Despite the popularity of harvest in many churches, many denomination do not indulge. They often say that harvest festival is not a Christian institution and neither are Christians commanded to celebrate it.
“Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.”
Exodus 34:21-22 KJV
Harvest means the reaping in of grain or other farm products; or the season for doing this. It is used both literally and figuratively in the Scripture.
There is absolutely nothing wrong in bringing harvest into the house of God. In fact, there is nothing wrong devising ways and means of making collections for the upkeep of a church organization.
However, many have criticised Harvest celebration in many churches because if the way it has been done.
In certain church organizations, harvest is observed annually as a church festival during which money, food items and fruits are brought to church services as thank-offering. Harvest festival is also regarded as an occasion for raising of funds for church denominations. Special envelopes are printed and given out to members and non-members to solicit for donations.
Sadly, to get much money, bazaars are commonly organized to form part of the celebrations. Goods are sold at grossly excessive prices. For example, a tuber of yam costing about 400 naira may be offered for say 4000 Naira.
Would Jesus endorse that?! Had he not chased people who haggled prices, sold things in his temple?
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Matthew 21:12-13 KJV
Many people will use the celebration of Harvest as a means of showing off. It is always a competition for many Christians family who has brought the biggest tuber of yams.
As we celebrate Harvest let us do it with.
Deuteronomy 24:19 in mind.
“When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”
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