b) Indicate any three practices in your society that need to be condemned
Explanation
(A) AMOS ENCOUNTER WITH AMAZIAH THE PRIEST (AMOS 7:10-17)
i. Amos was a shepherd and also a dresser of sycamore trees, while Amaziah was a priest at Bethel, the centre of Israel's apostate religion.
ii. Amos denounced the social and religious malpractices of the Israelites of his day.
iii. He also preached at the king's sanctuary that Jeroboam II would die by the sword.
iv. This statement infuriated Amaziah the priest in-charge of the temple at Bethel.
v. Amaziah reported Amos to the king, accusing him of treason.
vi. Since the temple belonged to the king and not God Amos was forbidden to speak against the king there.
vii. Amaziah commanded Amos to return to Judah to prophesy and earn his living there.
viii. tie called Amos a "seer" a prophet that was consulted for the discovery of lost articles for a fee.
ix. Amos denied being a paid prophet lathe service of the king nor was he a member of the professional prophets.
x. He said no one had engaged him to pronounce judgment on Jeroboam and Israel.
xi. He was only a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took him from following the flock in order to prophesy to Israel.
xii. According to Amos, no authority could stop him from delivering his message.
xiii. Amos then cursed Amaziah for trying to turn him away from God's command.
xiv. He indicated that Amaziah's wife would be a prostitute and his children killed.
xv. Furthermore, Amaziah's. land and property, would be divided among the people.
xvi. Israel would go into exile.
xvii. Finally, Amaziah would die in a foreign land.
(B) Three Practices that Need to be Condemned
i. Fake/Superficial worship and sacrifice! Occultism/Ancestral practices.
ii. Ethnicity! Corruption! Injustice! Bribery Partiality.
iii. Disrespect of the Sabbath/vows/False swearing.
iv. Commercial preachers in vehicles and churches/Market places.
v. Poor environment practices.
vi. Festal virgins/Confinement of females to shrines.
vii. Widowhood rites.
viii. Display of wealth during harvest.
ix. Female genital mutilation (FGM).
x. Oppression of the poor/ uncaring attitude/ child abuse.
xi. Sexual immorality/Homosexuality.
