The Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Nicholas Okoh has spoken on the issue of preaching and collection of tithe by pastors.
The issue of tithing has generated a lot of controversy in recent days, geared by a controversial CoolFM On Air Personality, OAP, Daddy Freeze.
Primate Okoh, who spoke with select journalists in Abuja on the subject, said payment of tithe was not by force, adding failure to pay doesn’t bring about curse.
He explained, “Tithing is a very ancient tradition, Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek and people have become transfixed to that idea till today, but in the New Testament, giving modalities have other options.
“One, it says, set aside something every week which you think would be handsome for the glory of God and give that. Whether that is 10 per cent or whatever per cent, I don’t know, but the instruction is, set aside something every week.
“Then, there is the gift required to give by all; the first concept is that your life is a living sacrifice. A sacrifice is something you offer and withdraw your hand, that means the Christian offers his life totally and the totality of his training, his money and everything he has belonged to God.
“Therefore, the question of saying, ‘God take 10 per cent, I would keep 90 per cent’ does not arise. Let me give an example: If you are a tither and you give 10 per cent to the Church, and after giving this percentage, somebody is very sick, and you still have your 90 per cent, will you close your eyes to the person’s need?
“You see, that is one of the weaknesses of tithing if you follow it mechanically. Then furthermore, in John chapter 6, Jesus asked people who had food to bring it, but only one young boy who had a lunch pack–two pieces of fish and five barley loaves, offered his.
“The mother gave him to eat as he was going about with Jesus so he would not be hungry. When Jesus asked for the bread, it was not only that boy that had, many had and did not bring, but the boy brought his own, he did not give Jesus two pieces of fish and keep the rest, he did not give the barley loaves and keep the fish, he gave everything and because he gave everything, the blessing of God multiplied it over and over.
“So the intention of the mother was met, the boy had enough to eat, other people who were there, almost 20,000 had enough to eat and to spare. Now, those who had and did not bring, their own became a waste. So, the point in this matter is that, when God is asking for something, you don’t give him 10 per cent.
“You give him what is worthy of his name: it might be more than 10 per cent, it might be 10 per cent, it might be anything depending on the situation he has placed you bearing in mind that every good and perfect gift comes from above.”
On the stand of some pastors that anyone who refused to pay tithe was under a divine curse, he said, “no , I don’t believe it, I don ’t curse anybody, God does not compel us to go, he only makes us willing to go. If God has given you a gift, he woos your mind, he makes you to see why. Remember that the gift you gave does not promote God.
“He is not a young officer that would be promoted a senior officer or to an executive by your gift. God is full, according to the theology of Colossians, God is full, complete.
“When you give, it is you the giver that is blessed. The person giving is the one lifted up, God is not hungry. According to Psalm 50, he said if I were hungry for meat, I won’t tell you, the whole cattle on a thousand hills belonged to me.”

http://dailypost.ng/2017/11/11/anglican-primate-okoh-speaks-tithe-controversy/

I think this answers the question of tithing and giving for me, and for every serious Christian out there.

Watch how some people will come for this man, as he is about to spoil business. while others will swallow their saliva. The remaining will hail.

I agree with the Primate. In the new testament, giving is not about percentage. It makes it very much mechanical. The early believers gave far beyond 10% because they gave their all, after giving their entire lives to God.

Some of the people who are making the loudest noise today are actually looking for reasons not to give to God anymore, or to reduce their giving to a minimum. If God gave us everything in Christ, what is it that we cannot give him?

We should take God's business as our personal businesses. Our desires should always be to give, whether in offerings, support to the poor, support to ministers of God etc.
Real men do not say because they have spent 10% (or whatever percentage) of their salaries on their families, they shouldn't give them anymore, rather they sometimes even go out of their ways to borrow (when they don't have the means) just to make sure they meet the needs of their families. That is also the same way God desires us to go out of our ways to support the Kingdom.

Kennydoc:
I agree with the Primate. In the new testament, giving is not about percentage. It makes it very much mechanical. The early believers gave far beyond 10% because they gave their all, after giving their entire lives to God.

Some of the people who are making the loudest noise today are actually looking for reasons not to give to God anymore, or to reduce their giving to a minimum. If God gave us everything in Christ, what is it that we cannot give him?

We should take God's business as our personal businesses. Our desires should always be to give, whether in offerings, support to the poor, support to ministers of God etc.
Real men do not say because they have spent 10% (or whatever percentage) of their salaries on their families, they shouldn't give them anymore, rather they sometimes even go out of their ways to borrow (when they don't have the means) just to make sure they meet the needs of their families. That is also the same way God desires us to go out of our ways to support the Kingdom.

What do you understand by giving to God?

Catholic church, Anglican, Orthodox churches and other olden era churches don't lay emphasis on tithe. Tithe payment in these churches are mostly freewill and you hardly see their priests live flamboyantly and going around with policemen and soldiers.
The people causing this tithe controversies are some of these Pentecostal churches that are springing up day by day like mushrooms.
They have turn all the shops, lands and kiosks that are suppose to be used for business into church claiming that they are evangelist,prophet and apostle. Apron, stickers, holy water ,hand bands will protect their members yet they are moving around with police escorts as if those apron can't protect them too
We need to go back to old era churches. That was the era true Christianity was practiced.

Most of these churches claim that they are practicing new testament that old testament era is gone yet they sneeked into that same old testament era and The only thing they could pick up is that Malachi verse that talked about tithe.
Hypocrites everywhere!!!!!! ""

This will never make front page like others that do after 5 years. It will annoy church business people.