Stop charging fees for prayers
By Noah Sendawula
Posted Friday, January 9 2015 at 02:00
Posted Friday, January 9 2015 at 02:00
In Summary
This is not a bad thing, however, the manner in
which the pastors approached it, shows that some born-again churches are
business entities in cutthroat competition for customers.
As the year 2014 was winding up, a lot of things and excitement were building. However, in the midst of all this, something unique and worth noting took place in the born-again Christian sector.
As the year 2014 was winding up, a lot of things and excitement were building. However, in the midst of all this, something unique and worth noting took place in the born-again Christian sector.
A number of churches ran persuasive
advertisements on several radio and televisions stations asking
Christians to attend prayers on December 31 to usher in the New Year at
specified venues.
This is not a bad thing, however, the manner in
which the pastors approached it, shows that some born-again churches are
business entities in cutthroat competition for customers.
This trend makes one question the real motive of
some pastors today. It is easy to believe that some of them take
advantage of their flock and exploit them financially in the name of the
gospel.
Pastors in Uganda today are part of the
conspicuous consumers, buying expensive vehicles, customising them and
acquiring personal property using resources obtained from their flock
who give in the name of sowing seeds of faith!
The absence of an effective regulatory mechanism,
has made it possible for some pastors to charge entry fees to their
respective venues of worship as it was at Nakivubo on December 31 where
Christians were charged Shs5ooo entrance fees for overnight prayers! Is
this morally correct? That people pay to attend prayer sessions?
On one of the radio stations, one of the pastors
boasted that he had come up with a good initiative of a fee arguing that
it helped him to keep away thieves and other unserious individuals as
these would not easily sacrifice Shs5,000 to access venue for prayers.
This in my view is wrong because Jesus came primarily for such sinners.
Some pastors should be restrained from carrying
out certain actions as they are slowly but surely damaging the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Noah Sendawula,
Wakiso District
Wakiso District
