Robbing people in the name of Jesus

I’m very disturbed by the conspicuous consumption I see in the church leaders of today. It appears worshipping God or becoming a pastor has less to do with having a calling and more to do with having a clearly thought out business plan to hoodwink people using the bible. Gone are the days when people went to church to be spiritually enriched. Now they just go to be impoverished and spiritually tormented by demands for monetary contributions with promises of blessings if they give more. Most Christians don’t take time to read the bible by themselves and rely more on their pastors to interpret the bible for them. As a result, they become so terrified of God punishing them if they don’t give “to the church”. Who really is the church? I thought “the church” was the congregation, but pastors are the only ones benefitting from the hard-earned cash of the flock they are supposed to lead. They are wolves in pastors clothing, preying on the sheep that follow them blindly.

I’ve had several conversations with my friends regarding the issue of supporting the church financially, and some of their views are below. Some feel they should continue giving because the bible states that they should do so, others are more cautious. There are indeed verses in the bible that encourage people to support the church, but I know they don’t say the pastor should become a fat cat at the expense of the congregants. Particular stories that are abused include the one of the poor widow who gave everything she had to the temple (Mark 12:41-44), as well as the one about Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5: 1-11).

Pastors are cruising in top of the range vehicles while their congregants remain without two cents to rub together to support these opulent lifestyles. I remember a lot of things that have turned me into the bitter Christian I am today. I remember tithing seasons at the Methodist church I grew up in. Some people would completely stop coming to church because of the onslaught that was unleashed on those that dared not give a tenth of their earnings to the Lord. I also remember how a District Superintendent had a vehicle bought for him using church funds to enable him to supervise the churches in his constituency better. However, as he drove to church on Sunday mornings, he would wave at some of the people who contributed these funds as they trudged to church with their dusty shoes, never offering them a lift. Word on the church benches was that he even used the vehicle to go to Chiadzwa to illegally procure diamonds for his own (further) enrichment.

I also remember a time when the church hall had to be extended as the congregation had grown bigger and late comers had to listen to the sermon from the windows while standing outside. My father was responsible for fundraising for the project. He stays in a small town without a lot of industrial work, so the majority of the inhabitants are poor. But then again, even those in the big cities of Zimbabwe are also poor. Anyway, the project hit a snag when it was time to roof the hall. My poor father had become extremely unpopular for standing in front of the church requesting donations for the roof. The rainy season was fast approaching and the hall still had no roof. People would carry umbrellas to church to protect themselves from the elements.

Along with the rainy season came the pastor’s welcome party, and church protocol demanded that it was to be grandly commemorated, with the good shepherd being showered with gifts. This was despite the fact that the pastor was coming back to the church for his second term. He still had to be re-welcomed. People would dig deep into their shallow pockets to ensure they showed their allegiance. Section leaders stalked those who hadn’t made contributions for the big party, poverty was not an excuse.

My father was there again in front of the church before the grandiose event. He requested that the celebrations be postponed until the church roof was up. There was a huge brouhaha, instigated by none other than the reverend himself and supported by his henchmen and women. The reverend (with nothing to be revered about him as far as I was concerned) told my father that he was out of line trying to change church rules. He said the church would be in trouble if the headquarters heard that the party had been postponed, it had to be done at the stipulated time. Really? What would they have done, charge the pastor with misdemeanour and send him to hell for not receiving his gifts? The pastor’s friends looked at father like he was the devil in their midst. At the end of the service, people were huddled with the pastor, whispering, reassuring him the party would happen, and giving my father dark looks. I feared for his life and didn’t rule out an assassination attempt. In the end, the party went ahead and my father had to contribute to it too as all eyes were on him, wanting to see if he would be the anti-pastor.

I also haven’t forgotten the birthday parties held for pastors and their wives, with bibles pointed to the heads of poor congregants and mantras like, “give and you shall receive” being chanted ad nauseam. People would be forced to throw lavish parties for church leaders but had to contend with their kids singing Happy birthday to you when their own birthdays came.

My policy is that if I have money, I would honestly rather give it to the needy, not line pastors’ pockets. I doubt that God would judge me for that. I asked the Christians in my circle for their sentiments around the issue of tithing or giving to the church and their responses are as follows:

Dad: Partly we are happy when the monies we give to the church go towards pastoral support and are used to maintain the church hall and other necessities. But we grumble when we are made to fund the birthdays of pastor and his wife and that of the District Superintendent and to have to welcome pastor and DS despite being with them for more than two years.

Mainini Tatenda: It is biblical to give so that you receive and I think it’s the same principle anywhere else. It’s important for us to get preachings on tithing etc. as much as we learn about marriage and praying. It is now a personal decision on whether one should tithe or not. I have heard some preachings on giving first fruit and harvest. Because I have not totally understood it, I have not given any of these. Until I do have some idea, then I will participate…so more preaching on them is required for me. As for giving to pastors, I think it’s also biblical and it’s up to one to do so. Apparently some people have been blessed through it. Our giving should be well-rounded though, and remember relatives and neighbours who need giving too. At my church we are given a financial report that shows how much went in and expenses etc.

Sihle: I don’t tithe because I haven’t seen anywhere in the New Testament where I am required to do so. There is nowhere where Jesus said I should tithe. I understand that it was a practice in the Old Testament and all the other stuff that they used to do like those sacrifices. What I don’t understand or have a problem with is how everything else is done away with and people find it convenient to choose tithing. My argument is if people want to go by the book, then let’s not be selective. We are now in a new dispensation with the birth and death of Christ. Why do we go to church on Sunday when the word clearly says we should observe Sabbath? I do go by what the New Testament says that I should not give under compulsion and that I do where I feel led to do. I also don’t seed because there’s no biblical reference to it. Where in the bible does it say for you to receive your blessing you need to have sown a seed? My question is what happens to someone who doesn’t have money? Are we saying because they don’t have then they don’t deserve blessings? As for pastors’ birthdays, I have not time for that. The main problem is us the congregants who take our pastors as gods. But that issue is most prevalent in Pentecostals because they were formed by individuals, unlike the main line churches which don’t belong to a particular person.

Erica: I am a Christian and I follow the bible. I like sermons on tithing because they are guidelines from the bible. Other givings like birthdays, welcomes etc I give willingly depending on availability of funds and budget and I give knowing that I’m giving God’s messenger. Whatever I give, I’m happy as long as it’s being used in the church to worship the Lord. Even if the money is used to buy bacon (a delicacy for most Zimbabweans) so be it. What I know is I would have done my part.

Auntie Lillian: Tithing is God’s mandate. Everyone must give a tithe. The good thing about tithes is they are not compulsory, you just give a tenth. Sermons on giving and tithing are uplifting depending on what you think the bible says. The biggest issue is on the birthdays. People’s contributions or what they should buy are dictated to them. Sections are told how much to pay towards these birthdays even though some people cannot afford it. In such cases people should just be encouraged to give what they can, not specific sums of money. Often it’s too much for one person. Like you must fulfill church obligations, then the same person must fulfill obligations for RRW (Mother’s Union). If you have UMYF (youth) in your house, you are also responsible for their contribution. That is not fair, but with tithes, it I have $10, I can give $1 to the church and I’m done.

Tadiwa: Honestly I haven’t been tithing. I know it’s not biblical but I’ve been giving the needy what they need when I can. Birthdays shouldn’t be sponsored by church members. Pastor is at work in the church. No-one throws a birthday party for me at my workplace. If he’s clever he can do own party and catch the congregation on the gifts. Our church has become classy at the expense of looking after the poor.

Milcah: I think sermons on tithing aren’t bad as the bible says it should be done. What’s wrong is manipulating the verses by threatening the congregation. Then giving to the church is also an obligation of the congregation and the bible says so. But it shouldn’t be a daily song, rather it has to be a reminder once in a while since people tend to be reluctant to provide for pastors. What’s wrong is when those who give more financially are given positions or begin to be held in high esteem instead of having those who are spiritually gifted. I personally used to avoid going to the United Methodist Church during the harvest period because I’d be bombarded with preachings about money at church and cell group meetings. It’s almost like they’d be forcing you instead of encouraging you to pay. Birthday celebrations for pastors shouldn’t be mandatory. If the church is happy with the services of the pastor, they can easily spoil him with a birthday party. But if you are forcibly made to contribute, then that would be wrong. Whenever I have the money I make sure I tithe. When I was working I’d never skip a month. If I’m to work again I will tithe consistently. 

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