Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the General Overseer of Salvation Ministry has said all Christians who fail to pay tithes to the church are criminals.
The senior pastor said this during his church service on Sunday in Port Harcourt.
He also said the offense is punishable and attracts curses.
David Ibiyeomie’s viewpoint is coming in the wake of vast criticism that is meted out on Pastors following their luxurious lifestyles.
Some of them have private jets, posh cars and are reportedly living large at the expense of their church members.
During his preaching, he stated “Tax is the government’s share, so you don’t say I want to give the government my tax, you say you want to pay tax, that is how the tithe is God’s own. Leviticus 27:30. God is the owner of the tithe. So, what do you do?
“You pay, it’s only in Nigeria you don’t pay tax and they can leave you, in the Western world it is a big criminal offense, if you don’t pay tithe, you are a criminal, your offense is punishable, the tithe is simply one-tenth of your income, 10 percent of your income goes to God.
Emphasizing some of the punishment, he added “Near success syndrome will not happen. If you’re experiencing near success syndrome don’t go for deliverance, you’re not a tither. Anything that I do, when it is close to manifestation, the thing will just go off, you’re not a faithful tither.
“Many deliverance ministries, they just go for deliverance, this is the problem, they don’t pay tithe faithfully. Yet, they will say anything I want to do, when it is about to click it will just go off.
“It is near success syndrome. Correct it from tithing, don’t correct it from seven days deliverance. Hear this, tithe must be paid first otherwise the curse will remain.”
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