hide from church-members the fact that money was not acceptable as tithe. The tithe was a tenth of the seed and fruit of the land and of the animals which ate of the land. (Leviticus 27:30-32). That is why God says: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be FOOD in my house.” (Malachi 3:10). He does not say “that there may be MONEY in my house.” The food was used to feed the Levites, the poor, widows, orphans and strangers.

Pastors also conveniently fail to teach the biblical tithe. The principles of tithing were not laid down by Malachi. They were laid down by Moses. The study of Moses’ guidelines quickly reveals that the biblical tithe has no application whatsoever to Christians and is mischievously violated by tithe-collecting pastors today.

According to the Law of Moses, the tithe was divided into three allocations. The first year, it was given to the Levite. The second year, it was given to widows, orphans and the poor. The third year, it was eaten in the company of the faithful before the Lord as thanksgiving for his faithfulness. (Deuteronomy 14:22-28). In the seventh year, there was no planting and no reaping and therefore no tithing.

So the next time your pastor asks you to pay tithe, ask him about the seventh-year reprieve. Also ask him if you can give your tithe to the orphanage, or bring it as food items to be eaten in church. Believe me; he will not agree with you because it is your money he is after.

Inapplicability of tithes

Tithing was only applicable to Jews and to the land of Israel. When large populations of Jews lived in Babylon, Ammon, Moab, Egypt, and Syria, these lands became tithe-able lands. However, tithes were not acceptable from strictly Gentile lands. So you need to ask your pastor how come he is collecting tithes in Nigeria.

Servants or slaves who worked on the land did not tithe because the land did not belong to them. Since only agricultural and animal resources were included, a fisherman gave no tithe of his fisheries. Neither did a miner or a carpenter pay tithes, nor anyone from the various professional occupations. So if you are not a farmer or a keeper of livestock, tell your 419 pastor tithing is biblically inapplicable to you.

Moreover, the only people authorised to receive tithes were the Levites. (Hebrews 7:5). So if your Pastor is a “tithe-collector,” ask him if he happens to be a Jew. Remind him that, even though a Jew, Jesus could not receive the tithe because he was not from the tribe of Levi but from that of Judah.

The trick, of course, is for pastors today to claim we are “Levites.” If your pastor is one such dissembler, ask him if he lives as a Levite. Remind him that Levites had no land and did not have private property. Ask him also how he knows he is from the tribe of Levi, which happens to be one of the lost tribes of Israel. Point out to him that even Jewish rabbis don’t claim to be Levites today because all Jewish genealogical records were lost with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, ensuring that it is no longer possible to ascertain the true identity of Levites.

Therefore, if Jews no longer tithe because the Levites are a lost tribe, how can Christian pastors collect tithes when we are not even Jewish, how much more Levites? If Jewish rabbis, whose terms of reference remain the Old Testament no longer collect tithes, then pastors who insist Christians are under a New Testament have no business doing so.

The conclusion then is inescapable. Every pastor who collects tithes is nothing but “a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1).

Every pastor who collects tithes is nothing but “a thief and a robber.”

As far as many pastors are concerned, the most important scripture of all is not to be found in the word of Jesus. Neither is it even in the New Testament. That scripture says: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’” (Malachi 3:10).

This scripture is drummed repeatedly into Christians on Sundays. However, the only time Jesus mentioned tithing in scripture, he pointed out that it was not a weighty matter of the law. (Matthew 23:23). Hebrews says people only receive tithes “according to the law.” (Hebrews 7:5). It then insists tithing (and everything else under the law) has been annulled: “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless.” (Hebrews 7:18-19). Nevertheless, mercenary pastors continue to insist on the payment of tithes.

Latter-day Pharisees

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for keeping part instead of the whole law. (Matthew 23:23). That is what tithe-collecting pastors do today. If we insist our congregants must pay tithes, we must also insist that they keep the rest of the law. James says: “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10). Therefore, if we insist on tithing, we should also refrain from eating pork. We should stone adulterers, execute homosexuals, kill Sabbath violators and restore blood-sacrifices.

Tithe-collecting pastors counter this by maintaining the payment of tithes pre-dated the law. Here Abraham is cited as the cardinal example of someone who paid tithes before the promulgation of the Law of Moses, as did Jacob, his grandson. However, such arguments are disingenuous.

Before the law, tithing was at best an example but not a commandment. Moreover, pastors fail to mention that Abraham only tithed once in his lifetime. When he did, he did not even tithe his own money: he tithed the spoils of war. He gave ten percent of the plunder he took when he rescued Lot to Melchisedec, king of Salem. But then he did not even keep the rest but returned it (all ninety percent) to the king of Sodom.

For his part, Jacob also tithed only once. He did this in a “let’s make a deal” arrangement he offered to God: “Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.’” (Genesis 28:20-22). This kind of deal about accepting God only under certain self-serving conditions should certainly not be a term of reference for any serious believer.

Lies upon lies

The first lie pastors tell Christians is what some have referred to as “the eleventh commandment:” “Thou shalt pay thy tithes to thy local church.” But the bible says no such thing. The storehouse of Malachi was not a church. It was a place where food was kept.

Pastors hide from church-members the fact that money was not acceptable as tithe. The tithe was a tenth of the seed and fruit of the land and of the animals which ate of the land. (Leviticus 27:30-32). That is why God says: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be FOOD in my house.” (Malachi 3:10). He does not say “that there may be MONEY in my house.” The food was used to feed the Levites, the poor, widows, orphans and strangers.

Pastors also conveniently fail to teach the biblical tithe. The principles of tithing were not laid down by Malachi. They were laid down by Moses. The study of Moses’ guidelines quickly reveals that the biblical tithe has no application whatsoever to Christians and is mischievously violated by tithe-collecting pastors today.

According to the Law of Moses, the tithe was divided into three allocations. The first year, it was given to the Levite. The second year, it was given to widows, orphans and the poor. The third year, it was eaten in the company of the faithful before the Lord as thanksgiving for his faithfulness. (Deuteronomy 14:22-28). In the seventh year, there was no planting and no reaping and therefore no tithing.

So the next time your pastor asks you to pay tithe, ask him about the seventh-year reprieve. Also ask him if you can give your tithe to the orphanage, or bring it as food items to be eaten in church. Believe me; he will not agree with you because it is your money he is after.

Inapplicability of tithes

Tithing was only applicable to Jews and to the land of Israel. When large populations of Jews lived in Babylon, Ammon, Moab, Egypt, and Syria, these lands became tithe-able lands. However, tithes were not acceptable from strictly Gentile lands. So you need to ask your pastor how come he is collecting tithes in Nigeria.

Servants or slaves who worked on the land did not tithe because the land did not belong to them. Since only agricultural and animal resources were included, a fisherman gave no tithe of his fisheries. Neither did a miner or a carpenter pay tithes, nor anyone from the various professional occupations. So if you are not a farmer or a keeper of livestock, tell your 419 pastor tithing is biblically inapplicable to you.

Moreover, the only people authorised to receive tithes were the Levites. (Hebrews 7:5). So if your Pastor is a “tithe-collector,” ask him if he happens to be a Jew. Remind him that, even though a Jew, Jesus could not receive the tithe because he was not from the tribe of Levi but from that of Judah.

The trick, of course, is for pastors today to claim we are “Levites.” If your pastor is one such dissembler, ask him if he lives as a Levite. Remind him that Levites had no land and did not have private property. Ask him also how he knows he is from the tribe of Levi, which happens to be one of the lost tribes of Israel. Point out to him that even Jewish rabbis don’t claim to be Levites today because all Jewish genealogical records were lost with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, ensuring that it is no longer possible to ascertain the true identity of Levites.

Therefore, if Jews no longer tithe because the Levites are a lost tribe, how can Christian pastors collect tithes when we are not even Jewish, how much more Levites? If Jewish rabbis, whose terms of reference remain the Old Testament no longer collect tithes, then pastors who insist Christians are under a New Testament have no business doing so.

The conclusion then is inescapable. Every pastor who collects tithes is nothing but “a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1).

http://news.naij.com/33156.html

Whenever I say these to my friends, most of the time drawing my argument from Levticus, they always end up telling the devil dey use me. But in the end, we shall know who is being used by the devil. If tithes and offerings are removed from churches, I bet 99 per cent of our pastors will run away from being pastors and the remaining 1 per cent will be the true men of God. Happy private jetting Sunday to all.

tpacalipse: Whenever I say these to my friends, most of the time drawing my argument from Levticus, they always end up telling the devil dey use me. But in the end, we shall know who is being used by the devil. If tithes and offerings are removed from churches, I bet 99 per cent of our pastors will run away from being pastors and the remaining 1 per cent will be the true men of God. Happy private jetting Sunday to all.

may God forgive your ignorance as it is not all pastors that depend on tithe or offerings for survival.

Good day peeps,

Didn't have time to go through the OP...

I don't believe every MoG who collects tithes is a thief...

This article has certainly gone viral it's being published on so many blogs as we speak and being shared on social media at the speed of light. this might indeed be the tonic that would cause a paradigm shift in Nigeria and church members would start to openly challenge preachers when they preach this fraudulent doctrine.

The holy spirit is at work.

People are finally finding truth for themselves...

1 Corinthians 9:14 - "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel".

Even though several 'men of God' have abused the ministry of money collections and exploited it for their selfish purpose, we would be operating in almost the same level of error to label every pastor that collect tithes a thief.

Pastors request for money collections to support the aspects of ministry (church maintenance, outreach projects, etc) and to also support themselves. Yep, you heard that right. THE OFFERINGS ARE TO SPENT BY THE PASTORS. That is what operated in the Levitical era. The grey area - which is where, I believe, ethics and morality should come into play - is HOW MUCH money should they spend on themselves. If the church gives an offering of $1 million, does that mean they should splurge on a Ferrari or some other luxury piece of property? That is the real issue we should be dealing with as a church, not whether we should make money offerings or not. Most of the time, people singing this "don't pay tithes" thing are not really seeking the mind of God but just want to pursue their own selfish agenda, and keep all their money to themselves.
Notice I'm doing my best to steer clear of the 'tithe' label. That's because the tithing requirement of the law, as far as I've been able to read in the Bible, was fulfilled in Christ. But money collections for servants in the Lord's vineyard was never removed and will always continue till the end of time.

^^^
No one as said giving offerings in church is wrong, what we condemn is the preaching and extortion of tithes to and from christians. Don't mix up the two.

Pastor Kun: ^^^
No one as said giving offerings in church is wrong, what we condemn is the preaching and extortion of tithes to and from christians. Don't mix up the two.

Right.

But the speed with which everyone is jumping on the bandwagon is a bit disturbing. And considering that this is coming from Mr Femi Aribisala, whose 'Faith and religion' weekly articles in the now defunct 234NEXT newspapers were extremely controversial and indicative of one who doesn't adhere to the mainstream Christian faith. Already I've noticed 2 TOPICS in the Nairaland religious section based on this discourse of his. We need to be careful of who we are endorsing, and with what ideology we are aligning ourselves. And I still insist that his claim is too sweeping. It is NOT every pastor that allows a tithe collection in his church that has a selfish agenda or can be referred to as a thief.

^^^ :
Need to be careful about what? What is at steak here, your livelihood and the hordes of rapacious hayenas calling themselves mog?

Shouldn't everyone , especially the exploited, deserve to be enlightened?
Isn't this discussion long overdue.
It is barely starting and you are already pooing on your pants.
He he he.

@mollie. If u dont have anything in support of the thread to say then pls leave.

Segeggs: @mollie. If u dont have anything in support of the thread to say then pls leave.

Hi Seseggs,
pls dont be a dictator.i dont support tithe too but i wont begrudge mollie his/her right to air an opinion.this is meant to be a discussion not a lecture.If you wanted only support for your idea,you could have asked the OP to indicate on the heading.

pls kindly tolerate other view points

thanks and God bless

hmmmm....

Segeggs: @mollie. If u dont have anything in support of the thread to say then pls leave.

I think I'll say something against it. Do you plan to tell me to leave as well?

@op

Tithes are Scriptural as are free will offerings. I did not believe this or accept it until about two/three weeks ago or so. But a dear sister on this forum said some things that forced me to pay attention in addition to things that were changing in my life at the time.

If anyone is unwilling to pay tithes, they are free not to and to reap whatever is due to their abstinence. If they are willing, on the other hand, they are also free to pay and to reap whatever comes with it. That is just the Scripture.

However, just as some people in the days of Paul preached the Gospel (a good and praiseworthy thing) out of envy (an evil thing) to spite him (another evil thing), there are those today who preach tithing (a good and praiseworthy thing) out of greed and covetousness (very evil things) to enrich themselves (another evil). We must therefore be careful to avoid throwing the baby away with the bath water. As Paul Himself said, whether out of envy, covetousness or greed or not, the Gospel is preached.

These are days of gross disobedience and rebellion. The children are not very willing to have parents anymore, they would rather have people to stroke their egos and tell them what they want to hear, but the way of peace is the way of obedience, the path of humility and submission to authority set over us. After all, only he that is truly submissive can truly correct an erring authority.

Grace be with all God's children.

So many words, very little content.. Like beef burger without the condiments..

Really?

Ihedinobi: Really?

Oga, don't pay him any attention. I wonder what acclaimed atheists like Muskeeto and plaetton are doing on an obviously Christian thread. They are just trying to stir up attention: let's ignore them.

Ihedinobi:
Tithes are Scriptural as are free will offerings. I did not believe this or accept it until about two/three weeks ago or so. But a dear sister on this forum said some things that forced me to pay attention in addition to things that were changing in my life at the time.

i talk am! have been suspecting this was the source of your love for moses there is no smoke without fire they say

^^ Well, I actually was expecting someone to pop up and make an issue of it.

So, where's the fire? What's the smoke? I like the old covenant now because I need tithes? Or what exactly am I in hopes of being accused of?

Ihedinobi: ^^ Well, I actually was expecting someone to pop up and make an issue of it.

So, where's the fire? What's the smoke? I like the old covenant now because I need tithes? Or what exactly am I in hopes of being accused of?

Lol! i knew there has to be a reason for your loving moses am yet to see a lover of moses with no tithe sorry strings attached

BTW am not making it an issue it's your life, live it. Just don't preach it sha

Zikkyy:

Lol! i knew there has to be a reason for your loving moses am yet to see a lover of moses with no tithe sorry strings attached

BTW am not making it an issue it's your life, live it. Just don't preach it sha

Ah lovely! I love Moses now? And because tithes are involved?

I'm curious, why would I love Moses now because of tithing?

And why should I not preach it given the opportunity?

^^^
If you are going to preach it just make you preach it exactly as Moses preached it without adding to, subtracting from or modifying his teachings in anyway as the same law of Moses that you love makes is a very grievous sin to add to or subtract from the Law.

@ihedinobi
As usuall, all smoke, no fire. Pastors are free yo collect offerings, tithes and whatever else members give freely without corecion and blackmail.
The important and morally weighty question is should what use should such offerings be spent?
Any attempt by you and your type to evade this question is fraudulent and reveals once again the moral schizophrenia of blind faith Christianity.

Pastor Kun: ^^^
If you are going to preach it just make you preach it exactly as Moses preached it without adding to, subtracting from or modifying his teachings in anyway as the same law of Moses that you love makes is a very grievous sin to add to or subtract from the Law.

Lol. Should I ever preach it, I will preach it exactly according to Christ.

plaetton: @ihedinobi
As usuall, all smoke, no fire. Pastors are free yo collect offerings, tithes and whatever else members give freely without corecion and blackmail.
The important and morally weighty question is should what use should such offerings be spent?
Any attempt by you and your type to evade this question is fraudulent and reveals once again the moral schizophrenia of blind faith Christianity.

Are you responding to something I said, plaetton?

Ihedinobi:

Are you responding to something I said, plaetton?

Yes. You came in with the usual morally ambiguous slogan of " just obey the gospel, pay your tithes and leave judgment of pastors to god."

Ihedinobi:

Lol. Should I ever preach it, I will preach it exactly according to Christ.

christ never preached tithing as a christian doctrine.

plaetton:
Yes. You came in with the usual morally ambiguous slogan of " just obey the gospel, pay your tithes and leave judgment of pastors to god."

Excuse me! Where'd I say anything even remotely like that?

Ihedinobi:

Lol. Should I ever preach it, I will preach it exactly according to Christ.

I can already sense deception in your response as Jesus christ NEVER preached tithes. Even the Matthew 23:23 pro tithers love to quote to deceive believers can not be termed as preaching of tithes but rather an endorsement of the practise for jews who were subject to the law and not for christians who are under grace.

Pastor Kun:

I can already sense deception in your response as Jesus christ NEVER preached tithes. Even the Matthew 23:23 pro tithers love to quote to deceive believers can not be termed as preaching of tithes but rather an endorsement of the practise for jews who were subject to the law and not for christians who are under grace.

Hmm...

Segeggs: christ never preached tithing as a christian doctrine.

Really? Look, Jesus said something that I've never been able to explain away nor seen anyone succeed at explaining away without somehow attempting to take away from the efficacy of Jesus's earthly life. He said about tithing, "this ought ye to have done and not left the other undone".

About the law, He said that a scribe instructed in the kingdom is like a householder that brings forth out of his treasure new and old things. See Matthew 13:52, read the whole chapter if you can.