While growing up, I observed the church to be a city of refuge, a place where you could actually go to and find comfort. You see people come with different problems, and the church will stand as a unit to ensure the problem is resolved. You see different groups praying, visiting, and doing all it takes to see challenged members are fine again. Back then, I saw people really committed to the things of God; there was less evangelism, but more Christ-like folks.

People wanted to have Christians around them; the tag 'Christianity' was synonymous with safety and trust. Materialism was not the goal; sanctification was the watchword. Members who held sensitive positions in the church were not necessarily rich or influential; they were simply lovers of God, those who you can always count on spiritually and physically. Back then, we used to have known prayer warriors, bible teachers who were just members and not ordained workers or pastors. But today, there seems to be a paradigm shift. The church seems to be more concerned with having more members and having more financials than with really grooming heaven-bound souls.

Churches that used to be a refuge for so many back then seem to always be in need these days. Whatever the church needs is announced for all to contribute towards. But members' needs are seldom mentioned in the pulpit for contributions. More emphasis is laid on giving to the church, which is not bad, but less encouragement is given to help fellow members of the church.

The early church in the Bible was very concerned about the well-being of its members; however, modern-day churches seem to care more for those who are more relevant financially. This, among other reasons, was what prompted Martin Luther to admonish that "the church must not sell salvation for money." Now let's make this clear. I support tithes, offerings, and other kingdom investment hundred percent, and I also support pastors living a very good life within their means, as God will make provision for. Furthermore, I also support ministries paying their pastors well, especially when they have the resources to do so.

But what is really getting me bothered is when you see churches collecting so much in offerings weekly, and that same church constantly saying the church requires this or that, that members should donate. It gets me off sometimes. Church leaders must understand that "When giving becomes a transaction, faith becomes a commodity; not forgetting a church that measures success in revenue risks losing its soul." Because of this growing trend, some people are in church just to show off; they mainly give openly, to the applause of many, but when some truly needy persons meet them privately, they give excuses. However, there are sincere and true kingdom promoters, men and women who give openly and secretly as they are able, not for applause but out of deep-rooted love for the advancement of God's kingdom.

The hypocrisy in some modern-day churches is fast- drifting these churches into a profit-making enterprise, and it's really defaming the gospel of Jesus. We must stop magnifying finance over the things of God.Matthew 21:13 says, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." The gospel indeed needs finance, but finance must not be magnified more to the detriment of the gospel itself. A wise man said, "When grace is priced, it ceases to be grace."

It is shameful today when we see pastors involved in shady deals, it's disheartening to see known criminals holding titles in churches, and it's heart breaking to see churches singing praises of men in meetings. This was not the example the apostles laid before us. 1 Timothy 6:10 says… "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." That evil, as stated in the scripture above, is fully resident in some churches today… may God help us.

Sometimes, I feel like championing a crusade that will bring churches to start giving a monthly or quarterly report to all church members on what is generated and what it is used for. But again, will that not be an avenue for some enemies of the church to orchestrate chaos? That notwithstanding, in some parts of the world, it has become needful for us to understand that the church is a charity organization and the bulk of its revenue should be used for the church and for charity.

Even if the church decides to set up businesses, which is not a bad idea, a large part of the profit should still be ploughed back into the church, and the remaining part can be used for charitable purposes. Also, churches must start paying church staff well. It’s so bad when very wealthy churches pay staff even below the approved government minimum wage; it's not the best. We must, as a matter of urgency, begin to make Christians and non-Christians alike see the church as a place of refuge indeed and not a tax office, because when religion becomes a business, profit replaces prophecy.

I know of some people who stopped going to church because they couldn't meet with the constant demands from churches; to avoid being embarrassed, they withdrew from the church to start another on a low profile, while some utterly left the church and the faith. Church leadership must acknowledge that not every program of the church should have members called upon to donate to. Such announcements shouldn't be made at all, but if the members are instructed by the Holy Spirit, that is good; they can bring as much as they are willing.

Because if all the church needs are announced, then there is nothing wrong if members' needs are also announced. The early church had everyone submit to the apostles’ feet, their giving for the good of other members, to have them feed, clothe, and shelter. There was love and unity; stewardship, they say, builds the church, but exploitation breaks it. It is a fact that churches need resources to function, but they must never confuse funding with faith.

I passionately and strongly desire Bible-focused teachings and unity among churches, irrespective of denomination. Let's forsake doctrines and uphold the pure world of God. Let's live in love and true sincerity towards one another. Let's truly help, not because it will lead to applause from others, but because one of us truly needs it. What is the need for a church with billions in the savings account, and members are dying daily for lack of hospital bills, lack of food, or shelter?

With the growing economic challenges around the world, if some churches can, they should build camps and just have the less privileged go there and stay, feed them once or twice a day, and look for job opportunities for them. From there, they can stand on their own. Enough of it; if it’s the need of the church, it's everybody's need, but when individuals are in need, it’s their need. Enough of encouraging members to have faith in God if they are in need. But if the church is in need, it's continuously announced until more than what is required is gotten. This is not the love of Christ.

Very importantly, churches need to reconsider opening numerous branches if they cannot adequately cater to these branches till they are strong enough to stand. In addition, instead of opening multiple branches in a city centre already full of other bible believing churches and in some cases same denomination, let's move to village's, places with little or no churches, this is where we should expand to, acquire lands, build a small church send pastors and helpers there, adequately ensure their well-being is taking care of.

Then the church back home and the mission leaders will continuously pray and evangelise until the new church is standing well. Even if it takes a year or more, keep on with crusades, evangelism, and all. This will take a lot from the church, but that is what we should be concerned with. Taking the gospel to where it’s not been heard or where the light is not shining bright.

Again, we must shave out the competition. The body of Christ is one. Doctrine is not of God; it’s birthed from human understanding. Men carved out doctrines based on what they understood Christianity to be. The goal of Christ was simple and clear, without doctrinal practices. Come to the Father, the creator of heaven and earth, and find rest. That was it. Repent from your evil ways and live for God.

I honestly look forward to the church of God all over the world being what it truly should be, as ordained by God. A church were money is not the crux of all meetings, a church where men will be respected and will hold position based on how much they love God and not based on how much they are willing to give, a church that will go out on evangelism not just to gain more members but basically to depopulate the kingdom of hell and see God's kingdom enriched, a church that will grow more branches not for bragging rights but to see the gospel reach where its most needed, to see Christians who truly love God, study the word, pray and live for Jesus and not men pleaser, who care only about the praises from others.

The end time church is ordained a glorious church, church that is soaked in the love of Jesus, a church rooted in the word of God and in faith, a church manifesting in entirety the way of God, a church that emphasizes the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and the enthronement that comes after diligent and prompt obedience to the word and instructions of God. We must keep to heart that you and I are part of the church, you have a part, and I also have a part. We are being watched ahead of judgement day.

Therefore, brethren in all things, by all means and most diligently, you must ensure your name is in the book of life. Ignore church politics, refrain from those who have made the church of God a business arena, and leave truly as Christ's ambassadors, convenient or not. For this is the whole duty of man, to fear God and keep His commandment, and not all about revenue generation in the church. For God said, "I will build my Church." It’s God's church, and He is committed to building His church regardless of our mischievous revenue-generating skills.