The Church has gone the old ways for some Pastors' gain
26 May 2024 By Abiodun Kareem Giwa
Schism is not new to the Church. It began with Martin Luther's visit to the Holy See, during which he was amazed to see preachers' lifestyles antithetical to their sermons. He started the Lutheran Church in protest. The denominations have since passed counting. Pentecostalism began in the United States and caught like wildfire worldwide, with pastors preaching prosperity. The materialism dogma gets into trouble as pastors become wealthy and parishioners poorer. There is an unending argument over tithe payments. Abel Damina, a Nigerian pastor, began the new debate, which is gathering storms by the day. Is it true the book of Malachi instructed pastors to pay tithe, and they have instead pushed it onto parishioners?
The current tithe debate starkly contrasts Jesus Christ, the merciful preacher, healer, and humble prophet, with the modern, flamboyant ministers who own private aircraft. This comparison, often made by observers, highlights the ethical questions raised by the controversy. Many ministers vehemently oppose Damina's teachings, with some expressing a desire for his demise, a testament to the high stakes involved in this discussion.
Church apologists say pastors are doing marvelously good work amid the controversy. They cite how the tithe levy began when Abraham paid Melchizedek, regarded as the king of the most high. Damina's supporters say pastors live abundantly with the parishioners' money. Pastors hide behind the book of Malachi and that tithe payment enhances wealth and nonpayment is dangerous. Pastors, using the name of the Church, collect tithes and offerings and ask members to sow seeds to improve the possibility of earning great wealth. Everyone wants to be rich. Pastors pursue great wealth; they encourage their members to do the same and are all caught in the journey to celebrity status and materialistic tendencies. Curious observers say nothing is wrong with pastors seeking members' well-being, but the way they do it is they encourage materialism at all costs that they are supposed to discourage. Others say these pastors are products of the societal environment where materialism and the pursuit of celebrity status have gained momentum. They preach the gospel and also do things to advance their wealth. The problem with humanity is that no one wants to be poor again. The scripture is a book of instruction for the benefit of church members, but the allegation that some pastors turn the words around to deceive for personal gains is serious. We must look at what the book of Malachi says to decide how the Christian ministry is heading.
Was the Book of Malachi indeed addressed to the prophets and church members? The first answer to resolve Damina's riddle and the thunderbolt against church leaders worldwide. This reporter confirmed Damina's words that the Book of Malachi was for priests the Lord accused of despising him! "O ye priests that despise my name and ye say wherein have we despised your name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. Ye offer the blind, the lame, and the sick for sacrifice. Is it not evil? (Malachi 1:6-8). The book, in its entirety, represents a rebuke of prophets, whom the Lord reminds to do good works like Levi, impart knowledge, and seek the law as God's messengers and accused of departing from the way! God charged the priests with robbing him. He ordered them to bring all tithes into the storehouse so that there may be food in his house, and they should do this and see if he will not open the windows of heaven and pour them a blessing. However, modern pastors have erroneously turned around to put this on church members. Monthly tithes go into the Church's purse, controlled mainly by pastors, to finance outrageous lifestyles. Astonishingly, modern pastors face the same indignation priests of Malachi's days contended. The same reason the Lord said in the book of Malachi he was sending a refiner still exists in the modern Church.
Damina's theory and analysis has redirected many, like this reporter, to read the Book of Malachi to gain knowledge or prove him right or wrong. Undoubtedly, Damina is a winner. Church fathers should help to bring the truth to worshippers worldwide: pastors need to pay their tithes for offerings they collect from members and not hoodwink them. Christ came as a refiner of the truth; must blasphemy again be allowed in the Church? Aren't all churches guilty in this case?
https://cepher.net/weekly-torah-portion.aspx?post=7847&title=
Toldot.https://cepher.net/weekly-torah-portion.aspx?=7847&title=Toldot
The current tithe debate starkly contrasts Jesus Christ, the merciful preacher, healer, and humble prophet, with the modern, flamboyant ministers who own private aircraft. This comparison, often made by observers, highlights the ethical questions raised by the controversy. Many ministers vehemently oppose Damina's teachings, with some expressing a desire for his demise, a testament to the high stakes involved in this discussion.
Church apologists say pastors are doing marvelously good work amid the controversy. They cite how the tithe levy began when Abraham paid Melchizedek, regarded as the king of the most high. Damina's supporters say pastors live abundantly with the parishioners' money. Pastors hide behind the book of Malachi and that tithe payment enhances wealth and nonpayment is dangerous. Pastors, using the name of the Church, collect tithes and offerings and ask members to sow seeds to improve the possibility of earning great wealth. Everyone wants to be rich. Pastors pursue great wealth; they encourage their members to do the same and are all caught in the journey to celebrity status and materialistic tendencies. Curious observers say nothing is wrong with pastors seeking members' well-being, but the way they do it is they encourage materialism at all costs that they are supposed to discourage. Others say these pastors are products of the societal environment where materialism and the pursuit of celebrity status have gained momentum. They preach the gospel and also do things to advance their wealth. The problem with humanity is that no one wants to be poor again. The scripture is a book of instruction for the benefit of church members, but the allegation that some pastors turn the words around to deceive for personal gains is serious. We must look at what the book of Malachi says to decide how the Christian ministry is heading.
Was the Book of Malachi indeed addressed to the prophets and church members? The first answer to resolve Damina's riddle and the thunderbolt against church leaders worldwide. This reporter confirmed Damina's words that the Book of Malachi was for priests the Lord accused of despising him! "O ye priests that despise my name and ye say wherein have we despised your name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. Ye offer the blind, the lame, and the sick for sacrifice. Is it not evil? (Malachi 1:6-8). The book, in its entirety, represents a rebuke of prophets, whom the Lord reminds to do good works like Levi, impart knowledge, and seek the law as God's messengers and accused of departing from the way! God charged the priests with robbing him. He ordered them to bring all tithes into the storehouse so that there may be food in his house, and they should do this and see if he will not open the windows of heaven and pour them a blessing. However, modern pastors have erroneously turned around to put this on church members. Monthly tithes go into the Church's purse, controlled mainly by pastors, to finance outrageous lifestyles. Astonishingly, modern pastors face the same indignation priests of Malachi's days contended. The same reason the Lord said in the book of Malachi he was sending a refiner still exists in the modern Church.
Damina's theory and analysis has redirected many, like this reporter, to read the Book of Malachi to gain knowledge or prove him right or wrong. Undoubtedly, Damina is a winner. Church fathers should help to bring the truth to worshippers worldwide: pastors need to pay their tithes for offerings they collect from members and not hoodwink them. Christ came as a refiner of the truth; must blasphemy again be allowed in the Church? Aren't all churches guilty in this case?
https://cepher.net/weekly-torah-portion.aspx?post=7847&title=
Toldot.https://cepher.net/weekly-torah-portion.aspx?=7847&title=Toldot
HTML Comment Box is loading comments...
