It is my faith to give and it works in my life not to be so concerned about the material, its availability or its abuse. For those who believe in a Supernatural God through Jesus Christ, it is not just a rational choice nor is it a simple emotive choice facilitated by the clergy. It is a practice of faith driven by discipline, fashioned in humility and expressed in Love to God through the Word that is Christ.
Reading all the comments on the tithing in Nigerian churches, especially the notion of its effect on the poor, has been very instructive. It is always challenging to read all the emotive outbursts that pass for social commentary about the social condition of the poor in Nigeria. And, it is certainly very laudable that Nigerians, especially those who have some social status, raise concerns about the life of those materially less well off than they are. It is something that should be greatly encouraged and which the church, as the body of Christ, should champion collectively.
I do not write this piece to weigh in as an indictment of any side you might choose in the debate, but as a reflection of my own journey in the matter. I am not a theologian or a Christian minister, so I will no be opening verses of the Bible to support or deny any element. I could as a Christian offer some reflections from verses I know and those I can reference, but it would be totally unhelpful to my testimony. My testimony is that of a Christian whose life and growth is shaped by elements of the debate and also one whose social and civic place demands bearing witness to his choices.
In 2012, having come back to Nigeria relatively comfortable and well resourced to work for one of the state governments from the UK, I was exposed and financially decimated by a unilateral withdrawal by that government from a ongoing project that had taken four years of the investment of commitment, contribution and progress. More directly, it culminated in a refusal to pay millions of naira to my organisation in outstanding contractual amounts, with the consequences of this being the lose of my home in the UK, the erosion of my erstwhile financial security and the putting of the wellbeing of my family at risk. Simply put: I was homeless, I lost my fortune, I had to take one of my children out of school, and I lost all direct sources of income. A few weeks before this life changing event I had dreamed a premonition and in sharing it with my wife, the sense of impending collapse was so spiritual that I was trying to handle its inevitable effect literally.
I had been a Christian, born again in 1989, but as years went on and blessings improved, I clung to my intellect without evolving my spirituality. I moved churches as I moved homes. I had many different experiences, being largely a Sunday Christian that looked with disdain on things such as night vigils, tithing and speaking in tongues. By the time I started going to a Nigerian church in the UK, I was convinced that there were two types of ministers: preachers of Grace and preachers of Righteousness. Going to a Nigerian church exposed me to the indignant and unaccountable authority in which the pulpit was exercised by some of the clergy. I remember a friend telling me after a raucous after-church debate that the pastor is always right and that if I was conscious enough in church to challenge his sermon in my mind, I had a spirit of rebellion from the devil.
One day in early 2000s, things came to a head and I stopped attending church. My wealth was not affected and I adapted to finding churches when it suited me. A few years after coming to Nigeria, my disdain for ‘new churches’ was complete. I had finally cut any tie to ‘prosperity Christianity’ and tracked steps to reaching, as well as travelling to investigate ‘Sufi Islam’. It seemed all sensible because in my background, both Islam and Christianity could be found almost side by side, even though both parents were Muslims and we grew up with a mosque in our house.
Fast forward to 2012, just before I became homeless and lost all material endowment I had from my work, the sense of inevitable loss was hard to shift. A friend gave me, amongst the rash of advices (spiritual and otherwise), the phone number of a Pastor Oladipo. The number was given with the warning that this is a blunt CAC pastor who says it as he sees it. Here I was a fledgling ‘Sufi’ Muslim about to call a pastor about a dream of impending financial collapse that might be just alarmist. Nevertheless, I had spent my personal fortune on the state project on the express promise that I would be repaid, and now efforts to get my money back, which was under contract, was symptomatic of my challenges to pay school fees and meet other obligations in the UK, Nigeria and the US. So I called.
I see the effects of my contribution in school fees and medical bills paid for many, in salaries of the clergy, in accommodation for the needy. I no longer live in Ibadan but aside I give offerings in other churches I have joined their congregation as I moved employment. In all cases, I see the work of the clergy, to bear witness, to give counselling, help the poor and even keep faith alive.
The call changed my life and prepared me for the imminent reneging on the contract and expected repayment of monies alread expended. I came back to Christ just before all was unleashed. The pastor had helped me to the realisation that my journey of faith was not of instant gratification or material comfort but of a relationship with Christ and commitment to making heaven.
In the middle of having no home and as I scrambled with the occasional help of friends, I started tithing to CAC Agbala Itusile in Iwo Road Ibadan (the Church where I renewed my commitment to Christ). There I also enjoyed the often deep Sunday into Monday overnight men’s vigil, soaked in praise, worship and sweat, with the overhang of testosterone as men as varied in occupation and status as Okada riders, security guards, engineers, and unemployed youth, engaged in the depth of prayer and praise. My energy for Christ and commitment to the journey of my faith was renewed.
I was ensconced in the budget hotel of my friend Gbolly Balogun in Ring Road, Ibadan, living on the grace of God and his kindness. My material possessions were packed in boxes, and I was eventually given a space by Mr. Wole Banjo in an unusual arrangement to pay ad hoc, initially, and eventually to purchase. My son was moved to state school with much memorable consequences and my wife helped sell our house at a loss to reduce all our outstandings, while finding a place to stay. In the middle of this rebirth I launched my book, Omoluwabi 2.0 with the support of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State. He also helped to get me the position of head of strategy of the DAWN Commission. I started to rebuild again in Nigeria, losing all that had taken a life time to build in the UK. I returned fully committed to my journey in and with Christ, leading to eventual baptism. This journey was with a foundation of tithing as an article of my faith. It did not matter to me what the church was doing with it. It was my privilege to exercise my faith. I remember a day after giving my tithe, I realised that I had no money to eat. I had just paid funds to the UK. It was a scary Monday. I realised I needed N10,000 to end the week. There was no one to turn to without shame. It occurred to me I had a lapsed account with Stanbic IBTC which had N8,000 balance. I went to the branch in Lekki, Lagos. On getting to the bank I was told it would take a few days to access the funds since the account had been dormant. As I struggled glumly to pull out the the ID, it exposed a wad of naira notes. It was exactly the N10,000 I asked for and desperately needed.
The Christian church is not a monolith. I started tithing at CAC Agbala Itusile till now because of my faith, and journey with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I see the effects of my contribution in school fees and medical bills paid for many, in salaries of the clergy, in accommodation for the needy. I no longer live in Ibadan but aside I give offerings in other churches I have joined their congregation as I moved employment. In all cases, I see the work of the clergy, to bear witness, to give counselling, help the poor and even keep faith alive. It is worthy of my investment and strengthens my faith to have this practice. It is valid in my view to be concerned about activities of some clergy but as a believer, God, is the only just judge. It is wrong to deny the poor the choice of investing in their belief and those who abuse the tithing of the poor will face the spiritual consequences.
It is my faith to give and it works in my life not to be so concerned about the material, its availability or its abuse. For those who believe in a Supernatural God through Jesus Christ, it is not just a rational choice nor is it a simple emotive choice facilitated by the clergy. It is a practice of faith driven by discipline, fashioned in humility and expressed in Love to God through the Word that is Christ. God is simply Love.
Adewale Ajadi, a lawyer, creative consultant and leadership expert, is author of Omoluwabi 2.0: A Code of Transformation in 21st Century Nigeria.
END
Still on the tithes
I must say that the recent tithes conversations ( read more like cursing sessions!) have opened up very deep feelings of anger, mistrust, bitterness etc that many seem to have bottled up over a long period.
My intention in this write-up is not take sides with those that are for or against rather I want us all to step back a little and take a more global perspective on all that has happened.
Let me also add that I am writing to bible believing Born Again christians, those who believe in the inerrancy of the word of God, those who believe that the word settles it. It is important to make this clarification so that my position is made clear ab initio.
These are my observations;
Do we still remember that we have an enemy whose raison d’être is to destroy the church and weaken the faith of believers, in arguing your position for or against I hope you took cognisance of this fact and that you have not unwittingly make his job easier.
There is an account in the bible when God himself was fed up with his people, he revealed his mind to Moses and told Moses that he wanted to destroy them all and start a new race with Moses. Now what was Moses’s response? Please read Exo 32:7-14. For those against tithes and how it is being spent, beyond your vitriolic attack on the “ Men of God” have you like Moses spent time to intercede for them, have you considered the collateral damage that the body of Christ will suffer if these “ MOGs” where to fall. I shudder to believe that in your heart of hearts you truly desire them to fall( ref to point 1 above)
For those of us receiving the tithes or those in support of it. I hope we have not tarred all those querying us with the same paint brush. I hope in our quite moments we have asked the Lord, peradventure we are faced with case of the “Balaam’s ass” speaking because the love of money has made “Man of God” deaf.
To all sides; be careful so that bitterness does not take root in your heart either way. There would be no good excuse on that day to justify hating your brother and wishing him/her ill. Rather lets disagree but continue to love each other deeply because Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet 4:8)
Reading Matthew 23:23 it is clear that tithing is a minor issue with the Lord, the weightiest matter is soul winning. How are you faring on this matter of soul winning. You fought Vigorously for your position on the matter of tithes, you unleashed your full armoury, you did not mind the cost of data…..how much effort have you put into soul winning? How many times have you posted a heart rendering call for salvation knowing the time is far spent. When the master returns how many of your “postings” will get a “well done thou faithful servant your post has increased my kingdom and many more have decided to follow me no matter the cost”
In closing may I ask “are you checking the time at all?” What “time?” You ask me…..the time of the end time events…..on the day that the nation of Isreal was created in 1948 the clocked ticked closer to the midnight when the bridegroom will return, are you aware that seeming innocuous self serving decision of Trump on Thursday is another chime on that clock telling us that midnight is even closer now. You may want to look up these scriptures; Eze 34:11-16; Zech 12:3-9; Luke 21:20.
God forbid that it will said of the church in Nigeria that the devil sold us a dummy( read that to mean quarrel over tithes) and by the time we were done many had lost their bearings and so when the bride groom came he looked for a church that was one even as he and the father are one, instead he met a fragmented body of fellows that were quick to wash their dirty linen in public. It would be a sad commentary on the work of the saints who gave their all to plant the seed of the gospel in our country.
Bro Noruwa Edokpolo.