AFRICAN PLUME

By Akin Ojumu Throughout the history of Christianity, deliberate and concerted efforts have been made to conceal the truth of the Word of God from those who believe. Early in its history, the hierarchy of the Church feared the potential impact that a personal knowledge of God’s commands would have on the believer who reads the bible on his own. They were afraid of what would happen when a believer comes to a personal understanding of God’s precepts gained through personal study of the bible and not merely what they heard preached from the pulpit. According to William Tyndale, one of the foremost leaders of the Protestant movement, “the Church forbid owning or reading the Bible to control and restrict the teachings and to enhance their own power and importance.” In the minds of these leaders, an educated Christian is a dangerous Christian who would one day rebel against the excesses of Church fathers, and an informed believer is one who will someday rise up in protest aga

Warren Cole Smith  MinistryWatch.com, December 19, 2019 Non-profit organizations do great work in this country. Non-profits employ more than 12 million people and contribute $2 trillion to our national economy. They also mobilize millions more in volunteer activities, reducing and sometimes eliminating the need for government services.  The value of non-profits is so great that our tax code treats them in a special way. Donors can deduct gifts to non-profits. The non-profits themselves are exempt from most taxes. In fact, what most of us think of as “non-profits” or “ministries” are identified by law as “tax-exempt” organizations. Historically, we have gladly given these tax exemptions recognizing the great value these organizations bring to our country and the world.  But we require tax-exempt organizations to do one important thing.  We ask them to provide evidence they are doing what they say they are doing. An important way that exempt organizations me