Question: In what ways has the Nigerian Christian Churches adhered to the teaching of the bible about alms giving? Written below is a complete article, please comment below:
In
the old law states that in terms of alms giving Jesus through that in Mathew 6:1.
Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by men; for then
you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven. Thus when you give
alms, sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in
streets that they may praised by men, truly I say to you your right hand should
not know what your left hand is doing so that your alms may be secret and your
father who sees in secret will reward you. Christians engage themselves in
alms giving as it is a Christian practice to give alms to poor presently
Christian are been exposed to the principle just as the scripture says give and
you shall receive. Nigerian Christian are effectively involved in alms giving. When
you give alms do not let anybody know that you have giving anything to
somebody.
Christians
responses to the teaching of Jesus Christ as it is regarded to the poor ones in
our different societies according to the bible Jesus through us how to be
giving to the poor in which he shows example to us. But today many Christians
finds it difficult to follow the footstep of Jesus because of their ugly
selfishness etc. While some follow the footstep of God to show appreciation and
help the poor. Those in hospital, motherless babies home those being alone the
street even some Christian organization like (CAN) Christian association of
Nigerian, (P.F.N) Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria etc these are some of the
Christians organization that care out the footsteps of Jesus Christ as a sign
post in areas of alms giving.
Finally,
alms giving as it was thought by Jesus Christ to the Christians will help to
open door to our success and up-liftment in our life as a Christian, Peter, Paul
and other disciples include some Christians today are doing that have less in
our societies and churches. The Christian churches in Nigeria teach and
practice rendering help to the poor and needy through supplying clothes, food
items and money. In different denominations in the Christendom, many charitable
organization are formed to take care of the needy in the midst welfare
committees welfare committees are formed in some denominations and local
churches because of the increase in the number of the poor and less privileged
in the churches and the society at large. Through these committees the churches
is able to meet the demand of the gospel of Christ in regards to alms giving.
Christ faithful also from non-governmental organizations (NGOS) who are
committed the need of the general public and the needy in particular. This is
done without publicity. Christian building of orphanages and old people homes
the missions ministry in some of these denominations pay visits to the
motherless babies home with gifts of money and other valuable items. Some go as
for as donating huge amount of money without publicity as commanded by Jesus.
In
the rural areas old people are treated with preference especially those without
children or relation to depend teaching of Christ without announcing it to the
public Christian denomination in Nigeria build hospital the poor are given
treatment in a heavily subsidized rate without publicity. Sometimes, Christian
organization and domination invite health personnel during crusades to give
free medical services to their guest’s scholarship grants. In obedience to the
biblical injunction, (in the book of James 1:27), prominent men in most
Christian denomination award scholarship to intellectuals in their midst who do
not have sponsors to further their education. This is done without publicity. Widows
are also properly care for by all the different individual groups mentioned
above. Individual are not left out in these alms giving. Understand that
alms giving is investing into the kingdom of God and laying up treasures for
ourselves in heaven, individual Christians are fully committed to giving of
alms to the poor and needy without publicity. To exhibit this virtue, the
Christian church in Nigerian do not mind religious differences they adhere to
this teaching of Christ without religious discrepancy.
ON PRAYER
And
when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in
the synagogues and on the streets concern to be honoured by men. I tell you the
truth they have receive their reward in full. But when you pray go into your
room close the door and pray to your father who is unseen then your father who
sees what is done in secret will reward you and when you pray do not keep on
babble on and think their prayer are answered only by repeating their words
again and again don’t be like them, because your father knows exactly what you
need even before you ask him pray like this
Our father who is in
heaven
Hallow be your name
May your kingdom come
soon
May your will be done
here on earth
Just as it is in heaven
Give us our food for
today
And forgive us our sins
Just as we have forgiven
those who have sinned against us
And don’t let us yield
to temptation
But deliver us from the
evil ones.
If
you forgive those who sin against you your heavenly father will forgive you.
But if you refuse to forgive others your father will not forgive you. Jesus
thought us how pray when he did his forty-day and forty-nights dry fasting. A true
Christian must know how to pray, either by mid-night prayer to sacrifice time
in God’s present. No Christian can live without prayer it is the key to our
success in life it is common among churches and Christian because without it
will cannot get something from God. It is necessary to a Christian life as
praying.
Finally,
no Christian can live without prayer, no way except prayer so we immediate his
teaching by praying always in life both at home schools, office on the car etc.
just show the important of it in ones life. In the bible says pray without
season. Prayer brings us to the presence of God where we commune with our
father. When coupled with fervent prayer the spirit connects with God and out
relationship with him is strengthened. This aspect of the Christian virtue
affords us grow in grace and develop right attitudes to live as Christians
through prayer we worship God the father as contained in the Lord’s Prayer
(Matt 6:-13)
The
following are ways the Christian (Matt 7:7-8) church in Nigeria has adhered to
Jesus teaching on prayer and fasting. Christians pray collectively in churches
without making a show of it as condemned by Christian when Christian fast, you
cannot distinguish between a person. Christian family or Christian families
pray in their homes under close door as demanded by Christ without letting your
neighbourhood know they are praying except groups prayers where people pray
with loud voice yet not characterized by hypocritical cries and publicity, but
an expression of heart felt burden and humanity, reverence and gratitude to
God.
Individuals in their private homes
pray
A person may be praying for
instances in a bus, the person sitting next to him may not understand what is
happening except is he/she is in a mood know to Christians.
ON FASTING
“And
when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do who try to look pale
and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that
is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and
wash your face. Then no one will suspect that you are fasting, except your
father, who knows what you do in secrets. And your father, who knows all secrets,
will reward you. Fasting is a way of praying without eating or drinking. It may
be one or two day dry fasting or six to six fasting and six to three fasting
etc. which can strengthen us to be in contact with God to solve our different
problems in life.