By Femi Aribisala

The armed robber takes your money from you with a gun in his hand: the pastor takes your money by brandishing a bible.

Jesus berated the mercenary religious leaders of biblical days. He told them: “‘It is written, my house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” (Matthew 21:13).

This word remains pertinent to pastors in the churches of today. They come up with all kinds of schemes designed to squeeze money out of their church-members. They search the scriptures, looking for quotable quotes that can be used to make merchandise of men. Some of their favourites are those scriptures dealing with giving first-fruits to priests.


Fleecing the flock

Those months with names ending with “ember” in English are sometimes referred to as the “ember” months. These include September, October, November and December. Strictly-speaking, October does not fit this bill; otherwise it would have been called “Octoember.” Nevertheless, it is conventional also to include it as one of the “ember” months.

In these months, there is a definite change of emphasis in the messages preached by pastors in many of today’s new generation churches. If you have been paying attention, you would have noticed this already. In the “ember” months, pastors start to talk repeatedly about the need to give “first-fruits;” laying down the foundation for a major robbery routinely planned for January.

In the Old Testament, first-fruits were required to be given to priests. Ezekiel says: “The best of all the first-fruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests.” (Ezekiel 44:30). This scripture is seized on by today’s money-grubbing pastors who now insist that the “first-fruits” of all the members of their congregation must be handed over to them.

This is disingenuous because, in the New Testament, there is actually no longer an exclusive priesthood. Instead, Jesus has made all believers: “kings and priests to our God.” (Revelation 5:10). But this fact is conveniently ignored by today’s first-fruits collectors.
First-fruits were given to priests because they were not allowed to own landed-property in Israel. God said: “I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.” (Ezekiel 44:28-29).

However, the pastors of today are men of means and property owners. In no way whatsoever do they fit the bill of a people without inheritance who only have God as their possession. Indeed, some of today’s mega-pastors are multi-millionaires who drive around with bodyguards in a cortege of Jeeps and even fly around in private jets.


Fruits of money

As the word indicates, first-fruits were strictly-speaking agricultural produce. Moses says: “The first of the first-fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.” (Exodus 23:19). This shows first-fruits were crops. Indeed, money was never regarded as first-fruit in the bible; neither was it ever paid as such.

However, today’s pastors would not find it funny if you were to bring your first-fruits to them in bananas or pineapples. First-fruits are now only acceptable in cash or cheque. If you ask why, don’t be surprised if you are told that: “Money is the answer to everything.” (Ecclesiastes 10:19).

Scripturally, first-fruits were only required from Jews living in Israel because God gave them their land. First-fruits were inapplicable to Israelites living in foreign lands. This also means first-fruits are inapplicable to today’s Christians who are mostly non-Israelis and do not live in Israel. Nevertheless, pastors hoodwink Christians by claiming there are special blessings attendant upon giving first-fruits to pastors anywhere.

In biblical days, first-fruits were not required from those in non-agrarian trades, such as carpenters or fishermen because these professions were not tied to the land. However, today’s opportunist pastors collect first-fruits from anybody and everybody.

It should be clear from the foregoing therefore that pastors who insist on collecting first-fruits in the churches of today are nothing but thieves and robbers. The armed robber takes your money from you with a gun in his hand: the pastor takes your money by brandishing a bible.


Bonanza

It used to be the case that first-fruits were defined as a Christian’s first salary after leaving school and securing gainful employment. But some pastors quickly realised that this only gives them the right to a Christian’s salary once in a lifetime. Therefore, this soon became inadequate, leading to more ingenious and more financially lucrative biblical “revelations” about first-fruits.

Many pastors now insist that since the January salary is the first in the year, it legally falls under the definition of first-fruits. Therefore, they now require that all church-goers hand over to them their entire January salaries in the name of first-fruits. This makes the first-fruits boon far more profitable than the tithe; which is just a tenth of the Christian’s salary. Moreover, the tithe is nominally given to “the church.” The “first-fruits” is a far more rewarding scam because the money is specifically addressed to the pastor.

If this “godliness” is taught effectively, a pastor can make a bundle of money at the beginning of every year. Just do the maths. Imagine a situation where the pastor gets the January salary of every single member of his congregation. Depending on the size of his church, he can get in one bonanza enough money to last him a lifetime. Is it any wonder, therefore, that pastors are very zealous in preaching about first-fruits in the “ember” months?

Many even refuse to be limited to their churches. Turn onto Christian television such as the Trinity Broadcasting Network in the “ember” months, and you are likely to find Paula White or Steve Munsey extolling the blessings of giving first-fruits. Of course, the first-fruits must be sent to them and to no one else.


Comeuppance

In one of Nigeria’s big churches with a large branch-network, the pastors were making a killing collecting first-fruits. But one of them used the money to put up a church building. This went a long way to endear him to his congregants. Other pastors who had nothing to show for the first-fruits they collected became concerned that the pastor would soon bring them into disrepute. So they decided to take “appropriate” action.

They reported him to the General Overseer of the church. His transgression was that he put up an entire church building single-handedly. So doing, they claimed, he prevented others from getting blessed by not taking contributions from them. The General Overseer wondered where he got the money to erect the entire building by himself. So they told him the money came from the first-fruits he collected from his church-members.

The General Overseer became even more curious. Just how much first-fruit were these pastors collecting? He was astonished to discover the sums involved. It was unacceptable that such lucrative business was taking place in his churches without due recognition for his position. Therefore, he fired a memo to all his parishes: henceforth, all first-fruits must be forwarded intact to headquarters.
However, his memo backfired. Thereafter, his subordinate pastors noticeably lost all interest in collecting first-fruits. “Let everybody shout hallelujah.”

“They are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are pastors who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory.” (Isaiah 56:11).

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/pastors-planning-major-robbery-churches-january/

Religion has turned humans into zombies......
During ma NYSC orientation camp, the church in the camp told corpers that there first allowance belonged to the church, that was not strange since churches hav been riping zombies off since 1800BC, but what was strange was when the pastor said the allowance MUST be givn to the NYSC camp church and no other church that it belonged to the NYSC church......All humans were born free but alot were enslaved from child birth

hmm

Not just January.
Pastor relieving congregation of their money using the bible since PAS and TOR becomes pastor.
And if dere member get problem, dey wount help.

I no fit shout.

Ijo Olorun

They can only fool the gullible members..

Imagine a pastor said we should bring all our income for a month,without removing a dime. I was like God gave me brain to think na.

I stopped going to the church..

The hustle is real

Is that how your pastor rob? Many are called but few are chosen...my pastor is not a robber like yours...sorry you better change Church. Stingy and greedy people keep complaining. Giving is biblical both tithe and offering. Even 1st fruit too is biblical.bring all thy substance into the store house, the store house can also be attributed to the Church, the needy and those in prison. You have your reasons why you don't wanna give and you accuse pastors so you can have enough reason not to pay your tithe and offering. Many persons have had strange encounter from just giving. You better learn to give today and remove that devilish heart that is telling you not to give because you want to know what your tithe is being used for after you have paid them.

Titilayodeji13:

The armed robber takes your money from
you with a gun in his hand: the pastor
takes your money by brandishing a bible.
Jesus berated the mercenary religious
leaders of biblical days. He told them: “‘It
is written, my house shall be called a
house of prayer,’ but you have made it a
‘den of thieves.’” (Matthew 21:13).
This word remains pertinent to pastors in
the churches of today. They come up with
all kinds of schemes designed to squeeze
money out of their church-members. They
search the scriptures, looking for quotable
quotes that can be used to make
merchandise of men. Some of their
favourites are those scriptures dealing
with giving first-fruits to priests.
Fleecing the flock
Those months with names ending with
“ember” in English are sometimes
referred to as the “ember” months. These
include September, October, November
and December. Strictly-speaking, October
does not fit this bill; otherwise it would
have been called “Octoember.”
Nevertheless, it is conventional also to
include it as one of the “ember” months.
In these months, there is a definite change
of emphasis in the messages preached by
pastors in many of today’s new generation
churches. If you have been paying
attention, you would have noticed this
already. In the “ember” months, pastors
start to talk repeatedly about the need to
give “first-fruits;” laying down the
foundation for a major robbery routinely
planned for January.
In the Old Testament, first-fruits were
required to be given to priests. Ezekiel
says: “The best of all the first-fruits and of
all your special gifts will belong to the
priests.” (Ezekiel 44:30). This scripture is
seized on by today’s money-grubbing
pastors who now insist that the “first-
fruits” of all the members of their
congregation must be handed over to
them.
This is disingenuous because, in the New
Testament, there is actually no longer an
exclusive priesthood. Instead, Jesus has
made all believers: “kings and priests to
our God.” (Revelation 5:10). But this fact
is conveniently ignored by today’s first-
fruits collectors.
First-fruits were given to priests because
they were not allowed to own landed-
property in Israel. God said: “I am to be
the only inheritance the priests have. You
are to give them no possession in Israel; I
will be their possession.” (Ezekiel
44:28-29).
However, the pastors of today are men of
means and property owners. In no way
whatsoever do they fit the bill of a people
without inheritance who only have God as
their possession. Indeed, some of today’s
mega-pastors are multi-millionaires who
drive around with bodyguards in a cortege
of Jeeps and even fly around in private
jets.
Fruits of money
As the word indicates, first-fruits were
strictly-speaking agricultural produce.
Moses says: “The first of the first-fruits of
your land you shall bring into the house of
the LORD your God.” (Exodus 23:19). This
shows first-fruits were crops. Indeed,
money was never regarded as first-fruit in
the bible; neither was it ever paid as such.
However, today’s pastors would not find it
funny if you were to bring your first-fruits
to them in bananas or pineapples. First-
fruits are now only acceptable in cash or
cheque. If you ask why, don’t be surprised
if you are told that: “Money is the answer
to everything.” (Ecclesiastes 10:19).
Scripturally, first-fruits were only
required from Jews living in Israel
because God gave them their land. First-
fruits were inapplicable to Israelites living
in foreign lands. This also means first-
fruits are inapplicable to today’s
Christians who are mostly non-Israelis
and do not live in Israel. Nevertheless,
pastors hoodwink Christians by claiming
there are special blessings attendant upon
giving first-fruits to pastors anywhere.
In biblical days, first-fruits were not
required from those in non-agrarian
trades, such as carpenters or fishermen
because these professions were not tied to
the land. However, today’s opportunist
pastors collect first-fruits from anybody
and everybody.
It should be clear from the foregoing
therefore that pastors who insist on
collecting first-fruits in the churches of
today are nothing but thieves and robbers.
The armed robber takes your money from
you with a gun in his hand: the pastor
takes your money by brandishing a bible.
Bonanza
It used to be the case that first-fruits were
defined as a Christian’s first salary after
leaving school and securing gainful
employment. But some pastors quickly
realised that this only gives them the right
to a Christian’s salary once in a lifetime.
Therefore, this soon became inadequate,
leading to more ingenious and more
financially lucrative biblical “revelations”
about first-fruits.
Many pastors now insist that since the
January salary is the first in the year, it
legally falls under the definition of first-
fruits. Therefore, they now require that all
church-goers hand over to them their
entire January salaries in the name of
first-fruits. This makes the first-fruits
boon far more profitable than the tithe;
which is just a tenth of the Christian’s
salary. Moreover, the tithe is nominally
given to “the church.” The “first-fruits” is
a far more rewarding scam because the
money is specifically addressed to the
pastor.
If this “godliness” is taught effectively, a
pastor can make a bundle of money at the
beginning of every year. Just do the
maths. Imagine a situation where the
pastor gets the January salary of every
single member of his congregation.
Depending on the size of his church, he
can get in one bonanza enough money to
last him a lifetime. Is it any wonder,
therefore, that pastors are very zealous in
preaching about first-fruits in the “ember”
months?
Many even refuse to be limited to their
churches. Turn onto Christian television
such as the Trinity Broadcasting Network
in the “ember” months, and you are likely
to find Paula White or Steve Munsey
extolling the blessings of giving first-
fruits. Of course, the first-fruits must be
sent to them and to no one else.
Comeuppance
In one of Nigeria’s big churches with a
large branch-network, the pastors were
making a killing collecting first-fruits. But
one of them used the money to put up a
church building. This went a long way to
endear him to his congregants. Other
pastors who had nothing to show for the
first-fruits they collected became
concerned that the pastor would soon
bring them into disrepute. So they decided
to take “appropriate” action.
They reported him to the General
Overseer of the church. His transgression
was that he put up an entire church
building single-handedly. So doing, they
claimed, he prevented others from getting
blessed by not taking contributions from
them. The General Overseer wondered
where he got the money to erect the entire
building by himself. So they told him the
money came from the first-fruits he
collected from his church-members.
The General Overseer became even more
curious. Just how much first-fruit were
these pastors collecting? He was
astonished to discover the sums involved.
It was unacceptable that such lucrative
business was taking place in his churches
without due recognition for his position.
Therefore, he fired a memo to all his
parishes: henceforth, all first-fruits must
be forwarded intact to headquarters.
However, his memo backfired. Thereafter,
his subordinate pastors noticeably lost all
interest in collecting first-fruits. “Let
everybody shout hallelujah.”
“They are greedy dogs which never have
enough. And they are pastors who cannot
understand; they all look to their own
way, every one for his own gain, from his
own territory.” (Isaiah 56:11).

www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/pastors-planning-major-robbery-churches-january/

By Femi Aribisala.

noted

May God forgive you

Hit like if you believe religtion is shackles to de mind, d show glass of d rich and d last hope of d poor!

"Pay your tithes"! That's the fastest sentence to make money in Nigeria. They still ask for donations for various church projects. I wonder what the tithes are then used for

emynez:
Hit like if you believe religtion is shackles to de mind, d show glass of d rich and d last hope of d poor!

Hit like if you feel this guy is just begging for likes

May God forgive you for this post

HALLELUYAH!!

Wisen up!!!

The majority of Nigerian MOG/Pastors are usurpers, i.e charlatans who have taken the place of Christ as HEAD of the CHURCH. As such , there is confusion and demons have take over while these usurpers still think they are acting under the direction of God.

They steal from God's people all year round and cream it with the LIE of the first fruits.

Any Christian who pays first fruits to these crooks is a FOOL and needs deliverance.

While you are sending your money to the Pastor , your wife is wearing old clothes, children's school fees are outstanding , rent has not been paid and yet you foolishly send your sweat and blood to these lazy brood of vipers called MOG/Pastors in Nigeria.

It's up to you any way.

Hmmmm...religion, the opium of the masses.

Give and it shal be given unto u

Just as we have Preachers of the Gospel so do we have Merchants of the Gospel. lf anyone is scammed by a pastor should blame himself.

Apart from my sunday offering, am not always interested in any other offering....thats all

Lengthy post.. but this issue caused rukus in my church today when I raised the fact the Jesus our role model as Christians did not pay first fruit nor tithe.. A cumbersome and controversial topic.. one have to be careful when you are grazing the surface.. and ask the Holy spirit to give one better understanding.. am not saying it is wrong neither am I saying otherwise

Hahaha.... Well I am prepared to be a partaker of the spoils *smiles*... Hahaha.

that is HIGHER EXPECTATION

this is very true, Nigerian Pastors are just robbers without a Gun

S.m.h