POINT BLANK - FOR BELIEVERS - BY REV. FIDEL ADUAYE ODIETE

POINT BLANK:

For Believers, and especially Ministers of the Gospel, to publicly show case their extension of charities to men, is HYPOCRITICAL and OBSCENE.

The Lord Jesus Christ said:

" Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward." 

Matthew 6:2 NKJV

Being charitable is a cardinal requirement of our faith, but to call in the press and cameras to record our charitable donations and beam it to the world, is strange to our faith.

" But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."-Matthew 6:3-4

Pray, what noble motive advices our drive to make men see our kindness towards fellow men?

While I can understand the need to record such acts for the financial partners that contribute into the ministry to be aware of what their donations are used for, such should be shown to them privately.

To line up the widows, orphans, disabled,etc, bring in the TVs and cameras, and beam to the world, their receiving donations and specified items from us, is highly UNCHARITABLE.

We do not model Christ, but the Scribes and Pharisees whose practices Jesus publicly disdained, when we call the world to witness our extension of benevolence to the needy.

" But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments."

Matthew 23:5 NKJV

Our Christian acts that are targetted at men's acclaim are hypocritical and misguided and can only attract heavenly disdain.

" And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."

Luke 16:15 NKJV

Our righteous acts must surpass that practiced by the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus' day, for it to be reckoned with in the kingdom of heaven.

" For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:20 NKJV

OF OBJECTS AND SUBSTANCE:

Now, several of the recipients of our "charitable donations" and the substances we donate clearly reveal that we are just like the publicans. And this is unbecoming for the Ministers of the Gospel, especially.

They donate to the people that can, in one way or the other, donate back to them. And they, thus, give to them items that they do not need.

To call well-to-do public figures and donate luxury cars to them, as well as humongous amount of money, is being political. It's certainly not being Christ-like. Check out these two scriptures:

" He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty."

Proverbs 22:16 NKJV

Giving to the rich is in the same mode as oppressing the poor.

" Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Luke 14:12-14 NKJV

Friends, let's allow scripture to be what presents to us the PRECEPTS and PATTERNS of Christianity and Ministry. We should stop conforming to and patterning the world and passing it off as Christianity and Ministry. Remember that this world and it's fashion is PASSING AWAY. The day you die, it means that Christ has come for you; the world will not be there.

I'm Fidel Aduaye-Odiete and I want to make Scriptural Sense.

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