As a way of giving back to society or call it social responsibility if you like, most Ghanaian celebrities give alms and donations but the way they go about it defies the Bible’s injunction on charity works.
Most celebrities stemming: music, movies, sports, broadcasting, comedy, amongst others donates to various orphanages, rehab centres, and the needy in general. Majority of these celebrities, who embark on such humanitarian works, usually go along with their managers, publicists, cameramen or journalists to take visual coverage as well as still photographs.
Done with the donation rituals, news about their donations is broadcasted all over the mass media – newspapers, TV, blogs, websites, etc. for the general public to hear of their donation activities. Some even go to the extent of granting radio and television interviews to broadcast their donation works.
In Matthew 6:2-4, the Bible states and I quote: “…Thus, when you give alms (donations), sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their rewards. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your father (GOD) who sees in secret will reward you”.
How revealing! The word donation which is synonymous to alms as used by the Bible comes in one of two forms – it could either be in kind or cash, but the injunction according to the Bible is that, when one gives donations or alms, one should sound no trumpet about it– thus, don’t publicize it, hype it, or make noise about it for many to know your actions.
So the series of questions I pose to our celebrities, pastors and all GHBase.ocm readers are: Is the Bible’s position on how donations/alms be given antiquated? Are our celebrities right for publicizing their donation/alms-giving activities to the poor?
What are the motives behind the celebrities who hype their donation/alms-giving gestures? Are our celebrities’ hypocrites as described by the Bible? Or should some portions or provisions of the Bible be compromised to meet the dynamics of today’s ways of doing things?
More celebrities have donated, more are still donating and many will donate. Some of them may be doing so in the name of GOD’s admonishment on giving but the same Bible’s stand point seems to suggest that, most of these celebrities are only wasting their energies. The Bible says; “Truly, I say to you, they have their rewards.” What is this reward?
Should the Bible be amended with respect to how donations are carried out in today’s world? If you ask me, I have no idea. You may share an opinion on this subject if you have any. Until then……..MOTWUM!!