Mega Pastor Sparks Firestorm With “No тιтhes” Declaration
A well-known Lagos-based pastor is facing intense criticism — and strong support — after announcing that his church will no longer emphasize mandatory тιтhing or collect traditional offering envelopes during services.
According to his public statement, Sunday and midweek services in his church will not revolve around offerings. No тιтhing envelopes. No percentage targets flashed on screens. No pressure tactics. Instead, members are encouraged to decide personally what to give, describing it as a matter between individuals, their families, and God.
“Giving to God is not a trigger,” he said during a teaching session. “It’s a response.”
That single sentence has become the centerpiece of a controversy now spreading beyond Nigeria.
In his teaching, the pastor directly challenged what he described as transactional Christianity — the belief that financial giving guarantees protection, healing, or prosperity.
“If you don’t тιтhe, your life will be тιԍнт. If you are sick, check your seed. If you are suffering, check your offering,” he quoted as examples of messages he rejects. “No. God doesn’t check all of that to bless you. God checks what Jesus has done on the cross.”
He went further, stating that some of the wealthiest individuals he has observed in church life were not strict тιтhers — arguing this as evidence that financial blessing is not mechanically tied to the 10 percent rule.
For many, those words were liberating.
For others, they were alarming.
The controversy intensified during a Q&A session when a member asked directly: Is тιтhing an instruction Christians are mandated to follow?
The pastor responded by emphasizing New Testament generosity over Old Testament percentage systems.
“The New Testament doesn’t have a percentage,” he said. “The New Testament has hilarious generosity.”
Quoting from 2 Corinthians, he argued that giving should “flow from the heart, not from a sense of religious duty,” warning against what he described as “sob stories and arm-twisting.”
He also questioned the practicality and fairness of rigid percentage giving in all contexts — pointing to elderly villagers and low-income individuals who may struggle to meet exact calculations.
In his view, generosity should never be reduced to mechanical math.
Opponents, however, see it differently.
Some pastors and church leaders have labeled the teaching “dangerous doctrine,” arguing that it undermines biblical instruction found in pᴀssages such as Malachi 3:10 and diminishes accountability in Christian stewardship.
They warn that dismissing structured тιтhing could weaken church funding, disrupt ministry operations, and create theological confusion.
Others fear the message could be misinterpreted as minimizing financial commitment altogether — even though the pastor repeatedly stated that members are still expected to give responsibly.
“It doesn’t mean you’re not giving,” he clarified. “It means you’re not responding properly to the word of God if you don’t give.”
In other words, he rejects compulsion — but not generosity.
At the heart of the debate is a deeper theological tension: Is giving meant to unlock blessing, or is it an expression of graтιтude for grace already received?
The pastor firmly rejected the idea of reminding God of one’s тιтhe during difficult seasons.
“God does not need your money to rebuke the devourer for you,” he said, arguing that Christ’s work on the cross has already secured spiritual victory.
For supporters, this perspective centers the gospel on grace rather than performance. They view it as a return to New Testament principles, where giving is voluntary, cheerful, and Spirit-led.
For critics, however, the move risks discarding a long-standing discipline that has sustained churches for centuries.
This controversy reflects a growing global conversation within Christianity, particularly in megachurch environments. Questions about prosperity teaching, financial transparency, and spiritual manipulation have become more prominent in recent years.
Some believers are pushing back against any hint of financial coercion in church spaces. Others believe structured giving like тιтhing ensures stability, fairness, and obedience to scripture.
What makes this situation especially notable is that it’s unfolding in Lagos — one of the most influential centers of Pentecostal Christianity in Africa. Teachings that emerge from such platforms often ripple far beyond local congregations.
Whether this pastor’s stance represents reform, rebellion, or revival depends largely on theological perspective.
The debate ultimately circles back to one fundamental issue: What motivates giving?
If it’s fear of curses, critics of transactional theology say that’s distortion.
If it’s graтιтude and love, supporters argue that’s alignment with grace.
If it’s obedience to clear command, traditionalists say the mandate remains intact.
As conversations continue across pulpits and social media, one thing is certain — this is not merely about envelopes or percentages. It’s about how believers understand covenant, blessing, responsibility, and the finished work of Christ.
And in churches around the world, the question now echoes louder than ever:
Is тιтhing a rule… or a response?
