I am Dr. Charles Apoki, and today I want to address an issue that has sparked much debate within Christian circles—tithing. But before I dive into that, let me first announce some great news. In November, I will be receiving awards in Luaka, Zambia, and another from the African Child Foundation for my mentorship role in the Niger Delta. This recognition reflects the work I’ve been doing mentoring young people across several countries. I am deeply honored by these acknowledgments.
Now, let’s talk about something more pressing—what really matters in our Christian walk.
In Matthew 23:23, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for focusing on tithing while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith—weightier matters. I’m not saying that paying tithes is wrong; if you want to pay tithes, pay them. But don’t be over-focused on money. More importantly, stop condemning those who don’t. The Bible says the just shall live by his own faith—not by the faith of a General Overseer.
We have become so obsessed with tithing that we overlook greater issues—poverty, injustice, corruption, drug addiction, and promiscuity. These are the true weightier matters.
Nigeria is now the poverty capital of the world. Our streets are filled with hunger and malnutrition, yet we focus on the wrong things. Just last week, I saw a child suffering from malnutrition outside a church. This is where we should concentrate our resources—on feeding the poor and healing the sick, like the biblical purpose of tithing.
Corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of our society. Unfortunately, many people in positions of influence remain silent because they benefit from the poisoned meat offered by politicians. But as a church, we are supposed to be the conscience of the nation. Historical figures like Desmond Tutu and Cardinal Sin stood up against corruption in their nations—why aren’t we doing the same?
Another critical issue that we are ignoring is drug addiction. I’ve been in the streets; I’ve seen the damage drugs are doing to our young people. From cough syrups containing codeine to other hard substances, drug addiction is eating away at the future of our children. The church is silent on this epidemic. Instead of addressing these crises, we are obsessed with tithing.
Our youth are being lured into cults and promiscuity. Primary school children are involved in cults, and promiscuity is becoming rampant. Young girls, barely out of their teens, roam the streets as sex workers. These are issues we should confront head-on, but we aren’t. We are too busy focusing on less important matters like financial donations.
Injustice has taken root in our land. Recently, a man was arrested for protesting by taking a bath in a pond. Where is the Christian leadership speaking against such injustices? The church should not remain silent in the face of oppression and inequality.
It’s time we concentrated on the weightier matters of our society. Let’s take more responsibility for our communities rather than focusing solely on money. As my Archbishop wisely said, “Feed a cow before you milk it.” When we take care of the people, the rest will follow.
Our prayer and giving should be accompanied by action. If we don’t address the real issues—poverty, corruption, drug addiction, and injustice—we risk becoming irrelevant as a people and as a nation.
Thank you for reading. If you’d like to meet with me in Zambia or discuss more about how we can improve our society, feel free to reach out. Together, we can make a real difference.
