₦airaland Forum

TechCapon:
I have noticed that whenever there's a horror film that involves a church, it's always a catholic church. It's always one dark, big catholic church with reverend fathers and nuns.

I have seen over hundred horror films acted in the catholic church and it makes me wonder why always catholic? I once saw a horror movie acted inside the Vatican with dead bodies buried in secret graves inside the Covent. In fact, catholic church has become the standard church for acting high selling horror films.

They hardly use pentecostal churches or anglican. Is it because the catholic church is the most spiritual church? Is it because it's the most powerful and richest church?

Hairyrapunzel:
In all these you still can't point any bible verse that supports your belief. Lol

Hairyrapunzel:
So the message here is that January to December isn't mentioned in the Bible. Have you now learnt?
Next time don't ask me to show you where they mentioned December 25th was jesus Christ birthday in the Bible.

Hairyrapunzel:
So the message here is that January to December isn't mentioned in the Bible. Have you now learnt?
Next time don't ask me to show you where they mentioned December 25th was jesus Christ birthday in the Bible.

asuustrike1:
First of all I want to wish you happy new year. Secondly I want to correct you on the misconception about churches as business centres because you know nothing. Yes there are many churches that have deviated but it doesn't mean all of them are business centres. You did mentioned deeper life because you view them from the surface but if you were opportuned to go inside, you will stop attending church. Every church has it's own challenge and doctrinal issues hence no perfect church. The perfect church you seek to find can not be seen because they are operated my mortal men. Jesus is the head of the church which pastors or priests are Shepherd. They are stewards hence they are accountable to God. You must respect and obey them same way you obey your president, governors and other political appointees. If you are not comfortable with their teachings then you can quietly walk away from such church. If you choose not to fellow with the brethren it is your choice but I would advice you do because of your spiritual growth. One thing lacking in many catholic churches which is your spiritual background is the constant dissertation in the word of God. The time given to sermons in many parishes are limited if not 40 mins. The content in many teachings are not that deep. It is only those that are into charismatic or those fellowshipping with other brethrens that have deep knowledge on the word of God. If you are acquaintant with the scriptures, you would know that we are in the last days. So brother go build up your spiritual life by fellowshipping with other brethrens while you forget about which church to attend or not.

Goshen360:
You not making sense bro....maybe if you explain yourself well enough....me or someone can help you out. I have told you from scripture that...BEFORE THE LAW was given, people didn't have other gods, people flew adultery and fornication, killing was against God's will ....SO WHY DO YOU THEN NEED THE LAW OF MOSES to tell you how to act right AS A CHRISTIAN?

What is it you're not understanding?

Hairyrapunzel:
Lol. So you use something that has pagan origin? You are practicing paganism like us. Lol if you use pagan calendar you are a pagan and Satan worshipper simple.

Hairyrapunzel:
Lol. You have to change mouth to moon lol.
You said I should show you where December 25th was mentioned as Christ birthday in the Bible and I asked you to show me January to December in the Bible. Since you couldn't you had to bring out new moon to cover your ignorance. Lol

Did I ask you for the moon? No.

Till now you can't provide a bible passage that says jesus Christ or apostles condemned Christmas or birthday celebration.


Assumer.

Hairyrapunzel:
So after all these you still can't quote the verse that condemns the celebration of Christ's birth?
Or you still can't quote the bible verse that mentions January to December. Hmmmm

Hairyrapunzel:
Lol now is the real calendar is the new moon? Lol.
I no fit laff. Continue using new moon na since it's the real calendar. You are not even ashamed to use our pagan/Satan worshippers calendar. Lol

Hairyrapunzel:
Not when you have shown me where bible mentioned January, February, march, April, may June, July, August, September, October, November and December.

Then show me where the bible said 30days hath September, April, June and November all the rest hath 31 except February alone which hath 28 days and 29days in each leap year.

Once you show me then you have won this argument.

Hairyrapunzel:
Assumer. Lol. Is it not the same Satan worshippers that gave us internet? Lol.
You even have to assume Christmas tree is what Jeremiah was talking about. Lol

Must you guys believe speculation sef?
Who gave you internet
Who gave you television
Who gave you suit
Who gave you days of the week
Who gave you months of the year
Who gave you aeroplane
Who gave you wedding anniversary
Who gave gave you baby shower
Who gave you bridal shower
Who gave you wedding anniversary
Who gave you electricity

It has to be Satan or Satan worshippers. Lol

Hairyrapunzel:
So you are still struggling to provide the bible verse where jehovah, Jesus Christ, apostles or early Christians condemned pharaoh or herod for celebrating birthday.

Quote the bible verse or is it so difficult? or no bible verse mentions such?

We are patiently waiting.

Hairyrapunzel:
So you have to assume that Jeremiah is referring to Christmas tree abi?

You even have to put your assumptions right after the bible verse you quoted. Let me now give you a shocker.

Christmas tree is made of plastic or cut from a real plant, Christmas trees can be moved, They are not nailed or hammered to the ground. They are removed after festive periods, the decorations are made of plastic. Nobody worships or bows to a Christmas tree.
Green and red is Christmas colour. It's a decoration
Not an idol.

At the end of the day you are assuming. You want to force Christmas tree to become the idol Jeremiah talked about.

We make use of our brains o don't think that because independent thinking is forbidden in your organization that means everyone shouldn't use their brains.

I am still waiting for the bible verse that said that Christmas and birthday was condemned by jehovah, Jesus Christ or the apostles.

Show us where Jesus Christ or Jehovah condemned herod or pharaoh for celebrating birthday.

Show us where jehovah or Jesus Christ or the apostles condemned people for celebrating when jesus Christ was born.

jesusjnr:
This thread is my latest installment of what i may call some sort of inequality series.

For the first one that posited that a righteous atheist/pagan was better than a wicked Christian, to the disgust and fury of many Church folks here, definitely signified that I thought the same in the respect of wicked atheists/pagans here.(Yes, there are also wicked atheists/pagans which also makes up the majority of the group as it is in Christianity, even met some here myself in nairaland, that's why I distinguished them).

For if I despite being an authentic part of the church myself could say such a thing about wicked church folks, then that could suggest that I would even see the wicked atheists as much worse.

However that's not the case, for in my own opinion the wicked Christian is not anything different from the wicked atheist/pagan.

In fact if one of the two could have any edge over the other in this respect, it is going to be the wicked atheist/pagan over a wicked Christian because an atheist/pagan is not under such an obligation as the Christian is, for wickedness is even supposed to be the default characteristic of an atheist/pagan, so that if they are wicked it shouldn't be news.

But when a Christian is wicked it is a very big deal, because they are under obligation to be righteous and that ought to be their default mode. So that's what could give the wicked atheist an advantage over them.

And that's why when an atheist/pagan despite not being under such an obligation chooses to be righteous it becomes a big deal, because although wickedness was their default mode, but yet of their own free will they decided that they would be the otherwise, which is something worthy of appreciation and acknowledgment.

And obviously i'm not one of those of the church that dismisses such righteousness as baseless because I've observed how God the Creator values the righteousness of man His creation irrespective of who the person is and where the person comes from, especially from a nation's perspective that could make He say such a thing to Abraham His servant concerning Sodom and Gomorrah:

"...I will not destroy it for ten's sake." Genesis 18:32

I mean this came out of God's mouth to show the extent to which He respected righteousness regardless of if the person believed in Him or not, for He would have spared the whole land for the sake of ten righteous atheist/pagans from Sodom and Gomorrah.

That's why no one can tell me that the righteousness of atheists/pagans have no value in the sight of God, for God has shown Himself over time to have respect for man's righteousness as in that instance of Sodom and Gomorrah, that the absence of it which is wickedness would make Him want to destroy it, but the presence of it would have made Him instead to spare it.

For that's how "righteousness exalts a nation", for the righteousness of those ten persons would have made God to spare the nation of Sodom and Gomorrah and hence exalted or saved it.

So the righteousness of an atheist/pagan can never be useless, as it could make God even seek to save them as they have a quality which is similar to His.

So if you are righteous atheist/pagan don't mind all these sentimental church folks who are just here thinking that righteousness is the exclusive preserve of a Christian, or those who claim to believe in Jesus, for Jesus Himself doesn't even know most of them here because they are workers of iniquity.

And do not be surprised if because you are a worker of righteousness, He knows you and personally makes efforts Himself to bring you in, for you to know the truth about Him as He did in the instance of the centurion, that would lead Peter His disciple to this surprising discovery:

"Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:34-35KJV

So it was through this instance of the centurion that Peter a true disciple of Jesus came to know this truth about God, that God was not a respecter of persons e.g. Christians or people that claim to believe in Him despite being workers of iniquity, but God is a respecter of righteousness and hence a righteous person like you.

And the reason is not farfetched as aside that God desires that man His creation is righteous as He is, for He is all righteous in His ways, God also knows that a nation needs righteous persons like you, for just ten of your kind would have made Sodom and Gomorrah to remain till this day.

So don't let anyone make you think that your righteousness is a waste for at least in the instance of your neighbors and by extension a nation, it is indeed very essential, as Nigeria would not have been in such a terrible state, if the sheer amount of wicked Christians in it were instead righteous atheists/pagans.

But that's only speaking of the righteous atheists/pagans because for the wicked atheist/pagans it would pose the same evil to the nation as the wicked Christians are presently doing, so they are equally no good with respect to a nation's plight.

But if the wicked atheists/pagans don't want to remain in the same bracket as the wicked Christians, with respect to the evil and reproach they represent to a nation's health, the only way they can do that is to turn from their wicked ways and start living a life of righteousness.

For that way even in the sight of God, they would be better than the wicked Christians when it comes to the treatment of ones neighbors, for that is how a nation gets exalted.

My moniker is jesusjnr and I just want to make some righteous sense.

Hairyrapunzel:
You that is worshipping God cannot show us bible passages where God condemned birthday or Christmas celebrations or viewed it as dirty.

Lol. You people must provide Bible verse o.

TATIME:
By GRACE! Hmmmmmmmmm
So a Christian can choose to celebrate festivals that's not found anywhere in the history of God's loyal worshippers ( not even found in the life and ministry of Jesus Himself) and still claim to be under the GRACE!
I thought GRACE means (underserved kindness) shown to Adam's descendants for STRICTLY following Jesus' footsteps since all have come short of God's glory through Adam's sin!
Maybe you're saying GRACE means adding Jesus' name to WHATEVER people decides to do and His name will turn what is abominable to acceptable before God!

Hairyrapunzel:
So celebration of birth of Jesus Christ is now worshipping Satan according to your assumptions right?

It's still your assumption cause you pull out verses and speculate when none of the verses say such.

Last last na assume you dey assume.

TATIME:
SHAME on Kumuyi and all YOU his mumuscious followers!

TATIME:
FALSE! God ONLY gives HIS Holy Spirit to those who are willing to OBEY the instructions from HIS representatives!
God never force those who aren't obedient to the word.
That's why i keep repeating it that Kumuyi is not teaching you anything tangible!
I don't expect the Holy Spirit to touch you because you haven't agreed with God's required standards. If that's how it works then nobody will miss God's kingdom after all God wants all to be saved!
So my friend it's AFTER you've accepted all that Jesus taught or willing to continue learning from Jesus' TRUE followers that the Holy Spirit can have ANYTHING to do with you! So wise up out of this your stupidity.

OLAADEGBU:
www.livingwaters.com

"How can one witness to a Jehovah's Witness? They know so much about the bible and even revered Jesus but they don't believe that Jesus is God." Rocio Soto

I make it a habit not to try and convince a Jehovah's Witness that Jesus is God in human form. There are two reasons for this.

The first is that they have their own version of the Bible that removes references to the true nature of Jesus.

Second, when Jesus asked Peter "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said to him that flesh and blood hadn't revealed that truth to him, but "my Father who is in Heaven." God is the one who reveals who Jesus is, so I leave that up to Him.

So you have two insurmountable hurdles if you argue doctrine with a JW. They move the goalposts, and they are spiritually blind.

The key to unlocking the door to them is to identify the real issue.

That issue is that JW's are a works righteousness religion. You can uncover this by saying, "There's a knife in my back and I have three minutes to live. What should I do to enter the Kingdom?" It's then that you will discover that they are trusting in works for their salvation rather than in the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

So you have to put them up the River Niagara without a paddle.

Strip them of their false hope. No one will be saved through good works or by being religious. The way to do that is to take them through the spiritual nature of God's Law (the Ten Commandments). Then share the biblical gospel with them--that we are saved by grace through faith alone (without works), and pray that God opens their eyes to the truth.

Once they are truly born again they will leave the Jehovah's Witnesses and become witness of Jesus Christ:

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and YOU SHALL BE WITNESS TO ME in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8, caps added)

If you don't know how to go through God's Law watch www.NoahTheMovie.com (1.2 million views).

Source: https://www.facebook.com/official.Ray.Comfort 11 May 2014

frosbel2:
All over YouTube , in blogs ( including African blogs ) , in citadels of learning , in churches and families , there is a noticeable movement , a sort of religious tremor that has shifted peoples minds from faith and fear to reason and courage. Let’s call it the modern age of reason and logic.

People are becoming more inquisitive about their faith and are appalled by the crookery and deceitfullness of church leaders. The cruelty of Christians to their own and to others has not gone unnoticed and many of us can now see the wood from the trees.

Christianity has not cured evil or saved man , in fact it has often times contributed to man’s pain. Many pray to Jesus and he does not answer , many hold onto the promises of Jesus but he does not fulfil them. Many call to Jesus but it appears he cannot hear them.

Jesus has been unable to save the marrriages of his followers ( same rate of divorce as the ‘unbeliever’ ) . Jesus has not returned hundred fold of lands ,cars , houses , brothers and sisters to all those who forsook all for him.

Many of Jesus followers are in mental institutions hearing voices but he does not heal them. Many of his followers beat themselves because of guilt and sin but Jesus does not deliver. How can he deliver when his adherents commit the most sins ?

Are your surprised why people are leaving Christianity ? Why did you leave Christianity ? Do you see yourself remaining a Christian in 2019?

Hairyrapunzel:
So you have to assume that Christmas is a pagan custom right? So celebrating the birth of Christ is now a pagan custom abi?

alBHAGDADI:
Titus 1:14

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.  

As a Christian, you are not to listen to the Jews or read their religious books other than you reading the Bible. The Jews have been rejected by God because they rejected Jesus Christ. I now wonder why anyone would be expecting me to abandon the celebration of the birth of Jesus my Lord and Savior simply because a book written by Christ rejecting Jews made false claims about Jesus. 

Do you also know that the Talmud of the Jews says that Jesus real father was a Roman soldier named Pantera who slept with Mary? Is that the same book who wrote lies about Nimrod and Jesus that you want to dump Christmas because of? The Jews are antichrists because their religion of Judaism rejects Jesus as the son of God, a thing which the Bible says qualifies one as an Antichrist.


1 John 2:22

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son

It is pretty clear why those Jews cooked up shady stories which many are now using to attack the celebration of Christmas. The birth of Jesus, which we celebrate on Christmas day, is a declaration that Judaism, the practice and religion of the Jews, is no longer valid. The birth of Jesus Christ put and end to their believe, that's why they are annoyed. It's silly for you bring the Nimrod information from people whom the Bible calls antichrists and expect me to receive it.

Once again, all those people who try to force you to do what is not written in the Bible which is the word of God, are actually teaching their man-made commandments and trying to make it the doctrines of God. They tell you not to celebrate Christmas but can't show you were God said so in the Bible.


Mathew 15:9

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  

December 25th may have been dedicated to the worship of a false god which I believe the people of those days were influenced by Satan to do such. But many of such people have today come to the realization of the true God and have turned that day into the celebration of him. Satan doesn't own any day because he never created one. All days were created by God and so it is not a bad thing picking any of those days to celebrate the birth of his son who came to save us from our sins. Since all days belong to God our father, what Christians of old did was repossess their father's possession and made it holy. It is the same thing that happens when a demon is driven out of an individual and the Holy Spirit enters into the individual to dwell. You can't tell me that such individual is still demonic, because demons can't reside where the Holy Spirit resides.

All those who say we shouldn't celebrate Christmas because December 25th was dedicated to a false god are just hypocrites. Got to their house, you will find a calendar on their wall, and this calendar contains days and months named after false gods. Examples are January dedicated to the false god Janus, Thursday dedicated to Thor, Saturday dedicated to Saturn etc. Are we now to stop existing on each of these days because some ignorant people dedicated them to false and weak gods? If those anti-christmas people say they don't have a calendar at home because they know it contains pagan names, don't they have a calendar app in the phones? Maybe they should throw their phones away because they are walking about with paganism. Apostle Paul said we can eat anything dedicated to gods and put it inside our belly. Any day dedicated to a false god can be taken by we Christians and dedicate it to the true God who created days.

Now, is there anything wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, eating food with family on that day, exchanging gifts, singing Christmas Carol that most times quote Bible verses etc? There is nothing wrong at all. And for someone to sit somewhere and say Christmas is a wicked festival, I ask, what is wicked about all I listed above? Whoever says we are committing sin for celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is a false accuser.


3. Christmas tree is pagan


I'll borrow a quote from Pastor Steven Anderson's sermon on the subject. Read below.


If you still think that Christmas trees are bad, then go right ahead, but let's at least look at the facts tonight, and that's all I want to do, is present the biblical facts tonight. In Jeremiah, Chapter 10, Verse 1, the Bible says, "Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O House of Israel. Thus sayeth the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain, for one cut of the tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workmen with the ax, they deck it with silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not."

Right now is where the anti-Christmas people stop reading, and they just take these couple of verses out of context. They stop reading, and they just take Verse 3 and 4, and they say, "Look, it is a vain, heathen custom to cut down a tree," okay, "And to deck it with silver and gold, and to fasten it with nails and hammers." Here's what they say. They say that's what you're doing when you decorate a Christmas tree. They say you've cut down a tree, and you're basically decking it with gold and silver, and they're saying because you put a gold and a silver ornament on it. Okay, that's their view. That is not what this scripture is talking about. If you stop reading right there, you could use that to convince people of your point, but that's not what it's really about, because keep reading.

Look at Verse 5. It says, "They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not. They must needs be borne because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil. Neither also is it in them to do good. For as much as there is none like unto thee, O Lord." 

Stop. What this is talking about, and I'm going to prove it to you from the rest of the chapter, this is talking about cutting down a tree in the forest, and carving it into an idol that is silver or gold plated. When the Bible says that it is decked with gold and silver, that is not saying hanging a silver ball on it. When you deck something over with silver, okay, you are covering it with silver. For example, the deck on your house. Your house might have a deck, okay? It's a covering, is what that means. What the Bible is saying here is that they're carving it into an idol, because look, in Verse 5, he says, "They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not."

Look, nobody thinks that a Christmas tree can speak, or walk, or do good or evil, because it's a tree, right? There are people who carve a tree into an idol of a false god, and they think that that false god can speak, or walk, or do these things, okay? Keep reading. Jump down if you would to Verse 8. It says, "But they are altogether brutish and foolish. The stock," okay, talking about basically the stump of the tree that's being carved, "Is a doctrine of vanities." Watch. Silver spread into plates. Look. Is this a round, silver ornament hanging on the tree? Is this a silver garland? No. It's what I said. It's silver spread into plates, because it's being silver plated, or gold plated, okay? It says, "Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Ufaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder." Okay?

Jump down to Verse 14. It says, "Every man is brutish in his knowledge. Every founder is confounded by the" what? Graven image. "For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in him. They are vanity." Look, you can't just take two verses out of context. You have to read the whole chapter. This whole chapter is talking about the same subject. Notice the same words are being used. Look at Verse 3, okay? If you have a pen, you may want to underline a few key words here, okay? In Verse 3, the Bible says, "The customs of the people are" what? Vain, and then it says they cut down a tree, right? Okay, now if you jump down to where he's talking about the graven image, he says in Verse 15, "They are vanity."

Okay, so what is vain? He says, it's vain to cut down a tree and deck it with gold and silver, and think that it can walk, or talk, or do anything. It's not like the true God. It's a false god. Later on, he says that these graven images or molten images are vain. They are vanity. Okay, he's talking about the same thing. Up earlier, he said in Verse 9, silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Ufaz, the work of the workman at the hands of the founder. See the word "founder?" Jump down to verse 14. "Every man is brutish in his knowledge. Every founder is confounded by the graven image." If you look at this chapter, there's a continuity of thought here. We are on the same subject in Verse 14 that we were in Verse 3. He's going on and on about the fact that they are carving idols out of wood.

What does it mean to grave, to engrave something? If I brought in something to an artisan, and said, "I want this engraved," they're going to carve my name into it, or they're going to carve some kind of wording into it. Okay. What is molten? Molten comes from the word melting. You melt down metal. You melt silver. You melt gold. A graven image is an image that is carved of wood. A molten image is an image that is made of molten metal, okay, and what he's saying here is that they are carving a wooden idol, and then overlaying it, decking it, with molten gold and silver, and they believe that it is like unto the God of Israel. You know what? People today will often compare the God of the Bible to other gods. They'll say, "You know, why should I believe the God of the Bible any more than I believe in the god of Islam, or Buddha, or whatever?"

There's no God like unto the true God, and the idol is vanity. It can't talk. It has to be carried, and God makes it clear He never wants us to make any image of Him. Does the Bible specifically prohibit graven and molten images? Oh, yeah. It's one of the ten commandments. "Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image." Okay, so there's no question that graven images and molten images are sinful. That matches perfectly with what Jeremiah 10 is teaching, preaching against graven and molten images. To sit there and say, "This is a Christmas tree," and people will even say, "A Christmas tree is a graven image." Let me ask you something. Where's the engraving? Where is it carved? In what way, shape, or form is it carved in any way? Answer me that.

It is just a tree. You brought the tree, and you put it in the house. There's no carving. Nothing has been molten or melted. Look, it's not an image. What's an image? It's something that's made like unto an animal, or a human, or an angel, or a god. Okay, but hold on a second. They'll say, "Well," and go to Isaiah, Chapter 60. They'll say, "Well, you know, okay. It's not a graven image. You got me, Pastor Anderson." Look, can anybody actually say that a Christmas tree is a graven image when it has zero graving and zero molten? Okay, no. They just say, "Yeah, but Jeremiah 10 said not to do it." No, because we read the whole chapter, and it was clear that the tree that they're cutting down in the forest becomes a graven image.

Cutting down trees is not wrong, unless you're part of the Environmental Protection Agency or something. I don't see how you could say there's anything wrong with going into the forest and cutting down a tree, okay? The sin wasn't cutting down the tree. The sin was then graving the tree, carving the tree into an idol, and overlaying it with gold and silver that it might be worshiped.


To conclude this article, I'll say there is nothing wrong in chosen not to celebrate Christmas just as there is nothing wrong with celebrating it. The only wrong found is when those who don't celebrate it start trying to impose their idea on others as if it is a commandment of God when such is not written in the Bible.


Let me explain the below passage so you will understand fully.


Romans 14

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

This is talking about a vegan/vegetarian and people who eat meat and all things.

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

The above says he that eats all things should not despise the one who doesn't. Also the one who doesn't should not judge the one who does.

4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

The above says we are not to judge each other because we are all servants of God. Our master is the one to judge us. You might says, what has this got to do with Christmas. Just keep reading.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

As seems above, it is good to esteem every day in the same manner. Also it is not a bad thing to esteem one day above others just as we esteem December 25th above other days. Verse 6 says he that regards a certain day regards it unto God and he that doesn't regard it does the same unto God.

Ladies and gentlemen, don't let anybody tell you Christmas is a pagan festival. It is not a pagan god we celebrate when we celebrate Jesus who is the reason for the season. It is not a pagan god's story we read when we read Luke 2 from the Bible on Christmas day. If they try to lie to you, show them this article which I will advise you to bookmark because these people will still come around next year with the same lies.

And please don't forget to send me a Christmas gift. PM Now

alBHAGDADI:
We are barely days into the New Year and those against tithe/firstfruits have already started launching their attack on the doctrine. According to these people, the concept of firstfruits is not a doctrine for Christians because we are not under the law of Moses. What they fail to know is that even before the forefathers of Moses were born, God had been collecting first fruits from humans. This post will show that it is God himself that ordained the collection of firstfruits and it is not subject to any law.

The first person recorded to have given first fruit or firstling is Abel the son of Adam and Eve. He and his brother Cain were told to do so By God.

Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

You see, whenever we mention Abel as someone who gave first fruit way before the law of Moses, all those anti-tithers love to give excuses to rubbish such point. One of the excuses they give is that God didn't command or order him to bring any first fruit, which means he did it of his own free will. Before I show you that it is God that commanded Abel and Cain to make that sacrifice, I will first of all like to show you that these anti-tithers understand nothing about the Bible. They don't understand because they lack the spirit of God, that's why someone can deceive them easily against tithing.

1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and
they are life.

They lack the spirit of God, that's why they don't understand the word of God which is spiritually discerned. Now, let me show you that God gave the command for Abel and Cain to offer sacrifice unto him. See what the Bible said below.

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Did you notice the words in bold above? The above verse says Abel offered sacrifice to God by faith. This means he believed in the word of God and proceeded to offer the sacrifice. This clearly shows that the word of God told him to do what he did, meaning he didn't do it if his own free will. See what the Bible says about faith and the word of God below.

Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

As seen above, you can't have faith without hearing the word of God. Now, if the Bible in Hebrews 11:4 says Abel had faith in God towards offering a sacrifice, then it means he heard the word of God telling him to offer the sacrifice. He heard the word of God and had faith in it which made him carry out the command.

It's now ridiculous for people who lack understanding of the Bible to sit somewhere and start saying God never commanded Abel to bring first fruits or firstlings. They read the Bible like it's a romance novel, that's why they never grab anything from the word which is spirit.

It is that same practice of Abel that Abraham followed, his grandson Jacob followed and also the children of Israel under the law of Moses. God is still the same yesterday, today and forever. He change not. If he collected first fruit from the people of old even way before the law of Moses, then what makes you think he has changed?

Malachi 3:6
For I am the LORD , I change not;

Yes, I understand that many are angry that today's pastors have abused this doctrine and have enriched themselves with it to the point of living in opulence and flying in jets. But that doesn't mean we should throw away the doctrine which is the word of God. Throwing it away because of them is like throwing away the baby with the bath water.

If you feel your church is one those who have abused this doctrine, then find another church which hasn't; they exist. Mind you, not all churches are really the house of God. As long as the message they preach is works based salvation and not saved by grace alone, then such is not the house of God. Such churches are an example of Cain and his offering. That is why most people who pay first fruits there are not really getting blessed. Let me show you why they are Cain.

Remember we established above that it was the word of God that made Cain and Abel make sacrifice unto God. But how come God rejected Cain's sacrifice but accepted Abel's?

Cain failed to follow instruction given by God's word. How do we know what this instruction is? We know this from Abel's sacrifice which the Bible says God had respect for. Abel made a blood sacrifice unto God, he sacrificed a lamb. Had it been Cain did the same thing, his sacrifice would have been accepted too. Rather, he offered fruits of the ground while Abel offered the blood of a lamb which represents the blood of Jesus Christ who is this Holy Lamb.

Cain's offering was based on his works. He thought if he offered an offering based on his sweat of tilling the soil and harvesting the produce, God will be more pleased by his effort. He failed to obey simple instruction of offering blood sacrifice, instead he relied on his WORKS. His sacrifice represents work based salvation, hence the reason why God rejected it.

Abel on the other hand followed the instructions God gave. He didnt rely on his works but relied on the blood of the lamb which is the same as relying on the blood of Jesus which was sacrificed on the cross. That is what God wants us to do today. But these dubious churches have changed the gospel and are now selling a work based salvation where people No longer rely on the sacrifice of Jesus but on their works of righteousness or their ability not to sin. They have turned their congregation into people who will present works of righteousness which the Bible calls filthy rags before God as their means of salvation.

Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing , and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

They do not know that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And it is not of our works lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

So, if your church is telling you that you can lose your salvation and that salvation involves works, then that is a clear pointer that such a place is not the house of God. That is why the pastors of such churches are very wealthy because they do not believe in God and have fleeced the sheep to stupor. If you continue to give your money whether in offering, tithe or first fruit, just know that your money is not reaching God. It's the same as going to GTBank to send Money to me when I don't bank with them. The money won't get to me. You have to look for the right bank which I have an account with before I can receive the money.

To all those who go about telling people Not to pay tithe or give Money to church, be careful or else God will descend on you.

Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

You know little about God's word yet you are going about persuading people to disobeying him. If you have decided not to pay to churches, so be it. But going about telling others to do the same is very dangerous.

Many will come to this thread to try to rubbish it by saying I'm a pastor trying to defend my cake. I'm not a pastor neither do I have a church. People who make such claims only do so to prove they are on the wrong. They attack the messenger while they neglect the message. That is being guilty.

chinavs9ja:
Tell me what is edifying in what freeze says

chinavs9ja:
Not telling them to stop paying as if he has their will. He is enforcing Christians indirectly. Everyone has the will to choose something that work for him or her

Anstone:
Oboy! Jesus, the head of the church never promise anyone money, neither did he ask for money... He ask us to simply "seek God's kingdom first and other things will be added".
Some celebrity of course are richer than most faithful christains, but that's not the criteria to arbitrate the one God is please with or not.
Remember the whole world lean on Satan, so he can decide to give riches to anyone who does his will, the same way he tempted Jesus offering him the world and his glory, but nevertheless, he would be cast out when God's kingdom finally come

Martinez19:
can you point out the 10% lies of daddy freeze in his posts?

Peterpanny:
what is this one saying

kevoh:
Yahweh, the Christian version of God, the one who supposedly with its powers created humans, earth, animals, the universe, the stars e.t.c and can create money more is a very broke deity that needs bribery payment of first salary from humans every 365 days and tenth of same salary every 30 days, so that he will return the favour. Think people! Think! Does that make sense!