TITHE OR NOT

The issue of tithing isn’t about giving more or giving less, it is about giving right. Just like prayers, we don’t say any kind of thing in the name of prayers. It’s not about praying more or less, it’s about praying right. One of the reasons I don’t normally use the term “tithe” is because of perspective. Tithe simply means ten per cent and for some people, ten percent is not generous giving…

Again, tithe to some other people means a law with something attached. However, in the reality of the New Testament, tithe can mean something different.

The term “tithe” to the believer should mean something different. Just like we are not saved because we did water baptism, but we do water baptism because we are saved and it represents the purification that came the moment we got born again. Tithing should be seen as “memorial”, in order words it shouldn’t mean ten percent, it should be an act sponsored by faith.

God didn’t instruct Abraham to pay tithe to Melchizedek, Abraham simply gave it out of faith… It would have been more or less, the important thing there is the motive… It was done in faith. To the believer, generous giving isn’t what we do to get God convinced about blessing us, it is what we do because we are convinced that God has blessed us.

Engaging ourselves in the debate of whether to tithe or not might continue to create entirely the wrong message because many of us engage in this debate out of bitterness and not love. Rather, we should focus on changing the perspective and making people understand that “tithe” in the New Testament simply means “stewardship”. We shouldn’t lead people into seeing it as abomination to give for the work of God, we shouldn’t discourage people into believing that there is no gain in giving for the gospel.

We should take our time to teach the word of God, defend the gospel and stand against false teaching. False teachers have make merchandise of the gospel and we must do the needful by teaching the right thing. I believe that every trend has its purpose, I don’t see it solely as the enemies attack, I see it as a movement that will spark off something better because Jesus is the one building His Church of which He assured us that the gates of hell cannot prevail it. I will tell you why I think so.

There was a time charismatic teachings trended, it brought about revivals and brought to the consciousness the person of the Holy Spirit and the importance of exercising the giftings of the Spirit.

There was a time holiness teachings trended, it brought about being conscious of living right and being an example. Grace teaching started trending, it brought to the consciousness of people that we did nothing to be Holy, we are Holy because God declared us holy. It brought the consciousness of Jesus as one who works in us both to will and to do, it brought a balance to the teachings of holiness and believers can now freely live out who they are without fear. All these teachings are not new, they just spark off and trend and it serves great purpose. When you look well you see that at each of the time these things trended, the body of Christ become larger and stronger.

Being humans, we can’t avoid extremism. It’s not a thing of today. When calvanism which is of course a movement of Grace teaching came, there were also extreme calvanist and disagreements can’t be avoided. Yet, God uses these disagreements for our good. If you understand the time, you will know that we have a very short time and the end is near.

The knowledge of Jesus cannot be hidden or held bound. Believe me, you’ll see people you never expected declaring Jesus. Today, one of the most influential entrepreneur in Africa, Dr. Strive is a Christian who filter principles through the lens of God’s word. The knowledge of Jesus is spreading without stop and without our approval, people we don’t like will also preach this gospel.

I believe this trend on tithing and giving will bring about the urgency of making people understand the Christian giving more. It will make believers give generously without being brainwashed… While we look at it from the perspective of the Church is being attacked, let’s also see it from another perspective that God is making His church perfect everyday till the day we shall see Jesus face to face and achieve perfection.

Jesus is the message, Jesus should be the focus. In our defense, criticism and reach outs, it shouldn’t be about establishing our voices to fame, it shouldn’t be about portraying ourselves as better… It should be about the love of God in us, burning with passion for souls and yearning that the body of Christ continues to grow on to maturity. 

Jesus is beautiful…

I speak peace to your life!