'ON THE UNNECESSARY YOKE OF BUILDING PROJECTS ON CHRISTIANS
By Arthur Owiti. updated May 3, 2010
It is interesting that many people are clamoring for political freedom forgetting that there is real bondage taking place in the church.The church building funds or cathedrals are taking up a lot of the time for sound doctrine in the church.It is because of such obligations, many pastors are preaching a diluted message ,politicians are owning churches and the real spiritual building is collapsing.
In one article on this issue , I wrote that the church building issue is a snare to many traps which well meaning Christians and Christian leaders have found themselves in .The emphasis of the physical is just a subtle form of Pharisee Christianity that glories in the flesh and the ordinances .
However the apostasy in the church today ha sled to many churches to return to Old Testament practices which include restoring the Levitical form of worship and this through physical buildings.
SLAVERY IN THE CHURCH/ SERFDOM IN THE NAME OF BUILDING" GOD'S HOUSE"
Here in Africa we are having a sorry state of affairs in this area.Because of Western Christianity's emphasis on grandeur and gigantic buildings that show off glory and prestige , some African church leaders have copied and pasted the same craft.However these guys only copy and paste what brings money and not what is good.
For example there are quite a number of faceless Western Christian leaders who have "tents" - they do not live off the the flock they teach .This is also happening in Kenya especially with the turn of events that followed the economic recession.
Sadly they are a minority.No wonder many leaders here are not copying and pasting that good trait of Christian leadership, which is bibilical.
So the leaders become Kings in the church buildings or palaces where the serfs come and give money for many church projects in the name of giving to God.The worst is calling it tithe so that one will always feel that he is robber when he has not brought the tax required by God to his house.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.
Visiting some places in rural Africa , it is irony of ironies to see big half done buildings amidst a poor people.The congregants are struggling to pay for the bills that are required to finish the buildings.The Pastor labors to preach sermons that can draw money out of the pockets of the poor.It is a shame.
In one area they told me that because of the costs of building , the church members have been politely coerced to build the church with their little knowledge about building.Men and women in the village building the church which should have been built by seasoned builders.Yet they have given enough tithes and offerings ...a case of double torture ...Why oppress the congregants in this manner.
So not only is the church building demanding money,it is demanding their muscle.The question is which building are Christians supposed to build?
THE BODY OF TRUE CHRISTIANS IS THE TRUE BUILDING
These deceived Christians are building the wrong building..They are serfs with their own money supporting their serfdom.The true building is the fellowship of believers who take care of another both spiritually and physically.The materials we use is prayer the word of God and sharing with one another.Giving is out of liberty and not out of fear of robbing God neither out of legalistic requirements.
Sadly what we see today is buildings of stone where people do not share with one another spiritually but just always hear Deuteronomy 28 being preached for the coffers to be full to build an extension for the already big yet empty building.
This futile effort leaves the inner man undone .
This church building project is nothing but new slavery that bind the preacher to preach soothing messages to get money, that makes politicians new Constantines and denies the sheep the word of God which they need for spirpitual growth.
A SUMMARY OF THE TRAP OF CHURCH BUILDINGS
Object of Veneration or Worship ..It is an idol
Falsely called the temple of God
Object of Sentimentality when they catch fire and burn ..people cry and say God's house is on fire.
Shadow of the church the body of Christ the true temple of God ...which one should we be focused on shadows or reality ?
Store house of the tithe and offerings instead of going to the poor and widows or more money goes into other unnecessary affairs than the poor and widows
The justification of the clergy laity system
In Christ Jesus,
Arthur Owiti
COMMENTARY ON THE ARTICLE BY BRO.DANNY MCDOWELL
The absolute OBSESSION with "BUILDING PROJECTS" has left the Body of Christ impoverished and enslaved to the greed of men seeking their own KINGDOMS. Pastors and Church leaders count on the ignorance and fear within God's people. Little concern is paid to the consequences of BEATING GOD'S SHEEP! These men, seeking only REPUTATION and personal financial GAIN, are using the redeemed of the Lord as PACK MULES and ASSES to carry the load for their own religious tombs.
They are leading the people of God into the bondage of modern day Pharaoh's. Can you imagine? A great PRICE was paid in RIGHTEOUS BLOOD for the redemption of God's Elect, only to be led back to Egypt to labor in the construction of modern day PYRAMIDS---Sepulchers filled with the bones of the APOSTATE.
A cleansing is taking place in America. Huge and expensive "BUILDING PROJECTS" have been STOPPED IN THEIR TRACKS because of the economic fiascos of the RICH. When you DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, HE WILL STEP ON YOUR FEET! That is what is happening in the world of Mega Churches here in America. Bankruptcies abound, and "WORD OF FAITH" late comers are falling like dominoes. Multi-million dollar building complexes are standing empty in the wind and rain giving credence to that declaration "the foolish man built he house upon SAND". God is laughing at them. They beg for His attention, but Heaven is a BRASS WALL against them. God's people are weeping for Egypt and cannot understand why their mourning falls on deaf ears like a wise parent allows a BRAT to throw his fit while patiently waiting for the spoiled child to get over his tantrum.
If you are frustrated, if no matter how much you pray and fast, weep and wail, agonize and question the Almighty because he REFUSES to allow your plans to come to fruition----it's time for you to fall to prostration and GIVE THANKS for God's grace. It's time to come to your senses and realize that God is STEARING YOU AWAY from Egypt just because he is MERCIFUL. Why, as Paul, are you KICKING AGAINST THE THORNS? Don't you see what is happening? Don't you see that you have been misled by false apostles?
I say with all the truth and sincerity that is within me----ENCUMBERING GOD'S PEOPLE IS NOT FROM GOD! STOP WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO-----STOP IT NOW before it's too late. The LENDER will not understand when you tell him that you cannot meet the next MORTGAGE PAYMENT! He will repossess the land and you will be in worst financial condition than at the first.
Most will ignore this plea because they just cannot turn from their "dream, their vision", but this is not God's vision for his people. God's vision for his people is for them to flourish----free from the fret of missing a LAND PAYMENT. Danny McDowell
