Opinion:

The solution to help Christian churches do away with fundraising is in the Holy Bible.

As debate rages on fundraising and the financial pressures it imposes on their members the answer lies in their holy writ.

The holy book is the Centrepiece of their belief and as such it should be the operational manual of all the Christian churches.

In Malachi chapter three in the Old Testament, it says from verse eight: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

A tithe is one tenth of your earnings. If you earn $200 a week gross then you should give $20 to the Church you belong to.

It operates on the principle of faith. Does God need your money? Of course not. But for churches that preach his gospel or message they do to pay for operational cost and to raise the spirituality of the members. It’s incumbent on them to use this money wisely and not to abuse it.

Some Christian churches are already using the law of tithing and it is understood it has brought financial stability and independence to them. They no longer organise fundraising and they have freed their members from this financial burden.

Those not adapting to this law can seek advice and direction from them on how to start it and manage it in the way God wants it administered. In addition to tithes, members can give generous contribution specifically to help the poor and the needy

God in his infinite wisdom knows that our financial positions differ from person to person, from family to family.

The tithe is fair and just. For those who earn more the tithe is more. If you earn $800 a week, your tithing is $80 a week. If you earn $100 a week, your tithing is $10 a week.

As an academic exercise let’s look at 4000 church members between Suva and Nausori and they pay $80 each a week as honest tithe payers. The church would collect $320,000 a week. In a year the church will receive $16.64 million.

The key of course is to able to convince members about the importance of paying an honest tithing.

It should be a voluntary thing. Members should not be forced to pay tithing. It should come from the heart, through faith.

What happens if they do not pay their tithing?

Malachi says in verse nine: Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

If they pay their tithing Malachi spells out the blessings in verse 10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me herewith, saith the Lord Of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

In verse 11, he says: And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the timebin the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

In verse 12, Malachi writes: And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, said the Lord of hosts.”

This is a wonderful promise for those who obey and pay their tithing. Who wouldn’t want it?

First, you will receive blessings in abundance. This will come in many ways in material things and the spiritual. It will give them knowledge, wisdom and the spirit of discernment.

Second, God will protect you, your family and everything you possess from the Adversary (Satan or the Devil).

In other words this is the best form of insurance. Those who have been paying their tithing can testify of this. Miracles are not uncommon in their lives and they are doing well financially.

The churches they belong to are doing well too.

Tithing helps to get people and their churches out of poverty, suffering and misery. God promises he will also bless the land and the people, saying they will be a delightsome people.

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