Advertising charity work: Are men of God not going outside religious injunctions?

• True Charity Should Not And Never Be Advertised Or Publicised As Some Men Of God Do
• We Are Expected To Show Love To Our Neighbours On Daily Basis Because We Can Never Over-do GodIn Charity

Whereas all religions enjoin the faithful to always be charitable towards their fellowmen and do so as anonymously as possible, there is a growing penchant for individuals, corporate, as well as religious bodies to advertise with pomp their charity works. On the pages of newspapers, TV, radio and even the social media, it has become commonplace to see a display of all manner of kindness shown to others. Nowadays, hardly do people engage in any act of kindness and go about it discreetly. They often feel urged to go announce such from the rooftop. Another trend is for faithful to wait till a particular season before displaying charity towards others. Thus, Christians wait until Christmas or Easter to do so, while Muslims wait for Salah celebrations to give food and other items of value to the less privileged. But is this how it should be? Does it mean the needy do not lack on other days, weeks and months outside festive seasons? What is the underlying motive behind these showy attitudes? CHRIS IREKAMBA reports.

Bishop Cyriacus.E.Uwanaka

‘God Said Do Your Charity In The Secret’
(Bishop (Prof) Iroelekanya
Cyriacus Uwanaka, General Overseer, The Pentecostal Restoration Church, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos)
CHARITY, which should be propelled by love, is the only law under grace dispensation, which is the Church age we are in now. Jesus left us two of it: First, love God and second, love your neighbour as yourself. Charity is an act or proof of love. Love or show of love should not be seasonal, except where occasion warrants.

The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus…” If you love someone and notice a need in him or her, you don’t wait for a season to help. There could also be some seasonal needs, which makes people cry. A widow could cry during Christmas season for some clothing for her children. Though she may have been suffering wants at other times, but during such big festivities, food prices tend to go up. So, she could cry for not being able to afford what others are enjoying. Helping someone or doing charity does not really mean that the helper has more than enough to give out. Sometimes, it is a big sacrifice by the giver. Some needs are seasonal and could be seasonally met or not. School fees and certain festivals in some villages are seasonal and as such, need those who have not what is required to pay or participate to be seasonally assisted.

Advertising charity is not Biblical. God said do your charity or alms in secret so that God, Who sees in secret will reward you openly. Except such benevolence is planned to bring out some other people in the same conditions.

Publicising charity is politicians’ hallmark, but it is unfortunate that Christian organisations are toeing the flamboyant way of advertising without following any of the reasons I mentioned above for reasons best known to them.

Many Christian churches and ministries cannot do any humanitarian service without publicity. Sometime ago, I called on pastors in my community to buy filling sand to fill the potholes along our roads. Many laughed at me and called me a crazy man of God. Only five volunteered to do the work. I again requested that we buy torchlight for the Police Stations around us. Again, it was the same few people that responded. When I invite them, they come, but when they hear the reasons why I called on them, they regard me as someone bothering them with unnecessary issues.

For so many ministries, charity without publicity is not welcomed at all. Some of the men of God insisted and took pictures of what we donated, which I was not well disposed to. We should do charity so God can reward us and not join the mad competition of flamboyant self-promotion, which killed Sapphira and Ananias in Acts 5.

Professor Dawud O. S. Noibi, Executive Secretary/CEO Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN)

‘Intentions Determine The Acceptability’
(Professor Dawud O.S. Noibi, Executive Secretary/CEO Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN)
ADEQUATE care of the less privileged through Zakaah is the third pillar of Islam next only to the declaration of faith in the Oneness of Allah and the observance of the formal prayers five times daily. The Zakaah is paid by the well-to-do, as soon as it falls due at any tine of the year, depending on the conditions specified in respect of each of the various items of property on which it is paid: cash, jewellery merchandise, life stock, farm produce, etc. Obviously, the timing of the fulfilment of this obligation has got nothing to do with either of the two Islamic festivals.

The only charity that is related specifically to a festival in Islam is what is called Zakaatu L-Fitr, which, as the term denotes, is offered to the needy on the occasion of ‘Idu l-Fitr to enable them participate in the festivities joyfully.

Beside Zakaah, optional charity, named Sadaqah, too is given to the needy at any moment of the year, when the recipient needs it. In both cases, the recipients would include not only those who ask, but also those who do not, out of modesty (Qur’an 2:275). In Islam, Sadaqah may be in kind and not necessarily in cash. So, helping an old or physically challenged person to get on a vehicle, for instance, is rewarded by Allah as an act of charity. So also is a welcoming smile, according to an authentic saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The status of a charity publicised on the TV or by any other means for that matter, depends on the intention behind such publicity, for it is intentions that determine the acceptability or otherwise of actions, according to the teaching of Islam. What is certain, though, is that any charity done only that the doer might be seen and praised by human beings is not only unacceptable, but is, indeed sinful in the sight of Allah (Qur’an 2:264; 107:6).

Pastor Isaac Adeyemi

‘Christians Should Not Wait For Special Occasions/Celebrations’
(Pastor Adeyemi Isaac, Senior Pastor, Embrace International Assembly)
IT is very pertinent to consider some definitions of the subject at hand. According to the dictionary, charity means an attitude of kindness and understanding towards others, which suggest generosity. It is also seen as benevolence to others that are less fortunate than us. So also is the provision of goods or money to those in need.

Having examined the dictionary meanings of charity, I shall, however, dwell more on the biblical context of charity. 2 Corinthians 9.7 “so let each one give as he purposes in his heart not grudgingly or of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver.” As we can see, the Bible equates charity with giving. Therefore, to be charitable literally would mean to be a giver.

Charity involves helping those in need. In order to be charitable, it is also important to be hospitable. The two often go hand-in-hand. Hospitability means we are willing to open up our homes and lives to those that need it. This does not mean that we have to allow strangers sleep in our homes, but that we be friendly, compassionate and kind to anybody around us, including strangers.

This brings me to the all-important question: is there a special time to do charity/give? Absolutely none! There is no special time to do this. As Christians/men of God, we should give or do charity at all times. Christians should not wait for special occasions/celebrations such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter, special programmes, etc. before giving to the less privileged. We should give as often as we can. Having this fact in our consciousness that the less privileged shall never cease in our society, we, therefore, should have pity on the poor and the less privileged and give as often without waiting for any special occasion. Proverbs 19.17 “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord and He will pay back what he has given.”

True charity should not and never be advertised or publicised, as some men of God do. Because it is against God’s injunctions. But what we have these days in our society and other parts of the world is a growing propensity among some men of God, people, corporations, churches and other religious organisations to go on air to showcase their acts of charity, which to me, is baseless and useless, with no reward from God whatsoever. Whoever does this, irrespective of his status in the society, is selfish or has a selfish motive or has pride. Philippians 2.3-4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each of you lookout not only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others.”

Jesus Christ is seen as an epitome of charity. He did not worry about his own life, career or popularity. What He cared about, however, was people, most especially the unsaved and the less privileged. He says in John 15.13 “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus proved this by dying on the Cross for all of us. Actually, that is the greatest charity known to mankind.

Love is what propelled and prompted Jesus’ charity. Without love, charity is nothing more than a good deed done for some sort of selfish reason, as stated earlier. We can see this so crystal clear in 1Corinthians 13.

Therefore, as many as are led and have the ability and the capacity to do charity or give to the less privileged should do it with utmost discretion. It should not be done out of pride, selfish ambition such as political popularity, etc. It should never be advertised or politicised. Matthew 6.1-2,4 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them. Otherwise ye have no reward of your Father, which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. That thine alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

Rev. Msgr. Osu,

‘Advertising Charity Works In The Media Is A Way Of Life For Us’
(Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos)
WHILE it is a fact that some periods in the year are set aside by the various religious sects as special seasons for charity, the truth is that charity should be a way of life. In which case, we don’t necessarily have to wait for festive or solemn periods such as Easter or Ramadan to show charity to others. We are expected to show love to our neighbours on daily basis because we can never over-do God in charity. What is charity? Charity essentially means to show love to others in words and deeds, and the Bible tells us that God is love. If God is love, then we are called to exhibit the attributes of love on daily basis. That is what stands us out as children of God. The reason why religious bodies designate a particularly period to stress charity is just to put us on guard, to remind us that no matter how pre-occupied we may be with the challenges of life, we must always spare time to reflect on God’s goodness. That is, we must always be mindful of the need to draw nearer to Him at all times. It is just to put us on the alert because some of us tend to forget our responsibilities.

Those who make it a habit to exhibit their works of charity are merely trying to quickly reap their rewards here on earth. Christ told us that we should not make noise over such deeds like the Pharisees do, so that God can reward us in secret. Remember that empty barrels make the loudest noise. For instance, in the Catholic Church, we do approve of advertising charity works in the media. It is a way of life for us. It is nothing extraordinary like some may want us to believe.

Taofeek Olawunmi Agbaje

‘I Don’t Think Men Of God Are Going Outside God’s Injunction’
(Arc. Taofeek Olawunmi Agbaje, National President, Jamaat-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria and Overseas)
THERE is no specific time to do charity. It is done all the time and throughout the year, but must be with sincere intention and good manner. In Islam, fasting is prescribed for Muslim during the month of Ramadan so that they may attain piety. Zakat— wealth taken from believer as mandatory payment to the needy and Sadaqah – voluntary donation are ways of purifying earning and earning reward from Allah. Rewards for all good actions, including charity giving are multiplied during Ramadan. So, many people schedule their Zakat payment and Sadaqah for this most sacred month.
Advertising charity on television helps in getting more people to participate in charity work, but the best and the most rewarding charity should be done with discretion. I don’ think that men of God are going outside God’s injunction by advertising charity on television.

‘If Your Motive Is To Glorify God, I Don’t Think It Is Bad’
(The Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Peter Ogunmuyiwa, Bishop, The African Church, Diocese of Abuja/The North)
THERE are two sides to that question: first, the scripture says you should not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing, that is, if you want to give alms, you can do it without anybody knowing about it because you will be rewarded accordingly by your heavenly Father. That is what the scripture says. But at the same time, the scripture also says ‘let your light so shine before all men that they may see your good work and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.’ There are some things you do to challenge other people to propagate the gospel for others to see. It is not as if you are actually being ostentatious about it. So, it depends on the heart of giving, on what exactly you intend to achieve. Like what the Psalmist says, “I will praise the Lord within the congregation of His people.’ So, when you come out and speak of God’s goodness, you are also challenging others that don’t know how to appreciate God.

So, I believe there are two sides to giving: you can give because you want to teach others or the public or non-believers that they also need to give and by so doing, you may be fulfilling the part of the scriptures that say ‘let your light so shine.’ That is in your character, in your conduct, and in the manner in which you give, do it to the glory of God, and not because you want people to praise you that you are a good giver. It matters not whether you do it on TV or you advertise it in the newspapers. What counts is on your motive.

For instance, if I’m watching the TV and somebody is shown to be sick in an hospital and he/she needs financial help and they also show the account number to which money can be paid and you give, if the next day they say you are part of the donors and your name is mentioned, and they said, oh, a child of God also gave, it may minister to somebody right in his/her home who has but refused to give. You know when you give and do so cheerfully, sometimes it also wins others to God. There are those who are unnecessarily stingy towards God’s blessings in their lives, but when they see people doing, they tend to emulate them. Don’t forget that the Bible says ‘whatever you do whether eating or celebrating, everything should be done to the glory of God. If your motive is to glorify God through that act, I don’t think it is bad.