₦airaland Forum

Joagbaje:
Many of You are missing the focus of this thread. The question is not : "CAN A PASTOR STEAL?" Some on Nairaland gives everybody the impression that every pastor is a thief , and if you give money in churches ,you wasted your money on theives and crooks, it would have been better to give it to the poor .
If a Road safetyofficer gives you a fine for a traffic offence for example. Do you say he is a wicked man?. He was discharging his official duty.So if a pastor teach on giving or ask money for a project in church. based on the scriptures given at the opening of this thread . Do you call him a thief for that. Is it unscriptural for people to give money in churches ? that is the point.

No it's not right to label a pastor as a crook. a pastor that teaches giving is only teaching his brethren to prosper. a pastor that teaches his congregation how to give is only doing what he is supposed to do afterall, even  pastors give enormously in different areas
also it is not unscriptural for people to give money in churches neither is it wrong for pastors to preach it

Joagbaje:
A pastor is a man that forsook everything to answer the call of God, Some resigned from great positions turned their back on offers and opportunities so as to answer Gods calling. They changed men lives for the better , heal the sick cast out devils and brought the best out of people by the teaching of Gods word , He labours in prayers and intercession for the members and others.
Several attacks have come against them in the execution of their priestly ministry. especially in the area of finances.
Tithes Offerings, Prophetic Seeds etc.
firstly the church money does not belong to the pastor, He has his salary or allowance and also he receive other gift of appreciation from those who have been blessed by him.
Galatians 6:6-7
   Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1 Tim. 5:17-18
   Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. [18] For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

When a pastor ask people to give , Is it not for their own prosperity? We receive by giving as Jesus taught us

Luke 6:38     Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. That's why a pastor is anointed.His anointing cause people to be blessed by giving through him or to him.

     , "as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. [/color]

Jesus  received money from people.How was he able to take care of12 men and their family, chatter boats etc

Our  pastors can't do the work of God  well without the funds. Jesus was criticised also for receiving money from people.
I am not aware any pastor will force anybody to give.They only teach us the word of God. we have the choice to obey or not.[/color]

SO IS IT REALLY RIGHT TO CALL THE MEN OF GOD THIEVES?

@joagbaje the anointing upon a pastor is not for himself but to minister to others.
my giving of any sort be it tithing, seed offerrings and firstfruits is God's system of protection for me

Annunaki:
@agbaje
Likewise tithes and first fruit is for old testament levites and not pastors. I guess they are just picking and choosing what favours them in the old testament.

@Annunaki  the scriptures states in ezekiel 44:30 that " and the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priests: ye shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house
31 the priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn wether it be fowl or beast"
firstfruits are freewill offerings given to the prophets( 2nd kings 4:42) so i think whether old testament or new testament, as far as it is befitting and of a great blessing to me i choose this part.
let them choose, its not a problem but they have taught us this truth and and it has expanded my visions about giving. i give unconditionally, i have great results and testimonies in all i do

@joagbaje
"wao! your writeups are always insightful"

@ kunleoshob
yes o! the gates of hell can never prevail against it.

KunleOshob:
If only ten per cent of the pastors/ churches in Nigeria are doing what your dad is doing[which is what they are supposed to do in the first instance] Nigeria would be a much better place to live in and the glory of Christ would truly shine and impact more lives positively and physically.


And when you start understanding and obeying the commandments of Jesus, you would realize that giving to God is giving to the poor and the needy and not some greedy lazy pastor who is too laid back to work to earn a decent living. Even apostles paul was working to give to the poor.

@ kunleOshob, NA WA O! u sound so unschooled. firstly 10% of the pastors in this country and over are doing what her dad is doing and much more. before you try to crucify pastors please do a thorough research and not from your obviously unreliable sources.

@ Aisha2 & @ kunleOshob, THE PSALMISTS says in 105 chapter 14: Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.He warned kings on their behalf:
15: “Do not touch these people I have chosen,and do not hurt my prophets.”
touch not with your mouth, your pen, your hands, on the net or in any way @ all
GOD IS TALKING TO YOU

aisha2:
By God, this is d funniest thing to come out of a chruch ever. My dad gas tears in his eyes from laughter after i showed him this

Your dad laughed cos of the post, that's interesting but i wonder why i'm not laughing
If only you know what is happening, believe me you wouldn't laugh
you probably are thinking that aah see xtians jamming their heads together ba?

@ sirjohn  "except that he came to stand in for a coward and a charlatan who couldn’t face reality himself. He enjoys fame and glory and the adoration of his passionate members from cheap miracle scam. No wonder he chooses to stay silent most times because he has no defence at all".

it's saddening to know that you can say all you have said and worse of the one stated above. It is clearly stated in the scriptures in 1st chronicles
21. He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22. Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
Being a reporter is a good thing especially when it is done wisely, the bible says in phillipians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. This should be your point of concentration
Also, you should be preaching the gospel of peace ( Eph 6: 15)
From your posts you sound bitter and of cause it could be as a result of something that happened in the past but you don't have to pay whatever ill was done to you by somebody with evil to another person.
what you are doing is a set up of the enemy to pollute the mind of people but the truth is that for as long as we have pastors and men of God, the world is secured. The prosperity of the world is dependent on pastors ( 2nd chronicles 20:20)

The bible says" a city set upon a hill cannot be hidden" ( matt 5:13-15), i think thats just the situation here.
you talk just about the healing school of christ embassy but what about the other arms of the ministry?
i'll be honoured to give you a hint, this same pastor chris has touched so many lives in different ways. take for example the just concluded sent portions where kids on the streets and families were given packed food, toiletries and clothes free of charge for the xmas.
ok what about the innercity missions of christ embassy where the less priviledged and the needy world over where are taken in into homes, given food and education free of charge or is it with the Rhapsody of Realities that has gotten into every continent and in different languages.
Say Pst Chris is the antichrist himself or is from the cohorts of hell, no problem but this same man is giving lives meaning.
He has taught his pastors the same thing from the scriptures. We have this monthly allnight in our church and all over the christ embassy churches where we all gather to pray. My pastor organizes a healing class for the sick or challenged, it's called the faith clinic where they are taught on faith and how to grow their faith and confess God's word concerning their lives and situations. During these classes healings take place and symptoms seize.
I have attended these meetings myself so it is not a fallacy.
Our other services are not left out, my pastor does not need to host a special crusade or healing meeting to cast out devils rather he does it anyday and anytime and anywhere. This does not take place among the pastors only but among the leaders and even to the non leaders and brethren of the church
Finally, anybody that has come to the  light of God's word, that has the knowledge of God's word,that knows his right in christ, what he can do and should do as a xtian can cast out demons.
"17.And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues; 18.They shall take up serpent; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" ( MARK 16:17&18)