The trial of pastor Jones

The truth about tithing
(unknown author)




Judge: Mr. Jones you have been charged with multiple counts of extortion. Your crime spree covers 20 years and thousands of victims. You have defrauded people out of their money with fear and manipulation, telling them they had to tithe 10% of their income as per the LAW to your Regd. organization (called Church) and that God would bless them if they did. You also told them that if they didn't tithe God would curse them.
How do you plead?

Mr. Jones: I plead not guilty your Honor,
I have done nothing wrong. I have only preached what the Bible says. In the Bible Abraham tithed to Melchizedek and God blessed him for his faithful giving. The Bible even says he was rich in silver and gold.

Judge: Is it not true, Mr. Jones, that in Genesis chapter 13 verse 2 the Bible says Abraham was rich with livestock, silver and gold?

Mr. Jones: Yes, you are exactly right, that's what I just told you.

Judge: Ok, we read about Abraham being a rich man in chapter 13 but it is not until Genesis chapter 14 that we read about Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek. So Abraham was already a rich man before he tithed to Melchizedek, wasn't he?

Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose you are right.

Judge: So his riches were not the result of his tithe to Melchizedek?

Mr. Jones: No.

Judge: Mr. Jones, you also say God blessed him for his faithful giving. How many times is it recorded that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek?

Mr. Jones: Well, just once.

Judge: So the Bible never said that he gave week after week?

Mr. Jones: No it does not.

Judge: Where did Abraham get the things that he gave to Melchizedek?

Mr. Jones: Well the Bible says it was from the plunders of war?

Judge: So you are telling me that he gave from the plunders of war?

Mr. Jones: Yes that's what the Bible says.

Judge: So he basically took things that were not really his in the first place and gave them as the tithe?

Mr. Jones: That is what the scripture seems to indicate.

Judge: Is it recorded that he ever took anything from his own possessions and tithed them to Melchizedek or anyone else?

Mr. Jones: I guess not

Judge: You guess not, you are a teacher and you are only guessing, is it or is it not written that he ever gave any of his own possessions as a tithe to anyone?

Mr. Jones: No it is not written anywhere that I have seen.

Judge: Is it recorded as to what exactly Abraham did give Melchizedek?

Mr. Jones: I believe it says plunder?

Judge: So plunder could be any number of things?

Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose

Judge: It could have been food, cattle, sheep, the people's possessions or any number of things. It does not say it was all money correct?

Mr. Jones: Yes you are correct, it does not say just money

Judge: As a matter of fact money is never mentioned in that account at all is that correct Mr. Jones?

Mr. Jones: Yes your Honor, money is never mentioned just goods and food and people.

Judge: So there is no way you can say with any certainty that Abraham in fact gave Melchizedek any money at all?

Mr. Jones: That is right.

Judge: I only have one last question for you Mr. Jones, did God command Abraham to give this plunder tithe to Melchizedek?

Mr. Jones: No, it appears that he did this voluntarily.

Judge: So are you trying to tell me that because of this voluntary, one time gift by Abraham, that may not have even consisted of money, all Christians everywhere are obligated to bring 10% of their weekly paycheck to a local Regd.Organization-church?
Considering all the evidence I would say you are beyond any shadow of a doubt guilty of deliberately trying to make the scriptures says things they have not said for financial gain.

Mr. Jones: Ok your Honor, I can see how foolish I was to try and use the story of Melchizedeck to try and get the people to tithe money. But there are many other verses that will support my belief on tithing. Jacob said he would give God 10% of everything. I think we should follow his example.

Judge: Let's see what Jacob said. Please read the verse you are talking about for me Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones: In Genesis chapter 28 starting at verse 20 it says. Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you."

Judge: You said we should follow Jacobs example, is that right Mr. Jones?

Mr. Jones: Yes that is right, he vowed to give a tenth and we should too.

Judge: Let me point out one thing for you Mr. Jones, Jacob said he would Give God a tenth, ONLY if He blessed him first. So as you said previously, we should follow Jacob's example and tell God that we will only give him a tenth if he blesses us first. Is that right?

Mr. Jones: That is not what I meant.

Judge: What did you mean then?

Mr. Jones: That we should give God a tenth also.

Judge: There you go again, trying to make the scripture say what you want it to say for your benefit. I would also like you to tell me the scriptures that say that Jacob kept his vow with God. I would also like to know where he gave the tenth to because there was no temple or levites to give it to at that time.

Mr. Jones: I can not think of any scriptures that say where or if he ever tithed after his vow.

Judge: It seems fairly obvious to me that Jacob made a voluntary and conditional vow to God. This in no way can be used as a reason to demand others to bring their income to you or any other place.

Mr. Jones: I do have a few more scriptures that I believe will show that we are supposed to tithe.

Judge: You have not said anything yet to convince me one little bit that people are obligated to tithe money to the local organizational institutions -churches and that you were justified in what you were doing. You have taken scripture and misapplied it to your beliefs and for your gain. But in order to be fair to you I will allow you to present more evidence.

Mr. Jones: In the book of Malachi chapter 3 starting at verse 8 it says, will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, In what have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. So you see your Honor, we are commanded to bring the tithes into the storehouse or God will curse us.

Judge: Answer me this Mr Jones, Who was God Speaking to here?

Mr Jones: To the People of Israel

Judge: Can you please read Malachi 2: 1 Please Mr Jones

Mr Jones: Now This command is for you O PRIEST !!

Judge: Did God stop talking to the Priest in chp. 3 Mr Jones?

Mr Jones: No your Honor!

Judge: Answer me this Mr. Jones, were you aware that God never required anyone to tithe money?

Mr. Jones: No I didn't know that.

Judge: The tithe spoken of here was always edible products never money.

Mr. Jones: well your Honor that is because they didn't have money at the time so God had them tithe food instead.

Judge: Not true, money is first mentioned in Genesis and Malachi was written hundreds of years later. God had them bring food in so that the levites, the fatherless and widows may eat and be satisfied. The tithe was used mainly to take care of people. Also notice it says in the verse you quoted, that there may be food in my house. The food was the tithe. How do you completely overlook the word food in those verses?

Mr. Jones: I don't know

Judge: I also want you to know that these verses speak to nation under the Old Testament law. As you may or may not know Jesus fulfilled the law, it is no longer binding.
Once again you have tried to completely take a scripture out of context and apply it to others for your benefit. Can you give me a single scripture where God changed the tithe from food to money?

Mr. Jones: I do not know of any.

Judge: So if God never changed it from food to money who did?

Mr. Jones: Man must have.

Judge: So far all you have done Mr. Jones, is take Old Testament scriptures out of context and try to apply it to believers under the New Covenant. Is this all the proof you have?

Mr. Jones: I do have a New Testament scripture that will show that Jesus told us to tithe.

Judge: Ok let me hear it.

Mr. Jones: Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. See Jesus said we should be tithing.

Judge: Let me ask you a question, who was Jesus talking to?

Mr. Jones: The scripture says the Scribes and Pharisees.

Judge: Are you a scribe or Pharisee?

Mr. Jones: Of course not.

Judge: Jesus also said in that passage, you have left undone the weightier matters of the law. Are we under the law Mr. Jones?

Mr. Jones: No.

Judge: Why not?

Mr. Jones: Because Jesus fulfilled it.

Judge: When did Jesus fulfill the law?

Mr. Jones: When He was crucified.

Judge: So the law was still in effect until Jesus death?

Mr. Jones: That is correct.

Judge: I think you know where I am going with this don't you?

Mr. Jones: Yes your Honor. Since Jesus had not yet been crucified and the law was still binding the Pharisees were required to tithe because it was part of the law. Once the law ended, tithing ended also.

Judge: I want you to take a look at that verse again. Also tell me, what were they tithing?

Mr. Jones: The scripture says it was mint, dill and cumin.

Judge: Is money mentioned?

Mr. Jones: No it was not.

Judge: Once again it was edible products that they were tithing, not money. Do you have anything else you would like to say?

Mr. Jones: If people only tithed edible products like the scripture says, then how would the church survive? We have our mortgage payment, utility bills, staff salary and a host of other things that we have to pay each week. We depend on the money from the people.

Judge:By "church" you mean your organization isn't it Mr Jones ?
-The need does not justify the means. In other words, just because you have all these debts does not give you the right to twist and manipulate scripture and cause people to give under fear of being cursed by God to meet your needs. Does It Mr Jones?
In closing, let me recap a few things for you Mr. Jones.
-The tithe was never money;
-The tithe was an Old Testament law, which is no longer binding. When it was binding the tithe was used to take care of people, not buildings.
- We are under a new covenant now.
Paul instructs the Corinthian believers how they are to give. He says in second Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7, Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. So each believer is supposed to give as he or she has determined in his or her heart.
If they determine to Give 10% well and good, If they keep aside some every week to meet this more better.If you are trying to make people give under the threat of being cursed or any other reason even blessing, you are wrong. Someone can not give cheerfully if they are being forced to give. If 'your church can not survive on freewill offerings maybe God is not part of your church at all.
Mr Jones, Do you intentionally put your people under a Curse or a Bondage?

Mr Jones: Of Course Not !!

Judge: Can you Read in context Gal 3:10-11 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them ....
AND
Gal 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage....

Mr. Jones: I never realized all these things, I have always been taught that we had to tithe money to the local church and that is what I have always taught. I can see now that I was completely wrong. I did not study the scripture for myself, I only took mans word for it.
Yes ' am guilty. I will not teach this error anymore.

Sentencing....... All Arise .......

I am yet to understand why the state is not on lockdown ,this few political rogues cannot survive one week if the LGA workers coopt the Subeb teachers and have a complete lockdown,they will learn.

Hi,am looking for a 1994 Mercedes Benz E200,E220 black or any dark colour from Cotonou could you be of assistance and pls give a cost analysis.Thank you.

My advice to every patriotic Nigerian is to list out politicians that have shown lack of genuine concerns for the masses and weed them out in the next general elections.This would teach the leaders some lessons about where power really belongs.

Abuja police, on two separate occasions they had deliberately lied just to implicate me,on one occasion a police woman at the traffic light accused me of using my phone while driving and I immediately checked the time,gave her my phone and asked her to show me the last dialled or received call in everyone's presence. Just know the law and follow and know extortionist will devour your hard earned money.

This would always happen when you enact laws that are anti people. Government policies should always wear human face.

Before now, you could obtain your DL under a few hours, but FRSC left their statutory functions of safety on the road and became a revenue generating agency,messed up the entire system and issuance of DL became more difficult than obtaining even a USA visa. We need to kick against this exploitation ASAP.

FRSC has left their core mandate which is to educate road users,provide quick ambulance services and direct traffic in case of gridlock or accidents,provide road signs etc. They have deliberately created bottlenecks in procurement of driver's licence and now have become revenue generators. Until Nigerians stand against oppressive policies.This people would keep depleting our already lean pockets.

ayindejimmy. God bless you immensely for that post on what the President needs to do Asap .Saraki and his goons and even some elements within pmb's kitchen cabinet wants to rundown this government, he needs to become brutal and we the masses equally need to ginger him with our public outcry against those kleptomaniacs who think nothing can happen to them as long as they are in that chamber.

Like others have agreed,the problem we have is people from the states keeping quiet while governors in each state behave like emperors.When the protests that happened on the 6th of this month was first communicated,the idea was a protest against bad governance at all levels, but the smart politians and their conniving goons quickly changed the narrative as if it was all about the fg and Pmb in particular.We have to turn the heat on governors and hold them accountable. Afterall what is the population of federal civil servants compared to the rest of the country.

higgs:
Many bank branches don't have ATM fit notes to load.If you are in a city,try using the ATM's during off peak hours eg late in the evening or early morning.Also,explore options like online transfers and pos for payments to minimize cash usage especially during long holidays

My brother, I currently have a running battle getting back my funds using the quick teller of a zenith bank ATM and from my access account. Since on twentieth money was correctly deducted including the service charge,recipient never got credited. I have contacted my bank as well as the receiver's bank, no reversal yet.

The nass members especially those of the red Chamber(lots of them exgovernors belonging to all the parties) are all united in frustrating the government of the day.When you fight curroption it definitely fights back.I just hope we the masses could read between the lines and remind this legislooters thy are supposed to represent us not themselves. #occupynass

This bunch of legislators would want the president to sign into law a budget with out knowing the full details of the document,i mean who does that and why the delay,cos i don't want to believe they considered the budjet without its details.It is safe to now conclude all the drama of the missing/ not missing budget and its purported padding was actually the handiwork of the Nass members.This people need to feel the wrath of the masses.

We got it wrong the moment we moved our National team camp and matches out of lagos to places like abuja that are less 'hostile" to the players. Abuja national stadium for instance is off road to spectators as there is no bus stop arround,to get into the stadium during trainings sef nah serious issue (security). Move the National team back to lagos and players will really fight to keep their places and the must win spirit of the old green eagles will return as pretenders will be booed at trainings and matches alike.My two cents.

Ok Guys please stop insulting each other's tribes.This woman is exhibiting the symptom of a woman who is lonely,she certainly needs help,can someone kindly help her,she needs to be seriously laid.At menopause and no one to cuddle her,something is obviously not right.

Ok I have read lots of good comments here need I just add,if you'll need someone to babysit while you're at work,get a creche close to your place of work or better still get an elderly nanny.Am totally against using anyone below the age of eighteen as a help in the house (there is a law against it in this country)Last line,if you cannot afford to pay professionals to do your home chores for you,then please consider enlisting part time people who can do tedious home chores on weekends.

what is the essence of doing Bvn in an empty account
some people account balance be like jamb score
this lady mumu sha,so Bvn is a yardstick for marriage
proposal, keep breaking up with them, by the time your
parents start advertising you on OLX, thats when you will
know. You no go kill person with Laff.

I recall the South African government are yet to repatriate our $15 million they seized last year on the butched arms deal inspite of the several pleas .Them never see anything yet,they were busy forming Shau khan.E go clear for their eyes soon.A new sherrif is in town.

Tune to AIT now and see the Rivers State govt Thanksgiving service Live.Look critically between the lines and tell me if this not a show of false hope.

They have started tv adverts saying we miss you and someone claims the news is fake,not to worry even Nitel will resurrect and get better patronage than the wicked MTN network.Lesson for organisations that do anyhow with consumers.

My guy,delay the issue about the 25k and discourse other issues with your lost friend.If he mentions the money issue in your conversations after then,take off,or better still send him your account number to send you just 5k so you can run arround to raise the cash,if he does he wants to truelly help,anything else is a scam ( I would already have concluded it is) based on experience.

What is the web address

The rot in the police and army is everywhere, north,east, south and west.

On a more serious note those police officers between obajana and osara are confirmed criminals, if you ply that road often,coming from Lokoja to okene as soon as you leave obajana towards osara, before the army check point you always notice a blue Peugeot 504 police car without occupants, the car belongs to police from that FRSC office in obajana, there are many reported cases of early morning robberies by Fulani men led by uniformed men in that area.The police authority in that state cannot claim ignorance of these cases, even the New President in his inaugural speech confirmed the extra judicial killing of BH leader Yusuf MoHd as a huge factor in the menace.Change is here.

The scarcity is getting to the level that will trigger a serious revolution nationwide, then things would fall inline naturally, at least flights are now grounded,the few people holding the country to ransom will soon know they are in the minority.

We should just work towards refining our own petroleum products, it's only in my country Nigeria we would be importing finished products.Smh

This election is actually between the incumbent and Nigerians who actually feel the brunt of bad governance, GMB just happens to be a symbol of hope,In 1993 we all forgot about other factors but concentrated on bringing the military junta to an end and Nigerians of all walks of life voted massively for Mko, the same scenerio is playing out,cos true Nigerians are tied of redundance and backwardness.GMB will surely win a free and fair election in a few day's time.

Honestly when God is at work,people are still not getting it, we gave uncle Jona our mandate freely in 2011 and not long after he started getting things wrong,2015 is here and all the signs are there that God is presenting us with another opportunity to correct things,with all the exhibition of gross incompetence from top to bottom, its a no brainner that we should just do the right thing and vote for a couragious leader GMB.At least God has been magnanimous enough to keep him hale and hearty to do the needful these country desperately needs.

I thought some PDP members claim obj would not be missed,hmm it is dawning on people who knows that PDP just lost a seriously significant figure in their fold.Lesson is that because of the advantage of numbers you don't give your opponents the advantage by loosing your pawns no matter how unusefull they are at the moment.

Shortly after AIT's defaming&false 1 hr long documentary on GMB, they (AIT) conducted an online poll. With joy in my heart, I present to you d result of an instant shot of the poll.[/quote]
The online polls is still ongoing and the peeps general is tenatiously flooring Gej with about 8509 votes to the latter's 2009 votes.check the current status.