What comes to our minds when we first hear about religion? Majority define it as how different people worship there God or Allah to the Muslims. But over time things have been changing on religion, instead of we as Christians to do what we are supposed to do at the church that's giving our tithes and offerings and running other errands that is a must for the church such as building our church, we go to the extend of doing so much that we tend to neglect our own agency for self improvement.
We are so lost in religion losing sight of our own ability to take control of our lives and make positive change of it. Today churches are scattered everywhere in the country which is a good sign that majority of our country people are believers. But we tend to ignore the fact that several citizens have taken advantage of that and used that opportunity to manipulate especially Christians in Kenya and other parts of Africa.
Majority have opened their own churches, which is not bad at all.But looking it at a different angle, many are after money and not after spreading the word of God. Christians are charged and forced to bring certain amounts as tithes and offerings whereas its clear in the Bible one has to give what one has. The so called men of God tell us we will be blessed if we give,but then most of us give but not wholeheartedly. It is because we are forced to give a particular amount. Now can someone get blessings over what they give without love?
Some have gone even as far as corrupting Christians' minds negatively. It is like they are compelled to do whatever they are told. For instance take the Makenzi incident that has been going on in Kenya. What happened in Shakahola is still a puzzle to many of us that we can't solve. It's claimed those Christians went there to pray and fast but more death victims are found some due to hunger. Others are said to be hit with blunt objects. Now, can we really call that worshipping, cult or ritual?
Despite the fact that others are dying of hunger, the ones still alive totally refuse to take any meal or drink and also being rescued. They didn't want to leave that place. We ask ourselves to what extent have there minds been compelled and corrupted that they don't want to be rescued?
As Christians we also have to avoid such incidents by studying the particular church we are interested in before joining . Just as the Bible said, "My people perish because of lack of knowledge". Many are suffering.
In many of our Africans homes, many do not have stable or well paying jobs. We struggle to make ends meet but on Sundays we take all we've toiled for over the week to the church forgetting to improve ourselves in the name of seeking God's blessings and that's why we shall continue to be third world country because we can't improve our lifestyle with this kind of attitude.
It is high time we as Christians have to know our rights as and start doing what is right and that pleases God not our church leaders. We cannot continue to be manipulated and used. For instance, how can you contribute for your pastor to buy a car so he or she doesn't have to walk while coming to church or contributing to him to buy an apartment while you sleep in grass thatched mud house or your daughter or son is at home due to lack of fees? Why can't we pay the school fees first or build ourselves first before building others? Why can't we put the same energy we do while searching for money to take to church so we can be 'blessed ' into looking for fees to better our children's future lives? It's high time we as Kenyans and Christians we have to think big and stop being slaves to our own people .
BY TRIZAH CHEROP KISO, Second Year Journalism and Mass Communication student at Chuka University.
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