Pastors Use Threat Of Curses To Force Church Members To Pay Tithe, Bishop Mike Okonkwo Confesses


It was a time of confession for Bishop Mike Okonkwo, one of the prominent leaders in Nigerian christian community recently as he told members of his congregation that he has been deceiving them on the issue of payment of tithe.

Okonkwo, who is the founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), told members of his church that contrary to what he has been telling them over the years, anyone who refuses to pay tithe will not be under any form of curse.

He also confessed that he and his colleagues employ the 'threat of curse' to frighten church members to part with their money.

In a video that has now gone viral, the Bishop said pastors are in the habit of using certain “semantics” to manipulate their members into paying tithe.

He said, “The first mention of tithe, there was no curse in it. Abraham gave the tithe of all to Melchizedek which was before the law. There was no curse and he did it willingly.

“I have frightened the church with curses for not paying tithes and that was because I didn’t know any better.

“You know we conjure all kinds of semantics like, ‘If you don’t pay your tithe, your life will be tight,’ and the people pay out of fear without God’s blessing.

“God wants you to pay tithe out of love, it shouldn’t be about the money, but about Jesus.”

In another video, the pastor dispelled the first fruit doctrine - a teaching by some pentecostal pastors to their members to give all of their first salaries in the year or the first profit realised from their business undertakings as offerings.

Bishop Okonkwo said other pastors have approached him to also enforce payment of first fruit in his church, but he had always refused the counsel.

“Can you imagine all the businessmen, all the profit you made and you bring them at my feet. Even if I did not read it in the bible, my conscience will not allow me.

“It is not all the gifts you take, take only the one you will be able to go to bed," he said.

He said he had to let go of a pastor who wanted to imbibe the first fruit doctrine in his church.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAyZW0z5lLQ

http://saharareporters.com/2018/03/07/pastors-use-threat-curses-force-church-members-pay-tithe-bishop-mike-okonkwo-confesses

Tithing or giving a percentage of your income is of faith and not of the law.
Truly there is no curse to it but there is a blessing.

thorpido:
Tithing or giving a percentage of your income is of faith and not of the law.
Truly there is no curse to it but there is a blessing.

Jesus is the way to all of God's blessing... If you are in Christ you are blessed in all things and no blessing is left out.

bloodofthelamb:


Jesus is the way to all of God's blessing... If you are in Christ you are blessed in all things and no blessing is left out.

Yes but the same blessing do not come to everyone.There are levels of faith and levels of giving that will make you attain some.

thorpido:
Yes but the same blessing do not come to everyone.There are levels of faith and levels of giving that will make you attain some.

What do you mean by levels of giving?

Giving don't bring us blessing, we are blessed by grace through our faith in Christ. "Giving is one the result of a truly blessed life in Jesus."

bloodofthelamb:



What do you mean by levels of giving?

Giving don't bring us blessing, we are blessed by grace through our faith in Christ. "Giving is one the result of a truly blessed life in Jesus."

Giving does!There are several examples of people who were blessed for the offerings they made in the Scriptures.

thorpido:
Giving does!There are several examples of people who were blessed for the offerings they made in the Scriptures.

Who are they? What time frame? Is it before the cross or after the cross?

abc115:

He also confessed that he and his colleagues employ the 'threat of curse' to frighten church members to part with their money.
In a video that has now gone viral, the Bishop said pastors are in the habit of using certain “semantics” to manipulate their members into paying tithe.

this is exactly how oyedepo and adeboye raise money for their private jets and build their universities, when you ask them they say they were into book selling

“You know we conjure all kinds of semantics like, ‘If you don’t pay your tithe, your life will be tight,’ and the people pay out of fear without God’s blessing.

this is tithing.

“God wants you to pay tithe out of love, it shouldn’t be about the money, but about Jesus

God don't want any christian to pay tithe, God want christians to give. Giving and tithing is not the same thing. When a christian pay tithe out love it is no more tithing, it is willful giving

bloodofthelamb:


Who are they? What time frame? Is it before the cross or after the cross?

After the cross.Cornelius the centurion was an example of a man who's giving made a way for him.

thorpido:
After the cross.Cornelius the centurion was an example of a man who's giving made a way for him.

Cornelius was a good man who gives alms to the poor and needy but he was not saved and blessed by it. He needed to put his faith in Jesus for him to be eligible to receive what God has in store for humanity.

Assuming Cornelius died without putting his faith in Jesus our agent of peace with the holy God, he will be condemned with his good works.

bloodofthelamb:


Cornelius was a good man who gives alms to the poor and needy but he was not saved and blessed by it. He needed to put his faith in Jesus for him to be eligible to receive what God has in store for humanity.

Assuming Cornelius died without putting his faith in Jesus our agent of peace with the holy God, he will be condemned with his good works.

Indeed he was.It was his good works(giving) that made the Jews appeal to Jesus to consider him.
As part of an appeal to persuade Jesus to accept the centurion's request, the elders said, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for…he built us our synagogue” (Luke 7:4-5,RSV
Note here that salvation is not the key issue of discussion here but the effect of giving.

thorpido:
Indeed he was.It was his good works(giving) that made the Jews appeal to Jesus to consider him.
As part of an appeal to persuade Jesus to accept the centurion's request, the elders said, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for…he built us our synagogue” (Luke 7:4-5,RSV
Note here that salvation is not the key issue of discussion here but the effect of giving.

Are talking about Jairus or Cornelius?

bloodofthelamb:


Are talking about Jairus or Cornelius?

Cornelius.He was the one that built a synagogue.Luke 7

bloodofthelamb:



What do you mean by levels of giving?

Giving don't bring us blessing, we are blessed by grace through our faith in Christ. "Giving is one the result of a truly blessed life in Jesus."

Well said Bloodofthelamb. You are doing great work at encouraging true believers faith to grow.

Remember that the mighty JESUS is no longer on trail. Never entertain unbelievers/atheists concerning your precious faith, you are the head and not the tail.

ScienceWatch:
Well said Bloodofthelamb. You are doing great work at encouraging true believers faith to grow.

Remember that the mighty JESUS is no longer on trail. Never entertain unbelievers/atheists concerning your precious faith, you are the head and not the tail.

Thanks bro, in grace I stand.