Tithes and offerings are very important to all contemporary church denominations in Nigeria

The Redeemed Christian Church Of God (RCCG)

"A primary source of income for the RCCG is through tithe collection. High-ranking officials are appointed in the RCCG to ensure that tithes are properly collected at the parish level and properly accounted for and remitted to the national headquarters.154 The emphasis placed on tithe in RCCG is explicitly stated as a central pillar of the church’s “fundamental beliefs”: “regular payment of tithe and offering is obligatory, Tithes and offerings must be paid on every income e.g. salary, profit from business transactions, gifts, etc."

"An assistant pastor remains in that position for at least five years “with real achievements”. Such achievements include the demonstration of enhanced productivity in terms of tithes and attendance."

"There are some conditions that may bring about denial of ordination. Such conditions include (i) a drop in the level of moneys collected as tithes; (ii) a decline in the number of church attendants (which is different from and higher than membership); (iii) petition against a candidate by a church member."

Other Churches
Will fill you in later.

24. Tithe and Offering
Regular payment of tithe and offering is obligatory because it is God's command. It is God's way of providing for the Ministers in the Church. The ministers and other church employees are paid their food, allowance through tithe. The offering is used to cater for the needy in the Church. Tithe and Offering must be paid on every income e.g. salary, profit from business transaction, gifts, etc. Mal. 3:8-12; Gen. 14:19-20; Num. 18:20-21; Deut. 26:12-13; Lev. 27:30; Heb. 7:2-5; I Cor. 16:2; Matt. 23:23. Tithe is exclusively for the minister's welfare.

article 25 in 'fundamental beliefs of RCCG'

Seun:

24. Tithe and Offering
The ministers and other church employees are paid their food, allowance through tithe. . .
Tithe is exclusively for the minister's welfare.

Hmm, I don't mean to perforate the article, afterall it is RCCG's 'fundamental beliefs'. But the Bible does not teach that tithe is exclusively for the minister's welfare. Church collections (tithes and other offerings) are used as well for the help of widows and other members of the church (see I Tim. 5:3 & 16 and II Cor. 8:13-14. . . I don't see these in their article 25). Na wah!

@mlk_baby.Thats because you've only read a very minute portion of the article, what the Admin wants you to see. Why not ask him to post the entire "fundamental beliefs" for you to scrutinize?
I wander what this thread is all about, we all know that in most pentecostal churches members are strongly advised to pay tithes. I beleive their is another thread where people have explicitly argued out/discussed this very point on this same religion section, so I wander why Mr. Admin, seun is creating another thread for it when he could have just gone to that thread to post these new "eye opening" revelations he has just discovered. 

If someone else had done this, it would have been an issue of duplicating a topic and the penalty will follow, , anyway, back to the topic:

I attend one of the parishes of RCCG and I pay my tithes monthly and as often as I can because I am convinced that it is biblical. What the church does with the tithes doesnt really bother me because I have played my part, I've brought my tithes and offerings into the Lord's storehouse and God provides/blesses me immensely for that. So what the church does with it is now left to them and for God to judge accordingly!

I just don't get what the beef is about tithes if you don't want to pay then don't pay. besides the Injunction as contained in the bible is for CHRISTIANS(Not church goers)

@alheri,

I feel you. However, the interest was not about the entire body of fundamental beliefs in RCCG or any other church denomination. Rather, as concerning tithes, I was responding to the line that: "Tithe is exclusively for the minister's welfare." Of course, the article said that "The offering is used to cater for the needy in the Church," but that tithes become the exclusive portion of ministers does not appear to be what the Bible teaches.

Even when you take a cursory look at the issue in the OT, you'll find that tithes were not exclusively for the minister's welfare: "When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled" (Deut. 26:12). That surely does not sound like "Tithe is exclusively for the minister's welfare," does it?

You see, when we don't check from the Bible what we are told from the pulpit, we become the victims of such ideas. It does not even help to try and defend what any MOG says if it contradicts clear Biblical injunction. What was stated in RCCG's article 24 about tithing is not corroborated by what we find in the Bible.

Of course, everyone has the right to their opinions about tithing, whether or not to be concerned about what each person's denomination teaches about it, does with it, uses or abuses it, and whatever else. True, God will judge as best He sees fit with those who abuse His word on any subject. So, I'll just leave it there with the note that we should not just assume that something is correctly taught if in fact it contradicts God's Word.

No vex.

I forgot to include my source for the above quotes. Many apologies. It's this study of RCCG:
http://opus.ub.uni-bayreuth.de/volltexte/2004/73/pdf/Ukah.pdf

What I found most interesting is that pastors are rated based partly on how much tithes they generate.

"The amount of moneys that accrues to parishes, as tithes, donations and offerings remain one visible way of assessing and measuring the productivity and progressiveness of a pastor. As one senior pastor puts it, a pastor's “productivity must be measurable and progressive”.158 The measurable factors are tithes, attendance and the number of church-workers." (from the same source above).

So promotion of RCCG pastors is not just about "souls won for Christ" but also about money they bring in. I see!

Paying tithes is something I believe is optional not by compulsion Pay if you're convinced you need to pay. Hold back if you do not feel like paying.

My church normally encourages members to pay their tithes and give offerings. They don't force us to do it.  I think this is the best approach to this matter by any Church - except of course, the church leaders have a sinister motive for coming up with the congregation.


And Madam Alheri, I hope my apology on divorce is accepted.

Of because ono! No wahala. We cool!
And thanks for your contribution on this topic. I also believe that as long as the church-any church- does not force their members to pay tithes or even  go to their offices on pay days to collect their 10%, whats the hullabbaloo all about? I'm really not concerned whether they keep it EXCLUSIVELY for the pastors or give it to the poor, orphans and widows, I just pay my tithes! I reach out to the less priviledged in my own little way, I don't have to wait for the church to get my tithes to the poor to touch/reach out to them. I do that on my own, in my own little way. I have brought my tithes to church because I believe thats where I should bring them, if the church now decides to use it to organise a beach party at alpha beach, GOD WILL JUDGE THEM!, not me!

@alheri,

alheri:

@mlk_baby
I no vex sister, I understand where you're coming from. Like I said, I believe PAYING tithes is Biblical, what the church does with it, God will JUDGE them. I don't think it is my place to judge, neither is it yours . . .

And please has anyone been able to open the link seun provided? I havent, and I've tried like 3 times already.

You're right - it's not anyone's place to judge, but God's alone.

It's a 400 page pdf dessertation document by Asonzeh Franklin-Kennedy UKAH, and I was able to acces it from my office by the same link; I don't know why it wouldn't download from my PC at home. I tried it again this morning and was able to access it from my PC. Just keep trying, you might get there at last. http://opus.ub.uni-bayreuth.de/volltexte/2004/73/pdf/Ukah.pdf

I pay my tithes cos d bible says so, what d church does with it is up to them.
If u don't pay ur tithes, u ARE MISSING A LOT.

without tithes and offerings there will be no proliferation of churches in Nigeria. it will not encourage the mediocrity that exists in many pastors today who regard the work of God as a profession that is very lucrative. As Fela said archbishop dey enjoy, pope sef dey enjoy.

I think tithes are very efficient precisely because they are compulsory. Mister A wants to pay tithes if he knows that his colleagues B, C and D are also going to pay. So they won't be better off!

Its sad that many Made In Nigeria churches place so much emphases on tithes and offerings compared to what is obtainable in mostly white dominate member churches.Last Christmas i was at a Nigerian church and the pastors Christmas and new years massage to his customers was God would punish all those who didn't pay their Euros.
How much do our Senators pay for their tithe,10% of his salary or 10% of stolen money?
The churches scare venerable people in third world countries because everything is unstable and the people need to believe in miracles and the after life and of course you can't get blessed or get to heaven without paying your tithe and offering

Yeah! Pastors emphasize more on Tithes and Offerings because thats what most of them depend on or probably use for sustaining themselves. _{not my opipnion but a fact}.

Izzo:

_{not my opipnion but a fact}.

what does that mean?

It is realy important to tithe as christians but the n otion that tithe is exclusively for the priest is wrong and should be discouraged. I realy don't think any denomination should rate promotion of a priiest based on how much tithe he pulls in. There are clearly many more important factors that may be used for promotion.

Please I need your opinion on the Tithe Calculation below:


Yet unresolved
The Acceptable offering and correct tithing.
Tithes Calculation for Business Owners: If you own a business, your "increase" is what is called "profit". It is the gross amount of money you have earned, minus all business deductions. You figure the tithe on that amount, your net earnings, before taxes are paid to the government. God comes first.

Total Income – (Capital + Expenditure) /10
For an example, you start your business with N10, 000 that represent your seed. During the accounting period, you have N25, 000 at hand. We assume you spent N2, 000 for your running cost. This you will have to do. Deduct your Capital (N25, 000 – N10, 000). You are left with N15, 000. Next deduct your N2, 000 expenses incurred; you will be left with N12, 000. Your tithe will then be 1/10 of the N12, 000. That is N1, 200.
Salary Earner: If you are a salary Earner, it is clear you have no Capital apart from strength and good health you invested. So your own calculation will be slight different from a business owners.
Total Income /10
For example we assume you receive N20, 000 per month. All you have to do is divide N20, 000 by 10 (20,000/10) this gives you N2, 000 as your tithe.
On Savings and Investments: As an investor, it is must be understood that an increase is what you invest.
Suppose you were just starting out on tithing, and you had N100, 000 in the bank or other investments. Your regular 10% tithes on earnings you get on the income N100, 000 will be N10, 000. But, let's suppose that instead of paying off that 10% right away, you decide to pay tithes on the earnings of that N100, 00 0.

For simplicity of calculation, let's assume that you're earning 1% interest on that money. So, at the end of 1 year you get 1% interest on N100, 000, which leaves you N1, 000 in earnings. Since 10% of that N100, 000 belongs to the Lord; you owe all of the interest on that 10%. And so, 10% of N100, 000 is N10, 000, and 1% interest on N10, 000 is N100, and so you owe N100 on the Lord's portion.

The remaining 90% of N100, 000 belongs to you, but you still owe 10% on the earnings of that portion. 90% of N100, 000 is N90, 000, and 1% interest on N90, 000 is N900. You owe 10% on those N900 earnings, which amounts to N90.


To contrast, if you had already paid the "whole value tithe" previously, and had N100,000 in the bank earning 1% interest, your earnings would be 1% x N100,000 or N1,000. Your tithe would be 10% of that, or N100."
Gifts and presents: This is important to our Children. Learn to give your tithe early in life.
Every gift in cash and kind (note that bribe is not a gift). So 1 /10 of the value of such gifts are expected as your tithe.

Tithe Calculation in Civil Service & retirement: Many faithful tithers over their working years have questions about tithing their income. They like to know the position of God on their income since government will deduct the tax directly from their pay source.

Since your taxes are deducted from your pay directly, you will have to pay your 10% to God on the amount you actually earn.
For example, if you receive N100, 000 and government deducted 5 %( N5, 000) of the Pay as tax. You will be left with 95 %( N95, 000). Your tithe will be 10% of the 95,000 (that is, N9, 500). God first yes but God also put those in Government in power. We need not be hypocritical about this.



Yet unresolved

dafidixone:

Since your taxes are deducted from your pay directly, you will have to pay your 10% to God on the amount you actually earn.
For example, if you receive N100, 000 and government deducted 5 %( N5, 000) of the Pay as tax. You will be left with 95 %( N95, 000). Your tithe will be 10% of the 95,000 (that is, N9, 500). God first yes but God also put those in Government in power. We need not be hypocritical about this.

This is why I said in the other thread that we may be so concerned about the accuracy of figures that we miss the significance of tithing.

Taxes and tithes are not the same thing. When we understand the nature of one as distinct from the other, then the issue will be resolved.

Seun,hmnn Tithe is not meant 4 u & I.u were quptimg mostly from d old Testament, read Heb.1:1,commandment on tithe was for Jews in those days not for Christians now.
Nowhere in the new testament u see Tihte,Go & read ur Bible very well & not my Pastor says, we're no more under the Law,Christians from the Apostles were giving as God prospered them.1 cor. 16:1-2, 2 Cor. 9:6-9 not tithes, no hard feeling here!

yes o really serious