Commentary: Checking Materialism In Our Churches These Days

^{WRITTEN BY EKWI AJIDE}
Nigeria is a secular state where all religious practices are allowed. However,

Christianity and Islam are the major religions practiced. Since the advent of Christianity in the country around fifteenth century, a lot of things have changed for good.
The Portuguese brought Christianity but were unable to successfully plant it because of their involvement in slave trade. It can be argued that the actual reason for their arrival was more in their interest of slave business, as most of the Portuguese slave traders took Nigerian slaves and resold them in the Americas and Europe. So, they were, so to say, not committed to missionary work.
Today, Nigeria, a former destination for foreign church missionaries, now take the gospel back to the West and other parts of the globe. Religious activities thrive and every corner of the country sees the emergence of new churches every day. Analysts, however, say that some of these churches have been commercialized in the name of gospel.
The present day Christianity in Nigeria has left the essence of its existence, one of which is to cater for the poor in their midst as well as preach the gospel of redemption to man. Today, in our churches, we hear slogans like sacrificial offering, among others. The church has left the salvation teachings to dwell more on prosperity and the gains in giving.
It is not an overstatement to say that many churches, today, no longer preach the gospel of Jesus Christ but the gospel of Money. Many of them now devise means of getting money from the unsuspecting members of the public who are often coerced into giving, even when they can least afford it.
It is unfortunate that many worshipers these days are not properly rooted in the knowledge of the word of God; hence, they are tossed about by every kind of doctrine, some of which are even against the word of God. Many churches have derailed in their pursuit of the kingdom.
For instance, today, harvest and bazaar, hitherto known with winning and dinning, especially with the poor, have been turned into all cash activities.
In the olden days, missionary schools were free so that children of the poor and the rich alike could attend; but today, reverse is the case. Today, many poor parents will contribute from their meagre income to build the church and later the schools, but, regrettably, their children will not attend such schools because they cannot afford their costs.
Yet, despite the increasing number of churches in Nigeria today, crimes continue to increase. This is probably because, today, we have more church goers seeking one miracle or the other than the real Christians.
No wonder the Bible warns of days like this in second Timothy chapter three that in the last days, perilous times will come and men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, who will have a form of godliness but denying its power. 
The Bible further warns that we should turn away from such people for they are the sort who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, who are always learning but are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth which is the word of God. 
No doubt, Jesus Christ died for our sins and is able to do all things and change all situations. However, the key remains that we must repent of our sins and trust wholly in Him for blessings, liberations and breakthroughs.