Acts 2:44-47 "And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

The gathering of children of God to worship the true living God in the synagogues precedes the birth of Jesus Christ, but not until after His ascension that what we could called "the Church" came into existence. This was recorded in the Acts of Apostles Chapter 2, when the Apostles gathered waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. From there the Apostles went global (as commanded by Christ in His farewell message during Ascension- Acts 1: 8 ) in spreading the gospel, planting new churches and "house fellowships". The rest of the new testament contains epistles (letters) to the church- the body of Christ: clearly laid down instructions on how to live a pure and righteous life as a christian, and consequences of disobedience to divine instructions, and even a warning letter to Churches in the book of Revelation.

Christianity as a religion is for us to believe in and emulate the life and characters of Jesus Christ in all our conducts, as a means of gaining eternal life. Therefore, coming together as a Church to worship God is one of the ways of seeking spiritual rejuvenation, connecting more to things which are spiritual to guide our conducts here on earth, and most importantly, to make heaven. This is also in continuation of the culture of Christ while here on earth, bringing people together and teaching them as recorded in the four Gospels, and as continued by the Apostles.

However, apart from this very important reason, it was recorded in the Act 2: 44-47 that the church was established to cater for the welfare of the members. Therefore, the two reasons for the emergence of the Church was spiritual rejuvenation and welfare of members. Biblically, any digression from these is no longer of God, with gravious consequences (see the Book of Revelations). Also note that it is the LORD that adds to His church (Acts 2: 47)

Fast forward to today in Nigeria. What is the essence of establishing a church? While countless reasons abound, the prominent one is making money, venturing into business to maximize profits. Pastors compete for earthly gains, forgetting their heavenly reward. They milk the church members dry, and programmed sermons that will make their "sheep" give through their noses. Poor members contribute money to further enrich their pastors. Even in this recession period, pastors are saying the only way out for their members is to still give to them, to the extent of brainwashing innocent members to borrowing money to give to them. Many pastors are billionaires today, without knowing exactly what "business" they engage into. I remember recently that the billionaire Founder of the pentecostal church I attend was celebrating his birthday, my local pastor was asking us- i mean mandating members- to contribute certain amount which will be sent to the GO, to celebrate. We were told that God is set to bless us if we contribute that money. I contributed nothing, because I see no sense in giving part of the little i have to the billions he already has to procure a private jet and hire DSS operatives to secure him with sophisticated guns; whereas i have no bicycle and the Lord is my keeper and security, as they always preach to us.

The question is how many church gives back to church members? How many pastors are concerned with the welfare of their flocks? How many pastors can sell their properties and give back to the poor members? (Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.) Many people works in the church today as volunteers, to enrich the pastor's purse without anything to show for their "divine" labour, rather they will still be mandated to give to the church out of their penury.

While the gospel needs money to be spread across the world, as divinely commissioned by Jesus, how many Pastors use the money contributed to the church for that purpose? They rather build fully AC church, buy fleet of cars and expensive mansions and junketter around in their private or first class jets claiming that God is good to them only, and building schools that only their members that are "robbers" of any guise can afford to send their wards their.

Many of the pastors have equally resolved to helping God in adding to the church. They engage in a lot of atrocities and fetishness to add members to their churches and also perform magic ( miracles) to entice gullible and unsuspecting people who they will eventually milk dry. An Abuja Pastor was reportedly paid a trader N500,000 last week to fake his death and be brought to church in a coffin so that he can "pray" for him to ressurect. It went the other way round as the man eventually died before the pastor could resurrect him. Another one was in the news for turning cold water to hot water - magic!. Is this how and what Christ and the Apostles instructed us to do? Where did we miss it? Is this how to help God to add to his church? He is the head of the church and He is the Only One that adds to His church- Acts 2:47.

The rich man in Luke 16: 19 ff, went to hell simply because he could not part with little for Lazarus from the abundance he had, and it was too late for him to repent. Jesus told the rich man in Matthew 19:21 to go and sell his properties and give the money to the poor, he couldnt do it. The churches started by the Apostles sold whatever thing they had and shared the money so that there is none lacking among them- Acts 2: 45. This is the example given to us by Jesus and demonstrated by those we see as founders of christianity. Why then do many of our modern day preachers are always after material things they will get rather than how the church will be a blessing to the members? Why should I be bringing more to the church whether i have or not? Different offerings and contributions are levied, yet nobody will ever ask you about your welfare. The surest way to be on the Pastor's VIP list is to often pay fat tithes and offerings, and give gifts to the pastor. Your spiritual life is of no concern to them as long as you are bringing your dues as at when due.

Many people have backslided due to the church missing its original purpose of establishment. I know quite some people who have vowed never to attend any church again. They only tuned in to their choce Tele-church on sunday morning and watch a live service from home. A lot of people have been discouraged by this misdemanour.

The church is a vital weapon in bringing orderliness into this chaotic society where everything seems upside down. In this end time, it is high time we went back to our creator and religiously follow His instructions and emulate His deeds. We should always ask, what would Jesus do in a situation like this? Will Jesus ask his poor members to contribute money for his birthday party? Will he ask them for money to buy a private jet when some members do not have a bicycle? Will Jesus attend physically to those that pay their tithes in dollars and ignore those who do not have? Will He obtain money for form for those that want to see him? Will Jesus be employing Police escorts while telling his disciples that the keeper of Israel never sleeps (security comes from God)? Will he establish businesses and schools with money conteibuted by members and set the fees so high that only those who "stelas" could afford such? Remeber, judgement will start from the doorstep of the church. 1 Peter 4:17 "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

christianity and. CHURCHTIANITY are different

To be saved and sanctified!

Some people think that the essence of Christianity is some vague notion of being a good person or doing good things. While Christians are good people and they do good things, this is not their essence, nor is "doing good" the essence of the gospel message. The same is true of "going to church." I suspect that many people think of Christianity primarily in terms of going to worship services at the church building. While this is part of what we do as Christians, it is by no means the heart and soul of it. The essence of Christianity is not church attendance, good deeds, doing your best, being a happy person, etc. These are all parts, but they are not the center. One might answer: "The essence of Christianity is being Christ-like."

The center of Christianity is the death and resurrection of Jesus. Everything else in the New Testament, whether it be a command to love others, God's demand that we keep ourselves pure from sin, the New Testament teaching about divorce, and every other topic all stems from the death and resurrection of Jesus. Everything Jesus Himself said and did revolved around this. Take that away and Christianity has no foundation, no basis, no rationale, no center.


Without a thorough appreciation of the centrality of the death and resurrection one will never truly learn how to live the Christian life. He/she may do something similar to it, but it will only be a pale imitation if at the heart of it there is not Jesus crucified and raised from the dead.

Going to church is a pure waste of time, every elect of God will understand this.

Church-body of christ..christians-those who behave like christ.

There is a big difference between being a Christian and being a church goer.

Essence of all Religion is for Mental Control of People by Authorities.

Essence of church: to be sharpened! Iron sharpeneth iron

Essence of Christianity: To make heaven...to see God

I know this article was written because you want comments. What you do about the comments is what matters most. You are right now in a situation of feeling lost. Fear not. You have done well to look into the Bible to see the origins of the church. You have done well to notice the lapses of some pastors. You have one more task. You need to pray to God. Ask Jesus to show you what Church he actually instituted. There is only 1. The gates of hell shall not prevail it. Consider it to be the oldest and most consistent most orderly, not flashy, most rigid. Ask and you shall recieve. Seek and you shall find. I pray for you.

OlajumokeBread:


God is a scam

Jesus Christ is a scam

Religion is the biggest scam in the history of humanity

Bible (story book) is a scam

Heaven is a scam

Hell is a scam

do u think so?...letz just wait for d judgement day and tell God dat i said dat u r a scam...heaven is real, hell z real believe it or nt.

death trap

That is why Christianity is better than church. First become a Christian then you will understand church better. Then one won't be scammed by all these self acclaimed men of God. Christianity is far from going to church but "Gathering together to worship" is very obligatory. #technical not confusing

to rebrand one way of reasoning

...

If I genuinely listen to a sermon on the radio on a Sunday morning and pray at home, have I missed anything? Just wondering

The essence is to strip humanity of spiritual knowledge and power thus keeping humanity lock down from reaching God head there by throwing the gullible masses into slavery before finally scamming them of their possessions

To keep them enslaved they devised the false concept of hell fire to guilt trip those who refused to obey, deceiving them with a never coming false Jewish Jesus, the brainwash in xtianity is so strong, only few will listen.

OlajumokeBread:


God is a scam

Jesus Christ is a scam

Religion is the biggest scam in the history of humanity

Bible (story book) is a scam

Heaven is a scam

Hell is a scam

how about d devil? u deliberately left him out. if all u mentioned above r scam, den he shld to cause he z spirit too.




p.s i'd rather not live like dere isnt a God dan die n find out dere really is

Religion has don more than good,freemasonry is for educated people not fools

Yeligray:
do u think so?...letz just wait for d judgement day and tell God dat i said dat u r a scam...heaven is real, hell z real believe it or nt.

..oga,nothing like judgement day,nothing like hell..u go wait taya..

I can't comfortably attend a church where 90% of what they preach is money, sowing seed etc.

Every sunday its always one stupid or foolish question or the other.

OlajumokeBread:


God is a scam

Jesus Christ is a scam

Religion is the biggest scam in the history of humanity

Bible (story book) is a scam

Heaven is a scam

Hell is a scam

Aren't you a scam yourself

Your existence must also be a scam

what's d essence of Islam and Muslim ..lol

Yeligray:
do u think so?...letz just wait for d judgement day and tell God dat i said dat u r a scam...heaven is real, hell z real believe it or nt.

Do kindly share with us your experiences in the 'real' heaven and 'real' hell.
Enquiring minds will like to know.
Thanks.

Jesus will never buy a private jet,he will never fly first class,he will never ask the congregation to make monetary contributions (remember the feeding of the 5000 n where d bread n fish came from?) during healings he will always tell the healed,ur faith has made u whole.Bt what do we have today? jst listen to ur inner voice n discover how true to worship God.

hotspec:
Acts 2:44-47 "And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

The gathering of children of God to worship the true living God in the synagogues precedes the birth of Jesus Christ, but not until after His ascension that what we could called "the Church" came into existence. This was recorded in the Acts of Apostles Chapter 2, when the Apostles gathered waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. From there the Apostles went global (as commanded by Christ in His farewell message during Ascension- Acts 1: 8 ) in spreading the gospel, planting new churches and "house fellowships". The rest of the new testament contains epistles (letters) to the church- the body of Christ: clearly laid down instructions on how to live a pure and righteous life as a christian, and consequences of disobedience to divine instructions, and even a warning letter to Churches in the book of Revelation.

Christianity as a religion is for us to believe in and emulate the life and characters of Jesus Christ in all our conducts, as a means of gaining eternal life. Therefore, coming together as a Church to worship God is one of the ways of seeking spiritual rejuvenation, connecting more to things which are spiritual to guide our conducts here on earth, and most importantly, to make heaven. This is also in continuation of the culture of Christ while here on earth, bringing people together and teaching them as recorded in the four Gospels, and as continued by the Apostles.

However, apart from this very important reason, it was recorded in the Act 2: 44-47 that the church was established to cater for the welfare of the members. Therefore, the two reasons for the emergence of the Church was spiritual rejuvenation and welfare of members. Biblically, any digression from these is no longer of God, with gravious consequences (see the Book of Revelations). Also note that it is the LORD that adds to His church (Acts 2: 47)

Fast forward to today in Nigeria. What is the essence of establishing a church? While countless reasons abound, the prominent one is making money, venturing into business to maximize profits. Pastors compete for earthly gains, forgetting their heavenly reward. They milk the church members dry, and programmed sermons that will make their "sheep" give through their noses. Poor members contribute money to further enrich their pastors. Even in this recession period, pastors are saying the only way out for their members is to still give to them, to the extent of brainwashing innocent members to borrowing money to give to them. Many pastors are billionaires today, without knowing exactly what "business" they engage into. I remember recently that the billionaire Founder of the pentecostal church I attend was celebrating his birthday, my local pastor was asking us- i mean mandating members- to contribute certain amount which will be sent to the GO, to celebrate. We were told that God is set to bless us if we contribute that money. I contributed nothing, because I see no sense in giving part of the little i have to the billions he already has to procure a private jet and hire DSS operatives to secure him with sophisticated guns; whereas i have no bicycle and the Lord is my keeper and security, as they always preach to us.

The question is how many church gives back to church members? How many pastors are concerned with the welfare of their flocks? How many pastors can sell their properties and give back to the poor members? (Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.) Many people works in the church today as volunteers, to enrich the pastor's purse without anything to show for their "divine" labour, rather they will still be mandated to give to the church out of their penury.

While the gospel needs money to be spread across the world, as divinely commissioned by Jesus, how many Pastors use the money contributed to the church for that purpose? They rather build fully AC church, buy fleet of cars and expensive mansions and junketter around in their private or first class jets claiming that God is good to them only, and building schools that only their members that are "robbers" of any guise can afford to send their wards their.

Many of the pastors have equally resolved to helping God in adding to the church. They engage in a lot of atrocities and fetishness to add members to their churches and also perform magic ( miracles) to entice gullible and unsuspecting people who they will eventually milk dry. An Abuja Pastor was reportedly paid a trader N500,000 last week to fake his death and be brought to church in a coffin so that he can "pray" for him to ressurect. It went the other way round as the man eventually died before the pastor could resurrect him. Another one was in the news for turning cold water to hot water - magic!. Is this how and what Christ and the Apostles instructed us to do? Where did we miss it? Is this how to help God to add to his church? He is the head of the church and He is the Only One that adds to His church- Acts 2:47.

The rich man in Luke 16: 19 ff, went to hell simply because he could not part with little for Lazarus from the abundance he had, and it was too late for him to repent. Jesus told the rich man in Matthew 19:21 to go and sell his properties and give the money to the poor, he couldnt do it. The churches started by the Apostles sold whatever thing they had and shared the money so that there is none lacking among them- Acts 2: 45. This is the example given to us by Jesus and demonstrated by those we see as founders of christianity. Why then do many of our modern day preachers are always after material things they will get rather than how the church will be a blessing to the members? Why should I be bringing more to the church whether i have or not? Different offerings and contributions are levied, yet nobody will ever ask you about your welfare. The surest way to be on the Pastor's VIP list is to often pay fat tithes and offerings, and give gifts to the pastor. Your spiritual life is of no concern to them as long as you are bringing your dues as at when due.

Many people have backslided due to the church missing its original purpose of establishment. I know quite some people who have vowed never to attend any church again. They only tuned in to their choce Tele-church on sunday morning and watch a live service from home. A lot of people have been discouraged by this misdemanour.

The church is a vital weapon in bringing orderliness into this chaotic society where everything seems upside down. In this end time, it is high time we went back to our creator and religiously follow His instructions and emulate His deeds. We should always ask, what would Jesus do in a situation like this? Will Jesus ask his poor members to contribute money for his birthday party? Will he ask them for money to buy a private jet when some members do not have a bicycle? Will Jesus attend physically to those that pay their tithes in dollars and ignore those who do not have? Will He obtain money for form for those that want to see him? Will Jesus be employing Police escorts while telling his disciples that the keeper of Israel never sleeps (security comes from God)? Will he establish businesses and schools with money conteibuted by members and set the fees so high that only those who "stelas" could afford such? Remeber, judgement will start from the doorstep of the church. 1 Peter 4:17 "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

I Do Agree With The Part You Said About Donating To Billionaire Pastor. Real Men Of God Doesn’t Receive They Give. Well We All Live Under Deception