Bill Please, Jesus!

When was the last time you received anything for free? I am specifying free without any conditions attached.

I was sitting with a group of housewives at a coffee shop this morning and the topic was about Taoist gods healing people and fixing our various earthly problems. Consultation is however not free, but accompanied by a subtle request of a free offering.

Nowadays, religious and non religious concerned cleverly concoct means to amass money from unsuspecting bigots. Those who are desperate for healing of diseases and sickness, and remedies for their many earthly troubles especially relationships, give readily and unsuspectingly.

Accordingly to these Taoist housewives, who credited their assortment of deities for the various miracles they witnessed, each consultation comes with a free will offering. That's how all those gigantic joss sticks offerings vying attention in front of these Chinese temples come about.

Not too long ago, a Christian friend also related to me how he was required to attend a special class to understand baptism better. The one day lesson ostensibly cost RM40. I was shock by his claim and complain. Unbelievingly and not wanting only to hear one side of the story, I deliberately arranged to meet an authority of the church to check out the truth about the charges.

The pastor confirmed my unbelief with this scorching answer, "The charges were levied so that they may valued their baptism."

I responded spontaneously by blurting out loudly, "WHAT!!!" I was actually more offended than disgusted with the answer!

Closer examination reveals that no one is spared from the antics of these unscrupulous godlessness of soliciting funds, not even the very poor in our midst, who are close to our heavenly Father's heart.

Honestly, I find it very disturbing with all these episodes chronicling the methods of amassing money as we inched slowly towards the last days. I am particularly disturbed with the manner of how the churches are using God's name in vain.

Our heavenly Father, provided Himself a living sacrifice as Jesus Christ, our Lord Saviour to die on the cross for all our wrong doings against Him, so that we can be reconciled to Him as sons of the living Father. And as sons, everything is provided free by virtue of our faith acknowledging that He is our Father Saviour.

Maybe, like what the pastor articulated about his doctrine that 'nothing is free', then our heavenly Father should charged us for the blood He shed so that we may value our salvation?

I am sure our heavenly Father is extremely remorseful over how His children are burdened. After all He has come to pay in full for the price of our salvation. I am sure His plan was never to burden us.

The richest man on earth could not buy patience, kindness, love, peace, self control and the other various gifts of God. God freely give these to His children who are obedient.

Similarly, our heavenly Father would be pleased if we help build His church who are people with His love and humility rather than being drawn into a deception to build man's church which is the building with money. When we partner Jesus to do the Father's will, we accomplished His will by His power He filled us through the power of the Holy Spirit and not money.

If Jesus were to levy a price for the blood He shed on the cross, I wonder how much it will cost us to be reconciled to our Father?

What is the price of salvation then?