Tithes and the Tithing Controversies

By Yemi Olakitan

Tithing has created great controversy in and out of the church in Nigeria. Many people feel that tithing is a way of enriching the flamboyant lifestyle of pastors and so called men of God. Some are convinced that it is a way of putting loads of money in the purse of the church. They swore that Jesus Christ didn’t command tithing and that the Apostles of old, in the New Testament didn’t give or command the payments of tithes. This category of people is convinced that Pastors are exploiting the poor by collecting tithes. They even took it upon themselves to preach to the brethren to stop paying tithes. To them tithing is a fallacy, a doctrine of men that should be expunged from Biblical Christianity.

The other school of thought felt tithing is the passport to heaven. They explained that love is only demonstrated by giving. Pastor David ibiyeome of the Salvation Ministries in Porthacourt said, we cannot claim to love God if we don’t give in his service.  This school of thought believes that without a systematic channel of giving, the church is open to bankruptcy. The late Pastor Kenneth Hagen, a fervent believer in tithes and offerings said. the collection of tithes and offerings remain the only way to finance the Gospel since Jesus Christ himself commanded Christians to give. Tithing is just one of the many ways a Christian can give. It is a way of demonstrating one’s love to God and supporting the Gospel of Christ. Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church said, tithing is the passport to prosperity and without tithing one cannot prosper in the kingdom. Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God said, anyone who is not tithing cannot make heaven.

Some other pastors go on to quote Malachi 3: 8-10-12. They swore that brethren who do not tithe are cursed with a curse but if they tithe the Lord will bless them accordingly and rebuke ‘the devourers for their sake.’’ And so the debate rages on and on.

Abraham was the first account in the Bible that demonstrated tithing that we have seen. Abraham met with Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the most-high God, after returning from the slaughter of the kings and they had communion. Melchizedek blessed Abraham; and Abraham paid him tithes of all. (Genesis 14:18-20) Abraham paid him tithes of all because he loved God and was grateful that he delivered him and his nephew Lot out of the hands of their enemies. This was before the Law of Moses.

According to American pastor, Creflo Dollars of the Crefol Dorllars Ministries, ‘’this is our first glimpse that tithing is about gratitude, faith, and love. The next account of tithing that we see was when Jacob, Abraham's grandson, made a covenant with God and said, "IF you protect me, bless me, and bring me back to my father's house in peace... you will be my God and I will pay you tithes of all."(Genesis 28:20-22) Jacob made a covenant with God to protect him and prosper him; In return for God's provision and protection... he would pay him tithes of all that he made.’’

 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."

Religion teaches us that we have to perform many works of our own efforts in order for God to love and bless us, and many churches have mistakenly bought into that way of thinking. This philosophy has seeped into what is taught about money, namely that we must tithe a certain amount or God will curse and punish us. The truth is, because of what Jesus did we are now under grace and no longer under the Law, and therefore no longer under the threat of punishment or condemnation. God wants us to give freely and from a grateful heart, not out of a sense of obligation.

A. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).

When Jesus talks about the “least” and the “much,” He means that money is the least important way to demonstrate our trust in God. The “much” includes healing, prosperity, abundance, peace, and all of the promises of God.

The concept of giving and tithing is not based on money itself, it is about trust.

When we give, it is no longer just giving money—it is authenticating our trust in God.  The Scriptures teach us to give generously, with a cheerful, joyful heart (2 Corinthians 9:6, 7, 15).  We give because we want to, not out of necessity. It is of the mindset of giving, not paying.  Another reason to give is because it is a way to express our thanks for what Jesus did for us by His grace.  If love is not our motivation, whatever we give equals zero and amounts to nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).   True giving, the way the Scriptures teach us, has nothing to do with our works and everything to do with the state of our hearts.   Under the old covenant, the people would be cursed unless they did everything just right, remembered every detail, and did not leave out any steps in the process of following the letter of the Law.

But now, we are under grace, and Jesus’ blood delivers us from any curse (Galatians 3:13).  We are blessed, so not tithing will not revert God’s blessing back into a curse.  The idea of tithing, which is giving 10 percent back to the Lord, originated in the Old Testament when the people lived under the Law. We still tithe, even though we are under grace. Abram tithed by choice even before the Law established that it should be done (Genesis 14:20, 23).  He did this as a way of thanking God for delivering him from his enemies.  Abrams’ tithe blessed God in return. It was done out of gratitude.  In this way, Abram acknowledged that the king was not his supply source, God was.

Because of Abram’s obedience, God affirmed He was Abram’s reward, shield, protector, and deliverer (Genesis 15:1-4).  God declared this after Abram deliberately tithed, to publicly demonstrate his trust in Him.   The idea that we will be punished if we do not tithe can be traced back to the book of Malachi—failing to tithe and give offerings can be seen as robbing God (Malachi 3:8-11).

However, if we continue reading we will see that trusting God enough to give opens the storehouses of blessings from heaven.  When we perform and try to meet the demands of the Law, we fall under the curse of trying to get God to “do” something (Galatians 3:10-14).  But under grace, it’s already been done! The Law does not justify. We are to live by faith in grace.  By its nature, the Law is not of faith, but rather of works.  The blessings come from Jesus, not from works.

Even though there is no more punishment for not tithing, it is still in our best interest to do so. Giving is spiritual, not natural. The natural person is not attuned to things of the spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

We can use the analogy of the parent raising the young child not able to think rationally at first. The Law was given so that we would have boundaries to keep us safe, until we automatically chose the things of the spirit.  Now that Jesus lives in us and we are under grace, we no longer need the Law.

God causes the increase in our lives so that we can have over and above what we need, in order to bless others (2 Corinthians 9:8).

God loves when our hearts are so grateful and thankful that we purposely give (2 Corinthians 9:7, AMP). We should give according to what we are led to give, and what we have decided in our hearts and minds to give. We receive in the same proportion to what we choose to give (Luke 6:38).

Then when we give in the right spirit and with the right heart, God takes this several steps further. He abundantly increases our giving, and blesses us.

The Economic Impacts of Corona Virus on Nigeria

By Yemi Olakitan

There is a global lockdown as a result of the Coronal virus. There is no doubt this will affect the economy of nations including Nigeria. In order to cushion the economic effects of the virus, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)not too long ago announced six new policy measures to mitigate the spread of the dreaded coronavirus across the country. The governor, Godwin Emefiele, said any intervention loan currently under moratorium has been granted additional period of one year. He also announced the reduction of interest rates on all applicable CBN intervention facilities to five per cent from nine per cent per annum, for one year.

According to him, the apex bank is also establishing a N50 billion facility through the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) microfinance bank for households as well as Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that have been hit by the COVID-19.

AN24.net had a chat with Economist and social commentator, Chief Bayode Ogunmupe, on the impacts of the virus on the economy and the Central Bank’s measures aimed at cushioning the effects on the nation. He said, ‘‘the Coronal virus epidemic will have a devastating impact on the economic situation of Nigeria because Nigeria is a Monoculture economy. Nigeria’s dependence on oil and her neglect of the agricultural sector will deepen the country’s poverty levels during the global Corona virus shut down. I doubt whether the Central Bank palliative will bear the desired fruits as we will want it to be, although it is a step in the right direction.’’  He said, ‘‘you cannot change the economic system of a nation overnight with a few palliatives. Nigeria has been a monoculture economy for years and the world is going electrical. There are electric cars which are already very popular in Japan. This in itself will affect our oil exports since nations will explore other energy sources giving the situation they are in. With global travel restrictions and movements, more people will stay at home. This will affect international travel business for at least a year and by extension; importation. Nigeria must shift to agriculture and import substitution industries. Only this can alleviate the poverty in the country and check our dependence on oil.’’

For decades Nigeria had relied heavily on her oil resources for dollar earnings to fund its national budget. With this year’s $37 billion budget passed with a benchmark oil price of $57 per barrel—nearly double its current price of around $31 to $33, Nigeria cannot currently fund its budget.

In another chat with Pa Ayodele Ogunjobi, Chattered Accountant and blogger, he said, the economic impacts can be easily observed even by the common man. Ogunjobi said, ‘‘when people stay at home and they don’t work, that will cause economic inactivity. it means we have simply put human capital on hold without which there can be no economic gain. We have not reached a stage where robots can take over economic activities completely, assuming such a stage exist. As you can see, teachers are not working, schools have been shut down, civil servants have been asked to stay at home. If you want something done in the ministry now, it will be very difficult to do it, even if you are able to do it, it will be slow,’’ he said.

‘’They might ask everyone to stay at home eventually, the way things are going. So, definitely we may have another recession. It’s already happening as global stocks exchange as prices have fallen,’’ he said.

Another effect of the Coronal virus on the economic situation of the country is a US dollar shortage that’s already happening on the informal forex markets. These informal dollar dealers operate just in front or across the major establishments or roads in Nigeria. They can be seen mostly in Lagos and Abuja.

No sector is spared; sports activities have been canceled all over the world!  In the entertainment sector, Nigerian hip pop star, Davido annulled his American tour, same as Afro beat musician, Femi Kuti. Most Hotels, bars and clubs are becoming a shadow of themselves as the Lagos state Government’s Environmental Protection Agency enforced a total shut down of events centers and clubs for flouting the order of the state on the prohibition of a gathering of more than 20 persons. Yet, no one knows when all these will end with Nigeria’s Corona virus incidents hitting 40 cases and still counting.  

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How to Prepare Egusi Soup

Yemi Olakitan

Egusi is a very popular soup in Nigeria. There are many types of soups in Nigeria but Egusi is the king of Nigerian soups because of its popularity. Egusi is the Nigerian name for the seeds of plants like squash, melons, and gourds that, when dried and grounded become a staple ingredient in many Nigerian dishes. Egusi is rich in fat and protein and it is very delicious and enjoyable African cuisine.

The Nigerian Egusi Soup is a soup thickened with ground melon seeds and contains leafy and other vegetables.  It is one of the most popular soups prepared by most tribes in Nigeria with considerable variation and often eaten with dishes like Pounded Yams.  You can prepare Egusi soup with goat, beef, fish, or shellfish! This recipe will show you how to make Nigerian Egusi Soup, a popular West African soup made with melon seeds.

Ingredients: 1 cup blended onions about 3- 5 and fresh chilies, to taste, 4 cups egusi melon seeds, ground or milled, 1⁄2 – 1 cup palm oil, 2 teaspoons fresh Une Iru, locust beans, Salt to taste, Ground crayfish to taste, 7– 8 cups stock

Cooked Meat & fish quantity and variety to personal preference, 2 cups cut pumpkin leaves, 1 cup waterleaf cut, 3 tablespoons bitter leaf washed

Instructions

EGUSI PASTE:

Prepare the egusi paste:

Blend egusi seeds and onion mixture. Set aside.

MAKE THE SOUP:

In a large pot, heat the palm oil on medium for a minute and then add the Une.

Slowly add the stock and set on low heat to simmer.

Scoop teaspoon size balls of the egusi paste mixture into the stock. Be sure to keep ball shape.

Leave to simmer for 20 – 30 minutes so the balls cook through.

Add the meat and fish and other bits which you’d like to use.

Add cut-up pumpkin leaves.

Add the waterleaf.

Stir and put a lid on the pot and allow cook for 7–10 minutes, till the leaves wilt.

Add the bitter leaf.  Leave the lid off while the cooking finishes for another 5-10 minutes.

Stir, check seasoning and adjust accordingly.

About the World Sleep Day!

Yemi Olakitan

Today is the World Sleep Day, a day set aside to remind people to sleep well. According to the World Sleep Society, this day is to emphasize the importance of sleep to our health and wellness. It is an annual event organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society, formerly World Association of Sleep Medicine since 2008.

The World Sleep Society says, ‘’the aim is to accentuate the benefits of good and healthy sleep and to draw society's attention to the burden of sleep problems and their medical, educational, and social aspects, and to promote the prevention and management of sleep disorders.’’

The Society raises responsiveness of sleep disorders so that society can better understand the phenomenon and prevent the problems associated with lack of sleep. According to this organization, inadequate sleep threatens the health or quality of life of as much as 45% of the world's population. ‘‘Sleep is one of the important activities of our life. A person every day should at least take seven to eight hours of sleep. World Sleep Day is a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving.’’

World Sleep Day is celebrated annually as a global awareness event. It is hosted by the Society.  It was first co-chairs by Liborio Parrino, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Parma University, Italy and Antonio Culebras, MD, Professor of Neurology, Upstate Medical University, and Consultant, The Sleep Center, Community General Hospital, Syracuse, New York, USA. It was started by a group of dedicated healthcare providers and members of the medical community working and studying in the area of sleep medicine and research. It brings healthcare providers together to discuss the information related to sleep across the globe and distribute its importance. It is celebrated today on Friday 13 March, 2020.  

Why is sleep so important?  According to World Sleep Society, ‘sleep is so important to health, as lack of sleep can lead to sudden death, loss of memory and so on. In other words, anyone who wants to live long, must sleep more. This is why the slogan of World Sleep Day is ‘Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet.’ It highlights the importance of sleep that acts as a pillar of health, allows better decision making and generates a cognitive understanding. It also focuses on the quality of life that can be improved with healthy sleep. We can understand it like this that when sleep fails, health declines and on the other side decrease the quality of life. Sound sleep is a treasured function. The World Sleep Society (WSS) is a non-profit based organization based in the United States.

The World Sleep Society has provided 10 tips. These are as follows: Generate a regular bedtime and waking time. If you are habitual of taking siestas, then do not exceed 45 minutes of daytime sleep. Avoid taking excessive alcohol at least 4 hours before bedtime and also do not smoke.  Avoid taking caffeine 6 hours before going to bedtime. It includes coffee, tea, soda drinks, and chocolates. Take a light snack before going to bed at night. It will be better to avoid heavy, spicy or sugary foods 4 hours before bedtime. Do regular exercise but not going before bed at night. Use comfortable bedding. Before going to sleep, the room should be properly ventilated or maintain the proper comfortable sleep temperature setting. Discard or block all distracting noise before going to sleep and eliminate as much light as you can. Take time and reserve your night time for sleep and sex. Avoid work or general recreation during sleep time, sleep when you are sleeping. 

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Lamido Sanusi and the Politics of Dethronement

Yemi Olakitan

The news hit the headlines like a thunderbolt, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the 14^th Emir of Kano has been dethroned on March 9th, 2020 by the Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje.

An economist and banker who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, Sanusi was once suspended by former President Goodluck Jonathan after he raised alarm on the $20 billion NNPC scandal.  What really is in the style of Lamido Sanusi that the people in power find unsettling? AN24.net goes on a fact finding mission.

According to Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano state, Salihu Yakasi, one of the reasons Sanusi was deposed was his frequent public criticisms of the government of Governor Abdulahi Ganduge of Kano state. Yakassi said, no one in power could condone such public criticisms. ‘The deposed Emir had access to the Governor and could advise him on any issue but the Emir chose public podiums and stages as his means of advising the Governor.  At every given opportunity, he dished out criticisms.’

‘You can portray it as political or whatever but the question is no one would allow such an act of insubordination to continue. Since the creation of the new Emirates by Governor Ganduje, you can count the number of important events organized by the state government including international events which the Emir was invited and never attended. I can tell you that the Emir did not even attend the free and compulsory Basic Education Programme in the state launched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. People are free to say what they want to say but this is the reason for the dethronement,’’ he said.

Reports reveal that conservatives in northern Nigeria didn’t find Sanusi’s social criticisms funny. The deposed Emir once explained that Sharia is not divine but religious, and is neither uniform nor unchanging. He has called for an end to child marriage, a practice that is still prevalent in the north, building more schools instead of mosques. Sanusi also called for population planning, and has said, polygamy is increasing poverty in the region. The Emir also said, widespread poverty in the north might put end to Islam as we know it.

A highly educated man, Sanusi has a degree in Sharia and Islamic studies from the International University of Africa in Khartoum, in 1997 among other qualifications. He has spoken out on government policies on several occasions, breaking out with royal tradition.

 In 2017, the Emirate council was under investigation for corruption. Many saw this as retribution over comments he made. The investigation was later called off by the state legislature following intervention by the ruling class. In 2019, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje signed into law the creation of four new emirates. This unprecedented move saw Sanusi's traditional domain as Emir reduced. According to the law, Sanusi will only preside over 10 local government areas out of the 44 in the state. Many saw this as the beginning of Sanusi’s dethronement.

The legal team of Mallam Mohamodu Sanusi, 11 organized a Press briefing on what they called, Sanusi’s illegal dethronement, deportation and banishment to Nassarawa state by the Kano state Government. The team declared the dethronement illegal and unconstitutional. According to the team, the Kano state Emirate Council law which was recently enacted does not give the state Governor the power to unilaterally dethrone a an Emir.

The reason given in the letter of deposition of the Emir dated 9th March, 2020, was alleged ‘disrespect to lawful instructions from the authorities’. The Emir was also alleged to have ‘refused to attend official programmes and meetings organized by the Government’. As far as we are aware, there has not been any notice of such disrespect ever given to the Emir or query issued to him for refusal to attend official functions. He was never given any opportunity to defend himself against those charges.  Section 13 of the Kano Emirates Council Law 2019 cited in the letter of deposition empowers the Governor to depose an Emir only after due inquiry and in consultation with State Council of Chiefs. We are not aware of such due inquiry nor are we aware that the Kano State Council of Chiefs was at any time summoned to any meeting much less discuss the removal of the Emir or give any  advice to the Governor on the deposition. In our view the action was patently illegal and unconstitutional and a clear abuse of power. Be that as it may, the decision to challenge the removal is solely that of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

 In a statement, Publisher and veteran Journalist, Dele Momodu said, ‘The last time Sanusi was kicked out of the Central Bank, he became the Emir of Kano, who knows where God is taking him to next. God’s ways are truly mysterious,’’ he said. 

ALIKO DANGOTE DONATES N200 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS

The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has donated a whooping sum of N200million to support current effort of the Nigerian government towards curbing the spread of Corona Virus or Covid-19 in the country. ADF’s intervention is considered the largest single donation by a corporate organization in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

Nigeria is now the biggest Rice Producer in Africa

Contrary to the report that says Nigeria produces 4 million tons of rice, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) says it has established that instead, Nigeria being the largest producer of rice in Africa is producing 8 million tons of rice annually.

The RIFAN President, Aminu Goronyo who disclosed this said Nigeria has two rice farming season, in each season according him, 4 million tons of rice is produced.

He said the annual rice production of Nigeria is put at Eight million tonnes annually with twelve million farmers engaged in the production of the commodity.

Goronyo said Nigeria has no option than to put a total ban on rice importation before the end of this year.

“We have two cropping seasons of production and each season we produce an average of 4 million tons that will give you 8 million tons per annum”, Goronyo said.