Does this narrative portray Abraham as a shrewd, wicked businessman? A prevailing circumstance demanded Abraham’s reaction. The word ‘kindness,’ chêsêd (kheh’-sed), contextually means: ‘In a good sense, zeal towards any one, love.’ Abraham asked Sarah to express her wifely zeal by telling those who could feel jealous of his fortune as her husband that she was his sister. Whether God rose to protect Abraham or not is adequately couched in Genesis 20:17 “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.” Why would God protect His friend? He had not evil intent; he was protecting his union with Sarah. His actions were, out of ignorance, fear driven and ungodly. There is absolutely nothing to prove that Abraham hatched this plan owing to bankrupt experience. Those who are impervious to theological facticity would ask, “How does the above 1Corinthians 9:9-14 serve as a correlation to tithes and offerings in Church?” Going back to the Old Testamentary order, how were the people of the Levitical priesthood sustained? What did they live on that kept them in good health in the Lord’s Temple? The people brought to them their offerings and, definitely, their tithes. What is Paul’s argument of “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.” For Paul to teach that apostleship is in every way likened to the priesthood, the lawfully expected guerdons for the apostles and pastors must include tithes and offerings; simply because that was what their priest counterparts received. Is there anything wrong with catering for the sustenance of the ecclesiastical headship of the Church? Having toiled hard to give the laity spiritual revelatory knowledge, where is the sin in the continuation of offerings and tithes?Read More