Popular US televangelist Creflo Dollar recently renounced his teaching on tithing because it was ‘not correct’.
Tithing is the practice of giving 10% of one’s income to the church to support the church or clergy and most Christians, especially evangelical believers agree with it. ;
“I wanna start by saying to you that I am still growing. And the teachings that I have shared in the past on the subject of tithing were not correct. And today I stand in humility to correct some things that I have taught for years and believed for years but could never understand it clearly because I had not yet been confronted with the gospel of grace which has made the difference,” the megachurch pastor said. ;
Creflo, the founder of World Changers Church International with headquarters in the US, however, immediately made it clear that he would not be apologizing for the instructions he has been giving his followers on tithe for over 30 years
“I won’t apologize because if it weren’t for me going down that road, I would never have ended where I am right now,” the flamboyant prosperity gospel pastor said. He is one of the richest evangelical pastors with an estimated net worth of over $27m, attributed to money offered by his followers. ;
Creflo, an author of some of bestselling titles, told his flock to throw away his past books, tapes and videos on the subject of tithing. ;
“The reason why you ain’t getting that job is because you ain’t tithing. That’s pressure. You should never give in response to pressure. None of you is gonna be blessed, until you start tithing. How to give: You decide (after going to God and seeking wisdom) in your heart what you should give for God loves a cheerful giver,” he explained, citing 2 Corinthians 9:7. He added that one could give less than a tenth and it is fine or even give more than a tenth, which is equally alright. ;
Creflo, in his sermon, ‘The Great Misunderstanding’ said tithing is an Old Testament practice and was replaced with giving in the New Testament, outlining that’s what God expects of Christians. His scripture reference was Romans 6: 14 emphasising that Christians today should no longer live under the requirements of the law, but embrace acting under the freedom of God’s grace. ;
He admitted to teaching about tithe through spreading fear among church members. ;
