Sending offertory through mobile money

Gone are the days when pastors would bless you even if you didn’t have anything to give. Today the “it’s the heart that matters” saying no longer echoes in churches. “Thou shall not go to the Lord’s house empty handed” is now the most magnified motto for most churches. I used to hear stories of pastors who pray and bless Christians according to their wallet size. A pastor would invite to the front those who had heavy envelops to throw in the offertory basket, pray for them and ask the Almighty to re-fill their deep pockets. Next, he would pray for the second class Christians; he would put his hands on their heads giving them blessings worth their money. As for the rest, the pastor would lift his hand in their direction and reluctantly and sarcastically call onto God to give them something to bring to His house the next Sunday.I prayed to God that this remained just a story for us here in Rwanda; I suspect He heard my prayers and decided to ignore me. I realised He wasn’t going to answer my prayers when I overheard Tony, my neighbour, declaring never to step in church again! I asked for a reason. “I have realised that what I always find in churches are aggressively coercive, cash-sucking pastors who deplete my wallet, not God,” he lamented.I then connected this to what a pastor said a week earlier. Apparently those who can’t pay tithe in church can send whatever contribution via mobile money! Mobile money? Really? This same pastor rebuked people who bring coins to God. But like we are made to believe, you can’t question a man of God. Today many people (especially those who are not doing well financially) shy away from attending church service because they fear the judging eyes of the church heads and other Christians. Some pastors have a way of standing near the offertory basket, smiling and nodding at those who put in something while browsing the church with a frown for those who glued to their seats, unconcerned about the offertory basket. Many pastors make it look like it’s a cardinal sin to come to church empty handed. Many people complain that some pastors try to make them look bad. I know it is a good thing to come before God with an offering. But making it the biggest deal, I believe is so wrong.