Sammy you make some good points but I am sure your good friend Pastor Otabil has learned a lesson to stick to the saving of souls and shy away from any hits of political comments from his pulpit. The poisoned atmostphere aris ... read full comment
Sammy you make some good points but I am sure your good friend Pastor Otabil has learned a lesson to stick to the saving of souls and shy away from any hits of political comments from his pulpit. The poisoned atmostphere arising from the 2012 election petition has been such that people in his position should have been circumspect in insinuating any potential ouctomes of violence or peace after the court verdict. I am sure as an experienced communicator he knows of the axioms ( Message, Messanger and audience?) He must be also aware that any Paster that claim to see the future is usually branded as a fake (Atro Odiyifo). It comes with the territory in high profile position like his. He should labor on and do Gods work. These propagandists that have attacked him are little minded.
Nana Obeng 10 years ago
OTABIL IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SAVING SOULS, HE IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES DID NOT MAKE ANY MONEY SPREADING THE GOSPEL. THEY DID NOT GATHER TREASURES ON EARTH.
OTABIL IS ON BIG BUSINESS. T ... read full comment
OTABIL IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SAVING SOULS, HE IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES DID NOT MAKE ANY MONEY SPREADING THE GOSPEL. THEY DID NOT GATHER TREASURES ON EARTH.
OTABIL IS ON BIG BUSINESS. THE BIG BUSINESS OF MAKING MORE MONEY. PLEASE STOP CALLING THESE PEOPLE MEN OF GOD. THEY ARE BUSINESSMEN.
TRUE MAN OF GOD 10 years ago
OTABIL CANNOT TAKE TITHES- IT IS SINFUL
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No topic excites many pastors more than tithes and tithing. Waxing eloquent, pastors with fiery zeal, would teach about how if you pay tithes ... read full comment
OTABIL CANNOT TAKE TITHES- IT IS SINFUL
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
No topic excites many pastors more than tithes and tithing. Waxing eloquent, pastors with fiery zeal, would teach about how if you pay tithes God would bless you. How your business would flourish, how you would find that rich husband and how all would go well in your life. Blessings would flow like the Jordan River and life would be a bed of hibiscus petals. Conversely, you are also threatened and psychologically terrorized for not paying tithes- there would be no breakthroughs in your life, God would take away from you. Nothing would go well for you. Worst of all, you would be cursed by God because you have stolen from Him. Like the mighty spear of Goliath, Malachi 3:10 is launched at your heart.
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse - the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me." (Malachi 3:8, 9)
This verse has been used to intimidate many Christians into shelling out 10% of their income as tithes. It is probably the only verse in the Bible that many pastors quote when preaching about tithes. Other verses in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that shed more light on the issue are almost never mentioned. Church members are kept in the dark by design.
Was God rebuking the nation of Israel or the nation of levitical priests in Malachi? Malachi 2:1, explains further,"And this commandment is for you, O priests." God was actually rebuking the Levites for abusing the trust of the people. God is a spirit and does not need food but He wanted the poor to be fed. The Levites were the ones under a curse. Christ broke the curse of the law, so Christians cannot be under a curse today for not obeying the law of tithes.
Who received tithes?
Tithe was God’s way of specifically taking care of the poor Levites, orphans, widows, strangers in Israel. This was the only reason God wanted food in his house. God does not need food.
Deuteronomy 26:12, clearly states that when all the tithe is collected “then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger to the orphan, and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.”
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 New International Version (NIV) "bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."
Did Jesus, Mathew and Paul receive tithes?
Jesus was from the line of Judah so could not receive tithes. Only Levites from the line of Levi could receive tithes. Though the twelve apostles were men of God, they could not receive tithes because of their tribal lineage. How then can pastors today ask for tithes? Are they Levites? If the apostle Paul is not a Levite so could not take tithes why are some pastors taking tithes? The fact that one is a man of God does not qualify one to receive tithes. Even prophets and other men of God in the Bible, not from the tribe of Levi, could not benefit from tithes.
Did Jesus and his apostles pay tithes?
Tithe was never taken in fish or silver or cash. Paul as a tent-maker was not required to pay tithes. Peter as a fisherman did not pay tithes on fish he caught. That was the law of God. None of the twelve apostles could pay tithes because they were not farmers or shepherds/ herders.
Did Abraham, Noah and Jacob pay tithes?
Abraham did not pay tithes. He gave ten percent of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, King of Salem. God did not command Abraham to give. It was from his free will. Abraham did not tithe from his personal property, and there is no record in the Bible that he did.
Jacob also gave a conditional 10% to God which was not a tithe.
There is no record of Jacob paying any tithes after this. The traditional 10% in Middle Eastern societies is different from the legalistic mosaic tithe from God. The mosaic tithe was not optional, it was the law.
Without tithes, the message of the Gospel could not be preached
God in His infinite wisdom asked for tithes to be used for the poor and needy. God did not request tithes to be used for pastor's salary, cars, church organ or choir robes. God explicitly said use it to feed the poor Levites and the orphans, widows and strangers.
God does not need tithes to spread His word. The apostles gave their lives to spread the gospel of Christ without taking tithes from anyone. Many churches function perfectly today without tithes. We cannot disobey God with the excuse that we are spreading the gospel.
Even if you are poor, unemployed and struggling financially, now is the time to pay your tithes.
Nooooo!!! This is twisting and misquoting the Bible because we want to take money from the poor. The Bible says do not take tithes from the poor and needy. The poor are to benefit from the tithes. They are to be given tithes. Telling the poor to pay tithes, with promises that God would open the windows of heaven and pour blessings on them is a big con game.
The Bible says those with less than ten goats or sheep were exempted from paying tithes. God did not take tithes from the poor. Telling the poor and needy that if they don't pay tithes God has cursed them is the ultimate in greed and callousness.
Some pastors tell poor church members to pay tithes before their rent or children’s school fees and expect miracles. Some tell the congregation not to worry about what the tithe is used for. They say to just pay the tithes and leave the rest to God.
Would paying tithes make you rich and prosperous?
The promise of breakthroughs and prosperity and material blessings is used as a bait to make many pour their hard-earned money into the bank accounts of some pastors. This is nothing but manipulation. If the gospel of Christ is about acquiring earthly possessions how come the apostle Paul was not rich? How come John the Baptist, Peter, John and the other apostles did not get financial breakthroughs? Many of Christ's apostles were persecuted and killed. Life was not rosy for them. Were they not blessed men of God? If you believe pastors who tell you that you would prosper financially if you pay tithes, then you need serious Bible study. People like Oprah Winfrey, Ted Turner, LeBron James etc. are very wealthy, but they do not pay tithes, they are not even Christians. If you believe paying tithes would open gates to riches for you, then you are in for great disappointment and cannot carry the cross of Christ.
Should I give to my church?
Yes, absolutely! Give to the church. Your offering helps the church a lot. Paul spoke about supporting the church. But give from your heart to God and expect nothing in return. Give because you love God. It is free-will, not a binding law like tithing. God had a special purpose for the tithes. It was to feed the poor and needy in society. It was to take care of the Levites who were poor, not wealthy pastors who have mansions, fancy cars and are far richer than most in the congregation
Should Christians pay tithes today?
Jesus and his apostles did not pay tithes, neither did they accept tithes. The Pharisees obeyed all the 613 mosaic laws, so they paid tithes. Today, Christians are not under the law, so we do not follow the Mosaic Law, as we are under grace and not the law. How come so much emphasis is laid on only tithes but not the other 613 laws? If we have to pay tithes then we have to follow all the laws, like the Pharisees. When a child disobeys the parent, he has to be stoned to death according to the old law. No Christian obeys that law today. However, some hold on to the law of tithing with the might of Samson. Why? Is it the money? The love of money...
Who is killing the church of Christ?
It is unlawful and unbiblical for anyone outside of the tribe of Levi to receive tithes, be they prophets, bishops, arch-bishops or reverend-doctors. Tithe has become the yoke around many Christians’ neck. When the clergy enslaves the masses and amass wealth at the expense of the poor it creates a history of resentment against the church. Many thinking people become suspicious of religion. When leaders of a faith insult the trust of their flock with misinformation and manipulation, the backlash can be unfavorable to all.
The gospel of Christ suffers when boys are molested by clergy just as when money becomes their main focus. Many centuries ago, Martin Luther had to revolt again the leaders of the church who were taking the faithful for fools. You can fool some of the people some of the time but all the people cannot be fooled all the time. At some point Europe woke up.The shady history of the church in Europe has forced many out of Christianity. Today Christianity is dying in Europe. No wonder, a recent pope said, the future of the church is in Africa. Are our pastors robbing God, are they killing the church of Christ?
VOLUNTORY CONTRIBUTOR 10 years ago
The B.C books of old testament, for instance; kings, deutoronomy,exodus and leviticus are experiences of the land of Juda currently named Israel. These books are in the bible to give lessons on the creator, how he behaves, th ... read full comment
The B.C books of old testament, for instance; kings, deutoronomy,exodus and leviticus are experiences of the land of Juda currently named Israel. These books are in the bible to give lessons on the creator, how he behaves, thinks and do to nations and their citizens on life actions taking against each other. The books are not made for the powers on earth to show of how the creator sees them. Therefore all nations on earth can learn somthing to remind themselves of powers above them. The name Afriyie cannever be a beast, but blessed in meaning in royal Ashanti/ Akan CULTURE from kumasi-Oseikrom, Ghana West Africa. Almost all the people of the Lord Jesus Christ were demoized in some form, according to the history of the gospel of salvation. Even the old testament messangers were demonized by the general public into their glory in the Lord.
Trueful tellers in the Lord always get demonized, because your observations and comments do not satisfy or promote the trendy or flowcharts. Your comments comes to caution or reveal the still errors that the blind gets obscured to see. It is not different from what to the disciples or apostles of the new testament and that demonization should not deter those voices because they help society tremendously to challenge the s
tatus quo.
Serwaa 10 years ago
Pastor mensah Otabil is a Levite so he can accept tithes. God said give all the tithes to the levites. That is why we pay tithes.
Pastor mensah Otabil is a Levite so he can accept tithes. God said give all the tithes to the levites. That is why we pay tithes.
Araba Tachiewaa 10 years ago
the bible says the tithe is for the pastors because they dont work. pastors are the levites today so we have to give them 10%. you are under a curse if youre fuse to do so. do not block ur blessings.
the bible says the tithe is for the pastors because they dont work. pastors are the levites today so we have to give them 10%. you are under a curse if youre fuse to do so. do not block ur blessings.
ACE/OUTSTANDING PREACHER OF 2000 10 years ago
The voluntory person could be the "man blessed in United State of America" call MABUS. The kingdom is refusing the truth of revelation, hence refusing the Lord Jesus Christ.
The voluntory person could be the "man blessed in United State of America" call MABUS. The kingdom is refusing the truth of revelation, hence refusing the Lord Jesus Christ.
ACE/OUTSTANDING PREACHER OF 2000 10 years ago
Remember, Afriyie means coming through or came through. In a sense the man came through in USA.Which also mean blessed.
Remember, Afriyie means coming through or came through. In a sense the man came through in USA.Which also mean blessed.
STupID NdC 10 years ago
Okofo-Dartey, all I wish to say to this brilliant article is thank you. You're blessed! Let's leave these evil men to God. He knows best how to deal with them, because He says 'vengeance is mine'. The other day, Tony Aidoo sa ... read full comment
Okofo-Dartey, all I wish to say to this brilliant article is thank you. You're blessed! Let's leave these evil men to God. He knows best how to deal with them, because He says 'vengeance is mine'. The other day, Tony Aidoo said that all Christians who speak or pray in other tongues do so because they're mad. He's done it yet again. Hmmm! we live to see.
Jackie 10 years ago
pastors are not God. u can tell them they are wrong. some in the church are better xtrians than pastors. we are all men of God.
pastors are not God. u can tell them they are wrong. some in the church are better xtrians than pastors. we are all men of God.
Kofi Poku 10 years ago
Okofo ask your god Otabil the very big and ugly nose con pastor to answer you that stupid question.Otabil is a 418 pastor who is frustrated and confused for his party and his frined Akufo Addo not being the president of this ... read full comment
Okofo ask your god Otabil the very big and ugly nose con pastor to answer you that stupid question.Otabil is a 418 pastor who is frustrated and confused for his party and his frined Akufo Addo not being the president of this country.Otabil is the real devil and evil among us.The verdict will be announced and he will hang himself! A very stupid ugly nose man.Whio is he anyway? Go and rot in hell with him.Ghana is not for Otabil and Akufo Addo.Yaka gbemei.
Jackie 10 years ago
Otabil is not the devil. but when he is wrong we should say it.
Otabil is not the devil. but when he is wrong we should say it.
Akufoooooooooooool Addue 10 years ago
In a bit to please your Opportunistic master Otabil, you have opened up your idiocy for all to see. Must we sit for someone suffering from hay fever, like Mensah Otabil, to throw his filthy dreams into the eyes of the public ... read full comment
In a bit to please your Opportunistic master Otabil, you have opened up your idiocy for all to see. Must we sit for someone suffering from hay fever, like Mensah Otabil, to throw his filthy dreams into the eyes of the public? You both should just shut up.
Big Joe 10 years ago
Those who are unduly vilifying him for no apparent reason must watch their loose tongues because if Pastor Otabil is a true man of God and he harboured no ill intentions, then, his detractors must brace themselves for the wra ... read full comment
Those who are unduly vilifying him for no apparent reason must watch their loose tongues because if Pastor Otabil is a true man of God and he harboured no ill intentions, then, his detractors must brace themselves for the wrath of Him who sent him.
WE HAVE TURNED ORDINARY MEN INTO TIN GODS. A MAN OF GOD IS ANY CHRISTIANS WHO DOES THE WILL OF HIS FATHER. OTABIL IS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CHRISTIAN IN THE EYE OF GOD.
Kofi Asem 10 years ago
Sammy, you made quite reasonable arguments here. I have a few problem with some of your submissions though.
First off, your suggestion that people should not ply their trades in domains they do not have muscles for is very ... read full comment
Sammy, you made quite reasonable arguments here. I have a few problem with some of your submissions though.
First off, your suggestion that people should not ply their trades in domains they do not have muscles for is very well placed. Otabil, of course, is a pastor (in the business of saving lives for GOD); politicians are politicians (in the business of running a country). Since Otabil is not responsible for ensuring peace in this country, if he ventures into the domain of the politician by trying to tell the politician what would happen to his (politicians) business (the country), do you not think the politicians have the right to respond?
Secondly,Otabil specifically said something might happen to the country "a month from now" (by the time the verdict of the election petition is declared). The election petition has the potential to destabilise this country. So if Otabil stands at his pulpit and claims Ghanaians would find themselves in a different state in a months time; what else could he have been alluding to if not the reactions to the verdict of the SC?
He mearnt well for the country; that is in no doubt (except for ppl like Tony Aidoo); however, his approach leaves much to be desired! People always say these kind of things; how many times have such statements generated this much controversy? Otabil could have addressed his "heaviness in heart" in a manner that would not have caused this much bashing of his character.
Koo 10 years ago
Alluding that al other can be criticized but men of God must be left alone is unbiblical. Yes, those who call themselves men of God can be criticized like other christians.
Touch not my anointed does not mean do not criti ... read full comment
Alluding that al other can be criticized but men of God must be left alone is unbiblical. Yes, those who call themselves men of God can be criticized like other christians.
Touch not my anointed does not mean do not criticize my anointed. It means to not physically harm my anointed.
Are we are saying we can touch other christians, exclusing pastors? in the eyes of God we are all the same.
Irene Owusu 10 years ago
we are constantly taught that we cannot criticize pastors. we have to leave it to God. are pastors saints? they are human, they make mistakes, but are asked not to say anything.
this is wrong.
we are constantly taught that we cannot criticize pastors. we have to leave it to God. are pastors saints? they are human, they make mistakes, but are asked not to say anything.
this is wrong.
Alex 10 years ago
Sammy,this is a masterpiece but why shouldn't the likes of Pratt and Tony Aidoo attack Mensah Otabil when he,the later has described human beings created in the image of God as Evil and all sorts of name.A person who takes fi ... read full comment
Sammy,this is a masterpiece but why shouldn't the likes of Pratt and Tony Aidoo attack Mensah Otabil when he,the later has described human beings created in the image of God as Evil and all sorts of name.A person who takes fireword infested with insects to his house should not complain when lizards decide to pay him a visit.
Akua 10 years ago
Rightly said. Thanks for your article.
Rightly said. Thanks for your article.
Whatever 10 years ago
The bible caution all of us against being anxious. Priest and pastors are not suppose to give a message to create anxiety but that is exactly what Otabil did when he suddenly announced what came across as a time-bound premoni ... read full comment
The bible caution all of us against being anxious. Priest and pastors are not suppose to give a message to create anxiety but that is exactly what Otabil did when he suddenly announced what came across as a time-bound premonition and linked it to the elections. His subsequent call for prayers will not be sufficient to clear away those anxieties. It is only an answer from God that can do that but that answer is hanged until Otabil comes to say it has been answered. That is the problem. the message deviated from the deeds of Jesus as Jesus will never announce a premonition about where he lives, to make people anxious and even with the prophesies he gives he give solutions and attributes it to what is written in God's books to settle minds.
Prof Lungu 10 years ago
Seems to us for many people, Otabil's utterance was a lot closer to yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre, when there was no smoke or fire! Or possibly, when only he could envision the smoke or fire.
And still possibly, f ... read full comment
Seems to us for many people, Otabil's utterance was a lot closer to yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre, when there was no smoke or fire! Or possibly, when only he could envision the smoke or fire.
And still possibly, for his own selfish interests.
Sammy you make some good points but I am sure your good friend Pastor Otabil has learned a lesson to stick to the saving of souls and shy away from any hits of political comments from his pulpit. The poisoned atmostphere aris ...
read full comment
OTABIL IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SAVING SOULS, HE IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES DID NOT MAKE ANY MONEY SPREADING THE GOSPEL. THEY DID NOT GATHER TREASURES ON EARTH.
OTABIL IS ON BIG BUSINESS. T ...
read full comment
OTABIL CANNOT TAKE TITHES- IT IS SINFUL
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
No topic excites many pastors more than tithes and tithing. Waxing eloquent, pastors with fiery zeal, would teach about how if you pay tithes ...
read full comment
The B.C books of old testament, for instance; kings, deutoronomy,exodus and leviticus are experiences of the land of Juda currently named Israel. These books are in the bible to give lessons on the creator, how he behaves, th ...
read full comment
Pastor mensah Otabil is a Levite so he can accept tithes. God said give all the tithes to the levites. That is why we pay tithes.
the bible says the tithe is for the pastors because they dont work. pastors are the levites today so we have to give them 10%. you are under a curse if youre fuse to do so. do not block ur blessings.
The voluntory person could be the "man blessed in United State of America" call MABUS. The kingdom is refusing the truth of revelation, hence refusing the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember, Afriyie means coming through or came through. In a sense the man came through in USA.Which also mean blessed.
Okofo-Dartey, all I wish to say to this brilliant article is thank you. You're blessed! Let's leave these evil men to God. He knows best how to deal with them, because He says 'vengeance is mine'. The other day, Tony Aidoo sa ...
read full comment
pastors are not God. u can tell them they are wrong. some in the church are better xtrians than pastors. we are all men of God.
Okofo ask your god Otabil the very big and ugly nose con pastor to answer you that stupid question.Otabil is a 418 pastor who is frustrated and confused for his party and his frined Akufo Addo not being the president of this ...
read full comment
Otabil is not the devil. but when he is wrong we should say it.
In a bit to please your Opportunistic master Otabil, you have opened up your idiocy for all to see. Must we sit for someone suffering from hay fever, like Mensah Otabil, to throw his filthy dreams into the eyes of the public ...
read full comment
Those who are unduly vilifying him for no apparent reason must watch their loose tongues because if Pastor Otabil is a true man of God and he harboured no ill intentions, then, his detractors must brace themselves for the wra ...
read full comment
Sammy, you made quite reasonable arguments here. I have a few problem with some of your submissions though.
First off, your suggestion that people should not ply their trades in domains they do not have muscles for is very ...
read full comment
Alluding that al other can be criticized but men of God must be left alone is unbiblical. Yes, those who call themselves men of God can be criticized like other christians.
Touch not my anointed does not mean do not criti ...
read full comment
we are constantly taught that we cannot criticize pastors. we have to leave it to God. are pastors saints? they are human, they make mistakes, but are asked not to say anything.
this is wrong.
Sammy,this is a masterpiece but why shouldn't the likes of Pratt and Tony Aidoo attack Mensah Otabil when he,the later has described human beings created in the image of God as Evil and all sorts of name.A person who takes fi ...
read full comment
Rightly said. Thanks for your article.
The bible caution all of us against being anxious. Priest and pastors are not suppose to give a message to create anxiety but that is exactly what Otabil did when he suddenly announced what came across as a time-bound premoni ...
read full comment
Seems to us for many people, Otabil's utterance was a lot closer to yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre, when there was no smoke or fire! Or possibly, when only he could envision the smoke or fire.
And still possibly, f ...
read full comment