Posted by By JOE EFFIONG, Uyo on
In some other religions, maybe, Mr. Bertrand Ukechukwu Okoli would have been declared an infidel for holding a view which tends to run contrary to the one held by a majority in the faith.
In some other religions, maybe, Mr. Bertrand Ukechukwu Okoli would have been declared an infidel for holding a view which tends to run contrary to the one held by a majority in the faith.
But Okoli is damning any consequences by publishing a book to say that tithe, now held sacrosanct by Christians, is the least important thing any Christian should worry about.
The book, Tithing: A New Phenomenon in Christianity? which was launched last Saturday on the premises of St Gregory's Catholic Church, Eket, attracted both applauses and knocks from those present who held similar or different opinions.
Even the book reviewer, Dr. S. A. Udofia, who is of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Uyo, said in his paper: "Some things are hard to understand in the scriptures. So, before venturing into interpreting and teaching doctrinal issues in the scripture, examine yourself to see how well you have been taught.
"It is true that there are some abuses as regards tithing. However, this should not cause its rejection. Or would you throw the child away with the bath water simply because the child has cried? To those who subscribe to tithing, they have seen that the need for such has not ceased. There is still God's work to be supported, ministers to be provided for as well as aliens, the poor, strangers, orphans, disadvantaged who need our support."
But the author, a businessman, Catholic and final year student of Sociology in the University of Uyo, said his mission in writing the book was not to condemn tithing outright, but to set the scriptural records straight and expose the abuse which even Christ had preached against.
"Being an evangelist, I've discovered the abuse that Christ preached against that time has started among the contemporary preachers. For instance, if you go to a pastor for counselling, one of the things he would put to you is, "have you been paying your tithe? As if tithe is a condition or sign that one has had a good relationship with God.
So, I pity people who are extorted in that manner because of ignorance. That is why I have decided to see how I can put up a campaign to see how people can rise up by reading their Bible; knowing what they're supposed to know as Christians so that they will be able to know who is a false or a true prophet.
"I believe that people have been extorted by the pastors. In the book I've cited example where exercise book has been put in somebody's shop to calculate his sales so that they can calculate tithe for him. And a person at that level of ignorance or that level of knowledge will think that if he's paying the tithe, he has done more as a Christian, whereas he may not know that he has started from the bottom. It is not among the weightier matters that are emphasized by Christ.
Christ emphasized that there are weightier matters than tithing, such as justice, mercy and good faith. That is the reason Christ said if you're bringing your gift to the altar and you discover that you have something against your brother or sister, leave your gift there and go back and reconcile before you come and give your gift; showing that is more to good relationship than tithe. Good relationship with God and with man is the core of Christianity. Tithes comes last; it is not among the weighty matters."
But does he as a Christian pay tithe? "No, I don't pay tithe. I'm not convinced of tithe. I'm not paying tithe because as I converted Christian, I know what I have comes from God. So, I'm under obligation to use it to serve God. That is what Christ emphasized on the sermon on the mount. And in Matthew Chapter 25, verse 31, He says there are the qualities that will accompany those who will make heaven. I was hungry, you gave me to eat. I was thirsty, you gave me to drink. I was in prison and on sickbed, you came to visit me. These are principles that help one to be a Christian, not only paying tithe.
"In Catholic church, we make contribution on various ways - through harvest sales, through bazaar sales and many other ways, in fact, sometimes levy. So, as Catholics, we don't talk much about tithe.
"But if I take money to the priest and call it a tithe, he will collect it; paying tithe is not a sin. Paying tithe is good, but I'm frustrated when I see, for instance, you bringing nine per cent. Is it a tithe? Tithe should be 10 per cent. And if you leave the weightier matters and say bring whatever you have in the name of tithe, that's the hypocrisy we're talking about.
"People should be inquisitive about their religion above what the pastors are handing down from the pulpit. There are so many people today who are false prophets. The only way to know theses people is to read your Bible; also ask questions about the things of God. As a common Christian, the best option is to read your Bible and ask questions so that you can be enlightened, because believing wrongly, has grievous consequences; not believing the true doctrine also has some grievous consequences. A Christian must make equilibrium of his position so that he could be accountable on the last day; to be on the safe side. My people perish for lack of knowledge."