VEGETARIANISM

The Doctrine of vegetarianism as we are taught by The Holy Father dates back to the time of creation. It was founded at creation when God instructed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden thus;
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat” [Genesis 1:29].
It is erroneous when mankind claims right by killing and eating animals on the premise that God gave man dominion over all His other creation.
In the story of creation as recorded in Genesis chapter 1, God admired and loved all the works of His hands – His creation, and believed they were good. And for everything He created, there was a purpose. He did not create them to be destroyed by the other.
The dominion given to man over every other creature by God is a divine responsibility for man to nurture every other creature with love and respect, as God Himself loves man. Man being made in the image and likeness of God automatically places Him above all other creation.
The killing of animals for human consumption breaks the bond of Brotherhood between humankind and other creations, and it is for this reason mankind lives in constant fear of animals, while the animals on the other hand see humans as a threat to their existence. In order for humankind to return to the state of harmony which God intended from the beginning, the destruction of His creation has to stop. When man takes the lead the rest of creation will follow suit.
“There has never been a time when God instructed man to kill and eat birds, animals or locust insects, because these animals have their kingdoms. God’s motto is LIVE AND LET LIVE. The earthworm has its kingdom. Birds have their own kingdom. God has not advised you to live in conflict with them, but has highlighted to us that all the fruits and seeds of herbs and trees shall be your food. Have you fed on fruits and seeds and are not filled? ” [Leader Olumba Olumba Obu – Everlasting Gospel volume 1]
Love is the new law. Love sums up the teachings of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu. Love goes beyond loving who and what only appeals to you. Love is all encompassing. The animals are part of Brotherhood because they are part of the creation of God. Mankind should love them as he loves himself. In love there is no division; for love is whole. This is the mission of The Holy Father, to unify all of His creation in order that mankind may be restored to the lost paradise. With the love of God in you, you will not kill and eat animals because if you cut through a human being, you shed blood; in like manner, if you cut through an animal, you shed blood. When humankind comes to this understanding, Peace and harmony will be achieved.
‘The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea’ [Isaiah 11: 6-9].

FASTING

Fasting is an essential part of the spiritual life in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star which goes hand in hand with prayer as a tool for spiritual development. Following the baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, He went through a serious temptation in the wilderness in which He went into fasting (Luke 4:1-13). During this period He battled with the lower self, characterised by the Devil, who enticed Him with allusions of greatness and tempted Him with worldly glory, if only He turned away from the path He was on. In recognition of this spiritual struggle between The Spirit (higher self) and the flesh (lower self), Leader Olumba Olumba Obu emphasises fasting to strengthen The Spirit and create clarity amidst the clamouring voices of the ‘flesh’.
The Holy Father and Supernatural Teacher states in his Everlasting Gospel on the subject that fasting, in line with prayer, is the key to the Kingdom. Not only does it provide solutions to so many problems that afflict humanity such as sickness and disease, but it also helps to purge us of negative, destructive tendencies such as anger, jealously, greed, hatred and selfishness which become attached to us. The Holy Father likens the human body to a machine or vehicle that requires servicing. Man is also a house in which negative traits can find a home and cause us problems. Fasting is a way of cleansing the house so that the Holy Spirit, the original owner of the house can take up residence.
Once the Holy Spirit takes dominion, peace reigns and health and wholeness are restored (holy means whole). This is illustrated in the story of Our Lord Jesus Christ healing a boy with a serious spiritual condition whose father had appealed to Christ to intervene. (Mark 9:17-29). In answer to his disciples’ question as to why they could not heal the boy, Christ answered thus:
‘And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting’ [Mark 9:29]
BCS members are taught to regularly fast each week and at key points during the year as directed by The Holy Father. The three days dry fasting in BCS is a period of self-mortification and takes place three times a year preceding each Pentecostal period.
Tithe
Presented by
CA Vena Obukohwo
During the E&C Cathedral Women’s Fellowship Meeting
On the 5th of Febuary 2018.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Now and forevermore.

Acknowledgement

Let all thanks and praises be accorded to the Ancient of Days Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, who being the Supernatural Teacher has manifested Himself in this last era to teach and lead us to the accurate knowledge of truth.
Let honour and majesty be ascribed unto the Everlasting King of Kings His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, who being the Christ of God has given Himself for us all that we may be found acceptable and worthy of God’s glory.
We humbly ask that the Holy Spirit of God be instilled in us always that the wisdom of God and the discernment of His teachings remain and abide with us now and forevermore.
Introduction
Tithe can be defined as a tenth of your income, produce and possessions, set aside and dedicated to God.
It is an ordinance of God that is as ancient as man himself. Tithe payment has always been, and is still currently a hotly debated and disputed topic amongst the Christian faith. People argue that it is a Mosaic ordinance; therefore it is not applicable after the era of Christ. Some argue that our Lord Jesus Christ did not at any time in the Holy Bible command His followers to pay tithe.
However the controversy or debate of tithing may be, we are extremely lucky to have heard from God Himself in this matter. The Supernatural Teacher Leader Olumba Olumba Obu has not only debunked all the confusions surrounding the topic of tithe payments but has also unequivocally explained the divine ordinance of tithing.

Origin of Tithe

Theologians and bible scholars will tell you that the origin of tithe payment originated from the Patriarch Abraham, when he gave the tenth of his spoils to the high priest Melchizedek. This is rather incorrect, as the real origin predates Abraham. As revealed by Leader Olumba Olumba Obu in His everlasting gospel titled ‘Tithe; a panacea for austerity’, the first tithe payment was observed by Abel when he offered a part of his produce which was the fattest of his rams as a sacrifice unto God. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” [Hebrews 11:4]
  • After Abel’s payment of tithe, there were two other very notable instances and mentions of tithe payment. These are when:Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils of war to the high priest Melchizedek as recorded in Genesis 14: 18-20 and also Hebrews 7:1-2“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;”
  • Jacob swore to devote a tenth of his possessions to God if God would faithfully return him home safely.“And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: 22 and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” [Gen 28:20-22]
During the time of Moses, God specifically instructed the Israelites to pay their tithe as a strict ordinance of the law of God. The tithes were paid to the Levites (priests), who in turn must also pay a tenth of all they receive to the High Priest as recorded in Numbers 18:21-28. This goes to prove that even priests, stationers, full time workers, etc are not exempted from tithe payment.
The reason for tithe payment
In the old days, the children of Israel were instructed to set aside their tithes at all times. The tithes not only included money, but also all of their produce and possessions. After every three years (which is known as the year of tithing), the Israelites would gather all their tithes and present them to the Levite priests before the Lord.
Let it be noted that our tithes are not for God’s use directly. He doesn’t need them. Remember that the Lord God said in Psalms 50:10-12 “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.”
God himself doesn’t need our tithes for His own use, as He owns all things and need not ask of us to get anything He wants. God instructs us to pay tithes as a covenant to first faithfully show that we prioritise Him in all that we earn and secondly, so that the house of God has means to care for the priests and brethren at all times. This is why God said thus in Malachi 3:10
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Remember also that tithe payment doesn’t only refer to money earned, but indeed all of our possessions and produce. According to the Holy Father in the gospel ‘Tithe; a panacea for austerity’ He said thus;
“If you have landed property which accrues to you some rent, you have to pay one-tenth of the rent as your tithe. If you have an acre of palm trees, which also yields you some money, you have to divide the money into ten parts and pay one-tenth as your tithe. You have to pay your tithe out of every commission you receive, for whatever thing. If you pick anything on the road, you have to pay tithe out of it to God.

The process of tithe payment

Tithe payments must be accurately calculated and paid at intervals better suited to oneself. In the times of old, it was permitted by God that tithe payments were rendered to the priests. In this era of the new kingdom of God on earth, we find ourselves in the unique position where God Himself is on earth in our midst. This then means that tithe must be paid directly to Him.
Brethren can pay their tithes by remitting it to the tithe office in the BCS world headquarters and thereafter collect receipts for their payments. They can also pay it into the tithe boxes situated in all BCS bethels. Let it be noted that this is completely different from free will offering. In the book ‘Tithe; a panacea for austerity’, the Supernatural Teacher, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu said thus;
“Tomorrow you will argue that you have been paying your tithes when you give money to poor people, build a bethel or do other things. All these are not tithe. You have to pay your direct tithe, which is one-tenth of what you have.”

The importance and benefit of tithe payments

Tithe payment is a divine ordinance and instruction from God. It is an institution as old as man. God counts payment of tithe as an act of faith and righteousness; as in the cases of Abel, Abraham, Jacob, etc.
Tithe payment is a covenant between God and man. It is an instruction from God that comes with an enormous reward. Anyone that fails to pay their tithe inadvertently robs and cheats God. It is written in Malachi 3:8-12;
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Conclusion

There is no better way to conclude this paper than quoting the Supreme Holy Father, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu. About the benefit of tithe payments, He said;
“There are angels who are set to watch over and protect all you have, but when yoyr record is examnined, it is found that you are indebted to God by not paying your tithe. If you pay your tithe, angels are set to guard your farm, your office, your house, your children, and your business. You will even ask why you did not pay tithe in the past. Those who pay regular tithe and understand the essence of paying tithe, if advised not to pay, will not agree with you.”
We thank Him, the fountain of all knowledge and wisdom, Father-God Leader Olumba Olumba Obu for revealing unto us all secrets that no money can buy. May He gracefully continue to teach us and lead us to the fountain of Living Waters.
To the Lamb of God, the First and only Begotten- for mercifully accepting us into His kingdom of light and love. Amen.
Thank You Holy Father. To Thee and Thee alone be all Glory!