NewStats: 3,265,391 , 8,186,586 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 06:07 PM 3e4r2k

Most christians are like the 'six blind men of hindustan' who went to observe the elephant.

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT
I.
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

II.
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me!-but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

III.
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: "Ho!-what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me't is mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

IV.
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

V.
The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

VI.
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

VII.
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

VIII.
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

MORAL.
So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

Acquiring knowledge of a part and rejecting the whole even put forward with proves.

? :-x

Well, your husband overreacted. But you shouldn't have questioned your mother-in-law's right to entertain visitors, that was wrong. If you were not comfortable about it, there are better ways of presenting it, or, you would've discussed it with your husband instead. I wish you goodluck.

A generation that honours God with their mouth but their heart is far from him,

Cry all you want

Criticise all you want

Defend all you want

One thing is certain: That which is not planted by God almighty shall be uprooted!
Surely they shall gather and wax strong, but because they are not his' they shall be scattered!
The Devil may pose all he wants, claiming to be the angel of light but he shall be revealed when the time comes!

The facade shall fall and we all shall see.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end of that way is utter destruction!

Where a man's treasure is, there his heart would be.

@Hakunajay

The woman in question is just recounting her experiences as they occurred and not preaching the Gospel. However, you may throw some light on what you actually meant by your statement above.

Ex-Jehovah Witness Learns the Witnesses lie about our Spirit Bodies

The Near Death Experience of Haydee Cortes

I was baptized by the Jehovah witnesses in 1970. I believed in God but I didn't believe that Jesus Christ was God. I believed Jesus Christ was a god created by the true God. I didn't believe in life after death much less that there was a conscious spirit that would leave the body when one died. I didn't believe in any kind of miracle healing nor I believed that God would communicate with people through visions or dreams. I believed that all kind of healing, miracles and visions were the work of the devil. I was very loyal to these Jehovah Witness teachings, and nobody could convince me of the contrary.

On September 12, 1973 I was ready to have a C-section done. While I was on the operation table I could see how the doctors and nurses were getting ready to do their job and they were kind of painting my abdomen with an orange liquid. I was concerned about it and asked what were they doing. The doctor explained to me that they were doing this before the anesthesia since they had to apply the anesthesia and start cutting right away to avoid the baby to be sedated.

They started injecting me the anesthesia and I felt a strange sensation. My body got stiffed, but my mind stayed awake. I realized they were going to cut my abdomen and I was not asleep. I tried to move and scream in desperation but all efforts were in vain. I started feeling a terrible pain while they were cutting my abdomen. All of a sudden in the middle of my pain I heard an audible voice saying; "Look what is going to happen to you!"
In that instant I was pulled out of my body with a sudden swoosh. I was moving very fast in a circular motion heading toward the ceiling of the room. I stayed hovering there looking down to what they were doing. I could see how my baby was being taken out of my womb. I felt very sad and I said: "Nothing can be done, everything is over for me on the earth. I was so anxious to see that baby and I couldn't even hold it in my arms". I ed my other children with sadness and said, "This is the end; now my children will forget all about me".

I then started going up. I was aware I didn't have a solid body. I was some kind of energy force moving at a high speed like in a circular motion. I was completely conscious. I knew I was me and I had all my memories with me. I knew I had left the earth. I found myself in a pitch black place. I started asking questions to myself. "Is this the universe? Where am I? Where am I going to? Am I going to stay here forever?" All of a sudden I started feeling something very strange. The only word I can use for this is agony or torment. At the same time I was feeling a need for my body. I wanted to get out of there and I wanted my body back. I couldn't bear the torment. I ed the voice I heard at the hospital right before coming out of my body ("look what is going to happen to you". I started screaming "PLEASE, DON'T LET THIS TO HAPPEN!" " I ACCEPT I WON'T EVER GO TO THE EARTH AGAIN , I ACCEPT I WON 'T EVER SEE MY CHILDREN AGAIN, BUT I CAN'T ACCEPT I WILL BE HERE FOREVER". "NO, PLEASE, DON'T LET THIS TO HAPPEN!" Immediately I heard a group of voices saying at the same time "This is for you to believe". I answered " I only believe in the Almighty God.

Then there was a silence.

The torment I was feeling stopped and I started to come down at a high speed again. I found myself back to the ceiling of the hospital room. This time my body was laying on a stretcher and I saw a nurse tapping its face and saying "Haydee, wake up!" I could clearly see her while I was moving down closer. Then I was softly dropped inside my body. The nurse was still tapping my face and calling my name. I opened my eyes and there she was right in front of my face. I looked at her eyes while I was thinking "I wish you knew where I'm coming from". I couldn't take the experience away from my mind and I was in a big concern about people in the world. I thought, "The Jehovah Witnesses deceived me, we are Spiritual Beings inside a flesh body and we come out of the body when we die!" People don't know what can happen to them. They should know about this!"

With this experience I learned that since I didn't believe in the Son of God I was in darkness. And there is where I went.

Matthew 8:11-12," And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 25:30 - And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A few days later I was discharged from the hospital. I couldn't stop thinking about my amazing experience. I kept on repeating to myself, "I was deceived by the Jehovah Witnesses about no spirit coming out of the body when we died, and I just experienced it". I started to care for everyone in the world. I wanted to warn everybody about that dark place. I decided then to believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord and started visiting a Christian church.

After I have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior I woke up one night and got up from my bed. While walking toward the door I looked back at my bed and I saw my husband sleeping and to my surprise, my body was also there next to him. I realized I was out of my body again but this time I was not a formless energy moving at high speed. This time I had a body. I stretched my arms forward and looked at this new body. I then looked at my children's bedroom and I felt sad to leave them. I thought, "now when my children wake up they will see I'm dead. They will bury me and they will forget all about me. They don't have anybody to take good care of them, poor things".

I then knelt on the floor and started praying, "Please Lord, in the name of your son Jesus Christ, return me to my body. My children need me." I felt a force lifting me up slowly from the floor and positioned me on top of my material body on the bed and I started to come down slowly until I fell inside it. Right away I tried to open my eyes and move but the body was rigid like a wall . All efforts to move were in vain. I got desperate and I started to pray "Please Lord, my children need me; there is no one to take care of them properly, bring me back to life." I started feeling like needles inside my whole body. I felt the force of life and the beating of my heart. I then opened my eyes and this time they opened. Then I moved my fingers to check and they moved. I then jumped out of my bed amazed.

I have told this experience in different churches and many lives have been touched and have given their hearts to the Lord. To God be the glory.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end of that way is utter destruction.

Zoning should be upheld –Na’Abba
From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja
Saturday, October 09, 2010

Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba, has said that the zoning formula put in place by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be upheld since it has been in process. Na’Abba, who represented Kano Municipal Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives on the PDP ticket, said although he does not really zoning, it should continue since the process has been in place.

Hear him: “I really don’t zoning, but when there is an agreement to zone the presidency to particular areas of the country, that agreement should be upheld until it goes the whole hug.

“And I want to say, on zoning, that when Nigerians speak about zoning, they are particular about the presidency. And well, of course, I believe that the current zoning arrangement should go the whole hug before it is discarded.”
Speaking on the forthcoming elections, Na’Abba decried the absence of knowledgeable people in the affairs of the country and called on Nigerians to vote in knowledgeable people into government.

“Nigerians should make sure that they elect people who would serve the country. People of knowledge are supposed to occupy different political offices in the country,” he said.

Na’Abba was, however, evasive when asked to comment on the recent development in the polity, such as the October 1 bomb blasts and its aftermath, which included the demand by elder statesman and former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, that President Goodluck Jonathan should resign.
He said: “I have no comment on that really.”

Ex-Oceanic Bank MD, Cecelia Ibru, jailed
• To forfeit 199 assets, N190bn
By AMEACHI OGBONNA and PETER ANOSIKE
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Cecelia Ibru
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section

A Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday sentenced former managing director and chief executive of Oceanic Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecelia Ibru, to 18 months imprisonment. The sentence came after Ibru pleaded guilty to counts 14, 17 and 23 of the 25 amended charges brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). She got six months on each of the charges, totalling 18 months. The sentence will run concurrently. However, sources said that the former bank MD had a plea bargain with the EFCC.

Count 14 of the three-count charges, which Mrs Ibru pleaded guilty to, reads: “That you, Cecilia Ibru while being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank International Plc on or about 2 August 2007, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, approved the grant of a credit facility in the sum of US$20,000,000.00 by the bank to WAVES Project Nigeria Limited, which sum was above your credit approval limit as laid down by the regulations of Oceanic Bank International Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1)(b) of the Failed Bank (Recovery of Debts ) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act Cap F2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 16(1) (a) of the same Act.”

In the judgment, Justice Dan Abutu also ordered that the former bank chief forfeits 199 assets and funds worth over N190 billion. The assets are to be managed by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Mrs Ibru was first arraigned on a 23-count charge on August 31, 2009, and remanded in EFCC custody till September 14, 2009 when she was granted bail by the court. The charges were later amended to 25, in February 2010, bordering on criminal manipulation of bank records and depositors’ funds.
In December 2009, the EFCC obtained an interim forfeiture order on the assets of Mrs. Ibru from a Federal High Court, Lagos.

Shortly before her full trial resumed on Tuesday, October 5, Mrs. Ibru had sought to forfeit her assets, in a plea bargain arrangement.
Reacting to the judgment, chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, commended the teams that handled the investigation and prosecution of Mrs. Ibru’s case. He charged every stakeholder in the war against graft to reinforce their commitment, so that there could be greater results soon.
Waziri said: “This is an indication that we are making progress in the war against graft in the country. But we can still achieve greater results when all stakeholders reinforce their commitment to the crusade.”

Ibru was eased out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) along with five other bank chief executives, in line with the recommendations of a CBN/NDIC special audit team that reviewed the financial status of the affected banks.
She was accused of using some companies to acquire over 64 million shares in Union Bank of Nigeria valued at 64, 218,000; 93 million shares in the United Bank for Africa for N93, 750, 000; Oceanic Bank Plc, N1, 076, 220, 421 worth of shares.
Other acquisitions include 13 million shares in Oando, for N13, 200,000 and another 388 million units of shares in other companies as well as 600 million shares in BGL Plc.

Another company linked to Ibru, Prisky Gold, was allegedly used to purchase 48.8 million shares in Access Bank Plc; 8, 140, 500 shares in Dangote Flour; 12, 480, 000 shares in Dangote Sugar Refinery; 12, 500, 000 shares in Fidelity Bank, 27, 434, 791 shares in First Bank; 25, 316, 400 shares in Japaul Oil; 10, 280,000 shares in Zenith Bank and 200,000,000 shares in Transcorp Plc.

Bomb blasts: SSS takes suspects to court
From JULIANA TAIWO, Abuja
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Photo: Sun News Publishing

The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday took three of the suspects behind the October 1 bomb blasts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before a magistrate’s court in Wuse, Zone 6, Abuja. The security source, who confirmed the development to Saturday Sun, said it was done to seek the court’s approval to remand the suspects in SSS custody, while investigations continue.

Asked if the Director General of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was among those arraigned, the source said no.

He revealed that Dokpesi was granted the privilege of reporting to the SSS office from home.
“You are a free man until proved guilty. The three we took to court are linked to the blasts and we need the court to grant us the appeal for them to remain in custody while investigations continue and it was granted,” said the source.

The SSS said, during the week, that nine suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the bomb blasts that almost marred the country’s golden jubilee celebrations, which claimed lives and several others injured.
The SSS spokeswoman, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, told newsmen: “So far, nine arrests have been made and all have direct links with Henry Okah, the incident and some unscrupulous prominent elements in the society. Due to ongoing investigations, the names of the suspects and their sponsors cannot be disclosed at this stage.”
On the number of casualties recorded so far, Mrs. Ogar said eight security officers died and one civilian, who was the sachet water seller at the bomb blasts scene.

Ogar had denounced the insinuation that security agencies were not prepared for the bomb blasts, stressing that it was the preparedness of the security agencies that led to the low death toll.
She noted that most of those who died and/or sustained injuries were security officers, adding: “ I won’t subscribe to the fact that we were not prepared.
“As far as I am concerned, the security measures were effective. Imagine a situation whereby the bombs were planted at the Eagle Square. What would have happened to that large crowd at the venue?
“I refuse to believe that the security measures put in place were not effective. They were very effective and that is why security operatives died to protect innocent Nigerians.”

I say no, just to add up the number. I blive in action.

IBB Campaign Group its Bombers’ Access To Dokpesi’s Phone Number



ABUJA - The Deputy Director of the IBB Campaign Organisation, Sen. Kanti Bello, Abuja itted that the phone number to which suspected bombers on October 1, sent a message belonged to Raymond Dokpesi.Bello conceded to this during a press briefing at the IBB campaign office.


He, however, argued that Dokpesi’s phone number could be obtained by all manner of people without the knowledge of the proprietor of Da’ar Communications.


“Even I have people from Niger Delta ask me ‘senator, we are with you’, I don’t know how they got my number.


The Nigerian Observer
Friday October 8, 2010.

Abuja bombing: My story –Jonathan

Amid accusations and counter-accusations over the suspected masterminds of the twin-bomb explosions that rocked Abuja, the Federal Capital last Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan has painstakingly rendered his of the sordid experience.

Speaking through his Facebook page, the President who also expressed his appreciation for the concerns shown by Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, since the tragedy occured, reiterated government’s determination to unmask the people behind the criminal act, and bring them to justice.
Excerpts:

“My dear friends on facebook, It is with a heavy heart that I read your comments and mails with respect to the sad events that occurred on the day we were celebrating 50 years of our existence as a nation and discussing the need to chart a new course for our future.

“Although the security agencies put in significant efforts to pre-empt the attacks, it is very sad that lives of innocent Nigerians were lost to this heartless act against the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Again, I offer my condolences to the families of the victims in particular and the nation in general. “Although this is somewhat a new experience for us, especially as bombings had never taken place in the Federal Capital Territory before last Friday’s incident, the security agencies have been instructed to leave no stone unturned in securing lives and property.

“I am being briefed regularly and I am confident that the agencies are on top of the situation. I implore Nigerians to go about their normal businesses and should not be intimidated or become paranoid over the cowardly act of a few Nigerians who obviously do not have the love of this country at heart.

“Dear friends, if the aim of the attackers is to create a sense of insecurity and panic across the nation in order to advance their narrow interests, Nigerians will stand up to them and make it clear that they cannot be intimidated.
“Nigeria is bigger than any individual or any collection of individuals. Nobody can hold a country of 150 million people to ransom anymore. The interest of a few conceited, ill-motivated individuals cannot be bigger than our national aspirations.

“I want to report to you that the security agencies are working round the clock in collaboration with other agencies within and outside the country to fish out the master minds and executors of the attacks and subsequently bring them to justice. “I want to assure Nigerians that blackmail and intimidation will not stop the Federal Government from doing the right thing. Whoever is found culpable will face the full weight of the law. I have requested the security agencies to do their work for our citizens will accept nothing less than justice. We would be failing the past, present and future generations of Nigerians if we do not get to the root of this dastardly act and seek justice the way it should be done in a civilised society such as ours.

“It is unfortunate that an unprecedented national tragedy of this nature has been politicised by people whose only interest is what they can get from the country and not what the country can get from them. They specialise in playing one part of the country against the other and riding on sectional sentiments to promote their narrow ambitions. I believe that Nigerians have grown beyond this parochial mentality.

To prove to you that their interests are personal and not for the people they claim to represent you will notice that while this istration has spent considerable time and resources as well as focused attention on the recent floods in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Jigawa states and the Cholera epidemic in certain parts of Nigeria as well as the lead poisoning that has consumed 400 children in Zamfara state, these so called concerned people have not been known to address any of these issues nor offer a word of succour to the victims. This is irrefutable proof that their only focus is how to get power and not the wellbeing of the long suffering people of Nigeria whom I have sworn to Almighty God to protect.

“At this critical time, we should be mourning the dead and praying for the families left behind. What they need at this sad hour is not politics but comion and empathy. “Finally, the Federal Government will do everything possible to share in the pains of the bereaved and the injured. We will give the best medical care possible to the injured. We recognise that nothing can compensate for the loss of a loved one. But we offer our shoulders to the bereaved in this moment of need.

“I want to assure you my friends, brothers and sisters on facebook that the Federal Government is very much aware of its most fundamental responsibility to its citizens: THE DEFENCE OF YOUR RIGHT TO LIFE, THE PROTECTION OF YOUR LIBERTY AND PROPERTY. On this mission, we cannot afford to fail. We will give our utmost, indeed our very best for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria. May God Almighty bless Nigeria and stand with us.”

http://www.facebook.com/notes/goodluck-jonathan/in-defence-of-life-liberty-and-property/160678637293113

No be small thing oh

Baptism: Required for Salvation?

    In Christianity, one of the most revered age-long rituals, accepted by both Catholics and Protestants is Baptism. There is however difference in the and conditions surrounding its performance among Catholics who claim to, just like every other believe, have inherited it from the apostles and the Protestants, who on the other hand, carried it along on their way out of the Catholic Church as biblical. The disagreement though hinges and who is old enough to be baptized, is it every Christian (old and young) or only those old enough to profess themselves Christians? Again, is Baptism required to get a man into the kingdom of God? If yes, does that justify that every Christian, including those not old enough to chose for themselves should be baptized, since death and salvation is not only restricted to the old? And if on the other hand, baptism is not required for salvation, then why so much emphasis on who should be baptized and who should not, in fact, why baptism in the first place, since it would be a vain exercise?

, your humble, unbiased and insult free explanation can change someone's life, but believe me, not the other way round.

The Tithe

This may be a challenging read for some, but it is submitted for your reflection, consideration, and to test with Scripture yourself.

    "The tithe" as part of the Law is no more applicable to us than making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year is. It is mentioned in the New Testament only a couple of times, generally in the context of rebuke to the Pharisees concerning fastidious observance of the ceremonial Law.

    If God had intended to carry tithing over into the New Covenant, then the chance was missed in Acts 15. You will note tithing is not mentioned in the Acts 15 Jerusalem Council rulings; though for modern legalists this is a favorite extra-biblical "exception" or "carryover" from the Old Covenant Law.

    Christians in general reject the idea that we are "under the law", yet tithing somehow gets exempted. But it is all or nothing, when it comes to the law, is it not?

        Gal 5:1 (NKJ) Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

        Gal 3:10 (NRS) All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

        Gal 4:21 (NIV) Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

    So clearly, to embrace old covenant tithing is a dangerous thing indeed, however popular.

    But there is another problem as well, and that is in the understanding of what the tithe really is. To find this out, Acts 17:11's advice would lead an honest inquirer to Deut 14:22, if it could be found,  (Yes, I will explain.) The reality and fulfillment of the biblical tithe will likely shock a few, but is useful to understand in the new covenant.

    The tithe is perhaps one of the most artificially twisted doctrines in the modern church. In fact, I detect a minor conspiracy. As evidence of this, please note that you will not find Deut 14:22 and the rest of the chapter--the largest single text in scripture concerning the tithe and its formal definition (it is even so headed in many versions)--in most Bible concordances. I have checked a dozen or so Bibles around the house here, and not one of them has this text listed under "tithe". Hmmm,

    Here is a sample from the middle of the text of interest, but you ought to read the whole and in context--thus, I am deliberately leaving out the meat of it. I encourage you to stop now, go get your Bible, and read Deut 14:22 and onwards with your own eyes,

    Here is a section giving specific instructions concerning "the tithe":

        Deut 14:26 (NAS) "And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household."

    As you can see, the Lord in the Old Testament Torah describes a very different practice of the tithe than what we moderns have been taught in our religious traditions of men.

    For the Jews the tithe was a "party" (or feast, if you like) and was to be "consumed in the sight of the Lord". God's command to tithe includes consuming "whatever your heart desires", including "strong drink"! Imagine u a tenth of your agricultural increase every year in a single party! Wasteful, extravagant, and flesh mortifying; yet God's clear command. With this Jewish (and historic) perspective, no wonder the prophet Malachi (3:8-11) asks: "How have we robbed from You, Lord, by not tithing?" If you understand the Jewish idea of party-tithing, you will appreciate his question. God commands His people to enjoy themselves by bringing the bounty together so that "There may be food in my house" and then feasting and enjoying themselves in His sight.

    Beyond debunking modern misconceptions, understanding the tithe properly makes for a richer understanding of scripture. As you read Deuteronomy 14 and see the concepts of "throwing a feast", and "not forgetting the poor" and making sure to invite "the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows",  does this not have a familiar ring with teachings of Jesus? For yet another example, Moses wanted "to go the place our Lord has commanded" to,  guess what? The feast of Shavuot; to tithe (Ex 5:1), and this staged the basis of the ensuing conflict. Pharaoh said "OK, but only the men,  without the livestock,  at the place I [Pharaoh] choose, ," and Moses said, "No, we have to go to the place God selects,  with all."

        Rom 15:4 (NIV) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,

    Let us consider for a moment the spiritual meaning of the Old Covenant Law of the tithe. God commands the Jews to consume a tenth of the year's agricultural increase in festive and lavish celebration. Think about the ramifications of this in actual fact. A father might spend this much money on a wedding for many guests, but consider if everyone present were spending the same amount. Some reception, eh? It would be hard to figure out how to spend it all! The message is clear,  God wants His people to enjoy themselves in His presence. From a carnal point of view, it would seem better and more pragmatic to horde and/or save for a rainy day. Why should this money and wealth be wasted? While God does not discourage good planning, savings and thrift, it would seem that with the tithe He is also trying to get us to see how ephemeral this world is. "Go ahead and use it up before I burn it up," seems to be the message. "He who dies with the most hoarded,  loses!"

    And Jesus says, "When you throw a feast [party], do not just invite those who can pay you back or help you share expenses. Rather,  do not forget the poor, " (Luke 14:13). Hmmm,  Sound familiar?

    Jesus was accused of being a "winebibber" and glutton, and of associating with low-life people (Luke 7:34) while on earth.

    "Use your mammon to buy friends for yourself in heavenly places, " (Luke 16:9)

    I must return, unfortunately, to the conspiracy of deliberate collusion to maintain false "religious" notions and man-made traditions about the tithe. The pathological twist usually goes something like this. "The Bible speaks more about money than about prayer" (true). "Thus, my sermon today is on tithing, " (All wrong--about tithing--of course,  and a great leap from money (oft spoken of) to an emphasis on a subject largely absent from New Testament teaching--excepting a few (negative?) references in rebuke to the Pharisees or concerning the law.) And here we must be more sober-minded than we may like, and see the situation as it really is; for many of these preachers and teachers have been to seminary, have read the Bible (including Deuteronomy 14) many times, and so ostensibly know better. Perhaps it is time to recognize that the Holy Spirit was/is right and that there are "many false prophets" among us,  preferring the way of Balaam (a prophet for profit)--just as Jesus told us there would be.

    Hey, the way of Balaam has paid off many a church mortgage!

    Sin breeds even more sin,

        2 Cor 2:17 (NIV) Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

    The New Testament--and the whole of scripture--encourages giving and offerings of many kinds, just as the Old Testament has other forms of tithing, taxation, and spoils-of-war sharing as well. Generosity is a personality trait of those who have been born from above. God has proven Himself rich and lavish in His grace and loving care towards us, and if we really have His life in us, then we will be like Him.

    In fact, the New Testament teaching is much more radical than the paltry Old Testament tithe. We have an entire Bible study on Money posted--accurate to the proportionate emphasis on how money is spoken of in Scripture, at: http://www.acts17-11.com/money.html if you have not seen it already.

    The verse that most sums up the New Testament teaching on giving is:

        2 Cor 9:7 (NAS) Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

    This is a good one-verse answer to give to the tithing legalists spreading their leaven among us nowadays. And let us it that there is something in us that hankers to be "under the law," even if just a little bit.

        2 Cor 9:7 (NIV) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

    The verse is clear enough. Each one must give what the Holy Spirit has led him/her to in each and every situation with two conditions: never grudgingly, and never under manipulation (compulsion). It is impossible to imagine how legalistic adherence to the Old Testament tithe (and that woefully misunderstand!) could be compatible with this instruction.

    The teaching of 2 Cor 9:7 is much more difficult than "rue and mint and cumin" at 10%. It is a John 3:8 sort of thing. There is no "law" about it (Gal 5:23b), this new wine will surely break the old wine skin. God wants us to give what He is asking now!

    And this amount may be all, as in the case of Acts 5. God made a rather deadly point to underscore how serious He is about the new instruction of giving that was instituted in the New Covenant.

        Heb 8:13 (NAS) When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

    Let us not, then, trifle with the form of things. The reality is here. Jesus is our Sabbath rest, our tithe feast, our Lamb of sacrifice, and our leader, example, and reason for sacrificial giving and living.

    Tithing is no more appropriate for believers than killing a bull in our front yards next Saturday as an "offering" with the idea that "Hey, it is commanded in the Bible, isn't it?" (Isa 66:3). God has no interest in such (Ps 50:8-9,13) and to hanker after things like the tithe may well be an indication that we like the old wine better than the new (Luke 5:39).

        Gal 5:9 (NRS) A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.

        James 2:10 (NIV) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

        2 Cor 9:6-7 (NIV) this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

http://www.acts17-11.com

So sad

no be small thing oh

@Zubeyr

I appreciate your post and I appreciate the rationale behind. Finding common grounds is good, even when most of us try to overlook it.
I would like you sincere answers on these questions;

Which Hadiths are connonical in Islam and which ones are not.

would you as a muslim accept everything from the cannonical hadiths as useful for Islamic practice and for edification?

ansalamu aleikum waramatul'lahi wat'allah wa'barakatu.

shallom aleikam.

A counter militant group would soon rise, it would be called AMEND, and while MEND target the lives of innocent citizens to 'press home' their demands, they would target the lives the murderous, illiterate and crude MEND . Soon, the hunter would become the hunted.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but end of it is utter destruction.

@Pastor AIO

I've always read your posts in this section and they sometimes conflict with my opinion. But I often find your posts very intellectual that I can't help but wonder at you; are you a Christian? Or an atheist? I ask you this because you always opine from a neutral point of view and you often target the bull's eye. To be sincere, whenever I read your post, in spite of where I stand, I often can't help but tell myself 'this is unbiased', though sometimes harsh.

Sheikh Ahmad Al Qataani is the president of The Companions Lighthouse for the Science of Islamic Law in Libya, which is an institution specializing in graduating imams and Islamic preachers. Here is an excerpt of his interview with Al jezeera Network.


Maher Abdallah:
Dear viewers, peace of Allah be upon you, greetings and welcome to a new episode of the program Islamic Law and Life.

Our topic this evening will be Christianization in the Dark Continent , Africa. For after Islam was the religion of the majority, the great majority of that continent, the number of Muslims now is no greater than a third of the population. This is taking into consideration, of course, that a large portion of this group are Arab Muslims. No doubt that the missions of evangelization and Christianization played a great role in this demographic shift of Muslims in the continent.

To discuss this topic, it is my pleasure to introduce today a man who is an expert on the issue of evangelization and Christianization in Africa, even though he will concentrate on the issue of Christianization first and foremost…. Sheikh Ahmad Al Qataani; the president of The Companions Lighthouse for the Science of Islamic Law in Libya, which is an institution specializing in graduating imams and Islamic preachers.

Sheikh Ahmad, welcome to you on the program.

Ahmad Al Qataani:
Greeting to you.

Maher Abdallah:
If we start by inquiring about your strict stance against the Christian missions in Africa, don’t the followers of every religion have the right to seek new converts, exactly as you train and graduate young Muslims to propagate Islam?

Ahmad Al Qataani:
I seek refuge in Allah the Seer, the Knower, from the stoned devil. In the name of Allah the Merciful the Beneficent. Thanks to Allah the One, the Only, the Permanent One, who did not give birth nor was born, to whom no one was equal. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah who has no partners, and I bear witness that our master Muhammed – Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him - is his messenger and seal of prophets; Allah prayers be upon him and his brothers the prophets and messengers and their families.

The question that you pose is a result of not comprehending the difference between the concept of Christianization and the concept of evangelism.

The concept of evangelism: is inviting the non-Christians to the Christian or Nazarene religion, and this is the right of every Christian and the right of every believer to call others to his faith. However, we are talking about a different matter; which is Christianization. Christianization means the following: preparing plans, and executing these plans and evolving these plans to change Muslims into Christians by taking advantage of the ignorance and poverty (of the people) and whatever necessitates from similar circumstances.

So, we are faced with the issue of taking advantage of circumstances, taking advantage of humanitarian needs, taking advantage of the lack of education for example, that these people (missionaries) use to take Muslims out of their religion.

Maher Abdallah:
Fine. This is a big and dangerous phrase. Taking advantage of poverty, of ignorance, of lack of education, of some need is something that a Muslim can also be accused of. So if you don’t back up what you say with examples, with references, your words remain in the air without much weight to them.

Ahmad Al Qataani:
The reality is that these words say a lot less than they should. As we said in the beginning, everyone has the right to invite others to his religion; this is what is known as evangelism (or proselytizing). As for Christianization, no one has the right to take Muslims out of their religion, and you asked for references and the references are too numerous.

Islam used to represent, as you previously mentioned, Africa’s main religion and there were 30 African languages that used to be written in Arabic script. The number of Muslims in Africa has diminished to 316 million, half of whom are Arabs in North Africa. So in the section of Africa that we are talking about, the non Arab section, the number of Muslims does not exceed 150 million people. When we realize that the entire population of Africa is one billion people, we see that the number of Muslims has diminished greatly from what it was in the beginning of the last century. On the other hand, the number of Catholics has increased from one million in 1902 to 329 million 882 thousand (329,882,000). Let us round off that number to 330 million in the year 2000.

As to how that happened, well
.there are now 1.5 million churches whose congregations for 46 million people. In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity. Everyday, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Ever year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity
These numbers are very large indeed …,

Maher Abdallah (interrupting):
Hold on! Let me clarify. Do we have 6 million converting from Islam to Christianity or converting from Islam and other religions?

Ahmad Al Qataani:
Great (question)! The other religions are not placed on the list of Christianization; rather they are placed on the list of evangelization. The other religion in Africa is paganism; so it’s Islam, Christianity or paganism. There isn’t something similar to Asia for example where you have Buddhism or Zoroastrianism. In Africa it is just these three, so if you talk about Christianization then it targets the only other heavenly religion which is Islam. As for paganism, those people worship animals and planets and the like.

Maher Abdallah:
So 6 million Muslims a year convert?

Ahmad Al Qataani:
Every year …, In the African nations this century a tragedy happened. Take for example what happened in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is an Arab nation and I am not saying a muslim nation. If any student looks up the word Habasha (Ethiopia) in the book Ocean Dictionary written by Al-Fairuz Abady, he will find that the word Habashat means “people of different tribes” and this is what happened. Ethiopia was a place where Arabs from different tribes would go to live for a while. We all know that Islam entered Ethiopia before Islam entered the city of Medina. We all know that AL-Najashy (the ruler of Ethiopia) was a Muslim. It is mentioned by Al-Darkatny in his biography of the prophet – Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him – that during the month of Rajab in the 9th year of the Hijra (Muslim calendar) that the prophet said to his companions: “Rise up and pray on your brother Al-Najashy.” From that year on the practice of praying on the absent was established. Therefore from the time of the prophet – Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him – Islam entered Ethiopia. So what has happened to Ethiopia?

What happened is that in the days of Emperor Hela Silasi who used to force Muslims to bow to the Christian, and if he refused then he was whipped 45 lashes and jailed between 2 and 5 years. In the year 1948, a massacre occurred at the hands of the Amharic tribes; the Amharic being Christians and collaborators, who continued to slaughter Muslims for 7 months and perform the most horrific acts imaginable. For example they deprived them from the most basic human rights, to the point that they mutilated the male Muslim’s reproductive organs so that no more Muslim children would be born. Ethiopia was rewarded after all these horrific acts; rewarded by being made the head quarters of the African Unity League.

Let us move to another location in Africa, let it be Nigeria. Nigeria is known by Muslims by the name of the Land of Takror. Nigeria was founded at the beginning of the last century by the British, and many Islamic sources mention it’s name as the Land of Tekror. There is even a letter by the reciter Suyuti, who died in the year 911 Hijri, where the title is: Opening the blessed request and relating the hidden openly to the questions of the people of Takror. So there was an established relationship, and they used to send questions to the scholars of Islam, so this letter (of questions) was sent from one of the sheikh scholars of Nigeria that was called Takror to the Muslim scholar AL Suyuti in Egypt and he in turn responded and the contents of this letter are published and printed and is found in the book “The collection Islamic decrees”.

Nigeria’s population is 120 million people, 70% of whom are Muslim. In the 1960’s a British missionary came and declared that he will Christianize North Nigeria, the majority of whom are Muslim. As a result, Ahmad Banulo (from the leaders of the Msulims) was forced at the time to move him to Lagos the capital. As a result the butcher Arorese, that was present at the time, eliminated all the Muslim rulers and killed Ahmad Banulo, why? Because he merely dared to move this missionary who declared that he wishes to Christianize North Nigeria.

In another country, Zanzibar, is an Arabic African nation and I am not saying Muslim. Zanzibar was always connected to the Sultanate of Oman (in the Persian Gulf). Concerning Zanzibar, there was a priest by the name Julius Niriry, president of Tanzania, who annihilated 20,000 Muslims (male and female) with a military force lead by a chicken thief. This thief was imprisoned for being accused of stealing chickens; he was released and asked to command the military brigade that annihilated 20,000 Muslims.

on what basis sef is the man trying to come back? on what goodwill? if he betrayed us once and is not even contrite about it, how are we sure he would not betray us again? are we really as foolish as we thought to be?

Yea, that is what your pastor taught you, no purgatory.

One of the reasons why I remain where I am. The church was established by no man, will be inherited by no man, centered around no man's family. Ministers get what they given, every money that comes to the church belongs to the church.

Why are churches multiplying geometrically?

It is a very lucrative business, attracting all sorts of wolfs, all camouflaged in sheep's' clothing.

Please I would like you quote each of what I wrote and defend it clearly. I would be happy to be clarified.

No be small thing oh.