₦airaland Forum

Will your father kill your son (his grandson) because you chose a different career path rather than stay on the family business??
"If you who are evil knows how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your father who is in heaven"

Science

Astronomy - the universe is a big wonder. No way it's an accident.
Biology - DNA is a program that every living thing follows its own. The odds of that happening by chance is less than one in a billion for an organism as simple as a virus. How much more a human with consciousness.

samuelson06:
My brother, WeirdAlien



Your problem is lack of understanding and that's making you act as an extremist. And it's not even like your argument is superior. As much as worshipping God in spirit and in truth is paramount, God's people will still gather and you don't expect them to gather in open spaces or shade. No one is asking for your money. Keep your money brother but God's people would still build churches. It's one thing whether they worship according to the Bible and another thing where they worship. However, both are important. That's a fact and you can't change it.



I'm not ignorant of the fact that some ministers abuse giving and demand more than what should be. However, we all should know that giving is voluntary. Meanwhile, there are people in some churches that have given their lives to giving or rising up for the things of God whenever you call on them. They don't complain. Would you also say these sort of people are forced to give? No! They give based on conviction. By the way, if they call for a specific type of giving and you don't have, no one will beat or force you to give. So what's your complaint? If they give you envelope for offering and you don't have, return the envelope. No one's going to beat you. Giving is purely based on your strength and conviction. Forget the number of times they call for it or the nature. Only do what you can. God knows that's the best you can do.



Focus on God. No need feeling bad or ashamed. No need comparing yourself with others. Do only what you can. God is aware. Of course, Pastors care because they can't force the money out of your pocket. Work with what you know about giving according to God's Word, and not necessarily about what the Pastor wants you to give for. If what they say makes sense to you, rise for it, else ignore. God won't condemn you because of that. Stop this argument or excuse about Pastors calling for different types of giving. They are not imposing them on you.



Why do you wear clothes and look nice? Can't you still make heaven even if you walk naked? No one says you'll take the building to heaven. But many have given their lives to Christ as a result of coming into that building. Many are now helping convert others as a result of coming into that building. That building you are condemning has house many homeless people, especially when they were facing crisis. Many of our ministers and church workers stay in that building. So what exactly are you saying?



5. When the Spirit of God moves in any gathering. You won't remember if you're in a cathedral or under a cashew tree. That joy and peace, healing and blessings you received will follow you everywhere you go.

I'm not saying church building is a bad thing. But it shouldn't put financial burden on members to construct and maintain. In fact it's not important.
And note how I've quoted scriptures to support my points. You haven't done that - you're just arguing.

It's immaterial whether it's important to you or not. As long as it's important to the people that pool their resources toward the construction, that's okay. Feel free to setup your own church in a shade or under a cashew tree. People would still come. God's power would still move. Allow those that prefer going to nice places of worship to do so. You talked about quoting scriptures. That's not necessary. I'm not writing a book. I'm a Christian and I know God's Word to talk about it without quoting scriptures.

I will not argue against anything you have said here, because you have not quoted any scripture to validate your points. They're simply your opinions and hold no waters.

samuelson06:
I wish we could meet physically to talk more about these issues. Do you think if Jesus was born in this civilization He won't approve fine buildings and technology in God's work? Mind you, some of the structures raised by people of the Bible is still standing till today. Go to Greece and other places and you'll find them. What's that telling you? Quality and beauty!

On the issue of giving in the church, it's purely voluntary in most cases based on convictions in Christ that's working for the giver. So you can't stop them from giving. It's wrong not to give room for taking offering in the church. I don't know how some of you want the church to be. If you go to the fine churches, won't you enjoy sitting there? Haven't you heard of the church Solomon built for God? Mind you, no church in this world today have spent close to what Solomon spent. It was magnificent—7 years work with plenty of laborers. Figure that.

Listen to me: the buildings may not be the most important in the body of Christ, but it's needful. If you can't contribute to building the church, do evangelism. Just do what you can as long as your effort contributes to lifting the entire body.

1. Jesus would be more interested in beautiful hearts and purity than buildings that will be destroyed when this world ends. Your are now God's temple. (1 Cor 3:16). Jesus told the woman , who referenced the temple in Jerusalem as where to worship, that the time has come when people will worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:19-24). That is your cue that the era of architectural buildings had ended.

2. I'm giving examples of what giving in church should be like. You don't have to remind people every Sunday to give multiple offerings (tithes, love offering, building offering, Thanksgiving offering, special offering, etc etc). This happens because the church is biting more than what it can chew - exotic buildings and equipment that require a lot of money to maintain, so you have to keep reminding people to give money to fund these avoidable expenses.

3. The way we collect offerings in Nigerian churches will make you to want to drop something even if it's grudgingly, because you either feel guilty about dropping an empty envelope, or feel ashamed of remaining on your seat while others are dancing forward. Either way Pastors don't care as long as you drop something.

4. Acts 7:47-49 says Solomon built a temple for Him, but God doesn't dwell in temples made by humans. So it's all vanity. In fact Solomon's temple was destroyed (God allowed it) and the one built as replacement was also destroyed and replaced by a mosque! (God also allowed that). If God allowed the most beautiful temple ever to be destroyed , it's your sign that He cares not about material things. You're just suffering yourselves to do works He didn't send you to do.

5. When the Spirit of God moves in any gathering. You won't remember if you're in a cathedral or under a cashew tree. That joy and peace, healing and blessings you received will follow you everywhere you go.

I'm not saying church building is a bad thing. But it shouldn't put financial burden on members to construct and maintain. In fact it's not important.
And note how I've quoted scriptures to support my points. You haven't done that - you're just arguing.

gohf:
let me show you how, do you believe that Satan was the first worshipper or the choir leader in heaven and that those men of cloth are right to use it as warning to choristers, even some claim it's not a ministry or it's a place Satan likes to dwell and the like of that talk

But none of it is online with scripture nor God's revelation


Jesus said God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth and he also said we shall worship only God and none other.

I believe one who worships God will all their heart won't one day desire to be worshipped and exalt themselves as a god

You have a point there. Now I see the reason for the topic.

samuelson06:
You may not find God or build a relationship with Him in church as you claim. However, the Bible says do not forsake the gathering of the brethren. Were you expecting they gather under a shade? Or some dilapidated structure? Stop this argument, sir. As much as important to build people, it's also important to build the church. You don't expect people go stay in a dirty place of worship.

Fancy buildings, large auditoriums, etc. God doesn't care about all that. Jesus preached everywhere - street, shore, boats, people's homes - He didn't limit Himself to the temple. And everywhere people were blessed spiritually, with food, and healings.
In fact the Bible repeatedly says "God does not dwell in temples made with human hands" (Isaiah 66:1, Acts 7:48, Acts 17:24). The early church of the Apostles had no buildings - they mostly met in homes. Until 300 years later when the Romans hijacked the church.

UK as an example, churches don't stress themselves for buildings again (apart from Anglican and catholic buildings that have been there for centuries). They simply look for events halls in schools, hotels, etc. In fact some of them use different venues every week/month. Most use the sound system of the hall and maybe bring a few tweaks, and most musical instruments are personally owned - you bring your guitar or sax to add to the music if you own one. Nothing like "contribute money for new amplifier or Korg Piano" or "we need money to redecorate the altar". No materialism. Yet no hypocrisy or pretense. Many churches don't even collect ANY offering, if you want to give the website is there 24/7 - they don't even announce it. If you receive true gospel no one will cajole you to bring money, it will come from within. Calm atmosphere where people will reach out to you because they sincerely care for you.

Jesus said "my yoke is easy and my burden is light". But naija churches will place additional load and burden on your head. You're simply serving human desires rather than God.

No one knows precisely. Simple answer!

And I don't see how the answer to that question impacts your faith or living with a pure heart.

Even Peter argued with Jesus - when he refused for Jesus to wash his feet at first. Noah argued with God and went the opposite direction. Jacob fought an angel one-on-one.
That's being human.

Which one is you never argued with your wife. Or did you mean "hot arguments" or "quarrels" or "shouting matches"
Even if you married an angel or you're one yourself, you must have differences.

Truthseeker10:
If that is the case, how was Adam and Eve suppose to accomplish the admonition in Genesis 1:28?

Does that also mean that God wanted Adam and Eve to sin in order to multiply?

Maybe they're supposed to procreate by cloning. Lol.
The anatomy of both the male and female organs strongly suggests that they are meant to work together for sexual reproduction. Male and female He created them - that says a lot.

No one can claim to know what exactly happened in most of Genesis before the time of Abraham. People will only say their own theories.

samuelson06:
You are the one confusing yourself. What's the church without Christ? If I say church works, it simply means Jesus Christ works. No one will contribute a substantial amount to the building of any church without having a strong faith in Jesus. Have you seen anyone coming to the public to regret about their contribution towards church building project? That's because they believe in the blessings that their involvement in the church will or have brought to their life. What else do you want to say?

"These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me - Matt 15:8" Yes there is church without Christ, even if of God/Christ is in the church's name.

Non-christian politicians donate heavily to church every time to buy people's conscience. Without any faith in Jesus whatsoever.

People won't come public to say they regret giving money to church building, because they've been brainwashed to believe giving to church means giving to God.

Obviously you've been conditioned to think church is the place where you find God, or build a relationship with Him.

That is true leadership.
I know a pastor who handed over his church to the members (who decided on their own leaders) and relocated elsewhere to grow another church. All within Nigeria. This is an apostolic example.

samuelson06:
You don't know what you are saying. The transformation simply means church works—at least, the people bringing their resources for the building of the church believe it works. So, let's leave it there.

"Church works"?? Not Jesus Christ works?
Obviously, and this is the point I was making originally, it's a lot more about the church than about Christ.
It's more of how much you're in church and how much of church is in you - Nigerian Christianity.
Focusing on the material - mega buildings, expensive equipment and vehicles than place "heavy financial yoke" on members.
That is not the yoke of Christ.

The transformation, while not bad, is not a reflection of the people's spiritual growth.
In fact, it seems to have achieved the opposite.

You're looking at this like everything ends in this world where you spend 70-80 years on the average.
There will be a new eternal world that all these wickedness would cease and all wicked people will be deleted forever.

I don't understand...

Wow

Sounds like a very bad case of diabetes due to uncontrolled excessive weight. In fact, that weight alone will be a cause of multiple chronic illnesses.

The classy Oloshos who claim to be artistes and social media influencers.
And the guys in that same circle who patronise them.

Now every Gen Z believes money and sex are supposed to be in the same sentence.

No sane man will leave the softness and warmth of a woman's body to go after fellow hardware.

The price that will make your blood pressure rise when it gets stolen or broken.
If you can't afford to buy the same phone over again 3 months after your intended purchase date, it's likely too expensive for you to buy now.

Russian Soldiers, not Putin's soldiers.

Good one.
But really NDLEA should stop making public how the drugs were concealed. They will stay ahead of many other packages in transit that are concealed the same way. But once you say it, those guys will quickly change their tactics and halt any current shipments. It's just logical.

salesbloo:
Nairaland give us figures in dollars not naira

God Bless President Bola Tinubu
God Bless Federal Republic of Nigeria

Like dollars is our currency?? Sebi naira "has stabilized and performing". Weeks ago you dead heads were celebrating that we "paid off" IMF. How come debt is rising?

Ruke1990:
Do your bible talk about "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we will catch up to meet him in the air, at the last trump"?

Your question is ambiguous to me. Could you please clarify??

Boomark:
Please nobody is interested in whatever any human being has chosen to define for themselves.

Pick up your bible and argue with Jesus Christ lets see how far you can go again the Lord's word.

First as a man, you're body, soul and spirit.
If you've ever looked at the corpse of a loved one - that lifeless body is still the person in your eyes.
Your embodiment of thoughts, memories, emotions, trauma, knowledge, etc. is your soul. If there's a way to transfer these into a robot, it will behave like you.
Now your spirit is the real you - your actual person, the entity "being" in human being. The life force that drives your body and soul.

When the Bible says God made man in His image. It is the full complete image - 3 in 1.

If you can understand this, you'll understand Trinity.

Misunderstanding!
Trinity doesn't mean there are three Gods in one, or one God divided into 3. No.
Trinity is one God manifesting in three personalities.

A new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem is what the Bible says.
Orthodox Christians and Protestants generally align with this setup.
The idea of going to heaven forever was brought by the Pentecostals.

James 2:26 is one of the most misunderstood scriptures in the Bible.

Simply put - if you claim you're a Christian (person of faith), your behaviour (works) should reflect it. The works in this context are the works of love.

jibsiddy456:
Dey play. That's if you don't know your worth as an accountant. Just AAT or Hnd in accounting will take home that 120k you are talking about. You can talk about law. No reason accountancy at all

POV. I was a chartered accountant before I switched 100% to Software Engineer.
I can count 50 colleagues with low wages after over a decade. So keep quiet on what you don't know!
You think there's job waiting for you somewhere? Because you got some qualifications?

Sccarrr:
Unfortunately, that's the reality.....95% of Nigerian lawyers broke pass broke.. the day my cousin told me she was earning less than 100k in the law firm she worked for, I shock😕

Same for accountants. Many chartered accountants out there earning less than 120k.