Random Thoughts: Prayers and God's Blessings For Sale

Dearest Mama,

It’s been a long time since we used this medium to communicate. It’s great to be back here. Do you find this http://musuehaddad-poems.blogspot.com/; the conduit we used during the last few months interesting? I’m certain we can use boths outlets to continue our communication. By his grace, during my next communication, I will try to look at the allegations that Former President Charles Taylor gave supermodel Naomi Campbell uncut “blood diamonds” while the two attended a dinner at the home of Nelson Mandela in 1997.

Well, how are the folks out there? Whether one is interested in gossip from the village, or not, it is almost impossible not to hear some of the phrases:

The town chief said one thing, but did the opposite; Kortoe Kpolo jumped through a window the night before his wedding; Seletah wedding dress was not “fine;” the minister said rat ate the tithe from the altar; Taplah trouser burst; … blah, blah, blah.

Not once did I hear from the mongers that a certain so and so decided to pay full arrears of their tithe; or that someone willing helped a child, or offered help without seeking publicity, or something in return.
What a world!

From this end, the kwee people’s place, (America), it is all about jobs, economics, jobs, economics, then politics, then jobs, economics, and the rest follow. It seems like almost every thing here has to do with economics.

Reflecting on the economic situations and increasing unemployment here reminds me of the period when the “war just ended” back in the village. Hunger was on the rise, unemployment high, everyone was desperate; people stepped on one another to reach the top. It didn’t matter who was at the bottom – the elderly, a child, children, pregnant women, or a widow, or widower. It was all about survival. If you think I am lying, go and take a look at the monument at the pavilion. I really don’t know where Late President Doe got the idea that a statue depicting half naked, desperate people battling one another to climb a totem pole has any relationship to freedom, liberty or human rights.

Now back to the era when actual fighting on the streets has ceased, it appeared that the fighting hopped into homes, the minds and bellies of our visibly weary folks who were clearly desperate for survival.

During that period, street preachers placed prayers, and what they claimed was God’s blessings in categories. After making the distinctive categories of the “prayers and blessings,” they then placed a price tag on the different levels of prayers, and the blessings it provided. Price tags at the top were heavy because according to the street preachers, such fees provided immediate blessings, and positive answers to their prayer requests. Lower fees did not provide full response to prayer requests. For lower fees, or dollars, our folks were told, they would receive tiny winy blessings. Sometimes, they claimed the price tag was actually tithe associated with each of the prayer and blessings. The more , and higher (tithe)a person give, the street preacher promised that God would give them a greater blessing. Phewwwwww!

As I watched one of these settings in the middle of Broad Street, opposite the Immigration Offices, I was perplexed. The street preachers easily persuaded many of our desperate town’s people that they could pay for prayers, and receive blessings. Or did our folk feel intimidated, or did they feared the wrath of God, or the curse of the “preachers?” I can’t say, but something was amiss. As the collection basket was brought forth, it quickly filled with money: bundles, single notes, wrinkle notes, etc. Interestingly, as the “preachers” continued to sell their messages, people kept going back and forth to put more “tithe” in the basket.

Several questions came to mind as I watched our impoverished folks emptied their pockets, and unfolded the knots at the edge of their lappas; many quickly opened the money bag they carried underneath their lappas; the guys hurriedly opened their wallets; the women their purses, believing that the street preacher had a direct contact with God, and that he, the street preacher “was the way, the truth and the light” to their blessings.

Tithe is a complex, and yet a simple practice. Tithe is practice in several religions. In Islam, tithe, or almsgiving is called Zakat. Zakat is one of the "Five Pillars of Islam," and is an important religious obligation that requires Muslims to gave certain percentage of their wealth as zakat.

In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is also practiced as a ymbolic connection to the spiritual, and to show humbleness and respect. In addition, Buddhism believe in the concept of Karma, which basically says whatever we do, whatever we say, or intend comes back to us.

What does the Bible tell us about Tithe?
Bishop Darlington Johnson of Bethel World Outreach Church has been discussing Tithing. He made references to several Bible verses, including Deuteronomy 14:22-29, which states "one-tenth of all that comes into your [our] possession, belongs to God."

He explained that God is blessed by our tithe, and tithing is an expression of our love and obedience to Him. Bishop added that tithing is for our own benefit, it is a way for God to bless us. To further elaborate on the importance of tithing, Bishop said, "Tithing/giving honors God, it makes us bigger inside, and things become better outside, tithing makes us rich in faith, and it activates God's promises."

Bishop Johnspon then made reference to the law of sowing and reaping, which is illustrated in verse, Gal. 6: 7, Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. [are you sowing loving and faithfully] The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

The Bible verse, Gal. 6: 7 takes us back to the street preaching. Were our folks sowing lovingly and faithfully? Were the street preachers sowing lovingly and faithfully to God? Were they truly serving God, or their own interest? Were they robbing God, or using the name of God to rob our impoverished town folks?

What does the Bible say about robbing God?

Malachi 3:8 states:
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings."

After reading that verse, doesn’t it sound like it would be better to rob a place than to rob the bank of Heaven?

Malachi 3: 8 – 10 discusses tithing and giving:
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. 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 you will not have room enough for it.

Tithing allows God’s grace to work on our behalf, as I have understood it. My parents were very heavy on Tithing, and the Bible is clear about tithing. Bishop Johnson simplified the tithing principle: He [God] gives unto us, we give back to Him[God} one-tenth of all that He has blessed us with.”

Bishop added, 'Grace works through faith. Grace shows through our work/actions, and obedience. Faith moves us to get in position to receive what grace has already provided.

He then illustrated the idea of faith, and grace, using the scenario of a mail man who comes to deliver a package. He said, by giving loving, and faithfully, we are present when the mailman comes to deliver the package[blessings], otherwise, we are not present, therefore the package in undelivered, and returned to sender. Do you want to be absent when the mail man comes to deliver a package that contains a much desired gift?

Doesn’t it sound beautiful, Mama. Tithing has nothing to do with how much tithe one offered, or how big or little our one tenth tithe is. It has to do with our faith and love in tithing. Bishop Johnson said that tithing has to be given voluntarily, willingly, and cheerfully, adding, “Be hilarious in your giving.”

Midway during his sermon, Bishop Johnson created a mental scenario of God and the Mob Boss to simplified the importance of tithing, and the contrast between giving to the Mob Boss and giving to God. That scenario was hilarious!

Mama, I never imagined God and a Mob Boss being in the same sentence. Have you??? Well, in my next mail, I will be looking at what motivates us to give to the Mob Boss, and giving to God. Watch Out!!

Always,
musue

When bellies are empty; when bills are outstanding; when school fees and rent are piling up, it takes a lot of guts, love, and faith to pay tithe. However when bills keep piling, and job is hard to come by, it is easy to find ourselves on the street with a "street preacher."