Church asked to preach tithing

Voicing concern for the Church which was often associated with raising funds for carrying out various activities, additional secretary to state government, Kikheto Y. Sema urged Church leaders to strongly advocate on the subject of tithing in local Churches.

Exhorting the gathering at the biennial session of 12th Sumi Baptist Convention at Sumi Baptist Kohima on Saturday evening, Kikheto said the state government spends around 271 crore monthly for the salaries of its employees and that if all employees sincerely offered ten tithes then that percentage of money which the Church should receive could be enough to support its activities.

To this, he said the number of non-Christians in the state government’s employment was miniscule.
Sending a message to believers that tithing was God’s method of financing the Church and so the Church should focus on nourishing the spiritual life of the believers, Kikheto said “If the Church is successful in teaching the believers on the subject of tithing, then the time used by Church to run around for raising funds could well be used to nurture the spiritual life,” he added.

He advocated for more spiritual interest than financial interest in the activities of the Church although he did not set aside the monetary support needed by the religious institution. Commenting on the motto of the session, “Be reconciled with God,” Kikheto, said people should first be reconciled with one another.

He said various Church organisations which have differing opinions and understandings should also be reconciled with another. “Reconciliation with God is an individual choice but what if He asks us to be reconciled with each other first and among our organisations,” he queried. He said the need of the hour was for true reconciliation with one another and organisations.

Rev Richard Loh, senior Pastor of Queenstown Baptist Church, Singapore in his sermon spoke on the Biblical Moses and his experiences of the burning bush and the staff which turned into a snake.

He said the staff in Moses’ hand symbolized the power, status, wealth, fame and all other things which people hold dear. “If God asks you to let go of all your status, influence, and identity and so on, will you be ready? Rev Loh asked adding “But Moses did and He started performing miracles through him.”

The preacher said one cannot serve God with hands full and that one has to let go of his ego, prestige, wealth etc to enable God to use him.

Executive secretary SBAK (Aizuto), Rev Pikuto also exhorted the congregation. The SBC convention was held from October 26-28 with representatives from Sumi Church organisations such as SBAK (Aizuto), SBAK Nito Mount, SABAK and WSBAK. Other speakers during the session were Director SBC, Rev Dr. Hevukhu, Pastor SBC Purana Bazar Rev Dr. Vitoi and executive secretary, SBAK Nito Mount Rev Yevito.