First of all, I will like to make it clear that I am a christian but I have become less religious. I was a strong christian when I came to Nairaland but I started losing some faith after spending about a year on the religion section. I still write about religion but I'm not as prolific as I used to be. http://allnaijablog.com/religion

Here are the things I believe causes people to lose faith in the religion section-


1) Excessive materialism;
Some Christians act as if God is Oprah Winfrey- a celebrity that just gives money and free gifts to adoring fans. Worshipping God is much more than reaping materialistic rewards. God does not owe you a government contract, a house or a sports car. So much time and testimonies are spend on preaching and praying for materialistic rewards that some people are turned off religion. What about the enrichment of the soul? The fruits of the spirits? Another dimension of this materialism is the worship of pastors' spending- when pastors buy luxury items (eg porche/ferrari), we see church members jumping and shouting. This brings me to my next point......


2) Worship of pastors instead of God
Some church members are slaves to their pastors. A man old enough to be the father of a young pastor, will be calling his pastor "daddy"! When pastors do wrong things, rather than correcting them, some of their church members on nairaland will be defending them. For instance, we have had people defending pastors who have slapped church members, pastors who have wasted money on luxury items and pastors who have told outright lies.


3) Christians arguing about things they don't know;
Many christians do not know their bible. Many christians do not understand science. This a huge problem on the religion section that atheists are happy to exploit. For instance, we see some christians arguing about evolution being false or claiming that Jesus was a rich man in the bible- both these things are false. Please, we should learn before we criticise


4) Badmouthing and blaspheming against other faiths;
Islam, atheism and paganism. None of the mentioned faiths or beliefs are devil worshipers but some christians treat them as such. Some people turn christianity into identity politics- just because someone is not a christian, they act as if christianity gives them the moral superiority.


5) Tithing;
While this is related to the materialism point, this deserves its own space. Tithing is one of the most single annoying thing that puts one off religion. God does not need a percentage of your money. Why ten percent? Is God now a numerologist? Why not 11 or 25 percent? why is it exactly 10 percent? The tithing issue has become so polarizing that it has caused a great division within christianity.
I personally do not mind giving offering to a church but two conditions must be adherred to- first is to understand that the money is going to the church (and not God) and secondly, it should never be forced on me or anyone. I prefer to give out of my heart than to give a forced percentage.







tags kingebukasblog, vooks, uyiiredia, hahn, joseph1832, johnydon22

nonsense so you believe in evolution too ¿¿¿

Annunaki:
You made a lot of good points but evolution is thrash and islam is a satanic religion.

Islam is not a satanic religion. Yes, there are terrorists in islam but there are also many more good muslims.

Many christians accept evolution. It is science.

kodded:
nonsense so you believe in evolution too ¿¿¿

Evolution is fact

AllNaijaBlogger:



Islam is not a satanic religion. Yes, there are terrorists in islam but there are also many more good muslims.

Many christians accept evolution. It is science.

Obviously you know very little about islam.

boboLIL:
trash

truth

AllNaijaBlogger:


Evolution is fact

Even scientist don't claim evolution is aa fact, it's called a theory. That aside evolution has so many flaws and it fails to answer so many questions that it cannot possibly be true.

Annunaki:


Even scientist don't claim evolution is aa fact, it's called a theory. That aside evolution has so many flaws and it fails to answer so many questions that it cannot possibly be true.

A scientific theory is filled with facts

AllNaijaBlogger:


A scientific theory is filled with facts assumptions

edited

[size=1pt]

AllNaijaBlogger:
First of all, I will like to make it clear that I am a christian but I have become less religious. I was a strong christian when I came to Nairaland but I started losing some faith after spending about a year on the religion section. I still write about religion but I'm not as prolific as I used to be. http://allnaijablog.com/religion

Here are the things I believe causes people to lose faith in the religion section-


1) Excessive materialism;
Some Christians act as if God is Oprah Winfrey- a celebrity that just gives money and free gifts to adoring fans. Worshipping God is much more than reaping materialistic rewards. God does not owe you a government contract, a house or a sports car. So much time and testimonies are spend on preaching and praying for materialistic rewards that some people are turned off religion. What about the enrichment of the soul? The fruits of the spirits? Another dimension of this materialism is the worship of pastors' spending- when pastors buy luxury items (eg porche/ferrari), we see church members jumping and shouting. This brings me to my next point......


2) Worship of pastors instead of God
Some church members are slaves to their pastors. A man old enough to be the father of a young pastor, will be calling his pastor "daddy"! When pastors do wrong things, rather than correcting them, some of their church members on nairaland will be defending them. For instance, we have had people defending pastors who have slapped church members, pastors who have wasted money on luxury items and pastors who have told outright lies.


3) Christians arguing about things they don't know;
Many christians do not know their bible. Many christians do not understand science. This a huge problem on the religion section that atheists are happy to exploit. For instance, we see some christians arguing about evolution being false or claiming that Jesus was a rich man in the bible- both these things are false. Please, we should learn before we criticise


4) Badmouthing and blaspheming against other faiths;
Islam, atheism and paganism. None of the mentioned faiths or beliefs are devil worshipers but some christians treat them as such. Some people turn christianity into identity politics- just because someone is not a christian, they act as if christianity gives them the moral superiority.


5) Tithing;
While this is related to the materialism point, this deserves its own space. Tithing is one of the most single annoying thing that puts one off religion. God does not need a percentage of your money. Why ten percent? Is God now a numerologist? Why not 11 or 25 percent? why is it exactly 10 percent? The tithing issue has become so polarizing that it has caused a great division within christianity.
I personally do not mind giving offering to a church but two conditions must be adherred to- first is to understand that the money is going to the church (and not God) and secondly, it should never be forced on me or anyone. I prefer to give out of my heart than to give a forced percentage.







tags kingebukasblog, vooks, uyiiredia, hahn, joseph1832, johnydon22

[/size]

Well sir,
1. All these things you mention are nothing new, in fact they are as old as Christianity

2. For everything you do, you can always fish for 1001 reasons for doing it once you've done it. They call it justifying your actions in some quarters

3. I once worked for a mean boss who never brooked problems. He required any problem identified to be accompanied by a solution. I don't know what solutions you have in mind but I can suggest one; why not start a movement/fellowship/church of yours that is FREE of these things so that once in it, your followers' faith will soar instead of depreciating?

4. Why are you still clinging to Christianity?

Thank you

AllNaijaBlogger:
First of all, I will like to make it clear that I am a christian but I have become less religious.

Stop deceiving yourself

AllNaijaBlogger:



I like this story so much.

The moral of this story is that compared to God, we humans are like small animals (pigeons) and we do not truly understand him. Unfortunately, this story also implies that God is a hapless man who also does not understand us pigeons and has to resort to different silly ways of luring us into his comfortable abode.


God works in mysterious ways.

Merry christmas!

Resorting to blasphemy ?

I was a strong christian when I came to Nairaland but I started losing some faith after spending about a year on the religion section. I still write about religion but I'm not as prolific as I used to be. http://allnaijablog.com/religion

Lies and more lies

Here are the things I believe causes people to lose faith in the religion section-


1) Excessive materialism;
Some Christians act as if God is Oprah Winfrey- a celebrity that just gives money and free gifts to adoring fans. Worshipping God is much more than reaping materialistic rewards. God does not owe you a government contract, a house or a sports car. So much time and testimonies are spend on preaching and praying for materialistic rewards that some people are turned off religion. What about the enrichment of the soul? The fruits of the spirits? Another dimension of this materialism is the worship of pastors' spending- when pastors buy luxury items (eg porche/ferrari), we see church members jumping and shouting. This brings me to my next point

Booo ! Lies . Name any strong christian on Nairaland who has subscribed to materialistic gospel and defend bling preachers .

2) Worship of pastors instead of God
Some church members are slaves to their pastors. A man old enough to be the father of a young pastor, will be calling his pastor "daddy"! When pastors do wrong things, rather than correcting them, some of their church members on nairaland will be defending them. For instance, we have had people defending pastors who have slapped church members, pastors who have wasted money on luxury items and pastors who have told outright lies.

Who are these pastors and who are their members ? Can you post quotes supporting this claim

3) Christians arguing about things they don't know;
Many christians do not know their bible. Many christians do not understand science. This a huge problem on the religion section that atheists are happy to exploit. For instance, we see some christians arguing about evolution being false or claiming that Jesus was a rich man in the bible- both these things are false. Please, we should learn before we criticise

Evolution is false and even atheists like John , Hahn , Dalaman etc have openly claimed that they do not support the inchoate theory . Who has claimed Jesus was a rich man during his lifetime ?

2 Corinthians 8:9
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

And it was shown here :

Matthew 8:20

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

4) Badmouthing and blaspheming against other faiths;
Islam, atheism and paganism. None of the mentioned faiths or beliefs are devil worshipers but some christians treat them as such. Some people turn christianity into identity politics- just because someone is not a christian, they act as if christianity gives them the moral superiority.

But how has this made anyone dump christianity ?

I guess this was just added to make it up to 5 'points'

5) Tithing;
While this is related to the materialism point, this deserves its own space. Tithing is one of the most single annoying thing that puts one off religion. God does not need a percentage of your money. Why ten percent? Is God now a numerologist? Why not 11 or 25 percent? why is it exactly 10 percent? The tithing issue has become so polarizing that it has caused a great division within christianity.
I personally do not mind giving offering to a church but two conditions must be adherred to- first is to understand that the money is going to the church (and not God) and secondly, it should never be forced on me or anyone. I prefer to give out of my heart than to give a forced percentage.

Only road side churches force members to pay offerings and tithes . Its glaring when a church is only after your money .

Tithes in the bible were mostly farm produce . If you have 100 yams , your tithe should be 10 yams . The higher the percentage , the higher the number you should present to God as your tithe . Why complain about the percentage . You would have asked God why he didnt create the world in 2 wks or 3 days or in a 1 day

Tithing should be of spiritual significance . You are giving to God mister .

I would have made it more profound by quoting scriptures to debilitate your "points" but anyways ...

The topic should be : The wrongs of the religion section . I wonder why someone would stop believing in God because of your "points"

vooks:
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Well sir,
1. All these things you mention are nothing new, in fact they are as old as Christianity

2. For everything you do, you can always fish for 1001 reasons for doing it once you've done it

3. I once worked for a mean boss who never brooked problems. He required any problem identified to be accompanied by a solution. I don't know what solutions you have in mind but I can suggest one; why not start a movement/fellowship/church of yours that is FREE of these things so that once in it, your followers' faith will soar instead of depreciating?

4. Why are you still clinging to Christianity?

Thank you

Vooks, is this you?

Sir, you raised reasonable questions and objections. I'm surprised but happy at these things you have said.


1. Some of the things I mentioned have added a new dimension in these times. Materialism has gone mad- atm machines and POS inside church?!!!

2. Very true

3. It is a very good idea, you have put forward

4. Frankly, I do not know. Maybe because of cultural relevance and that Jesus is still an interesting figure?

KingEbukasBlog:


Stop deceiving yourself


Resorting to blasphemy ?



Lies and more lies



Booo ! Lies . Name any strong christian on Nairaland who has subscribed to materialistic gospel and defend bling preachers .



Who are these pastors and who are their members ? Can you post quotes supporting this claim




Evolution is false and even atheists like John , Hahn , Dalaman etc have openly claimed that they do not support the inchoate theory




But how has this made anyone dump christianity ?

I guess this was just added to make it up to 5 'points'


Only road side churches force members to pay offerings and tithes . Its glaring when a church is only after your money .

Tithes in the bible were mostly farm produce . If you have 100 yams , your tithe should be 10 yams . The higher the percentage , the higher the number you should present to God as your tithe . Why complain about the percentage . You would have asked God why he didnt create the world in 2 wks or 3 days or in a 1 day

Tithing should be of spiritual significance . You are giving to God mister .

I would have made it more profound by quoting scriptures to debilitate your "points" but anyways ...

The topic should be : The wrongs of the religion section . I wonder why someone would stop believing in God because of your "points"

6) Lies and denial
When faced with the problems with christianity,, christians like kingebukasblog like to deny and tell lies in order to avoid discussing the issue behind the problems

You see, christians like Kingebukasblog like to act as if many churches in Nigeria are not materialistic. Just look at the number of pastors that have private jets and the church members that can't see anything wrong with such extravagance. Proof? Well, the proof is here https://www.nairaland.com/2607699/5-reasons-why-pastors-not

Just follow the link to the thread and read it through to see people defending pastors with private jets.




Oyedepo slapped a young girl on camera. The whole world saw it. Many of his winners chapel members supported him- in fact, they still go to his church. Now christians like Kingebukasblog will put their head in the sand and claim that there are not many christians who worship their pastors like God.

AllNaijaBlogger:




Vooks, is this you?

Sir, you raised reasonable questions and objections. I'm surprised but happy at these things you have said.


1. Some of the things I mentioned have added a new dimension in these times. Materialism has gone mad- atm machines and POS inside church?!!!

2. Very true

3. It is a very good idea, you have put forward

4. Frankly, I do not know. Maybe because of cultural relevance and that Jesus is still an interesting figure?

Sir this is vooks not Vooks

I don't recall the last time I listened to TD Jakes but one memorable thing he said was,'sometimes your purpose is wrapped in the things that annoy you the most..' He went on to give examples. You come to church and the music is just atrocious to your eardrums or the sitting arrangements and God may be calling you to reform these.

I think that's a good point. Martin Luther was disgusted by the rot that Catholicism had become and that is how Reformation was born.

About materialism, I think you have a point although I won't be quick to dismiss technology as materialism. In the 80s I recall all we had was a tray passing around. Nowadays we have mobile wallets and debit cards and checks. Why should we shun from these? We had scrolls and books hundreds of years ago, now we have ebooks and tablets and tv and satellite not to mention Internet.

The reason I mentioned hindsight excuses is because naturally we tend to shift responsibility onto something or somebody else for our fail. If you have lost your faith and only cling to Christianity for formality, you don't have to blame everything but yourself. I'd think you being innocent of all these things you accuse other Christians, you ought to have been the salt, affecting them for better, pulling them up. Anyway, regardless of who/what is responsible for your loss of faith,to God you stand alone, else Judas may as well have blamed his poverty for itchy fingers that led him to betray his Master

Think about a church hard my friend. Let me borrow a cliche I think from Mandela, 'be the change you want'

And finally, I don't know if it is really a good idea to hold on to bits of Christianity. One atheist told me he is all for Christian values minus the supernatural 'hullabaloo'. I think there are some tenets of Christianity you drop and you cease being a Christian regardless of how good you are.

I strongly believe the best cure for whatever ails Christianity is INTERNAL criticism. When as a born again Christian I speak against materialism,or idolizing ministers am more likely to be heard than Richard Dawkins

God bless you for your candidness.

vooks:


Sir this is vooks not Vooks

I don't recall the last time I listened to TD Jakes but one memorable thing he said was,'sometimes your purpose is wrapped in the things that annoy you the most..' He went on to give examples. You come to church and the music is just atrocious to your eardrums or the sitting arrangements and God may be calling you to reform these.

I think that's a good point. Martin Luther was disgusted by the rot that Catholicism had become and that is how Reformation was born.

About materialism, I think you have a point although I won't be quick to dismiss technology as materialism. In the 80s I recall all we had was a tray passing around. Nowadays we have mobile wallets and debit cards and checks. Why should we shun from these? We had scrolls and books hundreds of years ago, now we have ebooks and tablets and tv and satellite not to mention Internet.

The reason I mentioned hindsight excuses is because naturally we tend to shift responsibility onto something or somebody else for our fail. If you have lost your faith and only cling to Christianity for formality, you don't have to blame everything but yourself. I'd think you being innocent of all these things you accuse other Christians, you ought to have been the salt, affecting them for better, pulling them up. Anyway, regardless of who/what is responsible for your loss of faith,to God you stand alone, else Judas may as well have blamed his poverty for itchy fingers that led him to betray his Master

Think about a church hard my friend. Let me borrow a cliche I think from Mandela, 'be the change you want'

And finally, I don't know if it is really a good idea to hold on to bits of Christianity. One atheist told me he is all for Christian values minus the supernatural 'hullabaloo'. I think there are some tenets of Christianity you drop and you cease being a Christian regardless of how good you are.

I strongly believe the best cure for whatever ails Christianity is INTERNAL criticism. When as a born again Christian I speak against materialism,or idolizing ministers am more likely to be heard than Richard Dawkins

God bless you for your candidness.

Thanks. Your comment is inspirational.

AllNaijaBlogger:



Thanks. Your comment is inspirational.

If you don't mind me asking, where were you fellowshipping?

you didn't lose faith, you only gained wisdom.

vooks:

If you don't mind me asking, where were you fellowshipping?

Lol.

You mean, where was he grazing or Herding ?


And if you don't mind me asking, where do you graze ?

plaetton:


Lol.

You mean, where was he grazing or Herding ?


And if you don't me asking, where do you graze ?

Negro, you are funny and you make me laugh without trying.

That's classified

How is your week coming?
Mine is bad, I can't get a vehicle part nowhere, a fuel tank door flap

vooks:

Negro, you are funny and you make me laugh without trying.

That's classified

How is your week coming?
Mine is bad, I can't get a vehicle part nowhere, a fuel tank door flap

My week is relaxed.
Soaking up the harmattan breeze and lots of palm wine.

Annunaki:
You made a lot of good points but evolution is thrash and islam is a satanic religion.

Annunaki

From now on, portray God as God of Vengeance and of Discipline. God is nothing like Oprah Winfrey.
Always write your own commentaries on the Principles of the Bible as you know them and give rooms for alternative reasonings. Never talk or write what you don't know anything about. Let your questions be different from your answers. Be certain of "The Faith" before "The Hope". You trust what you believe, ie, Seeing is Believing. Always know that you are talking about "God in Love".
Badmouthing is ignorant reporting. Don't join them. Write on Knowledge and Understanding. Tithing is not The Faith. A contract is a contract. A Covenant is The Will of God. Never promise God what you can't give. God knows every thing and Is jealous.

plaetton:


My week is relaxed.
Soaking up the harmattan breeze and lots of palm wine.

Great. Am looking for this, visiting a few junk yards before I ship it from UK/ Japan

Intresting...................... I think I love this thread.

vooks:

Great. Am looking for this, visiting a few junk yards before I ship it from UK/ Japan

Hard item to find, especially if the vehicle is not very common.

If you're in Lagos, you might try Ladipo market or Owode in Ogun State, after Ikorodu.

The anunaki gods are only here for the gold. Our money is a receipt for gold. No one has the gold, we all carry the receipt for gold. But where are the gold? They are with the anunaki. So Op you are ignorant on that part of 10%.

ifenes:
The anunaki gods are only here for the gold. Our money is a receipt for gold. No one has the gold, we all carry the receipt for gold. But where are the gold? They are with the anunaki. So Op you are ignorant on that part of 10%.

Put down the mushin weed.

orisa37:
From now on, portray God as God of Vengeance and of Discipline. God is nothing like Oprah Winfrey.
Always write your own commentaries on the Principles of the Bible as you know them and give rooms for alternative reasonings. Never talk or write what you don't know anything about. Let your questions be different from your answers. Be certain of "The Faith" before "The Hope". You trust what you believe, ie, Seeing is Believing. Always know that you are talking about "God in Love".
Badmouthing is ignorant reporting. Don't join them. Write on Knowledge and Understanding. Tithing is not The Faith. A contract is a contract. A Covenant is The Will of God. Never promise God what you can't give. God knows every thing and Is jealous.

You just like to break complex issues down to catchy catchphrases, don't you?



Thanks for the advice

benodic:
you didn't lose faith, you only gained wisdom.

Interesting. Care to elaborate?

plaetton:


Hard item to find, especially if the vehicle is not very common.

If you're in Lagos, you might try Ladipo market or Owode in Ogun State, after Ikorodu.

Many thanks