Of the rats and the giants, by Bolaji O. Akinyemi
Canal adventurism is an indication of spiritual ineptitude – Chris Okotie.
I was reading on Sahara Reporters the adventure of Adeolu Adeboye, the first son of Pastor E.A Adeboye and his contribution to the list of abandoned projects in the country which now stands at over 60,000.
I called to mind the visit of Pastor E.A Adeboye to Governor El-Rufia in April 2021, three months after the due date of Adeolu’s contract which was to be delivered in 18 months in January 2021, but was not. At the visit Baba prayed; “I am assuring you sir, that the Almighty God is going to fight for you. He is going to fight for Kaduna State, He is going to fight for Nigeria”! God doesn’t seem to be fighting for the former Governor, but He is fighting for Kaduna State and Nigeria and the judgement seems to have started in the house of God according to Bible prophecy. May God see to the prayer of his servant in the mighty name of Jesus!
Bad enough that the contract, awarded for N8.74 Billion will end up loading N17.2 billion into the account of Ronchess Global Resources PLC as the full contract sum was revised on December 6, 2022, with about 30% job done on site. As if all that was not enough, Adeolu headed for Gath to tell of his exploits and sound it to the hearing of the daughters of Philistines. Seeking court covering from his alleged crime of conspiracy of corruption against the Nigeria State. Adeolu wants our court to stop the EFCC headed by a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God along with five other respondents from arresting him. Those who shouldn’t go to the law have abandoned the access of grace to each other and opted for court. Where their hidden secret has become a public announcement. If Yahaya Bello was an eyesore how do we describe this? Will the EFCC Chairman take a vow of prosecution of Adeolu the son of Adeboye’s case, as he did in Yahaya the son of Bello’s case? Both the office of the General Overseer and the Redeemed Christian Church of God has remained silent on this very embarrassing development. But, time, as they say will tell.
It was while pondering on our prophets and politicians and their offsprings that I got this message from a son in the ministry so dear to me:
“Sir, l’m surprised you’ve not “decimated” this Dr Abel Damina and Dr Paul Enenche’s ongoing saga! Strange!! Please sir we’re waiting for your missile! Thanks in anticipation”
So, I dusted the scribbling earlier made on the subject from which my commitment to the preparation of iWalk has taken me away. What a time to be up on the walk for Economic and Financial Creativity for a greater Country! Our commitment is to our country and her betterment. God indeed is fighting for Nigeria!
On the prosperity gospel and tithe collection which is the basis of the debate and not Ordination, l will give the church in Nigeria a model of the Epistles in Chris Okotie. Though a man of grammar. I will forever be grateful to God for granting me the privilege of seating at his feet for over a year as he took the series on the prosperity of Issac. A minister of the Gospel of Christ greatly gifted. He is not just a man of letters, he is a man in the deed of the Gospel. As much as it lies with him, a seeker of peace with all men. The word is the word and Chris is Chris, not even the controversies of his life will make him change his conviction on the word of God.
l am just realising that what the issues are in the church today was demonstrated for our example during my years at the Household of God Fellowship without raising any debate. I never heard a mention of tithe from 1987 to 1993, that I was fully part of that solid teaching ministry. Offering were the only collection and of course benevolence collections from the haves, which were more in material substance of foods, clothing, utensils and furniture for distribution to the have nots.
Beyond the subject of our debate on tithes and the merchandising of the Gospel I am concerned about the carnal adventurism that is driving the discussion on the social media. A revelation of our spiritual ineptitude as the people of God!
In the name of knowledge, we trend in fame of shame. In knowledge of letters, we are cut off from the spirit life that inspired the word meant for the growth of the body. The word of rebuke we carry as rumour and the Gospel as gossips. In depth of knowledge we claim to speak revelation without fruits of repentance, obedience or of the spirit. Wisdom is known of her children and our children are proud of the nakedness of the fathers. Celebrating sides as they strip each other further.
The flesh has taken over the discussion both from the actors and their fans. Both sides seem more interested at pulling down personalities and discrediting one another, than establishing the truth of God’s word on the subject matter.
I ordained you, you didn’t ordain me. He ordained him, he didn’t ordain him.
Caricature is made of the church of Christ on things that are none essential. In the midst of public evidence of our greed for material things and insatiable avaricious cravings, we have sunk so deep yet trending foolishly in knowledge in the absence of wisdom for what to do. The debate is growing but our wounds are not attended! Our pulpits are adorned by men and women of wealth, Emperors over dynasties made rich by tithes collection.
The first 5 richest Pastors in the world are Nigerians. But check the list of the first 50 charity organisations in the world, no Nigerian church is there. I thought churches are charity organisations? The CEO of our “charity organisations” are the richest in the world, but no meaningful global impact is traceable to any of their organisation.
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Our rich preachers array themselves in expensive clothes. Some of them are in competition with music stars. Like the rich man in Jesus’s parable their large dining table hosts sumptuous meals every day. They look from the pulpit into the pews and comfort the poor like Lazarus with such words as my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. But food is the need of the hungry; needs for which God has made provision for the poor in His house. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house”… But the portion of the poor in our pews that should pull them up from the pit of poverty the rich on our pulpit has taken over. The affinity of the Church and the State is the compromise in corruption from which we must be free. The pulpits aren’t accountable to the pews for their tithes and the government are accountable to the people for their taxes. The sad tales of the Prince of our pulpit with taxes of Nigerians should make us weep.
Let’s not muddle our emotions and sentiments with the issue of ordination. This is not about their ministries or anointing, it is about what the word says;
“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1 Tim.5:22. KJV).
The purity of Abel Damina is called to question for the rat he made a giant by laying his hands on him suddenly, years back. Unfortunately for Damina in the perception of his giant-rat he remained a rat and rat don’t give birth to giant. The giant-rat has moved on and has shopped for a befitting father in a giant he can relate with. Money indeed answers all things, when you have it you can purchase a father or mother whichever you desire even in the “spiritual market”. Can you imagine the fame of our collective shame as the church!
While the world is waiting to hear The Voice of His Word, on the state of the church and her compromise with Mammon, to call us to repentance like pigs we stay wallowing in our mud and entertaining the world with our filthiness. What we are serving is an endless cartoon series of rat and giant more entertaining than the Tom and Jerry series.
What is the stand point of God on this issue? What is the Word saying concerning tithes?
God is not an author of confusion, but since men are making theological and grammatical senses in their eloquence than showing us the power of the simplicity of the gospel that prospered in the hand of a fisherman called Peter, a plumber called Wigglesworth and a tractor driver called Ayo Babalola, let me add to your confusion. Did Christ collect tithe? Yes!
Did Jesus collect tithe? No!
Is tithes collection scriptural and should churches collect tithe?
Watch out for part 2
Proofreading by Gift Luckson, Editor at Neptune Prime.
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