ekt_bear:

@koboj and @denzel2009:

I guess there are two separate but related issues.

1) How do we ensure that a non-profit like a big church actually is following both the rules and restrictions of non-profit status? Are they required to submit receipts/records and are they audited? If so, how does a pastor end up with a $30 million jet? And if the jet is owned by the church and not him personally, then shouldn't there be heavy restrictions on its use? Even forgetting about the jet. What if the church opens up a school, bakery, and other entities that compete against people who must pay taxes? This is why oversight seems pretty important to me.
2) Why exactly should non-profits all not pay tax? What is the rationale behind this, I guess?

wesley80:

Violent,
I go to church to fulfill a religious obligation not to practice a democracy. If I trust a Pastor well enuff to sit among his congregation at least once a week for a minimum of 3hrs, then I believe he's capable of managing whatever funds r in his care. Pity u have no clue as to how most big churches r run but for most there r structures and hierarchies and procedures. Whatever is the case, my obligation ends when i give, i have no business questioning how my money is spent, if i'm not comfortable with what i'm seeing i'm free to walk afterall dem no bury my placenta there. Religion isnt something meant to be rationalized, it is incomprehensible to the carnal man (woman) - of which we've got quite a number on this thread.

wesley80:

@Denzel
U arent quite right cos for a business to justify an expense as a biz running cost it has got to pass the WREN test which is that;
The asset was acquired WHOLLY for the biz
It was a REASONABLE purchase
It was bought EXCLUSIVELY for the biz and
it was a NECESSARY purchase
All four tests r required to be passed before a purchase can be allowed as part of running expenses and as such if this criteria were to be used, it wld be impossible to justify the purchase of 4 jets. Not like our tax authorities really wld care anyway.

wesley80:

Violent,
I go to church to fulfill a religious obligation not to practice a democracy. If I trust a Pastor well enuff to sit among his congregation at least once a week for a minimum of 3hrs, then I believe he's capable of managing whatever funds r in his care. Pity u have no clue as to how most big churches r run but for most there r structures and hierarchies and procedures. Whatever is the case, my obligation ends when i give, i have no business questioning how my money is spent, if i'm not comfortable with what i'm seeing i'm free to walk afterall dem no bury my placenta there. Religion isnt something meant to be rationalized, it is incomprehensible to the carnal man (woman) - of which we've got quite a number on this thread.

my obligation ends when i give, i have no business questioning how my money is spent, if i'm not comfortable with what i'm seeing i'm free to walk

naijaking1:

If you find a way to explain the Christian faith to non-believing muslim, please let me know

wesley80:

^^^ Na your Papa be eediot.

violent:

This is not meant to be a religious thread, but do you folks even think it makes any sense to ask that if Jesus nor the apostles haven't mention tithing for just once then it must be like several other Jewish traditions that are now irrelevant?. . .No?
The brain washing going on within the religious spheres of naija is mouth gapping!

*****Give me your money, ask no questions****

No son,. . . . . . I am more of the Christian who believes in loving God and loving your neighbors, . . . . .I am more of the person who believes that God is not interested in your money but the content of your heart and your humbleness in worship. . . .

Your Pastors are cunning liars who only want to steal from you, they'd throw everything at you in the name of religious obligation, fck that shyt, Jesus wasn't even obeying any religious obligation while on earth!
wake up you ídiots!

Jakumo:

The money used by Nigeria's miracle pastors to finance the purchase of private luxury jet aircraft was actually printed and packaged for delivery in Heaven, by the Fort Jesus Printing Mint, for the specific purpose of ensuring that each and every pastor OF REPUTE in Nigeria is able to acquire the means to fly up to the heavens as and when deemed necessary by The Anointed, to visit  the Almighty in person.

As an aspiring miracle pastor, I can attest that when one devotes one's life to The Calling, visions and miracles do occur.  I recently woke up from a magnificent wet dream, during which a stacked church secretary urgently ministered to me in the boudoir of my private jet at 40,000 feet above sea level, while I Spoketh in Tongues, saw visions, performed miracle healings by the Laying On of Hands, and generally followed the way of divine righteousness, in the name of Jeeesus amen.

Atheists, Agnostics, Animists, Antagonists, camel jockeys and other disgruntled elements who display open jealousy regarding the ownership of luxury aircraft by Nigeria's Personal Assistants to God, shall never get to experience the sighs, moans, and wonders that transpire amid the decadent opulence aboard those airborne penthouses, in the name of Jeeeeeesus.  Amen.

KnowAll:

[size=18pt]

anytime I put obsene money down as 'tithe' my fortune changes, there is something airy about this concept but it works like magic, hence why the Church is big business in Nigeria[/size].  

Hey my fortune changes too, when I pay obscene money for anything, since I usually wind up broke, frustrated and swindled - like last night for example.

sirjec:

You see these Nairalanders, it is sufficient for us to talk on tribes and criticize other tribes, criticize GEJ and other government official and politicians, criticize dead corp members, do anything we wish, but do not insult God or his anointed servant.

We know in parts and we speak in parts, but God knows everything. So, Let us not do God's work because we can attract God's wrath. Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.

We know that there are fake men of God but let us leave it for God to punish them like HE did in the days of Jeremiah.

Please OP delete this topic

Universal Laws of the universe, there is seed time and there is harvest time, It can also be called " God's law", I don't know about you but anytime I put obsene money down as 'tithe' my fortune changes, there is something airy about this concept but it works like magic, hence why the Church is big business in Nigeria

violent:

This is exactly one of the views i so much despise! 

Annointed men of God are entitled to 10% of people's earnings, along with several gift items which could come in the form of cars, goats, plasma tvs etc etc.
Annointed men of God must never be questioned, they are higher humans and are free to do what they wish, questioning them would be much akin to insulting God.

Ask yourself What Would Jesus Do?  Give 10% of his salary to a Pastor who already has two luxurious Jets parked in his hanger along with a fleet of cars. . . . . or give the money to his neighbour who could barely survive on 2 meals a day?. . . .Let's say in this instance, Jesus could only part with 10% of his salary?

would this same law apply if you decide not to give the church your tithe but instead decide to put it to fund a water project in your community or feed a family of six?  It would be an unfair law if it doesn't, No?

Church is simply a big business in Nigeria because it is easy to convince people that if they don't part with 10% of their earnings, they are either not going to be successful or they are going to hell. . .what surprises me however is that this doctrine is preached only in Africa, peharps because most Africans tend to be gullible? in nature?
I ve been attending a fellowship in church where members are mostly british, and I am yet to see a situation where a deep bowl is passed around for congregration to put their hard earned cash in,. . .are these people sinning for not collecting tithes from the Public?

I was soooo mad when a couple of years ago back in school, someone advised i pay tithe on my pocket money. . .seriously?

This is just a massive fraud, clearly the money is not ending up in God's pocket, the monies, only end up in bank bullions, and jet purchase!

Even the Jews, the original custodians of religious teachings, don't pay tithe today, where is Nigeria getting its own form of Christianity from?

GODSON2009:

his congregation sow into his life and annointing which could be from as low as 100 naira to 100 million naira(and yeas individuals do give that kind of money) i know a friend's uncle who gave 50 million to a popular pastor.

sirjec:

My dear, Christianity is not by force though Islam is. But in Christianity, you are not under any compulsion to give gifts, offerings, pay tithes, pray, read your bible. It's a thing of choice. If you want God to do something for you, you do what he asks you to do.

The bible clearly told us how Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek. If you go through the books of Leviticus to Deutronomy, you will see God's laws on giving and taking and you will also see why God instructed us to give. However, Christians are not under any compulsion to give. If you don't give, good for you. As for me and my family, I give to God and I don't want to know who eats it because God provides all we need. I've never been hungary because I gave.

Now, one sigle book that sells for a million copies at the profit of N50 only is N50 Million.

Now, one sigle book that sells for a million copies at the profit of N50 only is N50 Million.

ode remo:

we are gething some where, thats acct for 1/2 mill dollar or there about,
for s single jet that cost $30mill. , am greatfully looking for the oda $29.5 mill.
cos 4 x $30 mill = $120 mill.
lets keep looking