And any dumb goat will know that the human population has grown and expanded across the earth beyond when Jesus walked on it. Therefore the delivery of the gospel, cannot be cheap, even though the gospel is free.

As for the guy who is asking what the missionaries charged for bringing Christianity to us, let me educate the empty-headed human being that wrote that:

1) Their brothers in uniform brought guns to your chiefs, who in turn raided their fellow brothers in the name of communal wars and sold them to slavery.

2) Many of the so-called "missionaries" were slave owners. John Wesley who composed Amazing Grace, was a slave owner.

3) They came and plundered your land. Ask the British what missionary work was done in carrying all the thousand s of artifacts that were stolen from Benin in 1897, which THEY HAVE BLUNTLY REFUSED TO RETURN TILL THIS DAY.

4) Look at all the negative Western culture which their "missionary work" has brought. Today, a wife cannot respect the husband in the name of women empowerment. Were our families as dysfunctional as they are in the days of our parents?

I can go on and on. So no one should give me the BS that the foreign missionaries did not charge a kobo for dispensing their own brand of the gospel that used the name of God as an excuse to rape the African continent.

@tagger

And any dumb goat will know that the human population has grown and expanded across the earth beyond when Jesus walked on it. Therefore the delivery of the gospel, cannot be cheap, even though the gospel is free.

As for the guy who is asking what the missionaries charged for bringing Christianity to us, let me educate the empty-headed human being that wrote that:

And you are a Christian

Wow, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Nuella,


Thank you for shedding more light on this issue of giving people keep writing about everyday on NL. I suppose they don't give and don't intend giving even when God chose to bless them beyond measures. The gospel is expensive. You need money to preach the gospel period.

this modern brand of the gospel is pretty expensive. Many cannot afford it

I think the question is a good one based on the happenings around us. Pls let us stop the insults and discuss the issues.

First of all, I agree that preaching the gospel now require funds. If you don't give, somebody else gave to move the work of GOD to the level we see. Then again like it has been said, the way and manner this money is being generated now leaves a lot to be questioned.
They key into verses of the Bible that are not fully explained, might not relate to the current event, coax and manipulate, threaten sometimes with the wrath of GOD because according to them you are holding GOD's money.
People are told that they are not blessed because they don't know how to give.
A man approach a man of GOD for prayers the next question is are you a financial member of the church. There are cases where you are made to pay money before you see a man of GOD.
My cousin wouldn't go to his pastors house because it is expected that you give a gift each time you go there.

With due respect to all genuine men of GOD here, a lot of things happen and Churches have designed different kind of doctrines. For the fact you don't do it does not mean others don't.
I personal think it is good to give according to how you are led to the work of GOD and humanity and not according one man say and one scripture didn't say.

Matthew 10:8
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

On the basis of the scripture above. It is understood that the gospel should be ministered at no cost. On the other hand . It is believed by many also that it cost a lot to reach out to people with the gospel. And so there by, contributions are required to reach out either on tv or crusade etc.

What of the place of giving , when people give ,are they paying for a free gospel?

Those who advocate free gospel sometimes criticises those who raise money for the preaching of the gospel. Is there a difference? Is there a misunderstanding? Are we looking at the same thing or 2 different things. Please air your view without insult an abuse so we can learn . Biblical references will be appreciated where relevant.

@Jo

The Gospel is free. I believe that when we get to heaven, God is not going to tell folks "we missed our target due to budget constraints". Money is a tool and not the Gospel. What we need are a willing Church to lead the gospel. Having this in mind will help us see things differently.

The principles of giving is simple. Give and you receive. It applies to everyone whether you are a Christian or not, it is a universal principle. Some in the church have misused it and most folks here, against Church giving won't mind giving to the Red Cross or Salvation Army, why do they do that?

femeluaka:

[i][/i][color=#990000][/color]
GOSPEL IS NOT FOR SALE,PEOPLE WAKE UP!!!

NOBODY SAID ANY WAY!!!

davidylan:

this modern brand of the gospel is pretty expensive. Many cannot afford it

It is really sad that many just can't get this.
What is their to afford in the gospel when Jesus Christ has done it all but the point many are blind to see is the fact that as society change with revolutionary exploits in several information techniques in communications it is becoming increasingly "expensive" to maintain the temp and momentum of effortlessly reaching the unreached and tell the untold of the love of God in Christ Jesus through the preaching of the gospel. For God sake who was the internet made for? perhaps for drug gangs, Terrorist groups, pornography merchants or maybe for politics?
is it an offence for the gospel to be on TV, on Satellite and other expressive media platforms abeg what are saying please don't just send a post for the fun of it at least try and make sense

obowunmi:

Gospel in Nigeria is NOT FREE. If you don't pay the pastor, God will not bless you. You must pay someone somewhere.

WOW YOU MUST BE THE TREASURER TO BE CONVINCED ABOUT THIS. WHAT AN INSENSITIVE BLANKET STATEMENT

Let's us be honest with one another. The gospel is free and has remained free. Except you have instances where gate fees are collected to enter churches or fellowship centers then the gospel could be said to have been sold. If a pastor shout from the top of his voice abt tithing from morning till night it ur decision to heed or reject. Pls folks the Gospel is still free.

@stagger,

Perharps your "empty head" needed to understand the context in which that assertion was reached and purpose at which it was aimed at. So, you need to educate yourself in reading and comprehension.


The aim was to show that the missionaries themselves did not charge the indigenous population for the "good news" literally, while the Imperialist Government perpetrated slavery and robbed the continent. The missionaries themselves were instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade.

I do agree that some Imperialist did use CHristianity as an excuse to prove the subordination of the "savages" and used some missionaries to advance their cause. The argument however is did the missionary charge the natives "directly" for bringing the gospel?  

I am pretty sure it is possible to table your argument without resorting to name- calling.  It is really unnecessary especially if no one insulted you initially.

This was what the "empty headed" individual posted to follow up his assertion;

dare2think:

You are right, money was already raised for the early missionaries and most were " Imperialist state money", in simpler terms,Government funds, not money from the New Converts.


Perhaps ms Mabell, you ought to do a study on it too.

www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw25colonizationafrica.htm


"As for missionary work in the French, British, and Belgian colonies, missionaries, either Protestant or Catholic, had freedom to work in any of the British colonies. They gave medical aid through hospitals they built, education through mission schools, worked at translating the Bible into the local dialect, and of course tried to win converts to Christianity. Missionaries in the French and Belgian colonies did not have as much freedom. Around the beginning of the 20th century, the French government fell out with the Roman Catholic Church. As a result, the French government stopped supporting all missionaries in the colonies. Nevertheless, the missionaries had the freedom to remain in the colonies. Ironically enough, the severance did their evangelism a good turn. "The blacks are far from ignoring that the colonial authorities are hostile to us and that our religion is not that of the whites who live in the [French] Sudan," reported one Mgr. Bazin. [12] However, missionaries in the Belgian Congo had the toughest time of all. Before Belgium took control of the Belgian Congo (from Leopold II) in 1908, Leopold II had expressly forbidden any Catholic missionaries to work in the Belgian. Despite this, he did let several Protestant missionaries into the area. But of the three countries, Leopold limited missionary work in Africa the most."

I would not join issues on whether the gospel is free or not. Let us assume for purposes of argument that the we all have to contribute to propagate the gospel. My point is there is no accountability as to how the money is spent. once this monies are collected, the next thing you notice is that the pastor has bought a bullet proof jeep.

Who is responsible for manging this collection? If it is a church committee, then how many times have such a commitee giving an account to the church? Is there a account, an audited account.

If there is no accoutability, any boby can put his hand into the coffers and siphon the collective sweat of everyone. For me, that is the major issue not arguing if the gospel is free or not.

newmi:

What brand, can't you get it? there is no brand to be sold, it is moving with global trend

So, it's global trend for churches to steal snatch customers from each other. So it's global trend for cec to invest millions setting up branches in the U.S just to win Benny Hinn (& co) customers and vice versa. hmmm, this is interesting

newmi:

you are even narrow in your thinking to think that any specific country like you mentioned America is the target; NO! NO! you are wrong, the whole world is the mission field and what better way to do it than to take advantage of current global technological trend. . . it that a wrong thing to do

I never said America was your sole target. BTW any testimonies from Afghanistan and Iraq. It would be nice to hear some Talibans or Al-queda were won over after watching oyaks on loveworld t.v, internet or via satallite

newmi:

For once imagine if the several missionaries many of whom came from Europe who paid the ultimate sacrifice in denying self and families had reasoned that until they were successful in their backyard Africa does not deserve to hear the gospel. . .hmmmmmmm this "dark continent" well till tomorrow their backyard remains anything but successfully kept

It's good to see you acknowledge your failure back home. What makes you think you will be successful abroad, if you are unable to convince your people here. You are spending millions investing abroad (e.g. America) to re-convert christians i.e. win customers from the like of Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollars e.t.c (your brothers in prosperity). Money that could be better spent winning unbelievers on your backyard

newmi:

who needs your change   you might as well pay your fair their anyway just for the records we do have a church at Maiduguri

That's okay i did offer

I am aware you have a church. I just need you to make some noise. It would be nice to see boko haram members at the crusade ground giving their life to Christ, or dont you think

newmi:

that probably explains why it also would be difficult for you to understand how the prophecy below would be possible
"Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come"

Your problem is very simple; you have difficulty processing all you've been reading Let me present it in a manner you will understand Imagine a situation where a good number of churches are trying to win over this christian lady at here residence. Redeem, MFM, CEC e.t.c queuing up outside her residence and wait their turn to preach the gospel her. Now every church will have to pay 10K each to the security personnel at the gate before they are allowed in. oyaks is number 10 on the queue. Now my question is this, why would oyaks pay the 10K just to preach a similar message to this woman? after Oyedepo, Adeboye and seven others have taken turns to preach the gospel to the lady? is it because oyaks does not believe adeboye & co have or can do the job successfully? or like i stated in my post, oyaks also want to sell his church, brand of gospel and hopefully get the lady to become a member of cec?

Joagbaje:

I've answered. These outreaches require financial contributions. So giving for such outreaches help to further the gospel.

You have not answered oh The question was what type of giving will be required to fund television, satallite & internet gospel or you want Enigma to convert the question to a multiple choice type, so you can do some permutations (seeing you not sure anymore) As your good friend, i'll try to convince Enigma to modify the question but it will be difficult oh, so no guarantee

Joagbaje:

I've answered. These outreaches require financial contributions. So giving for such outreaches help to further the gospel.

newmi:

Jo it is pointless making any further effort trying to make him get it. . .haba for how long na do telivision stations collect the "blood of Jesus Christ" as payment for services rendered? or may state of the act equipments are purchased with a "holighorized God blessssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh you"

You see yourself you don't even understand what being discussed please get a brain, you need one

kcjazz:

@Jo

The Gospel is free. I believe that when we get to heaven, God is not going to tell folks "we missed our target due to budget constraints". Money is a tool and not the Gospel. What we need are a willing Church to lead the gospel. Having this in mind will help us see things differently.

Nice post. I hope Jo reads this

@Zikkyy
Young man stop begging the questions because you are yet to make any sense
Answer this question is this too much to ask of you
"do telivision stations collect the "blood of Jesus Christ" as payment for services rendered? or may state of the act equipments are purchased with a "holighorized God blessssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh you"

Is the Gospel Free? I'm not so sure but the Blessings e.g Contracts, Wives,Husbands, Children, Cars, Houses fat bank accounts etc are [size=13pt]NOT FREE![/size] You must pay your 10% and sow into the Pastors life to receive it. How do you expect to get your 100 fold increase if your G.O does not own a couple of Jets and University.

kcjazz:

The Gospel is free. I believe that when we get to heaven, God is not going to tell folks "we missed our target due to budget constraints". Money is a tool and not the Gospel. What we need are a willing Church to lead the gospel. Having this in mind will help us see things differently.

Thank you very much at last what a consolation to fine somebody with whom sense can be brokered. l agree with you
"What we need are a willing Church to lead the gospel" but the reality remains; how else do we successfully "lead the gospel" when we are continually faced more than ever with the responsibility and challenge to not only keep pace with the ever increasing out-cry, thirst, hunger and demand for the gospel of the Lord of God revealed in Christ Jesus all over the world but to most often that not stay ahead of the challenge thus necessitating the need for taking advantage of all available media platforms which in themselves are not cheap you must agree but is anything to good for Jesus? if is good, efficient and effective for terrorists, pornography merchants, drug cartels, governments, cooperate organizations etc why shouldn't it be good, efficient and effective for the gospel

kcjazz:

The principles of giving is simple. Give and you receive. It applies to everyone whether you are a Christian or not, it is a universal principle. Some in the church have misused it and most folks here, against Church giving won't mind giving to the Red Cross or Salvation Army, why do they do that?

Great sense

newmi:

Answer this question is this too much to ask of you
"do telivision stations collect the "blood of Jesus Christ" as payment for services rendered? or may state of the act equipments are purchased with a "holighorized God blessssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh you"

Please stop asking irrelevant questions Go through the thread from the first page & first post, do you read zikkyy saying gospel is preached at zero logistics cost If not, what the basis for the question above Please provide answers to Jo's questions, namely;
1. Is the gospel free or new converts have to pay for it?
2. Some people believe givers like newmi are mugus, why?
3. Does giving equate to paying for the gospel?

Jo need answers, help him out

Discussing this is a waste of time!!! Isn't the christian god the "god of miracles"? He helped Moses split the red sea, jesus walked on water, jeus raised the dead, Elijah rode on a chariot of fire on his way to heaven and jesus survived his own death.

If all these events happened, why does he need a human invention like money to spead his word?
If his followers are healing the sick and raising the dead (WAT UP JOAGBAJE!!!!) why can't they literally grow a money tree.

Why can't they just miraculously turn paper into money (naira, dollar, pounds ane even dinars so they can go preach in Mosul, Iraq.

Joagbaje is just indulging in double speak here, trying to justify his thieving,conniving, cowardly and ignorant ways.

Martian:

Joagbaje is just indulging in double speak here, trying to justify his thieving,conniving, cowardly and ignorant ways.

True talk my brother.

Re: Is the gospel free or costly? . How Do You See It?
« #7 on: Yesterday at 10:43:16 AM »

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I wonder how much the missionaries charged our ancestor when they brought Christianity to our lands.


but hey, faith is now a commodity with a price tag.

[color=#006600][/color]
The missionaries that came to Africa were financed by committed believers who sponsored all their activities which African beneficiaries need not pay for again!
In the current dispensation, some committed members of both pentecostal and orthodox churches are sponsoring activities in their respective churches, just as Bill Gates and other American billionaires are supporting humanitarian activities. The choice of supporting is obligatory not mandatory, hence people that are responding to issues on public forum such as this should understand issues before making unguarded comments,

rickado:

Re: Is the gospel free or costly? . How Do You See It?
« #7 on: Yesterday at 10:43:16 AM »

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I wonder how much the missionaries charged our ancestor when they brought Christianity to our lands.


but hey, faith is now a commodity with a price tag.

[color=#006600][/color]
The missionaries that came to Africa were financed by committed believers who sponsored all their activities which African beneficiaries need not pay for again!
In the current dispensation, some committed members of both pentecostal and orthodox churches are sponsoring activities in their respective churches, just as Bill Gates and other American billionaires are supporting humanitarian activities. The choice of supporting is obligatory not mandatory, hence people that are responding to issues on public forum such as this should understand issues before making unguarded comments,

ride on bro

@ rickado and mabell

I made the "unguarded" comment you reffered to, perhaps you should try to understand the context in which it was made.

The missionaries were not only financed by the "committed believers" , they were also financed by imperialist government that supported the slave trade. I have included a source to support my statement, it's better to read the comments of the post in it's entirety before quoting people out of context.

The point however, was that money were not required of the newly converts, hence the reason why I made the comment you quoted.


Edit. You said the "choice to support is obligatory not mandatory", really? , lol in the "current dispensation" when some attribute non-tithing as "robbing God". Very obligatory choice of words indeed.

@ mabell


Your view on the subject matter would be appreciated as well (while riding another person's view on).I followed your advise to read on it and came back with an excerpt from my reading, could you indulge me on your own research.

ok let me check it then

99% of Nigerian Pentecostal Churches (and their MOGs) are fake, I'll love someone to prove my assessment wrong.

Like Zikky stated earlier, why not win "souls" in your own backyard before flying to SA, UK, Europe, USA, etc to win over Christians who had access to Christianity before they brought it to Africa?

Why are there no branches in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Russia, etc?

Let's not kid each other here, we ought to know what this is really about.

Gospel is costly ,Salvation is free.

If preaching the gospel is costly, it is because resources aren't used efficiently.

One classic example is the use of private jets. Let's just assume for this argument that the private jets are necessary, as a lot of people claim.

A pool of 2 or 3 jets can serve many ministries, yet a lot of ministries go all out to get their own exclusive jet.
All in the name of propagating the gospel right

Before praying for wealth etc, Christians should first pray for discernment so they can see through falsehood.

If ministers are serious about putting the money available to the best use to spread the gospel and for charitable work, the above pooling scenario could save billions of naira.