The Pentecost Tax aphorism, is a wise saying. It is an Apostolic instruction, from the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, when he attended the book launch of Pastor (Dr) W.F. Kumuyi, as the Special Guest of Honour and Chairman, at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, on Friday.
As we can see, it was a message directed at Christian leaders who are meant to understand it in toto.
However, it is good to note that, the person occupying the Office of the Vice President, Prof Osinbajo, though won as a politician, he is a Pastor too, and being a newsmaker, speaking at a public event of that magnitude, his message attracted the media coverage as usual, and the information equally slipped to those who may not necessarily understand the meaning of a ‘Pentecost Tax,’ which shouldn’t be a controversial issue, we don’t know all.
What is needed here is for everyone as learners to develop a temperament to seek knowledge, even, if we have no clue about what the Man of God is telling his fellow labourers in faith. This applies to every situation of life. If you have no clue about something, ask someone within your circles you are sure is genuine enough and likely to have a better understanding than you do.
How did we get to this issue? This is it, while unveiling the book, Vice President Osinbajo said: “The book, ‘Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith,’ begins the work of discharging the Pentecostal tax obligation of Pastor Kumuyi. The book tells the story of the incredible work of the Holy Spirit in his life and Ministry. How by His grace, he not only preached and continues to preach holiness to a whole generation, but lived and lives it himself daily.
His statement has been differently interpreted. But it should not be confusing if one connects with his line of thought.
What is Pentecost?
1. Pentecost in Christianity primarily signifies the baptism of the Apostles and other believers with the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem. — Acts 2:1–4. (Full reading Acts 2:1–31).
2. There is also the Feats of Pentecost, according to Exodus 34:22. “And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.”
This type is the time when Christians give thanks to God for what the farms have produced and for what their labour in the fields has yielded. It was an ancient Jewish practice.
At this period, being a major Jewish festival, they (believers in the Feast of Pentecost), especially the Jews from all over the Mediterranean world were gathered in one place.
3. The Pentecost Tax payment is also made in the willingness of the Christian leaders to allow themselves to be used for the ministerial works by the Holy Spirit in their lives, as they have been empowered to reach out the needs of their followers, as Jesus Christ said in Luke 4:18. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.”
Application
From the 1, 2 and 3 above, there was an empowerment for the Christian leaders, which was not for them alone, primarily, your gifts are to serve others and be a benefit to them.
• For instance, if you are a doctor, who has received the knowledge for healing, you heal your patients, not necessarily yourself.
• So, as a leader, you serve others first, that is exemplary leadership.
• You bring from your abundance to serve God. What you bring, all the farm produce, with that, there will be abundance for those who lack what to eat, because it will be shared among them. God does not eat farm produce. Dedicating it to God is to be shared among the needy.
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The very important aspect of it all is in the documentation of these great miraculous encounters as we read of the exploits of these faithful men and women of God in the Bible today. If some people didn’t make the sacrifices to document them, we won’t know about these different moves of the Holy Spirit, the innumerable advantages and benefits therein for humankind. That is what Pastor Kumuyi just did by with his book launch. He has documented his values, ideals and commitments to God in a book as a reference point for everyone and even to the generations yet unborn.
What does the aphorism mean?
• It is servant leadership. Jesus Christ speaking against the domineering attitude of the “Princes of Gentiles” over their followers said in Mathew 20:25. “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them,” but He charged the Christian leaders not to be like that in Vs 26, saying, “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
• It is with long-suffering, showing of uncanny and unconditional love for others, and making of sacrifices that all the aforesaid can be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
• That is the Pentecost Tax you are to pay as leaders and even followers. That is what can easily be deduced from what the Vice President, Prof Osinbajo, said. It is not as if saying Christian leaders should pay monetary tax called ‘Pentecost tax,’ no, he didn’t say that, but it is all character-inclined. The work of every leader, the Christians, and even generally, to their followers is to serve as Jesus Christ did and leave a good legacy. It is as simple as that.
— Seyi Gesinde
