In any given society there is what is called interest groups or advocacy groups or trade unions. These are groups that fight for the rights of their members. They also influence decisions and policies in favor of their members. The key goal of these groups is to put pressure or lobby, so that their members can benefit.
Good examples of interests groups in Kenya are KNUT and KUPPET for teachers, KMPDU for health workers, KAM for manufacturers and COTU which is known for the mouthy Francis Atwoli. Think of Kenya without these interest groups. The truth is in absence of these advocacy groups teachers, health care workers and other employees who are members of these organization will never get a decent pay and better working conditions. It is these interest groups that exert pressure that make their members be respected. Employees who are not members of any trade union are always mistreated since there is nowhere they can go. Killing an interest group means getting an opportunity to misuse its members.
A group of people who share the same interests and do not have a group that fights for their rights are powerless. Why do musicians and artists die poor? It is because they have no serious group that fights for their rights. When you see interest groups like LGBT, people living with disabilities, among others in streets it is their rights they fight for. But, who funds these groups?
These interest groups are funded by their members through membership fee and monthly contributions. The reason why the likes of KNUT, KUPPET and KMPDU are able to paralyze the whole nation till the government yields to their demands is that the members submits their membership deductions every month. This gives these interest groups resources to organize successful activities like strikes and demonstrations.
Good examples of interests groups in Kenya are KNUT and KUPPET for teachers, KMPDU for health workers, KAM for manufacturers and COTU which is known for the mouthy Francis Atwoli. Think of Kenya without these interest groups. The truth is in absence of these advocacy groups teachers, health care workers and other employees who are members of these organization will never get a decent pay and better working conditions. It is these interest groups that exert pressure that make their members be respected. Employees who are not members of any trade union are always mistreated since there is nowhere they can go. Killing an interest group means getting an opportunity to misuse its members.
A group of people who share the same interests and do not have a group that fights for their rights are powerless. Why do musicians and artists die poor? It is because they have no serious group that fights for their rights. When you see interest groups like LGBT, people living with disabilities, among others in streets it is their rights they fight for. But, who funds these groups?
These groups have furnished offices and employees who are paid by the members. A person who is not a member (membership is not only attending the group activities but making contributions as required) cannot get help from these interest groups. If an interest group in a given nation is not well off it is assisted, both financially and technically, by sister interest groups in other nations. That is why we have interest groups in Kenya that receive donations from United States, Middle East and Europe.
Now, church is an interest group but many people do not understand that. This is the organization that brings Christians in a given area together. It is the church that lobby for decisions that favor its members who are Christians. Without church Christians will be exploited. But, who funds activities of your church? A church without resources is like Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK). It has no teeth. It cannot stop music piracy.
If you visit the offices of the powerful interest groups you will find well kept offices with officers ready to serve you. Some have even group properties like motor vehicle. Now, come to your church how is it? It is sad to say most churches are the worst kept offices. Some do not even have employees who can attend members week days. Some do not have professional leaders. Some do not even have a property of their own. All these negative aspects of many churches are because members do not make contributions. And, if they make it, it is not enough to meet all the church needs like paying the leaders, security officers of which so many churches do not have, utilities like electricity, repairs and other things.
Therefore, when you go to your church empty handed you make your interest group to be weak. Thus, it is necessary to carry something tangible not coins when going to the church. People who participate in activities of interest group they are not a member of are thieves and they do all the bad manners we see during strikes. These are the people who loot shops and cause chaos. People who go to church and they do not contribute anything are like people who participate in activities of interest group they are not members of.
Conclusion: If the church is not an interest group to you (that is, it does not help you in any way), you are not supposed to participate in its activities and thus you should not make any contribution to it. But, if it helps you, you have an obligation to make regular contributions to it the way KNUT, KUPPET, KMPDU and other interest groups members submits their contribution monthly. Otherwise, if you do not make contribution to it regularly do not expect to get help from it.
Now, church is an interest group but many people do not understand that. This is the organization that brings Christians in a given area together. It is the church that lobby for decisions that favor its members who are Christians. Without church Christians will be exploited. But, who funds activities of your church? A church without resources is like Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK). It has no teeth. It cannot stop music piracy.
If you visit the offices of the powerful interest groups you will find well kept offices with officers ready to serve you. Some have even group properties like motor vehicle. Now, come to your church how is it? It is sad to say most churches are the worst kept offices. Some do not even have employees who can attend members week days. Some do not have professional leaders. Some do not even have a property of their own. All these negative aspects of many churches are because members do not make contributions. And, if they make it, it is not enough to meet all the church needs like paying the leaders, security officers of which so many churches do not have, utilities like electricity, repairs and other things.
Therefore, when you go to your church empty handed you make your interest group to be weak. Thus, it is necessary to carry something tangible not coins when going to the church. People who participate in activities of interest group they are not a member of are thieves and they do all the bad manners we see during strikes. These are the people who loot shops and cause chaos. People who go to church and they do not contribute anything are like people who participate in activities of interest group they are not members of.
Conclusion: If the church is not an interest group to you (that is, it does not help you in any way), you are not supposed to participate in its activities and thus you should not make any contribution to it. But, if it helps you, you have an obligation to make regular contributions to it the way KNUT, KUPPET, KMPDU and other interest groups members submits their contribution monthly. Otherwise, if you do not make contribution to it regularly do not expect to get help from it.
