Erroneous Church Economic Policies

By Ngrime Divine Njelowe

Everybody gives: yet giving can make or mar your life. The case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 is a glaring example. Giving to God can be done rightly or wrongly. The case of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:3-12 is there for us to see. And God, like any being, reserves the right to accept or reject what is offered to Him. Considering these, one should therefore know how to give rightly in church and avoid erroneous giving that can lead to untold problems, as it did to Cain.
Jesus gave, taught giving, applauded right giving, was given to, and was a gift Himself. But is the Church today respecting Christ’s teachings on financial issues? There is no problem in giving, but how you give matters. Have you ever been taught extensively on how to give? This book is here to help you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796055511

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Copyright © 2019 by Ngrime Divine Njelowe.

ISBN:                    Softcover                        978-1-7960-5552-8

                             eBook                             978-1-7960-5551-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked WEB are from the Holy Bible, World English Bible. Public Domain

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Rev. date: 08/29/2019

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Foreword

Acknowledgment

Introduction

Chapter 1 Vows

Chapter 2 Levies

Chapter 3 Seed Sowing

Chapter 4 Giving Under Human Persuation

Chapter 5 Tithing

Chapter 6 Giving With An Unsettled Dispute

Chapter 7 Giving With Pride

Chapter 8 Robbing Peter To Give God

Chapter 9 Giving To The Haves

Chapter 10 The Vision And Provision

Conclusion

DEDICATION

To the Holy Ghost, my Master and Teacher

To the Fiango Assembly of Liberty Ministry International

To all the members of the body of Christ

To my dearest wife, Olenge Bertha

To my children; Anyene Blessings, Owamba Zoe, and Makasi Harmony.

FOREWORD

There is right and wrong giving. You don’t just give because you feel as giving. Giving shouldn’t be done anyhow and anywhere. When you give to the devil, you give wrongly. And the fact that you are giving to God or man does not mean you are doing right giving. Yet, many have not known the difference between right and wrong giving. Every giving has its consequences, be it positive or negative.

Cain in the Old Testament gave wrongly to God and it led to a series of consequences (Gen 4:3-16). Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament gave wrongly to the church and it also led to a series of consequences (Acts 5:1-11). The motive, manner and mood of giving are the three main keys in this principle – yes, giving is a principle - and must be taken note of before engaging in the act.

There is no life without giving. All our lives depend on it. In fact, before you ever give, you have been given to. The entire world itself is kept in place by the principle of giving. There is always a chain of giving and receiving within and without us.

Jesus gave, taught giving, applauded right giving, was given to and was a gift Himself.

Learning to do right giving is like learning to live. We seize living when we stop giving- and giving rightly. I urge you to take seriously what has been written on these pages because your life depends on it.

Yet, teachings about giving on the maximum interest of the giver, is rear even in our churches today. To add to this is the problem of maintaining the content, context and intent of the Bible in relation to giving.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I am deeply grateful to all those who have been my teachers either directly or indirectly, at one time or the other.

I owe much thanks to the Apostolic Church Cameroon (T.A.C.C) and the Ndian District in particular, who acted like a mid-wife during my spiritual birth process, and a nursing mother to me as a young convert.

Immeasurable thanks and gratitude to Prophet Sem Eric, my mentor and spiritual father, and the Liberty Ministry International Family. Thank you for giving me a platform. Am indebted to you.

No man can succeed alone. No matter how anointed or gifted you are, you need the help of others to achieve success. Mr/Mrs Ngwa Divine Suh, am talking of people like you. This work could not have been possible without your support.

I will not fail to make mention of some of my fathers in the faith like Pastor Ngah Edward, Pastor Peter Atabong, Pastor Ediage Valerie and late Pastor Su-uh Christopher. They were, and have been a source of inspiration to me.

My sincere thanks to faithful brethren in Christ, who stood by me to foster this gift, in the persons of Elder Lebaga Kila, Mummy Atabong Maurine, Pastor Njibila Collins, Doctor Ronald Gobina, Sister Frida Wose, Elder Imbimbe Richard, Elder Henry Nyaba and a host of others.

I will not forget the unflinching support of my wife, her family and mine. May God bless you all.

Thank you Sister Bernice, for typing my work. Thanks to you Sister Okia Talatu for praying and believing in me.

INTRODUCTION

Some of the most common things in life are often the most complicated. Giving is one of them. Everybody gives; the rich, the poor, old, young, whites, blacks, good, evil, Satan, and God. At times we give like some animals, without knowing that we have given.

Yet every giving, be it good or bad, right or wrong, has a Motive, Mood, and Manner. This trio is what I call THE THREE Ms OF GIVING. They are the determinants and main pillars in the principle of giving.

Why do you give? The purpose for your giving is what we call the motive of giving. Are you motivated by selfish, philanthropic, religious, political, cultural, or relationship reasons to give? Do you give so that you can be given back? Do you see giving like a trade, or a simple act of kindness?

How do you give? Is it with pride or with humility? Do you give with an insulting or appealing attitude? Are you happy giving, or sad, or compelled to give? All these comprise your Mood of giving.

What kind or Manner of gifts do you offer? Is it cash, material, tangible, intangible, goods, or services? Do you give what is valuable to you, or leftovers?

All of these matters to God and the church. And is what makes giving complicated and a broad subject to deal with. However, I will be concentrating more on giving in the church of Christ in this book.

Giving in church can make or mar a person. The case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 is a glaring example. Putting this into consideration, one should therefore know how to give rightly in church and avoid erroneous giving that can lead to untold problems.

To contribute for the growth of the church and its gospel is a very good thing and I encourage it seriously. But it must be done correctly.

Looking at the church today and how her financial contributions are being made, one is posed to ask many questions. And with a good memory on how Jesus commented and reacted on the financial issues of the synagogues and Temple of the Pharisees in His days, one who is versed with the scriptures, filled with the Holy Ghost, and knows the dos and the don’ts of the New Testament may be tempted to act like Jesus towards the today church.

But as Jesus was seen as a mad man with a weep in His hand in the Temple, so will anyone who dares to attack the financial life of the egoistic church leaders and officers of today be nick-named.

That notwithstanding, the truth is bitter but it must be spoken. It is joy to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and to die for Christ is great gain.

Cowards attempt so many things but withdraw. Only the courageous looks at the very face of a problem and is not scared.

Great men have come and gone