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Sam AwedaMonday, November 3, 2008
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ERROR ON THE PULPIT. JESUS: MONEY-DOUBLERS? (1)

n the earlier times in Nigeria, in the 1950's and 60's, there were very bold individuals, tricksters and frauds who paraded themselves as magicians, posing to have power to do the impossible.


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They went from one village to the other and to communities in urban areas persuading people to surrender their valuables; money, clothes and jewelries in order to gain them back in multiples.

They would make it possible for a few members of the public to win some handsome gifts. But really, members of their own magical group who disguised as members of the public won most gifts.

At the end of the show, fierce looking hooligans would emerge on the ground, wielding dangerous weapons to scare the audience away and to escort the master sorcerer away in an undisturbed passage while the musicians of the magician would start to beat their talking drum very hard and fast asking "Tanii fi owo ra owo?" meaning "Who ever used money to buy money?" Others of the musicians would be beating theirs, saying "T'o lomo kan lo soro o, kaunkan l'awa soju" meaning "It is the headache of those whose money have been swindled but we can't be bothered in our own case"

There starts the beginning of profuse sobbing and gnashing of teeth of those who have been robbed of their valuables.

I have watched the trends of events in some Churches across the world for sometime now with the aggression with which money is being canvassed on the pulpits and wondered whether the spirits of those magicians of the 1950's and 60's spoken above have re-incarnated in the Churches.

What happens on those pulpits today is unbelievable with the manner by which the Scripture is being interpreted in order to have worshippers give, of their money. I am really at a loss as to whether these interpretations are done out of ignorance of the Scripture or they are done intentionally, reminiscent of the behaviour or in renaissance of the sorcerers whose stories in the time past I re-counted above.

I have heard of a certain Church, whose pastor prescribes what amount to give in order to have a million in return and what amount to give in order to have 2 million and so on and so forth, turning Jesus into a magician or some money-doublers.

Let it be said clearly that wolves in sheep's clothing are not new. They were there in the time of Jesus and in the time of Apostle Paul. Such are the ones Paul refers to as who "to them the Good News is just a means of making money" (ITim 6:5).

In actual fact they never knew the Lord.

Unfortunately, people who do not read their Bible would not know the difference between the true preachers and those who have set up the so called churches for trade. They are those who the late Rev. J.K. Solomon, founder of "All Nations Disciples of Christ Evangelistic Ministry" often refer to as "Edumare gbe un ma je ko mi" translated as "God give me what to eat"

And of course they will always have customers in those who want to be rich and who have been told that they can acquire material wealth in Churches. And the Pastors invoke the name of Jesus as if He is money-doublers.

Those pastors, bishops or whatever appellations they go by, at offering time often command their congregation "Dip your hand in your pocket or wallet and empty it all in the plate so that you can have it back in multiples" Even among the true Churches, the way they canvass for money on occasions leave more to be desired. This occurs often because of the large vision they have. But I still believe that whatever method used should be within the boundary of the Scripture.

Poor girl, an undergraduate; she went to worship in one of those new generation assemblies that particular Sunday. She arrived home sweating profusely, thirsty, hungry and tired. She had walked the God knows distance home in the blazing, hot and highly humid weather. All worshippers were asked to empty all the money on them into the offertory plate and expect to have it back in multiples before they reached home.

Innocent young girl that she was, she complied in simple obedience and faith but had no money again to pay for her transportation home. She got on the way by foot, hoping that she would get a 'good Samaritan' to offer her free ride, even if the hope from the pulpit to have her money returned in multiples failed. Unfortunately, none of it happened.

But is the Scripture not clear enough about our obligations towards what we should give to God through the Church or mission?

Very much clear indeed, whether in the Old Testament period or in the New.

Giving In The Old Testament

The genesis of giving in the Old Testament is this: Of the twelve children (tribes) of Jacob, the descendants of the third born, Levi, were separated to officiate in the Temple (Ex28,29; Num. 3,4,18). They were called "Priests"

The rest of the descendants of Levi other than Aaron and his offspring were ordained as "Assistant Priests"

In the Old Testament time, the obligations of given were two types and were mandatory (compulsory) and none attracted greater importance than the other.

These were (1) offerings (sacrifices) of animals and (2) a tenth (tithes) of the produce of the land; grain, fruits, wine, herds, flocks and other domestic animals as they pass for counting (Lev.27: 30-33).

The animal offerings were for the maintenance of the Priests while the tithes were for the support of the "Assistant Priests" The summary of the offerings are as follows:

(i) In Ex.13:2,11-13; 22:29-30, the Lord instructed that all the first-born sons of Israel be dedicated to Him. But He would not have human beings sacrificed (Lev.18.21; Deu.12:31) therefore a ransom of two and half dollars equivalent was payable on every first-born sons of Israel at age 1 month (Num.18:15-16).

(ii) He (God) also demanded the offerings of every first-born male animal. Every first-born male animal classified as 'clean' must be given up while those, which were classified as 'unclean' and unacceptable for sacrifice; the owner shall redeem them and pay the priest's estimate of its worth plus an extra 20%. If the owner wouldn't redeem them, the priest may sell them to someone else (Numb:18:8-21,24).

(iii) First harvest i.e produce of the land: grain, grapes, ripe fruits and liquors (Ex.22:29 KJV).

(iv) All the gifts which were brought to the Lord, grain (meat) offerings, sin offerings, guilt (trespass) offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings and all the various daily, weekly, monthly and annual sacrifices and feasts (festivals). (Ex.28,29; Numb 3,4,18). The meat of these animals belonged to the priests, the direct descendants of Aaron. They were used to support the Priests "They are for you and your families as food" (Numb 18:17-19).

The assistant priests i.e. other Levites other than the direct descendants of Aaron were to be maintained by the tithes because both groups, all Levites were not to have any inheritance or property in the land, which they were going to occupy (Num.18:20).

Details of the ordinance of tithing can be read in these other passages: Num.18:25-32; Deu.12:17-23; Deu.14: 22-27; Deu.14: 28-29; Deu.26:12-15

There was a time when the people reneged on these obligations to their brothers, the Levites and the prophet, Malachi had to reprimand them in strong terms, accusing them of, 'robbing God' (Malachi 3:8).

Other than the maintenance (support), which these offerings offer to the Levites, they were really portraying something stronger and more significant. They were shadows of things to come. They were mimicries, imitations of what Christ would represent i.e. what Christ was coming to do for mankind (Heb.10:1).

These offerings have become irrelevant today after Christ had come and died or which Church makes animal sacrifices again?

Christ has been used as a one time perfect offering and already achieved far more than what the offerings of those animals could.

Hear Christ Himself "For verily I say unto you: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved. (till all be fulfilled (KJV)). The purpose was achieved by His death. While on the cross shortly before He gave up the ghost, it was recorded that: "Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,�.. said: "It is finished" (John 19:28-30) and the "thick veil hanging in the Temple split apart" (Lk 23:45) thus bringing an end to all the ceremonial and legalistic rules of worship, which had been in place for 1400years and henceforth Christ became: "the end of the Law" (Rom 10:4).

With the coming of Christ as our High Priest, the institution of the Levitical Priesthood was dismantled. Thus the offerings and tithes that supported it became irrelevant.

The offering, which Malachi called for in the Old Testament, Jesus paid it with His life afterwards and should not be misinterpreted as donations or money put into the offertory plates.

Preachers today have placed 'tithing' and over-emphasized it above 'offerings'. These preachers argue that tithing is mandatory (compulsory) and primary while offering is voluntary (free will).

This is total ignorance of the part of the Scripture that institutionalized offerings and tithes. Under the institution, both were equal and mandatory and there was not one that was more important or more obligatory than the other. They now explain 'offering' as donations other than the tithes paid in to the Church or fellowship or money put inside the offertory plates, during Church services.

While there is nothing wrong in this practice and it is part of offering in the larger context, it must be cleared that this is not the offering, which Malachi meant.

Offering today, really should mean more than money put in to the Church plates or any donations. Our own contribution in the process of Christ being our perfect offering is what Paul wrote to the Romans in 12:1 which says: "I beseech you therefore, brethen, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service".

Anyone who really grasps the concept of the New Covenant of worship brought by the Lord Jesus will quickly through the Holy Spirit realize that all the old legalistic rules for worship do not fit into the system of salvation by Grace through faith. And this is why no apostle of the New Testament taught tithing because it is not of faith but of the law (Gal.3:12) and all the rules of worship were to last only until the coming of Christ. They were to guide and prepare us for the coming of Christ who was to come with a superior and preferred system, which freed us from the doom and curse of the law (Gal.3: 21-24).

While no Church is any longer in the habit of animal sacrifices (Levitical offerings) as it was the ordinance in the Old Testament, I cannot understand why they still retain and demand for tithes because both were ordained at the same time for a purpose and the purpose had been fulfilled.

With this understanding, it will amount to fraud to use Malachi 3:8-10 to argue in favour of tithes under the New Covenant,

The Lord referred to tithing only twice during His ministration and it was not that He taught it at any of the two occasions. He only mentioned it in passing at both times. At the end He did not condemn it out rightly but the way He said it can best be described as 'passive'. He had nothing strong or positive to say about it knowing that the practice was going to cease anyway, only in a matter of short time. He knew the time was almost up for the practice.

At the first occasion, it was a derogative remark to the Pharisees who prided themselves with the practice (Matt.23:23;Lk.11:42). Jesus would rather prefer that the Pharisees gave much importance to judgement, mercy and faith.

The other time was also in a derogatory manner just as in the first reference. He used it again to belittle the scribes who thought that they were better and more righteous because they obeyed the ordinance of tithing among others (Lk. 18: 9-14).

This was in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector) who both went to the temple to pray. The publicans were regarded as worst of sinners because they charged the people above what the Roman colonial masters stipulated so that they could help themselves with the extra. But the publican in this story accepted his sins and went away justified while the boasting, self righteous, holier-than-thou tithing Pharisee received condemnation.

In the next issue, Giving in the New Testament will be discussed.

Detailed study of this subject, can be obtained in my book "Worshipping God With Our Substance. Is Tithing Still Relevant"

Sam Aweda is President & Snr. Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission

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