The Pentecostal Tithing Controversy

Suddenly everyone is talking about tithing everywhere on social media. I don’t get it – why is it so important all of a sudden???

I’ll tell you why – its simply because most humans subconsciously refuse to think for themselves once they find anyone who is willing to or would forcefully take up that responsibility for them!

Before Daddy Freeze, everyone that did was comfortable with maintaining status quo. Then suddenly he disrupts the school of thought and there comes a reclassification of folks based on their decision or indecision. We have the confused; those unsure of themselves about what they’ve been doing for years, the advocates; those who will never question the motives of their ‘spiritual leaders’ but will instead defend their integrity with their own reputation, and the antagonists; those who seek to give new perspective to the issue of tithing in particular and the general notion of religious followership through logic and common sense.

I admire the latter the most and it isn’t strictly because I find their line of thought to be sensible but because it takes great courage to break from the bandwagon mentality and actually do some real THINKING.

In my opinion, this issue of tithing is a very personal matter and should be guided strictly by the individual’s (unbiased) faith simply because what we strongly believe is that which is made manifest in our lives. So if you are bound by the spirit of giving, tithing comes naturally even if it exceeds or is less than one-tenth. If tithing is a religious obligation to you then you do it as an imposition and/or you expect to benefit from it.

Interestingly, save for the fixed percentage, the concepts of tithing and offerings are same and shouldn’t be seen differently as far as I am concerned. A man may be moved to give today, but not moved tomorrow. Scripturally, its the former that the Bible encourages.

The fact remains that God doesn’t need your money, but His ministry does and the man who runs the ministry become the treasurer and dispenser at same time. The question that needs answering is that of ownership of the ministry – is it truly God’s Ministry or just the ministry of the ‘man of God’? The answer to this doesn’t need rocket science to decipher: BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM!

Owing to the peculiar way churches are run; the lack of accountability and profligacy in many cases, its no wonder this topic is suddenly sensational. Some may even compare their activities to that of a District tax office generating revenue for governance with the ultimate discretion on how such monies are utilized. Reminds me a lot about the Nigerian system of governance.

What truly worries me is how strongly some ‘men of God’ feel the need to defend tithing as if that is the most important message of Christianity!

Also, why do we hear so much of the material exploits of ‘men of God’ and so little of their charitable works? Isn’t it an epic irony that in preaching charity as a godly trait the church happens to be the largest beneficiary of it. Well, you know what they say, “charity begins at home” – certainly not in the church!

After all is said and done, to each man his own. People should aim for spirituality rather than religiosity. Pay your tithe if you are moved to do so, and if in doubt, don’t…the scripture is crystal clear about giving with a cheerful heart – all else na ‘bear-bear banking’!