SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE
CLASS: SS 2
DATE:
TERM: 3rd TERM
REFERENCE
- Essential Christian Religious Knowledge for SS 1-3. By Edmond Ugochukwu.
- Comprehensive Christian Religious Knowledge for SS 1-3. By Martins I. Amaechi, RSV Bible (Compulsory)
WEEK EIGHT
TOPIC: TRUE RELIGION AMOS 5:12-24
CONTENT
- Areas of false religion which Amos attacked.
- What Amos required from Israel.
Alongside social justice which God demanded from Israel, was true religion because at that period, the worship of God had been adulterated with the worship of baal.
AREAS OF FALSE RELIGION WHICH AMOS ATTACKED
- The people’s worship of God was ineffective, shallow and amounted to lip- service.
- The two places of worship – Bethel and Gilgal were defiled.
- Although the people fulfilled the physical obligation of worship – sacrifice, payment of tithes and others. These were not accepted by God because the land had been polluted by sin – The people were only hypocritical.
- Israel mis-behaved by thinking that because they were God’s people, God would over –look their atrocities.
- They wallowed in ignorance by thinking that those obligations of covenant which they made with God could be fulfilled by mere sacrifices.
Invariably, God was very angry, rejecting and turning his face away from their sacrifices Amos reiterated that for Israel, there was no future.
EVALUATION
- How can religion contribute to sanitizing the society morally?
- What four lessons can we learn from the punishment lined up against Israel?
WHAT AMOS REQUIRED FROM ISRAEL
However, in spite of the irrevocability of God’s punishment, Amos offered a ray of hope – saying that if the people repented genuinely, God might show some grace.
- Israel should seek God so they will live. (Amos 5:4)
- They should not seek Bethel or Gilgal or Beersheba since all these places of worship will be brought to ruins worshipping God should be within and not outwardly.
- Those who turn judgment to wormwood should desist from it.
- They should hate evil and love good.
- Justice should be established in the gate .
- Righteousness should be allowed to reign like “an ever flowing steam”.
- The people should repent and go back to God for he may still forgive them .
- True religion demands purity of heart, honest desires and faithfulness to God.
LESSONS TO LEARN
- People should worship the Lord in Spirit and not mere outward expression of morality.
- Payment of tithes and offering is meaningless if Christians do not live upright
- Too much love of luxuryand pleasure drags people into all kinds of evil and social vices.
EVALUATION
- What areas of false religion did Amos condemn.
- What lessons can we learn from the punishment lined up against Israel?
GENERAL EVALUATION/ REVISION QUESTIONS
- How can religion contribute to sanitizing the society morally?
- What four lessons can we learn from the punishment lined up against Israel?
- Narrate the provision of water for the Israelites.
- Mention at least, three parables that describe the kingdom of God
READING ASSIGNMENT
Essential Christian Religious Knowledge for SS 1-3 by Edmond Ugochukwu pages 71-74
RSV Bible Amos 5: 21-24 ,7:10-17
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
- For Amaziah, Amos prophesied that he would – (a) be killed in a war (b) be dethroned (c) die in an unclean land (d) die in the gallows
- Amos described true religion as – (a) engaging in sacrifices (b) being just and righteous (c) engaging in holy feast and assemblies (d) attending church services
- Amos condemned the people of Israel for all the following sins except____. (a) selling the righteous for silver (b) trampling the head of the poor (c) upholding the way of the afflicted (d) unholy lifestyle
- According to Amos, true religion is described as one in which (a) feast and solemn assembly play important roles (b) fasting and praying (c) being just and righteous (d) sacrifices are made
- Amaziah was a ------ in Bethel (a) prophet (b)priest (c) king (d) monk
THEORY
- Explain Amos encounter with Amaziah
- What two lessons can we learn from this encounter?
