Bible, Scriptures, Scrolls, Truth and Tithing
In 2020-, the COVID lockdown availed me the opportunity of digging deep into Church history.
I also read some un-canonized scriptures that did not make it into our version of the Bible. And suddenly, it all became clearer.
What became clearer?
Caveat: Some of my assertions might offend the sensibilities of some of my very ardent religious people and bible scholars. Kindly keep an open mind if you would want to continue reading.
So what dawned on me?
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
It dawned on me why it has become so easy to perpetuate a lie based on “IT IS WRITTEN in the BIBLE” or “it is NOT WRITTEN” in the bible, based on private interpretations, selfish gains, religious purposes or evil intentions. (Emphasis deliberate).
It dawned on me that the word “BIBLE” simply means parchment, book or scroll. It is NOT necessarily synonymous to the RHEMA WORD OF GOD. That is why biblical materials are still very potent tools even within occult circles.
It dawned on me that so many atrocities have been committed from time immemorial because of what is WRITTEN or NOT WRITTEN in the Bible.
It dawned on me that many generations of religious humans have had some “scripture” that would have qualified as the BIBLE, different from our present material. E.g the Book of Enoch was “Bible” for a generation before the Flood (Jude 12–15a), the book of Adam and Eve might have been the post-Flood “ Bible” for another generation, and of course the book of Book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18; and 2 Timothy 3:8.), before the present Torah was canonized, at the end of Joshua’s earthly ministry.
It dawned on me in the book of Luke 24:44, what was valid, Important or essential scripture, from the mouth of the Christ himself. “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”;
It dawned on me that Revelation chapter 22:18 -19 WAS NOT referring to the entirety what we have all come to believe as SCRIPTURE, but was in fact, referring to The Book of Revelation Itself, in that context.
It dawned on me that Religion practices, dogma, culture and values ALWAYS takes its roots from “scripture” and ALWAYS dangerously navigates in the direction of scriptural modification, north or south, left or right.
It dawned on me that Jesus was so much vilified by the Jews, partly because he did not attempt to mine his own SCRIPTURES as expected by the significant Rabbi of his Timber and Caliber, thereby departing from the pattern of contagious religious Dogma usually introduced by spiritual ideas. Rather, Jesus simply flagged “Grace” and “THE TRUTH” “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17).
It dawned on me that while the composition our Version of Scripture (The Holy Bible) must have been carefully guided by the HolysSpirit, the stories, the accounts, narratives and letters and indeed the records are certainly not a COMPLETE archive of the Principles of the Almighty God for men.
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
And in the example of Jesus, Paul the Apostle revealed that “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” (1 Corithins 2:4).
So who has the complete account?
He is called the Holyspirit.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.(John 16:13–14)
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,..”(John 15:26).
The Spirit of Truth is the Word of God. He is the ‘affirmer’, the helper, the Comforter, the Strengther, the Seal, the Way, the Truth, the Life.
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days,” saith the Lord, “I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be My people.”(Jeremiah 21:33)
This means if we feverishly always tend towards LOOKING FOR affirmations from the pages of Scriptures without the Balance and Wholesomeness that the Holy Spirit Supplies, We might be headed for Spiritual Suicide. I did not say it. The Bible did.
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)
Now to the subject Matter: I believe Tithe or no Tithe, a Christian is blessed. But there are dimensions of blessings. I believe that A Tither will enjoy a dimension of the blessings of Abraham, being a biblical example, long beyond the Laws of Moses were constituted.
And for me, when preachers have conflicting opinions, I will ask the Holyspirit.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13
I once held on to a contrary view until the HolySpirit cleared it for me. Period.
If you desire a relationship with the HolySpirit, you have to give your life to Jesus.
If you have read this and want to say yes to Jesus, just read this prayer to yourself, meaning every word:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as Lord and Savior.
Thank you for coming to die for my sins.
I confess my sins. I want to have eternal life.
Please come into my heart and save me.
I believe you now.
Thank you for reading.
If you have said this prayer sincerely, kindly know that something great has happened to you. You are now born- again, and you may now also call God, Daddy!
Stay blessed.
Tosin Odubela.
