SUMMARY
Tithe and offering are subjects of intense debate of recent years. Many have questioned the genuineness of tithe and offering amongst the Christians. The inference is that it is a biblical injunction that people must pay tithe and sow seed. Failure to observe these is seen as an act of disobedience that comes with its consequences. Therefore, it is imperative to do so for the blessing that comes from them. The issue is, however, not on the observation of tithe and offering amongst Christians, but the renewed interest and emphasis by the preachers of Christianity. This is viewed with suspicion as the ideas have turned to a way of making money in modern times. This study has shown how the activities, attitude and inordinate ambition of some men of God inform people’s choice of opening churches. Many factors are attributed to the attitude and activities of these preachers. Poverty, unemployment, the socio-economic situation in Nigeria and ignorance, to name a few, have contributed to the present attention given to tithe and offering amongst these preachers. The search for solutions to many problems that are confronting people on a daily basis opens the door for these preachers to actualise their dream of affluence. This has led to the unprecedented wave of materialism that is ravaging society. The overemphasis on material blessings without a corresponding emphasis on winning souls may, therefore, be counterproductive in Nigeria. The total outcome of this phenomenon has affected our society 60 in all ramifications as it contributes to the high corruption rate. Thus, the church receives and beat drums of praise for corrupt people who bring in their corrupt gotten money to the church in the name of offering, thereby, encouraging corruption. They lay more emphasis on tithe and offering with little or no emphasis on moral and right values, which is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is true that the negative implications of tithe and offering have tainted Christianity as the money-making venture; yet, many have benefitted from the proceeds. The proceeds from tithe and offering, as discussed in this study, have helped in poverty alleviation and some other developmental projects in the church, which is of great importance to the members. Nevertheless, one has to understand that the biblical injunction of tithe is not the same as the practice of tithe amongst the Christians in Nigeria today. All these calls for an urgent appraisal of the present emphasis and use of tithe and offering in contemporary Christianity in Nigeria by all stakeholders. If the gospel preachers should preach the gospel with decorum and as it were in the Bible, its influence on Nigerians will bring about a reduction in crime, corruption and other immoral activitiesin Nigeria. The emphasis should be more on the acts of righteousness, hard work and patience, which will yield the fruit of prosperity. This will go a long way of eliminating corruption, insecurity, killings of innocent people and other ill activities in the society. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and other Christian bodies should come together to address and manage the wrong approaches in 61 the use of tithe and offering, as it has been observed that the unwholesome phenomenon is negatively affecting the church and Nigerian society at large with its promotion of corruption, fraud and crime, to mention but a few. Preachers should preach the gospel with decorum as it were in the Bible so that its influence on Nigerians will bring about a reduction in crime, corruption and other immoral activities in Nigeria. Christian Association of Nigeria and PFN should partnerwith the Nigerian government in monitoring and punishing preachers or churches that are found using tithe and offering wrongly as it has been observed in the article that some preachers use tithe and offeringas a means of extortion. Preachers should rise to their God given responsibility by laying more emphasis on the teachings and influencing their adherents with teachings that promote moral values, acts of righteousness, hard work and patience, which will yield the fruit of prosperity.
