As a teenage chorister years ago, our Pastor informed the choir that we should change the lyrics of a song we just sang titled Destined To Win. He said destiny is an unbiblical word and we should never use it again in the ministration of that song. He continued by saying the acceptable word we can use is predestination, which is biblical. Subsequently, whenever we sang that song we started singing – We are, predestined to win… Months later, after new enlightenments and revelations, our Pastor corrected us again. He said we can now use the word destiny. This new correction came most likely because his mentor’s choir was still singing the song the old way which was acceptable. This incident made me realize as a young Christian that men of God were not God. They are flesh and blood who are also prone to errors like the rest of us ordinary members or church workers. This revelation did not diminish my reverence for pastors. It only made me do what new testament believers did, that is to doublecheck with the Bible whenever a declaration comes from the pulpit. In the old testament, there was also a story about an old prophet misleading a young prophet that eventually led to his death. So, when Bishop David Oyedepo one of my favorite ministers recently spoke about tithing, all the memories of pastoral revenue generation manipulations came to mind.

Bishop Oyedepo, the senior Pastor of Winners Chapel is a man of God. His achievements regarding the percentage of committed card-carrying and tithe paying members are legendary. If you have not experienced Winners Chapel, you will not understand the precision of revenue generation through tithing, offerings, and other seed sowing opportunities that have made the ministry and minister to be one of the wealthiest in the global church. The Federal Inland Revenue will learn a great deal if they study the Winners Chapel model. This model is like the model that is used by many other denominations with little modifications here and there. Bishop Oyedepo can also be celebrated for his excellently run tertiary institutions, books, and courage in verbally addressing the malfeasance in government, unlike other fearful ministers. When he recently said, “You’re under financial curse if you don’t pay tithe”, I remembered my teenage chorister years experience. That era and possibly now in many ministries was a time where visiting and resident ministers always raise funds for church projects where members are coaxed into making pledges they often cannot redeem. Which is a sin before God. The Bible clearly states it is better not to pledge than to pledge without fulfillment. Pastors are generally unconcerned about members getting into trouble with GOD when it comes to revenue generation. They have targets that must be met.

The Pastor and leadership writer, John C. Maxwell truthfully said people do not care how much you know, they want to know how much you care. Many Pastors in Nigeria and around the world do not really care these days. They have targets for building the biggest auditorium. The largest membership. The coziest jet or costliest SUV. They have perfected schemes that put members in perpetual fear if they do not meet their financial obligations to the church. This is what I call the fear economy, which is very unbiblical because this type of fear is a tool of the devil. Arguably, the majority of those paying their tithes in Nigeria pay out of fear and not willingly or cheerfully as recommended by GOD. Which are the criteria to be blessed when we give to God. Regretfully, Pastors do not care. They are more interested in building their empires with the hard-earned income of dotting widows, committed church breadwinners, singles, hustling youths, and the generality of members who have been made to believe utterances like Bishop Oyedepo’s tithing homily. The question I always ask, is it tithing that is responsible for the wealth of the richest men in the world that includes Africa’s richest man who is a Muslim? Bishop David Oyedepo and the pastorate in Nigeria should consult GOD in matters like these, something they rarely do when money is involved. They often don’t believe in GOD’S provision to run their ministries; they believe more in their own manipulations.

Ata Ukuta, Editor  – www.towncryyers.com