Tithe is an emotional blackmail Pastors use against church members - Femi Kuti

The  legendary Afrobeat icon, Femi Kuti, has berated Pastors over their stance on tithing.

The Afrobeat king said tithe is an emotional blackmail Pastors use against their followers.

Speaking with Punch, Femi said rather than give tithes to Pastors, people should give it to the poor and needy.

“I believe that you should give people whatever you want to give them personally. Go and help the poor and motherless babies’ home personally; why do you have to give it to your pastor?

“Don’t you think we have enough churches in the country? There are so many sick people in hospitals that need money, and if you help those people, you are doing God’s work.

“That is my belief. I have never paid tithe and I am not under a curse. My mother never gave to the church and she wasn’t under any curse.

“I know many people that don’t give to churches, and they are rich and well-to-do. If you say that people who don’t pay tithes are cursed, does it mean all the Muslim billionaires are cursed?

“There are also people that pay tithe, yet are terminally ill; does it mean they are cursed?

“That mathematics doesn’t work. This thing called tithe is emotional blackmail; they are using religion to blackmail people.

“They know we are good-hearted people. Why should you be giving money to the church? If the churches were building schools and hospitals that are free, it is still understandable.

“But the schools and hospitals that they build are so expensive that even their members cannot afford them. They use the money to buy jets, build lavish homes and take care of themselves. Majority of the people who are contributing the money are still poor.

“Only a few of them profit from the church. If the churches are truly doing God’s work, then they would build hospitals and all their members would be treated there for free.

“The money that these churches make does not tally with the little help that they render. Everybody knows these churches are businesses. If anybody needs to give (tithe), they should come and give me and I would pray for them.”