Wonders shall never end!
It’s becoming tougher day by day as the world is showing us signs of the end times. People are out there trying to deceive others, providing unreasonable reasons and facts to back up their claims, and if one isn’t careful, they fall into the dungeon they have already dug. Beware of fake prophets [and not only them], but also those who disguise themselves as good people but have a different agenda. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I was minding my business yesterday, scrolling through Twitter (X), and my eyes caught a headline: Stop going to church and you will save more.
Like, what does going to church or not have to do with saving? I already knew it would be such foolish words before opening it, but I just wanted to see for myself and then make a post.
The lady explained how going to church has made her broke, and she didn’t think she would ever go again. She even said that since she stopped going, she has been saving more than expected. Her reasons?
According to her, when you go to church, you start deliberating on the kind of hairstyles to rock every Sunday, the shoes to wear and outfits so you don’t keep wearing the same thing. She narrated how she had always worn a different outfit every Sunday and how she had spent everything on herself.
Who sent her business? That was my question. She goes to church to impress, and so, she was always concerned about what people would say about her outfits rather than her heart to God. It makes me ask: why do people go to church? Is it to impress or spend time with God?
This was how a guy tried to discourage me some weeks ago on how going to church isn’t necessary as long as you have your personal study time at home. This was someone who wanted to be in a relationship with me, and I quickly disengaged myself from such a man. I knew from the start that he wasn’t of the same faith as me.
If there’s anything I love about going to church every Sunday, it is that I go with my heart focused on God, whom I am going to worship and not anyone. This is why I tend not to let anything distract me, especially my phone, as I put it in DND mode until service has ended. I have always given my undivided attention to God in the temple, and this is because I wouldn’t want to attend Church without being blessed.
And here was a lady discouraging people that they should stop going to church so they could save more. When they don’t go to church, they won’t bother about buying new outfits every week, no new shoes or even changing hairstyles. I just laughed because it was such a silly reason.
Who do I need to impress? Who am I going to meet in Church if not for God? The Bible says we shouldn’t forsake the gathering of the brethren, and besides, attending church to hear the word of God strengthens our faith the more because we learn new things daily apart from our personal study time.
As a believer, you must surround yourself with other believers in Christ so you aren’t alone, especially when in the midst of those who are still in the world, and so you won’t be tempted to backslide. But not many people understand this.
Another reason she said not going to church would do is that there wouldn’t be paying of tithe.
It makes me ask again, does not going to church stop you from not paying tithes? There have been a lot of misconceptions about the payment of tithes. Just like this guy who wanted a relationship said to me, tithes are not necessary as long as you give alms to the needy outside, because giving the church tithes would make the pastors rich. He gave some instances where some pastors have bought new cars while members are struggling to feed themselves.
I ask, when you give tithes, is your mind focused on what the pastors will do with it or that you’ve obeyed God’s instructions? He couldn’t say anything about it. I explained to him that paying tithes is a commandment in the book of Malachi 3:10, and when we do that, we aren’t concerned about how the money is being spent, whether the pastors squander it or use it for something else. Ours is to obey God and wait for His blessings on us.
A lot of people find silly excuses not to pay tithes, and I don’t mind them. It’s none of my business because once I am obeying God and doing my part, what happens next isn’t my concern, and besides, it’s God I have business with and not the church. So, whether you stop going to church or not, not paying tithes is not something you can escape from, except you just decide to keep stealing from God.
Lastly, she said not going to church would make you save. At least if you aren’t buying new dresses, shoes and making new hairstyles every week, you will save more. Isn't it when you have a job that you will save? Who gave you the job? Is it not God? Even if you save, when you are faced with emergencies you cannot run away from, and you spend all you’ve saved, then she would understand that no one robs God and goes scot-free.
Let’s be cautious around individuals who spread misinformation and discourage others. As Christians, we must pay tithes and not miss going to church because we aren’t there to impress but to worship God, and that’s the whole duty of man unless God didn’t create you.
