There are many unscriptural activities going on in the church
today which Christians pretend not to see. The more we
keep silent, the worse things would become. Though we are
aware that many happenings in the church today are signs of
the end time, it is our duty to put things right and strive to
revive the ‘old time religion.’
1. Charging Consultation Fee-
Paying certain amount of money before you can see the man
of God has become a common practice in many churches
nowadays. So many pastors have commercialized
deliverance, salvation and spiritual counselling against the
Lord’s wish- Matt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
give.
2. Selling Some Spiritual Items-
I’m more particular about churches selling holy water and
anointing oil in plastic containers and bottles where
worshippers are disallowed from bringing theirs but
compelled to buy from the church. Let them buy from
wherever they choose; your role is to ensure those items are
blessed and sanctified.
3. Making Tithe Card Compulsory-
I have no objection to the issuance of tithe cards for those
who want it. Some churches have denied
members some privileges because they do not have their
tithe cards which serve as evidence to know tithe payers. I,
like many others prefer paying tithes anonymously. Someone
may be paying tithe regularly having his card checked and
signed by the pastor and still feign being saved.
4. Setting up too many church societies-
It is unfortunate that church leaders rarely check the
activities or attend meetings of these societies. Many have
derailed from their essence and a lot of such church
societies now run like town meetings, social groups or
cooperative societies. Let us cut them to size, review their
activities regularly, and ensure prioritization of spiritual
events in these societies.
5. Singing and Dancing to Worldly Music-
We really need to watch it here. We listen to hip hops, Rocks
etc which are trending and become tempted to copy the
rhythm and sometimes lyrics of such music for church use.
Many of these songs and dances are not glorifying God so
why copying the world? Ladies now twerk and wiggle in
sexually provocative styles in churches at the sound of such
worldly music. 1 John 2:15 Love not the world , neither the
things that are in the world . If any man loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. Choirmasters and Music
Coordinators pls take note.
6. Stipulating Minimum Amount for Offering-
Few days ago I was in a gathering and the pastor announced
that those who do not have up to a certain amount of money
to put down as offering should not bother to come out. This
wasn’t the first time I’ll hear this announcement coming from
the alter. This approach to collection of fat offerings should
not be encouraged in the church. Jesus praised the poor
widow who cast just two mites into the treasury because
that was all she had [Mark 12: 41-44] . If such marginalization
was declared before casting of offering at the temple, the
poor widow would not have been able to cast her offering
which Jesus acknowledged as the greatest of all offerings.
Pastors should stop deterring people from casting their
offerings; we do not need to inform them that fingers are not
equal. Preach and tell the congregation the benefits of giving
bountiful offering to God and let Him nourish His word in
their heart and not indirectly telling them, ‘you cannot give
the little you have to God.’
7. Organizing sport/game Competitions-
I do not know when sporting became an important spiritual
exercise in the church. I once attended a church where a
football match between two parishes led to a serious fracas.
This later grew to a feud and it took many years for some of
the youths and priests to heal the wounds of bitterness
sustained during the match. It is more ideal to organize Bible
quizzes and competitions which is very much unlikely to sow
seeds of discord.
8. Letting out Church Premise/Properties for Secular
Purposes-
I my humble opinion, it isn’t right to rent out church
properties for non-religious activities such as club parties,
political meetings etc. They may violate your rules and you
would not be able to stop them until they are through.
9. Organizing Excursions and Sightseeing-
This should be left for our work places, families, schools and
any other moderate social groups which we may belong to.
Christ sent us to the whole world on a mission assignment to
evangelize and win souls to the kingdom and not to catch
fun. I have attended an excursion organized by the youth
leaders of a church and to be honest, nothing gave glory to
God in all we did. In fact, it may turn to an avenue for
brethren to engage in sexual immoralities.
10. Inviting Secular Musicians and Comedians to Perform at
Church Functions-
I have heard some blasphemous jokes from many comedians
lately. It is so saddening that churches invite such
performers to anchor programmes and all you hear are
disrespectful words against God all in the name of making
people laugh. How can you bring a secular musician to the
church and expect him to bring down the spirit of God with
his or her hip hop or RnB?
May the Lord revive the church again. Amen
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