Venerable Adeniyi Oluwabiyi, the minister-in-charge and head of
District 4, Holy Flock of Christ Church in Ibadan, Oyo State, has
explained why clapping and dancing is not allowed in the church.
He also explained why collection of offering is not allowed in the church.
Oluwabiyi, in an interview with Tribune, acknowledged that there are
similarities between his church, the Anglican Church and Cherubim &
Seraphim Church. But explained that there are differences and he went
ahead to point out these differences.
He said: "We have some similarities, but there are obvious
differences. We and C&S are both white garment churches, but in our
church, we don’t clap. We have a way of expressing our joy."
He continued: "The setting is Anglican, but our mode of worship is
different. We are a white garment church; we sing, read lessons, listen
to sermon, and go home."
Explaining why they do not clap or dance, Oluwabiyi said: "We say
people express their joy while clapping in the church, but Satan will
come in to do otherwise.
"In other churches where people go to the extreme by falling down in
the name of prophesying or seeing visions, no one falls down here.
"Any gathering where people clap and dance uncontrollably paves way
for the devil’s penetration and manipulation. Such activities are not
part of our doctrine."
Collecting of offering in the church is also prohibited and Olubiyi explained why this is so.
He said: "We neither sell nor buy on Sundays. It is a Sabbath Day.
Significantly, today is the second day of the desecration of the Sabbath
Day.
"This is why we don’t collect any form of offering in the church; the
congregation goes out to drop their offering and return into the church
for blessings.
"You cannot see members spraying or pelting money on one another in
the church. Also, we don’t go to the jungle for any act of deliverance.
We pray and sanctify water or anointing oil for deliverance in the
church premises.
"We don’t take this with levity in our church. You see people
spraying money in the church in other denominations, but at Holy Flock
of Christ we follow the Bible strictly and make the temple of God
sacred.
"Though, the Bible says we should not come to His house with
empty-hand, but we should not forget that it is the same Bible that
established the significance of the church as the temple of God, which
must always be kept Holy.
"According to the scriptures, Jesus sent out the people buying and
selling in the temple. That is why we do not spend or spray money in the
church; we come out of the church auditorium, and give our offerings."
Oluwabiyi stated that Holy Flock of Christ Church started 80 years
ago and they have managed to continue in the ways set for them by Christ
and their founding fathers.
He further stated that even though they do not make offerings and tithes their priorities, they do not lack.
He said: "With my wealth of experience as a cleric, no genuine and
anointed pastor will be hungry. God will commission people to feed you.
Unexpected offerings and gifts will come. How much is my pension? Help
comes from people I do not know."