₦airaland Forum

Every Pastor Who Collects Tithes Is A Thief – Femi Aribisala
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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 authorized to receive tithes were the Levites. (Hebrews 7:5) because Moses did not give them any inheritance or land to farm on . He ask them to be concerned with the service of God and temple. However, he charged the remaining 11 tribes who got inheritance to always bring one tenth of their harvest to the temple so that the tribe of Live will not go hungry. 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. Your pastor inherited land and other patrimonial endowment from his parent just like you, so why should you pay tithe to him?.

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).
— with Ian Baard

Congratulations my able President Emeritus,... Symbol of peace, unity, and progress. We are proud of you. We know you will always represent us well

Not like some that was ask of inclusive development and they were answering 97% and 5%...Tribal bigots

RedCard1:
He will for sure assist in the rigging process. Afterall, to him rigging is not corruption

You are an idiot, hatred has blinded you. In the history of Nigeria, no president has allowed electoral transparency like GEJ.
BTW, if you accuse him of rigging, why didn't him Rigg for himself when he has all the powers to do that.
You must be one of the lying liars.

PMB's compensation list abi ministerial list causing Crack on the Senate

Please you guys should just forget PMB and HIS COMPENSATION LIST.

BUSTED: True Identity Of Twitter User Who ‘Predicted’ Boko Haram Bombings REVEALED (DETAILS)

The social media have been awash with reactions from several users ever since a Twitter user with handle “@chimaokoro63” ‘predicted’ the Boko Haram bombings that rocked Abuja on Friday, October 2, 2015.

@chimaokoro63 Thursday, October 1, 2015 wrote: “I pray for Nigeria: There will be a bomb blast n Abuja&Lagos, Boko Haram is going to attack and kill police_army_Navy their evils:”

Barely a day after his supposed ‘prediction’, the Kuje and Nyanya areas of Abuja were attacked by Boko Haram insurgents leaving scores dead.

The man had initially changed his handle from @chimaokoro63, to @chimaokori633 but subsequently deleted the account Saturday, October 3, 2015 after several users attacked him and called on security agents to arrest him.

However, the man’s mobile telephone number was later gotten on Facebook.

A probe of the number on True Caller application however, revealed that the user’s name is Sadiq Hono, apparently not even from South East descent as indicated by his Twitter handle.

The brow raising discovery has caused a fresh stir across the social media with a handful of users wondering if the said man is a member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

One user wrote: “Boko Haram using an Igbo name” while another added “This has been going on for so long, if you see an Igbo name supporting the haramist, just know it’s an avatar!”

handsomeclouds:
Where did the sule man get the average of 66million? it is the total of 2012,13 and 14 divided by 5 years instead of three year. The average of PDP spending for the three years is 110 million, therefore its higher than that of Buhari of 70 million. They should have provided the figures for 2010 and 2011 not stupidly_ finding average of three with five. And why was 2011 and 2010 not at hand, it is simply because its outrageous and it will burst their lies

I ask you a question, did Buhari give any national award or did he do anything spectacular during this years independence celebration. It is injustice to compare a dry celebration with a glamorous celebration where illustrious sons and daughters of the nation where honoured with awards.

nex:
LET US STOP DECEIVING OURSELVES! EL RUFAI HAS LIED AS MUCH AS GEJ!

What happened in 2010 when GEJ sent a budget of N10 billion to be approved for Independence Day celebration?! Do you wonder now why those figures are not handy at the moment?!

Look at a breakdown of the 2010 Independence Day celebrations budget as was shared here on Nairaland. Was it El Rufai that posted it?!




Also, read here in the Vanguard, about the N639 billion 2010 Supplementary Appropriation Bill in which GEJ requested N10 billion for Independence Day Celebration. It was not El Rufai that wrote the bill for him in 2010. He wrote it with his own hand, and that bill is still in existence.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/06/reps-approve-n10bn-for-nigeria-at-50

Are you high or you just want to be mischievous? Yar'Adua approved, 16.4 Billion for 2010 independence celebration, but GEJ reduced it to 9.5 Billion and eventually used 6.6 Billion . You may ask me why, it was Our country's golden jubilee (50 years anniversary of our independence ) Google is your friend

God bless the Pope
God bless the only true Christian Church.

webshopng1:
Amen my bishop.

But what happens wen they lie about it

Their case will be like Saraki and CCT

I will wait patiently for the truth on this abysmally shameful outing by the president and his team to me unravel.

My hunch is that may be there was no prepared speech for Bubu for the meeting on the Boko Haram and I DP's in Lake Chad basin, and Nigeria being a big players, they might ask him for contribution, to avoid the embrassment, his team adviced our semi educated president to stay out of the meeting

I know yoruba Media mafias will always want to run Igbos down when ever the find one, just like in the case of Oduah, Iwala, Madueke etc.

BTW APC is the party of lying LIARS and Propagandist , and this government is known for cover UPS,

I don't believe them. Truth will come out.

Jesusloveyou:
is that d reason, she should mess up

If it was GEJ, you guys will accuse him of being a drunk, but now is your Saint PMB, the great achiever with only body language is involved, you are blaming it on Nigerian UN Mission. In the fullness of time, Nigerians will know that APC won election by lies and propaganda.

The Party of the lying liars and cover up.

adioolayi:
Thank you...so why the noise if a President didn't meet a Head of State as scheduled... Can't they meet other time? Besides... it was clearly stated Nigeria's mission failed in their responsibilities to detailed PMB fully...I think he shouldn't be blamed totally and this is being blown out of proportion.

UN Members saw it as an honour, to have the Pope who represents Jesus Christ in the world in their meeting, that was the reason for the hand shake.

Ilekeh:
Out of millions?

Not impressive.

The richest black lady is Yoruba.

The richest black man is Hausa, the second richest black man is Yoruba.

Not just money, but resourceful men and women, that's what you find in the East, the land of the wise men.
BTW, go to Google check the 10 best Black scientist, the only Nigerian name you will see there is an Igbo name Philip Emeagwali, The only indigenous Automobile company in Nigeria is own by an Igbo man, Innoson Motors, most of the internationally recognised technocrats in Nigeria are all from the East. So what are you talking about?

Ilekeh:
Dem don insult this girl finish

Money making brain like Cozzy Ojiokwor, Afrocandy etc?

How many igbo girls millionaires? 0

How many igbo girls business owners that we know of?

Linda Ikeji, Genevieve Nnaji and many successful Igbo girls in nollywood and every sector of life. I think You re blinded by tribalism or you re naive... Research about Igbos as a tribe, There second name is hard work and success.

Wow this one is Optometry examination Hall in imsu

ItsMeAboki:
The Sardauna was merely vocalising what was normal in all the other three regions (West, Midwest & East) at that time; he like his regional counterparts was protecting and working for the best interest of his people.

That easily explains why his speech didn't raise any eyebrows then or was not considered out of place by any of his contemporaries; his present critics are only doing so out of political mischief or at best out of ignorance of the realities on ground at that stage in Nigeria's history, when it once existed as a regional country with regional champions in healthy competition with one another.

The Sardauna was also correct about the Igbo desire to dominate (which is not outrightly a bad thing but could be a problem if it should become disproportionate, especially in a multiethnic mix such as Nigeria) which also could explain for the event that followed, eventually costing the Sardauna his own life along with many innocent others.

Because of this desire to dominate, Igbos couldn't stand the fact that northerners were at the helm of affairs in charge of the country, they hated that Hausa/Fulani (who they deem as inferior) were in fact dominant over them.

When they realised they couldn't change things through the ballot box; they then instead decided to do it by force, through the barrel of the gun.

The primary executioners of this reversal, the Igbo coup plotters, were themselves short changed by another Igbo man, Agui Ironsi, who took over power and furthered the Igbo agenda by demolishing the regional system of government that was hitherto in place and replaced it with the unitary system (we have inherited till today) in order to give him (thereby Igbo) full control over the entire country.
He furthermore completed the Igbo agenda by appointing his fellow kinsmen into key positions in government and the civil service.

That along with his fellow Igbos openly taunting northerners about the lopsided killing of their leaders (the Sardauna & co) and changes clearly giving Igbos undue advantage over northerners, were what that broke the camel's back and led to the northern led counter coup of July 1966 which brought Gowon into power.

In short, we are all now paying for this Igbo sin to force change and dominate everybody; they have ended up derailing and messing up the whole country - after doing so, they are now blaming everybody and wanting to jump ship for Biafra - quite unfortunate.

I know you are not a good student of history, check the date of all those quotes of Amadu Bello, Tafawa Bellewa, you will realize that they said it even before independence, that is how they feel about the south. It is injustice to blame the Igbo man who was courageous enough to say no.

Barywhyte:
Oga I feel very sorry for you. Where did you copy this story from? From Roman Catholic of course! Where else could it be? I thought you going to show me from the pages of the bible how Peter turned out to be Founder or first Bishop of Roman Catholic Church. You don't know that Peter was never sent to Rome to go and preach the Gospel. Christ, from the beginning commissioned Peter to preach the Gospel to Jews (the circumcised) and Paul was commissioned to preach the Gospel to gentiles (the uncircumcised of which Rome is part) Gal 2:7-9. Again Paul stated in 2tim 1:11 that his mission was to be the chief apostle to the gentiles. Now who wrote the epistle to the Romans? Certainly Paul and not Peter. Paul established the true church in Rome and that church was certainly not Roman Catholic Church. Romans 15:16.

Some years after Paul wrote to Romans, he was taken as prisoner to Rome to stand trial before Cesar Act 28:15-17. If Peter and Paul were together in Rome as you claimed in your write up, how come Paul never mentioned Peter's name when all the jews came to him to hear the gospel? Why? because Peter was never in Rome. In 2tim 4:11-16, Paul specifically mentioned that everybody forsook him during his trial in Rome except Luke. Could Peter have forsaken Paul if he was present in Rome or if he also preached in Rome?

My brother, Peter didn't found Catholic Church. He was never in Rome because Christ didn't send to Gentiles to preach the gospel. That was the job of Paul and Catholic never claimed that Paul was the first Pope. Never. Even if they did, it wouldn't amount to truth in anyway.

I can give you the history and the exact origin of Roman Catholic Church from the pages of the Bible starting with Act 8:9-24 but that's a topic for another day. Apology for my sloppy reply

I will not join issues with you, goggle is you friend, search for church history, purge of Nero 51 Ad. Ask Google if Peter was in Rome. I am sure you will get the answer that you seek.
Pax tecum (May the peace of Christ be with you )

samplegirl:
Christ is never the founder or Roman Catholic. Christ founded the Church and the CHURCH as it stands is different from Roman Catholic church but that a topic of another day.

It will benefit you nothing in telling lies to justify falsehood. Protestant movement started when a certain Pope introduced the doctrine of INDULGENCE. Maybe your teacher has not told you of how people were asked to pay money for their sins to be forgiven because the Pope was looking for money to to build St PETERS Rome. Maybe you have not been taught about what led to the rise of the movement LUTHERAN.

Your Christ founded Catholic and possibly took the hqtrs to Rome.

Half knowledge is bad, the Hqtrs of the church is Rome because Paul the itinerant preacher and apostle of the gentiles, took the gospel to Rome when the Roman populates were yearning for change, and many accepted the new way.

After the death of the Bishop of Jerusalem James and many believers during the purge of Nero in 51 Ad, Peter and other apostles ran to Rome because of fear of the Jews.

You are right about the indulgence, it was called the sale of simony,but remember Martin Luther who was also a Catholic priest wrote 91 thesis against the church. He was a melancholic, the Pope called to educate him, but he refused to answer the call and started protesting against the faith in 16th century. At least you now known that Catholic faith happens to be the only Christian faith directly from the Apostles till middle of 16th century. So it was founded by Christ because it has no other human founder. If you know otherwise, please tell me.

What you accused the Catholics of, are the present pastors not doing it,? Asking people to sow seed and pay tithe for God's blessings. Where did Christ encourage his disciples to pay tithe or sow seed for blessing.

Believe in you faith, I believe in mine brother, we serve one God but through different means and ways.
Pax Tecum (may the Peace of Christ be with you)

NSNA:
3 billion Goodluck money for nollywood, Giving to son to make film

Fool that is what you are, go and get a life... Jealousy won't take you anywhere

Keneking:
With our money right

Do you know you are stupid? People are putting their God given talent to good use, you are there shouting our money....i pity ur condition

Tonitelli:
zakari biu case was reviewed by the police commission and he was reinstated AND RETIRED..!

maryln ogar was not fired but also RETIRED..!

shut the Bleep up wit ur misinformation...

Are you confused or what? Retiring someone that has more 7yrs to work is what??

What was her offence? Because she knows too much... NONSENSE

sokera:
I maybe you were deaf to listen to Buhari presidential campaign he was emphasizing on war against curruption ... People like you don't know the fundamental problem of this great nation ... Let him fight curruption and every other thing will be in place .... God bless PMB , God bless NIGERIA ...

The fundamental problem of this nation is not corruption, our fundamental problem in not known our population. Nigeria is like open market, where any body buy or sale. Let Buhari start by conducting correct census and issue everybody social security number. BUT I know his people won't agree.

Let's face fact here, our position as a country suddenly rose from being the number 1 most corrupt country which we were during OBJ to 46 most corrupt in the world. My question is, was GEJ's administration really corrupt or because Ariwastans and yorubas media mafias made us to believe so, so that the can take power. yesterday marked PMB 100 days in office, and he is yet to substantiate any corrupt case or gross looting against the past administration. All we hear noise making about probe. More than 100 days in office no cabinet, running democracy as Autocracy... Is there any corruption more than this gross neglect of our Constitution.

Abugab:
Instead of writing Jonathan's associates, the media should have written corrupt Nigerians. Tying every of these anti corruption moves around Jonathan doesn't seem fashionable anymore.
Whoever that is found guilty should be dealt with and their names mentioned without necessarily putting Jonathan's name there.

They love the name Jonathan, soon the will start giving it to their sons. NONSENSE PEOPLE, another propaganda, they think they are still campaigning

laurel03:
corruption should be seen as the greatest crime against humanity in Nigeria... Corruption in Jonathan’s government was an international fact known everywhere. man who could say stealing is not corruption, that statement brought down the image of the country totally.. Really nobody is saint or perfect but jonathan too soft for Nigeria..

But our position suddenly rose from being the number 1 most corrupt country which we were during OBJ to 46 most corrupt in the world. My question is, was GEJ's administration corrupt or because Ariwastans and yorubas media mafias made us to believe so, so that the can take power. Today marked PMB 100 days in office, and he is yet to substantiate any corrupt case or gross looting against the past administration. All we hear noise making about probe.

ladyF:
Lol....Q1 : What has this guy been smoking? E strong sha! What he should be bothered about is: were the appointments on merit?

The appointments where not on merit, e.g. How can you appoint a man that hasn't been in customs to head Nigerian Customs? Is foolishness...How can you appoint someone that graduated bottom of his class and answered many queries as an operative to head DSS just because they are northerners, it is madness.

samplegirl:
Among the priests to forgive the repentant women are the gays and the pedophile in the house.


Catholic deceiving people since 500 ad.


No one has the capacity to forgive a sin against God. Humans can only forgive any wrong doing against them not a sin against God.

The sacrament of reconciliation is one of the greatest sacraments in the Catholic Church as the only Christian Church founded by Christ and his apostles,which is not in other churches. Cf John 20 vs 23. Matthew 9 vs 6-8, John 17 vs 2, meditate on the verses, you will get the answer you seek.
BTW our priest act "in persone Christi" which means in the person of Christ just like the apostles. You may not understand.
Catholic Church is Apostolic which means it has direct origin from the Apostles, of course, it was the first and only Christian Church on earth for 1551 years before protestantism which gave birth to what we have today as protestant or pentecostal church. It simply means people who protested against the faith. More so, , where Pope is staying today is where Peter the prince of the Apostles was buried.
I am not writing this for you to believe, prove other churches wrong, defend the Catholic Church or to make you to start going for confession. No all am saying is believe in you own and let others be, it has been working for them centuries ago.
If a Pastor can pray for you to receive miracle, I don't know wat is wrong with a priest praying for repentant soul to receive forgiveness and reconciliation.

morbeta:
Catholic with their there dogmatic ways, my bible says only jesus forgives sins and the only way to life everlasting. How come catholic priest are the ones to forgive sin even the ones with are part of. Na nwa oooooo

The sacrament of reconciliation is one of the greatest sacraments in the Catholic Church as the only Christian Church founded by Christ and his apostles,which is not in other churches. Cf John 20 vs 23. Matthew 9 vs 6-8, John 17 vs 2, meditate on the verses, you will get the answer you seek.
BTW our priest act "in persone Christi" which means in the person of Christ just like the apostles. You may not understand.
Catholic Church is Apostolic which means it has direct origin from the Apostles, of course, it was the first and only Christian Church on earth for 1551 years before protestantism which gave birth to what we have today as protestant or pentecostal church. It simply means people who protested against the faith. More so, , where Pope is staying today is where Peter the prince of the Apostles was buried.
I am not writing this for you to believe, prove other churches wrong, defend the Catholic Church or to make you to start going for confession. No all am saying is believe in you own and let others be, it has been working for them centuries ago.
If a Pastor can pray for you to receive miracle, I don't know wat is wrong with a priest praying for repentant soul to receive forgiveness and reconciliation.

missKiffy:
Catholics why do you seek forgiveness from a priest instead of from God

The sacrament of reconciliation is one of the greatest sacraments in the Catholic Church as the only Christian Church founded by Christ and his apostles,which is not in other churches. Cf John 20 vs 23. Matthew 9 vs 6-8, John 17 vs 2, meditate on the verses, you will get the answer you seek.
BTW our priest act "in persone Christi" which means in the person of Christ just like the apostles. You may not understand.
Catholic Church is Apostolic which means it has direct origin from the Apostles, of course, it was the first and only Christian Church on earth for 1551 years before protestantism which gave birth to what we have today as protestant or pentecostal church. It simply means people who protested against the faith. More so, , where Pope is staying today is where Peter the prince of the Apostles was buried.
I am not writing this for you to believe, prove other churches wrong, defend the Catholic Church or to make you to start going for confession. No all am saying is believe in you own and let others be, it has been working for them centuries ago.
If a Pastor can pray for you to receive miracle, I don't know wat is wrong with a priest praying for repentant soul to receive forgiveness and reconciliation.

akudn:
The Ekitis have always been very audacious and bold saying their mind in any circumstance.

Remember Lt. Col Fajuyi died protecting his boss, Gen Ironsi in 1967.

I hail Ekitis. Igbo Yorubas

I repent from saying that yorubas are betrayals, check out the Fajuyi guy who died protecting his boss and fayose who has been supporting GEJ even till now he is no longer the president.
If only Yorubas and Igbos should unite, this country will be a great place.

oluwaSmith1:
Come to think of it, i have not seen anything wrong with Buhari's appointment so far.

If he allow people like Ameachi to be SGF, we will still be the one to attack him that why must he appoint Ameachi when he's facing Wike's probe panel.

My opinion sha.

What of ogbonnaya Onu...
Is Amaechi from southeast