To Patricia Eluso-Musa, proprietress, Pamms Schools, Sango Ota, to be a good Christian, one should allow his attitude to reflect God’s love and goodness and by so doing, one would succeed in winning more souls for Christ. According to her Christianity is about positive and God-glorifying attitude.

She described tithes and offering as a share of godly blessings set aside for the less privileged, rather than the general belief that it is money to be spent by men of God. She is quick to point out that nobody can bribe God.

Modern-day Christianity
Modern-day Christianity? Is there any word like that? A Christian is a Christian. There is no modern or old time Christian. A believer, once he is true to his heart, remains a believer, from of old till the present, and even forever. You see, religion is a thing of the mind. Some of these churches that you call modern-day Christianity or whatever, just want a situation whereby their church is filled with people, irrespective of type of people.

That is why they overlook these funny ways that many of the so-called modern Christians dress. In as much as I don’t believe that the manner of your dressing will either take you to heaven or hell, as a child of God, one needs to dress moderately and generally comport oneself in a godly manner. There is this cliché about attitude making the man. And remember, the Bible teaches us modesty in all things. I believe it is not too good to expose part of our body, sensitive parts, all in the name of fashion.

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong in a woman putting on trousers, but it should be worn with all sense of modesty and decorum. When a lady wear a pair of trousers, and the better part of her backside is exposed to the full glare of the public, either in the church or outside, that is not acceptable to the old-time Christians, new-time Christians or even the angels in heaven. We must wear things that will give glory to the Lord of creation for our delicate frame as well as ensure respectability for our position as the fair sex.

Born-againism
The whole thing about life has a lot to do with attitude. When you profess to be born again, it should be a spiritual reawakening that comes right from your heart. Your mode of dressing, the way you talk, the way you respond to things, and your whole attitude to life change accordingly. Nobody teaches you, it just goes with the grain to reflect that you now have a new life in Christ. But then, this born-again issue is purely spiritual. It does not mean that you should go and cast your jewellery into the sea or do some such dramatic things. A Christian could still be known as one, even where she elects to wear jewellery. What is expected of you is moderation and modesty.

You see, most men that indulge in extra marital affairs do so simply because their wives have neglected the appealing look that they once had and they now fall short in retaining the allure of their youths. Possibly, the woman was a beautiful damsel at the beginning of the marital journey, only for her to cast aside her jewellery and begin to go about in outrageous garment, shuns jewellery or any beautifying effect. Suddenly, she assumes a holier-than-thou attitude, all in the name of piousness.

The husband, who married her in all her glory would look for the fine woman that he married, and would be unable to find the pretty woman any more. Of course, something gives. He begins to run after other women whose appearance somehow relates to his expectation of a woman. For instance, if a wife always wears stern and morose looks, renders herself unattractive, with a generally uninviting airs about her, how would the man want to take her out? Even in the Bible we read of women who took good care of themselves in preparation for their men.

And your action towards your fellow human beings also matters. It is a vital part of whether you are heaven-bound or not because the Lord says, “whatever you do to the least of your brother, you do unto me.” Personally, I believe in dressing well for my husband, using light make-up and moderate jewellery. And I also believe that I am a Christian.

Evangelism
Evangelism is a noble and sacred objective. I believe in it but not necessary in the form of knocking on doors from house to house as some people are wont to do these days. I believe Christianity is a matter of attitude, a thing of conviction, a way of life that gives you out as a follower of Christ. First and most important, your attitude must first show you as someone that follows the footsteps of Christ, before you are able to influence anyone to bring him or her to Christ.

Heaven or hell
Heaven and hell are real. I once had an experience that came in the form of a trance, where I was taken to a street that glitters like gold all over, and the floor was paved with jewel of the most exotic kind. Initially after the experience, I thought the dream was telling me to do away with my jewellery but along the line, I developed further in Biblical knowledge and I realised as the Bible taught us that all things bright and beautiful, the Lord God made them all for the enjoyment of human beings and to His glorification.

Besides, shunning jewellery comes in conflict with what most husbands desire. For instance, my husband loves to see me in jewellery. And remember the Bible tells us in 1 Peter 1:1-6 that we should honour our husbands and do what would make them happy. If seeing me in jewellery is part of what he wants, I must do it to honour him because there is no portion in the Bible that expressly said that women should not wear earrings or adorn their body with beautiful things.

Tithe and offering
Tithes and offering is good and I have personal testimony on this. I even taught my husband how to pay tithes and he has never stopped paying it since then. But what I don’t agree with is the attempt by some people to bribe God with tithe and offerings. We are human beings and the Bible teaches us that whatever we do, God look at the motives in our heart, and not what is on our faces.

You cannot bribe God with your tithes and offering. Of course, any sinner that attempts to do so, does so to his own peril because God sees the mind of man, right through to the inner recess. It is just like living in sin and asking for the grace of God to abound. The two things cannot go together, that is the law of our Saviour. Even if you pay tithe, the judgment of God will still fall on you. It will surely fall on every sinner as no one can escape God’s judgment. The bottom line therefore is that no one can bribe God with any form of inducement, tithe or other kinds of spectacular offering inclusive.

The impression that people have about tithes that once you pay it, you have successfully assuage guilt for your sin, or that it automatically confers remission of sin on you, should be erased.

Most times, pastors that received this tithe often have to pass it to the less privileged in the society to follow the Biblical admonition of charity for mankind. They don’t spend the tithe we pay them. They are burdened to share the love of Christ as we are also expected to do in every possible way.