A viral sermon clip featuring Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has caused heated conversations among Nigerian Christians, especially on the topic of tithing.

There have been divergent opinions on the principle of tithing in the church, with media personality, Daddy Freeze, vehemently rejecting it, saying it was not biblical.

However, in the video, the Christ Embassy General Overseer claimed that the tithe is not to be used for charity, helping the poor, or even assisting a struggling grandmother.

Instead, he said, it belongs only to God and should be given to the church as instructed in Scripture.

The pastor said during the sermon: “You see, God has his ways of doing things. He told you to take your tithe to the house of God; He didn’t say you should give it to your grandmother. You can not use your tithe to do good, no matter what...

That tithe belongs to God. It’s not yours to redirect,” he added. He emphasised that Christians cannot ‘decide’ how to spend their tithe, no matter the noble intentions behind it.

He declared: “You cannot give your tithe to a suffering person... He lays claim to the first fruit, and that is your assurance of prosperity."

Legit.ng compiled reactions of social users below: @de_generalnoni: "No lies in it. Tithes are for God. You can do good with different giving, not your tithes. This conversation is above carnal men."

@ownMyShame": "Exactly. I will not use my tithe to help the poor. My tithe is a debt owed to God . Just as I won't rob Peter to pay Paul."

@g_fawy "My tithe are to be given to God, but you all told us God gave us everything for free without expecting anything back in return, and how can we get God account number to pay it to, or we use the pastor account details?"

@agnes_fakunle: "While tithing is biblical it is not Christian. This was strictly a practice for the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant which has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. Furthermore, we do not see any instruction or example of a New Testament Christian tithing."

See the video here:

Just In: “Never use your Tithe to help the Poor or do good or Give it to someone that’s Suffering, no matter what” - Pastor Chris Oyakhilome says Tithe Belongs to God only pic.twitter.com/paRQFTEOjF

— Gossip Mill Nigeria (@GossipMillNaija) July 22, 2025