Pastorpreneurship – How much is your soul worth?
There’s an important issue that I’d like to address with you today. It’s once again deeply personal and deeply controversial.
Every day, millions of desperate and destitute people walk through the doors of local churches praying for a miracle. They look to their pastors and priests for guidance. They praise and worship in massive, beautifully decorated churches with their hands outstretched waiting for an anointing from God.
I’m sure you’ve heard pastors preach about prosperity; how by diligently tithing one tenth of your income every month God will rain down healing and blessings on you from above. The message is so powerful that the congregation is fired up ready to devote themselves completely to the glory of God.
I have done thorough research on this. I’ve read every chapter in the Bible related to tithing and not once does Jesus, or even the Old Testament Law of Moses refer to tithing in the same way some pastors want you to pay it today.
What is a tithe according to prosperity teaching Pastorpreneurs?
According to world-renowned pastor, T.D. Jakes, “It’s a tenth of your gross income. A tithe is your opportunity to worship God through obedience by setting aside what is holy unto the Lord. This money is exclusively for God’s use. God takes what is His very seriously.”
Ironically, T.D. Jakes is worth $18 million. Where did he get that money? His congregation paid it in tithes and offering.
Who tells Jakes what to do with that money? God apparently does. Is there any way for you and I to confirm this? No.
I’ve only found three people in the Bible that tithed. The first was Abraham, second were the Israelites living under the Old Testament law and the third are the Pharisees.
I will gladly tithe the same way that these people from the Old Testament tithed and I encourage you to too!
The only three groups of people that tithed according to the Bible
1. Abraham tithed from the spoils of war – Not his income
Despite Abraham having lots of gold and silver, Abraham only tithed once in his entire life. He did not tithe from his personal wealth but he tithed from the spoils of war. This means that any pastor demanding that you pay 10% of your income every month goes against the way Abraham tithed.
Now, I can already hear you saying to me, “Jesus tells us to tithe.”
Let me be clear… Jesus never gave the instruction to Christians to tithe. However, he commended the Pharisees for paying their tithe and even they didn’t do it the way you’re required to tithe today.
2. The Pharisees – Tithing under the Old Testament law
The Pharisees never paid money to the church. Jesus commended the Pharisees for tithing their spices like mint, dill and cumin. He then went on to say that they neglected more important matters of the Old Testament law – Justice, mercy and faithfulness. He said, “You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.”
3. The Israelites – Livestock and Agriculture – No money exchanged hands
The Old Testament commanded the tithing of agricultural products and livestock for farmers living at that time. Israelite farmers had to bring the 10th portion of their crops and livestock to the Levites. This doesn’t mean they Israelites didn’t have money. They had money but paid NO tithe on it.
Will you be cursed if you don’t pay your tithe?
At this point, I realise that preachers like Creflo Dollar, T. D. Jakes, Billy Graham and our local charismatic preachers will tell you that if you don’t tithe you’ll be cursed.
Well, that is also a misrepresentation of the Bible teaching from the book of Malachi 3:10… It certainly speaks about a curse but let’s look at it in the right context. Malachi was a prophet speaking to Israelites about tithing under the old law of the Old Testament.
10 bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;12 And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”Says the Lord of hosts.
The point is, if you’re told that you will not be saved if you don’t pay your tithe, then your pastor or religious leader is using your soul as a bargaining chip. How much is your soul worth to a pastorpreneur?
Well, to them it’s worth 10% of your monthly income.
So what did Jesus say about money and entering the Gates of Heaven? Turn your attention to Matthew 19:16-30
“16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbour as yourself.”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Based on this powerful statement from Jesus, how do you explain to these pastors that, due to the size of their inflated bank accounts, they will struggle to enter the Kingdom of God?
· Joseph Prince – Net worth: $5 Million (Singapore)· Chris Okotie – Net worth: $10 Million (Nigeria)· Matthew Ashimolowo – Net worth: $10 Million (Nigeria)· T.B. Joshua – Net worth: $15 Million (Nigeria)· T. D. Jakes – Net worth: $18 Million (United States)· Billy Graham – Net worth: $25 Million (United States)· Creflo Dollar – Net worth: $27 Million (United States)· Chris Oyakhilome – Net worth: $50 Million (Nigeria)· David Oyedepo – Net worth: $150 Million (Nigeria)
Question everything – It’s your right to know where your money is going!
I’m not telling you to question your faith. I’m telling you to question the people that appear to be the leaders of your faith.
Some of the richest churches in South Africa are full of devout followers that will do anything and everything their pastors tell them to do. Cast your mind back less than a year to the pastor who fed his congregation grass and made them drink petrol.
The unscrupulous religious leaders will avoid your questions and tell you that God spoke to them. They’ll highlight how bad you are for questioning them. They will throw unsubstantiated Gospel quotes at you and fill you with the fear of God using scriptures out of context.
Just like your politicians, they’ll fool you into believing that they have your best interests at heart. They will drive around in flashy cars, live in huge houses and fly private jets all around the world – all at your expense.
Feel free to donate money to your church but make sure that you know where your money is going. If you don’t get a straight answer to your question, then consider your membership closely.
I don’t mind if you don’t agree with me… In fact, unlike your pastors, I encourage that. So, if you have anything to add to this conversation, please send a respectfully written response to fast-track@fsp.co.za.
Aiden Sookdin
AuthorThe Home Business Tycoon
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