Celibacy: Blessing or burden

Celibacy: Blessing or burden

YEMI OLAKITAN

The doctrine of celibacy in the Catholic Church is not adopted by other denominations of the Christian faith. While the Catholic Church believes in the benefits of celibacy, other denominations such as the Pentecostals have ignored it completely.  Senior Correspondent, Yemi Olakitan, examines the concept.

According to the Catholic encyclopedia, ‘‘Celibacy is the renunciation of marriage for the more perfect observance of chastity, by all those who receive the Sacrament of Orders in any of the higher grades. The candidates for orders are solemnly warned by the Bishop at the beginning of the ceremony. He tells them:  You ought anxiously to consider again and again what sort of a burden this is which you are taking upon you of your own accord. Up to this time, you are free. You may still, if you choose, turn to the aims and desires of the world. But if you receive this order it will no longer be lawful to turn back from your purpose. You will be required to continue in the service of God, and with His assistance to observe chastity and to be bound for ever in the ministrations of the altar.’’

In a chat with Father Julius Olaitan of Our Lady Mother of perpetual Help Catholic Church, Ajah, he explained that celibacy is a discipline of the church and not a doctrine. It is a discipline in which one sets himself aside for the work of God, in a sense that a priest lives without his own biological family; wife and children, since he does not have one, thereby becoming a member of every family in the church. As a church discipline, it is part of the demand of the priesthood and a priest is trained to be able to live that life. In other words, clerical celibacy is the practice of the Catholic Church. It is the discipline by which only unmarried men are ordained as priests,’’ he said.

Speaking further, he said, the most important benefits of celibacy to the priesthood is that it sets the priests aside for the work of the ministry so that he focuses all his attention absolutely on spiritual matters rather than the things of the world.’’

 Father Olaitan said, the call is taken in freedom. No one is forced to follow that path. People choose to follow the path of celibacy. It is also a calling. We have an example in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, who himself was celibate; he never married and most of the Apostles were celibate including Paul, the Apostle.  No-one is forced to do it. One is also free to opt out from the priesthood and return to the laity

When asked if in the future, priests could be allowed to marry, he said, for now, I don’t see the need for it. Celibacy allows one to do the work of God with absolute focus, concentration and devotion without worldly pursuits or encumbrances.’’ he said.

In another chat with Reverend Stephen Akinsowon of Saint Peters Catholic Church, Addo, Langbasa, Lagos, he said, ‘‘celibacy is not an imposition and it is not forced on the clergy. The Church teaches that priesthood is a ministry conformed to the life and work of Jesus Christ. Priests act in ‘‘persona Christi’’ that is in the person of Christ. Thus the life of the priest conforms, to the chastity of Christ himself. The sacrifice of married life is for the "sake of the Kingdom" (Luke 18:28–30, Matthew 19:27–30), and to follow the example of Jesus Christ in being "married" to the Church, " (following Ephesians 5:25-33 and Revelation 21:9, together with Mark 2:19-20, Matthew 9:14-15).

Reverend Father Stephen said ‘‘celibacy is very important because it promotes holiness of life; it makes the priests to be more efficient, able to carry out his work without distractions. It makes the priest to be available at all times to perform his functions such as sacrament, marriages, confessions, celebration of Mass. In the book of 1corinthians 7, 1-2, Paul said, he would like people to be as unmarried as he himself was so that they could have absolute devotion to the work of the kingdom. Jesus emphasized holiness, in the book of Mathew 19, 9-12 Jesus himself spoke about celibacy, so it also has scriptural backing.’’

‘‘It is a very high calling. When I was ordained, my grandfather called me, omo to ju Baba lo, meaning ‘the child that is older than his father.’  He was about 85 years old at the time that is the level that priests are placed.’’

On priestly misconduct, Father Stephen said, ‘‘there are sinners everywhere even in the church. The church is made for both sinners and the righteous, so one can stop people from sinning. He however said that even priests can be disciplined when the err, before you are ordained as a priest, you are first ordained as a Deacon and if you deemed unfit because of a personal misconduct, your ordination can be postponed indefinitely until you have amend your ways. It takes up to Nine years of study and training before one can become a priest in the Catholic Church’’

Similarly, Father Lawrence Abiona, principal at St, Joseph centenary Catholic College, Ilorin, Kwara state said, ‘‘celibacy is the church’s discipline aimed at promoting holiness and devotion to the work of God. It is a path that is willingly taken, no-one is forced just as Apostle Peter was married in the Bible and Apostle Paul was not. It gives a priest the capacity to do his job extremely well. He can be called upon to travel to wherever the mission takes him to, without the constraints of married life.  The priesthood is all about pleasing the Lord and the body of Christ.’’ 1 Corinthians 6: 18, 20, I Corinthians 7, 32-40.

Speaking further, he said, the priesthood is a gift and calling. You cannot make yourself a priest. Celibacy itself is a gift according to apostle Paul, Priests must be very humble, patient and Christ-like. It a very sacred office, Hebrew 5-4 It allows one to serve God with an undivided heart, and one can be freer in the service of God.

In Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:12: "Some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.   Paul, within a context of having "no command from the Lord" (1 Cor 7:25), recommends celibacy, but acknowledges that it is not God's gift to all within the church: "For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am ... I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world — how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world — how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction." 1 Corinthians 7:7–8, 7:32–35

Pope Francis Pope Francis commented that celibacy "is a matter of discipline, not of faith. It can change" but added: "For the moment, I am in favor of maintaining celibacy, with all its pros and cons, because we have ten centuries of good experiences rather than failures Tradition has weight and validity." He said, the rule must be strictly adhered to, and any priest who cannot obey it "has to leave the ministry"

In a chat with Pastor Emmanuel Onoja on the Hope of Life Evangelical Church, he said, that celibacy is not necessary in Pentecostal circles because the Bible does not make it compulsory for the clerics to be unmarried. According to him, anyone who wants to remain single like Paul the Apostle could do so but it is not a mandatory doctrine in the Pentecostal fold. Speaking further, he said, Apostle did not say it was divine commandment neither did our Lord Jesus, so the issue does not really catch much attention in our church because most of the Pentecostals pastors are doing their job without being celibate.’’ He said.

Pa Ogunjobi of the Redeemed Christian Church opined that God says, "Be fruitful and multiply” This means that he honours marriage and commands for all humanity. Although who remain single for the sake of the Gospel are not in error, this however does not mean that one cannot do the work of God without being celibate,’’ he said. 

Reverend Akinsuyi said, there are many catholic doctrines that I do n ot believe or agree with one of it is infant baptism which to me is totally unbiblical. When I was young they took me to the church, pour water on my head and gave me a new name, now what does a child knows about baptism. You see, I don’t believe in Catholic doctrines, he said.

However, in statement by the Catholic Church, it says that even in heaven, there would no marriage, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" (Matt. 22:30). 

Should Churches pay tax?

Should Churches pay tax?

The extravagant lifestyle of religious leaders’ particularly Christian clerics has led opinion leaders to conclude that churches should pay taxes since they are making so much money from the people.  Only recently, delegates at the National Confab voted overwhelmingly that religious bodies should pay taxes. Senior Correspondent, Yemi Olakitan examines the issue through biblical texts and Christian views.

When the subject was raised at the ongoing National Conference delegates reportedly voted that religious bodies should pay tax to the government, although, this is can only become possible if the recommendation is passed into law by the National Assembly. The delegates said that religious leaders are super rich and that church founders owned private jets and universities.

A delegate representing the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Isaac Ighure, said pastors and heads of churches made too much money and should pay tax. He said, ‘clerics buy private jets when people in their churches are living in poverty,” When the matter was put to vote, the delegates overwhelmingly voted ‘yes’ in support of the motion that religious bodies should pay taxes.

Barrister Abayomi Oyebola, a lawyer and senior partner at S.A Oyebola chambers opined that churches should pay taxes because most of them are not registered as charities. ‘‘They make the mistake of merely incorporating the name of their churches so they can be taxed. Speaking further, he said, individuals who collects salaries or income from the church should pay taxes. If the churches engage in businesses that generates profits, these can also be legitimately taxed by the government. Taxes are very essential to the economic advancement of the nation,’’ he said.

A search through the scriptures revealed that our Lord Jesus Christ paid tax. He was recorded to have instructed Peter, one of his prominent disciples to pay taxes for both of them, Mathew 17, 27 the Bible says, ‘but so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."  In Mathew 22: 15: 22, 15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him with his words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. ¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” ¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, ²⁰ and he asked them, “Whose image is this? and whose inscription?”²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

According to the encyclopedia Britannica ‘‘taxes are the most important source of governmental revenue. Taxes are compulsory levies and are unrequited—i.e., they are generally not paid in exchange for some specific thing, such as a particular public service, the sale of public property, or the issuance of public debt. Taxes are collected for the welfare of taxpayers.’’ If taxes are used for the welfare of the people shouldn’t churches pay on the basis of what the taxes are to be used for?

Deaconess Shola Abimbola of Global Church of the Living God said no, although the Bible commands Christians to pay taxes as individuals. According to her, it is wrong to ask churches to pay taxes as a body because the church is not selling anything. ‘‘The monies that are generated by the churches are voluntary donations from members who have already paid income tax. Churches are meant to be charity organizations, it is not heard of anywhere in the world for a government to tax religious organizations so churches cannot pay taxes. It is unethical, mischievous and corrupt. If the government collects taxes from the church, that means that they have turned the church into a business entity so unscrupulous individuals can be justified if they turn the church into a money making venture.’’

In another chat with Emmanuel Onoja of Hope of Life Evangelical Church, he said, churches should not pay taxes because churches are not profit making entities. ‘‘What is the difference between the government and the churches? They both serve the people. What the church should do if they make more money is to serve the people more through charity work. They are spiritual organizations. Individuals in the church can pay taxes even Jesus paid tax according to the scriptures. If churches are taxed it is tantamount to double taxation because the monies that are collected are donations from members who are already been taxed. The church is not an organization that the ownership is been separated from the individuals. If the churches are making a lot of money they should be encouraged to carry out some social responsibilities such as road construction, provision of water, building of schools and so on in their various communities,’’ he said.

Speaking further, he said, ‘‘Men of God should not live like paupers because some people are poor in the church. If God blesses the pastor we cannot stop the pastor from enjoying the blessings. Take the Redeemed Christian Church of God, for example, members bought a private jet for the General overseer, Pastor Adeboye in order to ease his traveling schedules. If he has to visit five countries in a month, he can do so without having to queue at airports, he can do so with comfort and ease. This will help his work immensely. If the church has the money to buy a private jest that will help the work of God. It will be wrong to say they should not. Don’t forget that some of these churches have branches in nearly all the countries of the world,’’ he said.

Pastor Orjuma Daniel of the Redeemed Christian Church of God opined that the church must live up to its responsibility. ‘‘If the church is doing what it is told to do from the scriptures, no one will ask the church to pay taxes because churches are not supposed to pay taxes. Individual Christians should pay taxes because Jesus paid tax as an individual and not as a church so churches are not suppose to pay taxes because they are not a profit making organizations, they are not set up to make money. Churches are not business outfits, how can we tax them? It is wrong and inappropriate but the churches themselves should clean up their acts and rise up to their biblical responsibilities. The bible says, the church should take care of the poor, the widows, the orphans but we see today is the churches are building edifices and buying private jets. The Bible says that we will always have the poor among us, so if we have the poor amongst us, the church should help them.’’

Elder theophilus Ajibola of the United African Methodist Church, said, it is wrong to ask churches to pay tax.  ‘The church should not be asked to pay tax. If the state collect taxes from the church that means the church has become a beer seller or recharge card seller. The church role is to turn men to God and not to make money. If other non-profit organizations do not pay tax, how can the government ask the churches to pay taxes? It is wrong. However, If the government decides that the church must pay taxes, the Christian churches do not have any choice but to pay because the bible ask Christians to be obedient to constituted authorities.’’

100 days fasting: What Nigerians should expect after April 11, 2014- by Adeboye

100 days fasting: What Nigerians should expect after April 11, 2014- by Adeboye

Yemi Olakitan 

Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God announced a 100-days fasting period for its members starting from January 2nd to April 11, 2014. The announcement came as Pastor E.A Adeboye released prophecies for the New Year, during a crossover service held on January 1^st, declaring that “2014 will be the year of overflowing blessings.  He said, Nigerians will see the end of all her enemies, after the fasting period.

In another service tagged: ‘Divine Placement’ in his honour at the Solid Rock Parish, Lagos Province 40, Ojodu, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye stressed that it had become dangerous to continue to tolerate “our enemies for a longer time, as they are capable of waxing stronger and creating more havoc.  “All those enemies blocking your progress in life and the progress of Nigeria must disappear to pave the way for the much-needed change in our lives and nation. That is one of the reasons for the 100 days’ fasting and prayer period by the church,” he said.

 However, a medical practitioner has advised against such long period of fasting by believing Christians. Dr. Obiohoa of the Nigerian Military Hospital, Ikoyi said fasting is okay for short period of time, ‘even for healthy people, fasting is risky especially if it is done on long period of time such as the one embarked upon by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.        According to him long days without food is a risk to human health. He said it was not medically advisable for men and women to go without food for so long as it can affect the immune system; the body’s ability to fight sicknesses and diseases.   A pastor of the Living Faith Church, Pastor Biola however said, it is an individual choice. He said, even one day fasting can be a risk to some people’s health. ‘Our Bishop used to say that if your health cannot carry it. Don’t do it. The aged and pregnant women are usually exempted. You can break by 12 or 3pm if you can carry it till night, so individual choices is very important in long period of fasting on Pastor Adeboye’s statement that Nigeria would see the end of her enemies, he said, the potency of fasting and prayers to change the course of a nation is not in doubt according to scriptures.According to the man of God, the 100 days fasting and prayer period are being observed to eliminate all enemies of progress, who have refused to repent and change, for good. He said such enemies of progress would be eliminated in the nation and in individuals’ lives after the 100 days fasting and prayer.   

Enoch Adejare Adeboye is perhaps the greatest pastor in Africa and one of the greatest in the world.  According to Newsweek magazine in 2008 Adeboye is one of the fifty most powerful people on earth.  Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, is the pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Christendom today. He is the national president of RCF (an interdenominational fellowship in all the campuses in Nigeria).  He is the Convener of the annual December three-day Holy Ghost Congress in Nigeria with an average attendance of over six million people. He is host at the annual March three-day Special Holy Ghost Service with an average attendance of over six million people.  He also hosts the monthly Holy Ghost Service with an average attendance of over one million people.  The story of Adeboye is not one of instant success as he was born into poverty. According to him, he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth and did not have shoes for the first 18 years of his life. However, he had vision, determination, diligence and a passion for hard work which he considered to be far more valuable than money.  Born in 1942 into a humble family in the village of Ifewara, Osun State Enoch Adeboye stated that his family was so poor that even the poor called him poor.  In 1956 he was admitted into Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State and as a youth he discovered a passion for books, and an aptitude for science particularly Mathematics. This led to an academic journey in the face of numerous challenges. Enoch Adeboye eventually obtained a Bachelors (BSc.) degree in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1967, but also a Masters (MSc.) Degree in Hydrodynamics and Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Lagos in 1969 and 1975. Adeboye worked as a lecturer at the universities of Lagos and Ilorin before joining the church. Initially, his greatest ambition was to become the youngest Vice Chancellor of a prestigious university in Nigeria.  It did seem that his ambition would be realized as he was making progress with his plan. However, a divine hand took him into the service of the Lord.  He said, ‘‘I came to know God in a fairly dramatic way. I was born into a Christian home and always gone to church because my parents said we had to go. But after I grew up and left home. I drifted away from the church until I had a problem that defied solutions and then someone invited me to the RCCG and I came expecting the pastor to pray for me and my problems would just go but instead, he said I have to give my life to Jesus Christ that if my sins are gone, my problems would disappear. I resisted, for a while, but eventually I surrendered and gave my life to Jesus Christ and my problems left me.’’ He thereafter became an interpreter of the sermons of the then Pastor and founder; Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi who was the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a man who though was illiterate had been endowed with the ability to read the Yoruba version of the Holy Bible. In 1981, He was appointed General Overseer when Papa Akindayomi passed away. He resigned from his university lecturing after three years to devote himself to full time pastoral work.  In 1977 when he was ordained as a Pastor in RCCG, Enoch Adeboye displayed an incredible passion for the gospel, pioneering Bible Study meetings, crusades, revivals, outreaches and evangelistic programs known as the Congress. When the founder passed away in 1980, RCCG had 42 parishes. The founder left a sealed document pronouncing Enoch Adeboye as the next General Overseer. Enoch Adeboye was ordained the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1981. The Lord has today through Enoch Adeboye built over five thousand Churches all over the world. In Nigeria, almost all the nations of Africa, the US, the UK, Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, India, China, Hong Kong, the Far East and even the Middle East). In the United States alone there are over five hundred Parishes and still increasing.  In Nigeria alone, it has more than 14,000 branches in cities and rural communities. Adeboye said, his vision was to plant a church in every five minutes walking distance of developing nation and in every five minutes driving distance of developed nations like coffee shops. According to him, in every family on earth, there must be a Redeemed member. Adeboye founded the Model Parishes which targeted the elites in Nigeria and there are the classical parishes which was more conservative. The model parishes were an instant success and it helped the Redeemed Christian Church of God to increase astronomically bringing into the church a harvest of souls and financial pillars which helped the church in its evangelistic programs.   Enoch Adeboye’s deep compassion for souls also push the church into rural communities as there is now where the GO is not willing to take the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Holy Ghost Services which he started 80s was a once a month revival programme which bring the churches together from every corner of the country. It was initially held on the premises of the church Headquarters in Lagos but the place was too small for the huge crowd that was coming. The church then required a change in location.  Under his leadership, RCCG purchased an uninhabited forest land located on the outskirts of Lagos. Enoch Adeboye moved his family to this forest and called the place, the Redemption Camp. He constructed a large auditorium and began to hold the monthly Holy Ghost Services there which has continued to draw crowds to this day.  Today, the crowds in attendance run in the millions every month. From the Redemption Camp, Enoch Adeboye faithfully ministers to the body of Christ all over the world. The Redemption Camp is also the home of the Redeemers University, and the other secular and theological schools which were established by the church. The Redemption is a city as many believers now live and worship there, making the place another religious nation in the likes of the Vatican city of the Catholic Church.  On December 18^th 1998, Enoch Adeboye hosted the very first Holy Ghost Festival with an attendance of over seven million people. In 1999 there were no less than twelve million worshipers present. This program has since been replaced with the annual 3-day Holy Ghost Congress held every December at the Redemption Camp. In addition to this is a Special 3-day Holy Ghost Program held in the first weekend of March yearly. At these events, miracles, signs and wonders have become commonplace as the power of God moves to set free, heal, anoint, deliver, bless and empower.  Adeboye is a father in the lord to many great men of God. He ordained hundreds of pastors at the Redemption Camp on a regular basis.  He is also pastor and spiritual father to many heads of governments. He travels to minister to unreached places where others may not go.  Adeboye has been conferred with several honorary degrees and national merit awards in appreciation of his contributions to humanity. In 1999 Adeboye received the honorary citizenship and key of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. In 2000 he dedicated the first chapel in the Nigerian Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.  In 2005 he received honorary citizenship and key of Dallas, Texas, USA. In 2005 he received honorary citizenship and key of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. In 2008, he was awarded a National Honor Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and led the Pre-Summit Prayers at the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations, Headquarters, and New York. He is the author globally-distributed daily devotional manual, Open Heavens.

Boko Haram: Should Christians defend themselves?

Boko Haram: Should Christians defend themselves?

YEMI OLAKITAN 

Our Lord Jesus Christ forbade his disciples to take up weapons against anyone according to the scriptures. He told Peter; those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. He healed a soldier whose ear was cut off by Peter. The soldier was one of those who came to arrest him after he had been betrayed by Judas. Jesus also instructed his followers to turn the other cheeks when they slap them on one cheek.  Jesus Christ was totally against violence in any form even in self defense. He said, do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear the one who can kill both the body and the soul in hell. He even refused to defend himself when he had the power to do so preferring to lay down his life to save mankind. While on the cross, he prayed for the people who nailed him to the cross.

Today, Christians are being persecuted in large numbers by Islamic extremists; many are being slaughtered like chickens particularly in Northern Nigeria. Only recently in Southern Kaduna a Pastor and his family were murdered by members of the Boko Haram sect. He was just one of many such victims who have died in the hands of Islamic extremists. Hundreds of churches have been burnt down in these parts of the country by the same group.  In the North, the roll call of murdered Christians is alarming. The early Christians were known to have suffered similar fate. Many of the early Christians were killed under horrific conditions. They were thrown into the lions, crucified upside down, burnt at the stake for merely reading the Bible or beheaded for professing to be a Christian. In all these persecutions, they didn’t defend themselves with violence, instead they prayed for their persecutors, preferring to die as martyrs instead of fighting their attackers.  In the book of Esther chapters 3, 4, 8). Esther 9:1 – 17, a man called Haman plot to kill all Jewish people, the people of God through Queen Esther got the King to enact a new decree to reverse an earlier decree which empowered them to defend themselves against the plot of their enemy so that they can fight back and eliminate them.  The people of Israel defended themselves well because they were well armed and they prevailed against their enemies.  Esther and her Jewish people not only fasted and prayed but they also armed themselves and defended themselves. As a result they were able to turn over the evil that their enemies planned over to their heads. The questions arise: Is Christ instruction for Christians to eschew violence even in self defense practical? Is it still applicable today? Shouldn’t Christians defend themselves when faced with threats to their lives? Should they take harms against their enemies who choose to kill them and destroy their places of worship? Christians they turn the other cheek when attacked by, terrorists, murderers and Islamic jihadists?

A report by the Ndi-Igbo Peace Movement (NPM) says that the Boko Haram that is operating pre-dominantly in the Northern part of the country has declared religious war against Christians in Nigeria . This was contained in a statement issued by the group to newsmen in Onitsha , Anambra. The statement was signed by Chief Uzor A. Uzor, President of the group.

“From our records, over 4,000 people had been killed directly or indirectly due to the escalated Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the Northern region.

“2,000 of the people so far killed are from the South-East; while the South-West have about 1,000 and the North have 1,000 people killed respectively.

“From the statistics, it shows that the Southern part of the country had had a good number of causalities then the North

“And its an indicator that the Boko Haram insurgency is meant to target only the Southerners especially Christians residing in the North,’’ it said.

The statement said that the recent burial of 14 people from Adazi Nnukwu community in Aniocha LGA, Anambra State and also 7 people in Umuna community, 2 in Amaifeke and 1 in Okporo all in Orlu LGA of Imo State was still fresh in ones mind.

The situation in Adamawa was so bad that, “Some people tried to escape through the windows and the attackers shot at them. They cut peoples’ throats.”

This was how the of Yola, Mamza Stephen, captured the calamity that befell worshippers at a Catholic church in Waga Chakawa in Adamawa State when Boko Haram insurgents struck last Sunday.

“Everybody is living in fear. There is no protection. We cannot predict where and when they are going to attack. People can’t sleep with their eyes closed,” the Bishop lamented.

Stephen told the British Broadcasting Corporation that he heard from the survivors that insurgents arrived the village on trucks and locked the church “towards the end of the service.”

According to him, the militants set off bombs, before burning houses and taking residents’ hostage during the four-hour siege. He said death toll in the Waga Chakawa attack was 30 and not 22 as widely reported.

Also, a newly married couple who said they lost everything to the latest Boko Haram attack, were among the villagers seen leaving Kawuri village on Tuesday.

This cannot continue and there must be a stop. Christians must learn to defend themselves. They should go to churches with guns and sleep with their guns by their sides. I remember the Kano people will never forget the last religious riots in which the Igbos surprised the rioters when they all of a sudden brought out guns. So many of the would be killers on the way to kill Christians were gunned down. Since that day not a single religious crisis has occurred

Our Lord Jesus Christ forbade his disciples to take up weapons against anyone according to the scriptures. He told Peter; those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. He healed a soldier whose ear was cut off by Peter. The soldier was one of those who came to arrest him after he had been betrayed by Judas. Jesus also instructed his followers to turn the other cheeks when they slap them on one cheek.  Jesus Christ was totally against violence in any form even in self defense. He said, do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear the one who can kill both the body and the soul in hell. He even refused to defend himself when he had the power to do so preferring to lay down his life to save mankind. While on the cross, he prayed for the people who nailed him to the cross.

Today, Christians are being persecuted in large numbers by Islamic extremists; many are being slaughtered like chickens particularly in Northern Nigeria. Only recently in Southern Kaduna a Pastor and his family were murdered by members of the Boko Haram sect. He was just one of many such victims who have died in the hands of Islamic extremists. Hundreds of churches have been burnt down in these parts of the country by the same group.  In the North, the roll call of murdered Christians is alarming. The early Christians were known to have suffered similar fate. Many of the early Christians were killed under horrific conditions. They were thrown into the lions, crucified upside down, burnt at the stake for merely reading the Bible or beheaded for professing to be a Christian. In all these persecutions, they didn’t defend themselves with violence, instead they prayed for their persecutors, preferring to die as martyrs instead of fighting their attackers.  In the book of Esther chapters 3, 4, 8). Esther 9:1 – 17, a man called Haman plot to kill all Jewish people, the people of God through Queen Esther got the King to enact a new decree to reverse an earlier decree which empowered them to defend themselves against the plot of their enemy so that they can fight back and eliminate them.  The people of Israel defended themselves well because they were well armed and they prevailed against their enemies.  Esther and her Jewish people not only fasted and prayed but they also armed themselves and defended themselves. As a result they were able to turn over the evil that their enemies planned over to their heads. The questions arise: Is Christ instruction for Christians to eschew violence even in self defense practical? Is it still applicable today? Shouldn’t Christians defend themselves when faced with threats to their lives? Should they take harms against their enemies who choose to kill them and destroy their places of worship? Christians they turn the other cheek when attacked by, terrorists, murderers and Islamic jihadists?

A report by the Ndi-Igbo Peace Movement (NPM) says that the Boko Haram that is operating pre-dominantly in the Northern part of the country has declared religious war against Christians in Nigeria . This was contained in a statement issued by the group to newsmen in Onitsha , Anambra. The statement was signed by Chief Uzor A. Uzor, President of the group.

“From our records, over 4,000 people had been killed directly or indirectly due to the escalated Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the Northern region.

“2,000 of the people so far killed are from the South-East; while the South-West have about 1,000 and the North have 1,000 people killed respectively.

“From the statistics, it shows that the Southern part of the country had had a good number of causalities then the North

“And its an indicator that the Boko Haram insurgency is meant to target only the Southerners especially Christians residing in the North,’’ it said.

The statement said that the recent burial of 14 people from Adazi Nnukwu community in Aniocha LGA, Anambra State and also 7 people in Umuna community, 2 in Amaifeke and 1 in Okporo all in Orlu LGA of Imo State was still fresh in ones mind.

The situation in Adamawa was so bad that, “Some people tried to escape through the windows and the attackers shot at them. They cut peoples’ throats.”

This was how the of Yola, Mamza Stephen, captured the calamity that befell worshippers at a Catholic church in Waga Chakawa in Adamawa State when Boko Haram insurgents struck last Sunday.

“Everybody is living in fear. There is no protection. We cannot predict where and when they are going to attack. People can’t sleep with their eyes closed,” the Bishop lamented.

Stephen told the British Broadcasting Corporation that he heard from the survivors that insurgents arrived the village on trucks and locked the church “towards the end of the service.”

According to him, the militants set off bombs, before burning houses and taking residents’ hostage during the four-hour siege. He said death toll in the Waga Chakawa attack was 30 and not 22 as widely reported.

Also, a newly married couple who said they lost everything to the latest Boko Haram attack, were among the villagers seen leaving Kawuri village on Tuesday.

This cannot continue and there must be a stop. Christians must learn to defend themselves. They should go to churches with guns and sleep with their guns by their sides. I remember the Kano people will never forget the last religious riots in which the Igbos surprised the rioters when they all of a sudden brought out guns. So many of the would be killers on the way to kill Christians were gunned down. Since that day not a single religious crisis has occurred

THITHES: In whose interest?

THITHES: In whose interest?
Yemi Olakitan 


There have been many controversies on the issue of tithing in both denominational and individual point of views. While some say that tithing is a divine instruction of the New Testament aimed at blessing the givers others have claimed that it is a relic of the Old Testament designed to bless the clergy. It has also been said by many that tithing is the pathway to prosperity. Postponements of the faith movement such as Kenneth Hagen, Kenneth Copeland, E.A Adeboye, David Oyedepo, and Benson Idahosa have all taught the tremendous benefits of tithes payments. Is it a fact of reality or is it some Christian dogma, theology or actual reality that tithes open the way to financial blessings?  What really is the relevance of tithing to the believers and the church? More importantly, Are tithes payments truly biblical? Is it a relic of the Old Testament? Is it still relevant today? This and many other questions are answered through the scriptures and discussions with clerics and believers alike.
According to the Bible, tithing is generally defined as the tenth part of one’s income, profits, land or stock given to God and used to support the clergy or charitable cause. The custom of giving tithes reaches back to Genesis 14, where Abraham offered tithes of the spoils of the enemy to the royal priest, Melchisedech, so in Genesis 28, Jacob is recorded as giving a tithe of all his possessions to the Lord. In the time of Moses the payment of tithes was one of the laws of the Jewish people; made obligatory. The Hebrews were commanded to offer to God the tenth part of the produce of the fields, of the fruits of the trees, and the firstborn of oxen and of sheep (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22). In Deuteronomy there is a mention not only of an annual tithe, but also of a full tithe to be paid once every three years. While it was to God himself that the tithes had to be paid, yet we read (Numbers 18:21) that he transfers them to the priesthood. In the book of Proverbs 3:10) the bible encourage believers to honour the Lord with the first fruits of their wealth. It also says, it is better to give than to receive. However, the verse most often cited in support of the tithe is from the Old Testament, Malachi 3:8-10:

8. ""Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, `How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. 10. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it.

In a chat with Edmund Ike, a member of the Catholic Church he said, tithes in today’s Christian Church is meant to support the preaching of the Gospel since the Bible says those who serve in the altar should live by the altar. (1 Corinthians 9:13) Speaking further, he said provision of some kind had to be made for the ministers of God. In the beginning this was supplied by freewill offerings.  However as the Church expanded and it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy, the payment of tithes was adopted. According to Ike, Tithing is an obligatory act of giving which supports the institution of the church and it not just a relic of the Old Testament scriptures. ‘‘Don’t forget that the Bible says,
we should give and it shall be given to us. Good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give unto us. Giving is a cardinal commandment of scripture and the Christian faith.’’
In another chat with Reverend Father Steven Akinsowo of Saint Peters Catholic Church, Langbasa, he said tithing is biblically correct. ‘‘It is an offering made in gratitude to God. It is like giving back to God from the abundance of all the things he has giving to us. Giving a tenth of your income to God is a very small; sacrifice compared to all the wonderful blessings he has given to us. In the Catholic Church we recognise tithing but we do not emphasize it like other churches do, in other denominations, people are persuaded. Tithe is to be given in absolute freedom. You cannot force people to know or accept God. You cannot coerce them. People are to give tithe if it comes from their hearts, if you obey the instruction to give, God will bless you.’’ he said.
In another chat with Senior Superintendent, Apostle C.A Bayode of the Cherubim and seraphim church, Ago Igbale, Ebute Metta, he said tithing is a commandment of the scripture. In the book of Malachi, God said the people should bring all the tithes into the store house of God. The tithes are not meant for the clerics alone, they are meant for the expansion of the Gospel and also for the poor. It should also be used for the orphans, the widows and the less privileged in the body of Christ.  Tithing is like medicine for money if the believers diligently do it. There is a promise alongside the commandment. It says, I will open up the floodgates of heaven. You will become blessed. Anything you lay your hands on will prosper exceedingly.  On the argument that tithing is a relic of the Old Testament, he said that Christ did not come to abolish the law but he came to fulfill it.’’  He however, warned that when people give tithes they should not give tithes to show off, they should give it to the Lord alone.

However, Roseline Ademola, a member of the Anglican Church in Lagos, said that Christ has already paid all the tithes and redeemed us from the law. Speaking further, she said that tithes is like placing the Christians under the law and saying the death of Christ is not enough which is some kind of heresy.  ‘‘There is nothing wrong if a Christian gives tithe willingly, cheerfully, without the burden of guilt been placed on him because the scripture says that God loves a cheerful giver. The problem is that so many pastors preach tithes as law quoting Malachi. They are in error because Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law. We are not operating under that Law, we are under grace. In Malachi, God was referring to the Jews and not to us. We are operating under a better covenant than they.  When you preach that people are cursed with a curse, that they are robbing God, unless they tithe, you are preaching a guilt based giving which is contrary to ( 2 Corinthians 9:7 ) which says,  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver’’  I do not believe in tithing, I believe in voluntary giving without the burden of guilt. Jesus paid all the tithes with his precious blood. I give as I have decided in my heart. It could be ten percent, it could be 20, it could be 50 or 100 percent but it is subject to my personal decision, not imposed,’’ she said.

A member of the Jehovah’s witnesses, name withheld, who spoke to P&W on the subject, said that tithing is being used to coarse Christians to give to the church authority. He said, ‘‘it is the clergy that benefits the most because they sit on the seats of the priesthood and collects the tithes. The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:5 and 9 that every believer is a priest! Hebrews 5-8 also teaches us that Jesus is the only priest that we need. However the institutional church has borrowed from the Old Testament model of the Levitical Priesthood, thereby establishing a new priesthood that is separate from the rest of the body of Christ. This makes them collect the tithes. Jesus did not collect tithes, neither did the apostles.’’

Another believer, a member of the Global Church of the Living God, Deaconess Shola Abimbola, said ‘‘many testimonies abound in Christendom on the concept of giving, particularly tithing.  Many tithers have testified that God has blessed them financially through tithing, therefore tithing works. It is practical.  Furthermore, giving is a basic commandment of the scriptures and tithing helps the believer to cultivate a regular habit of giving to God for the support of his work.  Jesus said, when you give, you will receive. Tithing cannot be wrong. You see, without the commandment to tithe many people will not give, though you are free to give or not to give. Tithing helps; maintain the habit of giving as directed by the scriptures, so the issue of coercion is not there at all. The principle of choice is in place. I have been paying my tithes for years because tithing fulfills the law of giving and I can say, God has blessed me financially,’’    she said.