AyoCreates @AyoCulture - Twitter Profile

Today Sunday I went to church. Not a small church. One of those massive auditoriums with LED screens, cameras, and a parking lot that looks like a car dealership on Sundays. Service was good. Music was powerful. The choir sang like heaven had opened. After the sermon the pastor said, “Before we close, we will take our offering”. That’s normal. Then he said, “If you are led by the Spirit, give your first offering”. People stood up. Envelopes, transfers, POS machines moving from row to row. After a few minutes he said, “Now we will take the second offering, this one is for the church building project”. The screen showed a 3D animation of a future cathedral that looked like an airport terminal. Again people gave. Then came the special seed. “Anyone believing God for a breakthrough this week should come forward”. People rushed out. Some dropped ₦5,000. Some ₦20,000. Some more. I sat there quietly. My wife looked at me. I didn’t move. She whispered, “You’re not going?” I said quietly, “I already gave in the first offering”. She nodded slowly. After service a brother tapped my shoulder and said, “You didn’t sow a seed today?” I smiled. I said, “I sow seeds every month. It’s called supporting my parents, paying someone’s hospital bill when they can’t afford it, and helping a struggling friend keep food on the table. He looked confused. I continued. “God sees those ones too”. He didn’t respond. On the drive home my wife said, “You know some people believe their breakthrough is tied to those seeds”. I said, “I believe in giving. I believe in generosity. I believe in supporting the church. But I don’t believe God runs a transaction system where miracles are unlocked by POS receipts”. She was quiet for a moment. Then she said, “You’re not wrong”. I said, “I know”. She sighed. “But if you say this publicly, people will think you hate the church”. I smiled. “I don’t hate the church”. “I just don’t think God is broke”.

40

245

45

43

23K

0

8