What does building the house of God entail in it? At an outer look many can understand it as bringing up a physical structure where believers gather to worship and do fellowship in but that's not it. Building the house of God in the right way entails the desire to help the needy, inspiring others spiritually, showing love to our neighbors and spreading the gospel to different parts of the country/world.
There are people who've converted the house of the Lord into a business of their own, whereby they seek to benefit themselves in the name of the poor and needy in the society. They seek sponsors to donate money and once donors donate money the needy don't benefit from it. Of course, Christians giving freely is a way of expressing love for our neighbours.
This deceiving others is not right before God, why should one decide to start a church, where he/she aims to become wealthy from the contributions of the followers and sponsors. Folks converting the house of the God into business hasn't started now, it started long time ago. During the time of Jesus this was indeed condemned, Jesus drove those wicked Jews who conducted business in the house of the lord, he whipped them, he quoted that the house of the lord is a house of prayer and not a business centre.
There are sermons and prayers carried on media particularly on TV, I am not saying such programs are bad, however I get embarrassed when some of them run wrong ways of generating cash. This happens after a short procession of evangelizing, account numbers are displayed for folks to deposit money as their offerings. Others ask folks to pay money so that they pray for them or bless them.
In churches envelopes are offered to members so that they give a fixed amount of money determined by church board members. We are supposed to give as much as we are able but not church board members fixing the amount which church members should give. The Bible is very clear about tithes; we all know it is 10 %.
There are some church leaders who've permitted politicians to campaign on Sabbath day. Instead of politicians coming to worship God they take advantage of campaigning for themselves. After asking members to vote for them they go forward and give cash. This amount is announced so that every church member knows how much they have given. Here is an illustration of such announcement, 'This morning I am happy to announce that a lady has offered one twenty thousand dollars to assist in building the house of God, in addition a gentleman has offered 10 thousand dollars." Shamelessly they continue to announce, "I announce this to a shame those who don't give a lot in order to be blessed more, the more you give the more blessings you get."
This is hypocrisy because when we give we should give sincerely not to be seen by others (the left hand should not know what the right hand has given).
We ought to respect the house of God throughout.
There are people who've converted the house of the Lord into a business of their own, whereby they seek to benefit themselves in the name of the poor and needy in the society. They seek sponsors to donate money and once donors donate money the needy don't benefit from it. Of course, Christians giving freely is a way of expressing love for our neighbours.
This deceiving others is not right before God, why should one decide to start a church, where he/she aims to become wealthy from the contributions of the followers and sponsors. Folks converting the house of the God into business hasn't started now, it started long time ago. During the time of Jesus this was indeed condemned, Jesus drove those wicked Jews who conducted business in the house of the lord, he whipped them, he quoted that the house of the lord is a house of prayer and not a business centre.
There are sermons and prayers carried on media particularly on TV, I am not saying such programs are bad, however I get embarrassed when some of them run wrong ways of generating cash. This happens after a short procession of evangelizing, account numbers are displayed for folks to deposit money as their offerings. Others ask folks to pay money so that they pray for them or bless them.
In churches envelopes are offered to members so that they give a fixed amount of money determined by church board members. We are supposed to give as much as we are able but not church board members fixing the amount which church members should give. The Bible is very clear about tithes; we all know it is 10 %.
There are some church leaders who've permitted politicians to campaign on Sabbath day. Instead of politicians coming to worship God they take advantage of campaigning for themselves. After asking members to vote for them they go forward and give cash. This amount is announced so that every church member knows how much they have given. Here is an illustration of such announcement, 'This morning I am happy to announce that a lady has offered one twenty thousand dollars to assist in building the house of God, in addition a gentleman has offered 10 thousand dollars." Shamelessly they continue to announce, "I announce this to a shame those who don't give a lot in order to be blessed more, the more you give the more blessings you get."
This is hypocrisy because when we give we should give sincerely not to be seen by others (the left hand should not know what the right hand has given).
We ought to respect the house of God throughout.
About the Author:
The author of this article Mercy invites you to join Nikenya Forums to discuss about Christian faith so that you strengthen your faith and also to uplift others spiritually.
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