Mass Indoctrination Day 11, 20th November, 2023. MCGI TOPIC REVIEW

VOWS

Philemon 1:21 (KJV) Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

Isaiah 1:19 (KJV) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Vow are voluntary actions which we do of our own free will in the church. In the church we have commandments. These are the doctrines God demands us to fulfill. These doctrines are not what we choose to do by our own will, they are commanded by God. For us to be sure that our lives please God, we have to obey the doctrines. The commandments of God guide our conducts, our words, our thoughts and our actions. If we disobey the doctrines, we will be disapproved of by God. These doctrines are the rules guiding the behaviors of members of the church of God.

Numbers 30:2 (KJV) If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 (KJV) Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Aside from the doctrines, there are other services which we render in the house of God which are done out of our own free will. These types of actions are the vows. As taught by Bro Eli Soriano's, these vows include our contributions and our thanksgiving,

Contributions

2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Contributions in the church should not be done out of compulsion. Church leaders should not levy members for money. This is wrong, according to the Bible. Everyone should bring their contributions to God according to what he/she decides in his/her heart.

In view of this, Bro Eli Soriano frowned against tithing. Tithing is the payment of 10% of our income to God. Bro Eli said that the tithe is already fixed, therefore it is not out of free will. The Bible in the New Testament does not lay any levy on church members. Members are to bring their contributions out of their free will.

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is another voluntary action. When God does something to us, we are supposed to thank Him. Thanksgiving is an act of appreciation. We appreciate others out of our own free will. Giving thanks in the church is a voluntary action. We should be thankful to God. God deserves our thanksgiving. This is another voluntary action which we carry out in the church.