In all this it is always voluntary, it is an impulse to express from within you not an impulse imposed or mandated on you to express... Thanksgiving is voluntary.
Today's indoctrination started off as usual on very wonderful praises and I enjoyed the choristers giving it their best shot and communing us with the spirits and preparing our souls and minds to today's preaching.
Shortly after, prayer for the success of today's indoctrination was done and a little praise before the preaching started properly.
Today's topic actually resonated a disheartening feeling in me because what is going on in our various churches today is nothing to be written home about.
Thanksgiving is no longer seen as a voluntary act but rather it almost looks like the congregation are mandated to give thanksgiving, some even against their will.
Now tell me how someone who didn't do thanksgiving from his or her heart will receive the blessings that should come for it?
In this current state of economic hardship, Our churches have almost tilted from the main purpose of religion and Christianity which is sharing and echoing the word of God to the ends of earth and are now avenues for different fund raising... It's disheartening indeed.
Thanksgiving as it's called should be according to one's heart decision.
Take for instance, a brethren who was going for bar exam promising God that he will offer Thanksgiving if he passed his exams and he did!! This Thanksgiving the brethren did sprungs from his heart because he entered an agreement (vow) with God even before he received his pleads.
I also got to know that some churches give offerings inside an envelope with their names written on it, this is improper and defeats the purpose of Thanksgiving.
Is it for the pastor or minister to know how much you gave or what whereas the Thanksgiving wasn't for him but for God?
God loves a cheerful giver but God never coerces anyone into giving because it's better when it came from your heart and from how much you can afford.
I invite you to be a member of this service because there are much you can learn and also it's translated to many languages so you will definitely follow up.
ALLL PICTURES ARE SCREENSHOTS TAKEN FROM THE SERVICE.
Thanks for reading and have a nice day 👍