Member of the Council of State, Sam Okudzeto says the idea of tithe in church is becoming worrying because most of pastors use it to enrich themselves.
According to him, because of this everybody wants to open up a church to enrich themselves.
“I have argued with pastors that they are using the tithe as a ruse to blackmail people to give money and I said it is wrong. I give, I don’t go and give tithe. And I give not only to the church, I give to people who have needs, I help those who I think are in a situation where they need help.â€
In an interview, Mr Okudzeto said pastors take advantage of Malachi 3:10 which says: “’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 blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.â€
“I don’t pay tithe because that’s Old Testament concept and I’ve told the pastors that they are wrong because they are using Malachi to entice people to collect money from them and that money that goes to them does not help the poor and the needy. They do not, no†he added.
The Council of State member cautioned Christians against the idea of tithe saying “God does not bless you because you give tithe, God blesses you because you’re worshipping him. He blesses you because you love your neighbour as yourself, and you provide for your neighbour when he has a need, that is what God wants you to do. So, we are turning the Bible upside down.â€