CHAOS IN CHRISTENDOM www.zeustelescope.blogspot.com

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It is often said that nothing intoxicates man more than love and religion. To buttress this point, Karl Marx once stated that religion is the opium of the people. For me however, the clearer picture is presented when its put this way; the best way to know a fool is through love and religion!

In the recent past, one aspect of human life that hasn't failed to take a dramatic turn and share a robust amount of strange happenings is the Religion. Ranging from mass murders, suicide bombings, violent attacks, Yobe and Woolwich kind of murders, robbery, Advance fee frauds (419), sexual offences, and adultery to blasphemy. The most striking part of all these is the fact that most of us who happen to be victims of the grand scale religious deceit either do not know what we are doing, or have simply shut our minds to reality and to reasoning.

The speed at which this publication would be termed a blasphemy by Nigerians is very well known, the truth as much as it stinks cannot continue to be hidden. More so, counter publications and reactions are welcomed.

The most pertinent question is; how long should we continue to condone the excesses of criminals in religious garbs? Or better still, why is it that today's criminals have evolved like the Nile crocodiles from using guns and machetes to the use of microphones and bibles with impunity?

Thiswork is unapologetically fashioned to address certain issues like conflicting doctrines,the rising scourge of pastor worship and the need for us to use our initiativesby putting certain personal checks in place to curb these menaces in the world at large and Nigeria in particular.

It is a known fact that there is no country in the world with a higher amount of people who shirk their responsibilities and duties all because they expect God to help them. For most Nigerians the mere fact that a man CLAIMS to be a servant of God is enough reason to totally revere him and completely shut their eyes to whatever dastardly acts he may perpetrate. This belief has steadily climaxed into the now prevalent pastor worship pandemic.

Talking doctrines and religious principles first, several religious denominations uphold different doctrines, mainly contradictory with those of others. For instance, churches like the Christ Chosen Church and Jehovah's witnesses sternly mandate compulsory pregnancy tests for members before marriage. On the other hand, the Roman Catholic church and a host of Pentecostal churches exist where such tests are deemed unnecessary and uncalled for so long as some "requirements" are met. Since both sides of the divide base their arguments on the bible and would defend their views to the death as "correct", one is forced to wonder if God's words in the bible are self contradictory.

For the first group, no doubt it is a welcome idea to so insist on medicals, at least for some very obvious reasons . The problem with such practice is that it inadvertently promotes the 'Don't get caught' rule. Thus, more premium is placed on concealing sins rather than going an extra mile to avoid them since the natural human tendency favours the simpler option.

Still on individual church beliefs, the advent of televisions and audio-visuals was met with great oppositions and condemnation by the Deeper Life group (a church which still earns the writer's love and admiration, and of course membership, (despite some evident frailties). According to them, TVs were one of Satan's main tools to draw man away from God. On that score, members were strongly prevented from owning or using them. But, in less than two decades, we've seen this same beloved group spend millions of naira for the installation of satellite gadgets, not for radio transmission as some might want to think, but for television. This is even worsened by the fact that television has never been as bad an influence on people as it is now. Is it that the holy bible has been edited, debugged or updated to reflect or accept modern day trends or it’s us humans that have changed? Certainly, the former isn’t the case. So, if it’s the latter, then it is also possible that some of the doctrines and principles they uphold today could in the near future be reviewed. Hence, a conduct which amounts to a sin today might turn out to be normal in the near future, depending on how fast the church laws against it is altered. If so, then why hold on to it tenaciously today as if it is God’s direct information to you like the tablet of the Ten Commandments or a biblical injunction rather than some personal interpretation and opinion of the same book we all read? In a nutshell, most of the principles we hold on to as doctrines are simply individual interpretations of what they read and how they perceived same a breach of which does not ordinarily offends God but annoys the makers.

Another example of the individual contradictions and misinterpretations of the bible is the disciplinary ban of Reverend W.F. Kumuyi’s son and his wife despite sincere apologies to the congregation. Another renowned preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare has publicly opined that the ban on the young man is pointless and totally uncalled for because there was nothing, in his opinion , wrong with the celebration. So, in the end, it’s all about opinions, views, beliefs, and personal interpretations and nothing more pretentious because why one views it as offensive to God and sinful, another doesn’t. 

These days, the worst forms of corruption and frauds are been engineered and hashed by "men of God", yet, the common cliché; "judge not" is still ever present in the mouths of grossly naïve worshipers. The evil about such views when fully stretched is that as a ‘Man of God’, I could steal a goat, kill, rob a bank, abort a girl's pregnancy, covet another man's wife, swindle worshipers of their hard earned money in the name of tithes and seed sowing, make obnoxious rules and hinge it on the bible simply because it fits my beliefs and practice and completely get away with it because the holy book says "Judge not". Rubbish!

 To that extent, the trial and conviction of Reverend King for attempted murder and murder clearly violates injunctions of the bible, or maybe the prosecutors and Judges are booked for a first class Emirates Airline seat to hell, and God's judgment since the bible says “judge not so that you might not be judged". If not, then why do Nigerians shy away from confronting these religious ills simply because they fear to offend the Almighty? What happened to God’s gift of freewill and wisdom?

One simple thought which most Christians have failed or neglected to consider is the fact that a fraudulent and criminally minded ‘preacher’ will never tell you he is fake, or fraudulent or that he is a cheat. For instance, if I were to defraud an innocent worshiper  what better means would I employ but to feign righteousness and piety? I would simply claim to be God- called, and ordained and craftily arrange ways to effect what appears to be miracles and healings-especially since I know too well that there is a booming market out there, made of naïve individuals who would rather use their hearts with their eyes closed than their heads with eyes open.

Granted, it’s good to inspire people to chase their dreams and become successful, but placing so much premium on Success sermons and miracles- both financial and spiritual alike to the total expulsion of salvation, kindness to others, forgiveness, beatific qualities, peace and charity (to the poor, not to the pastor) in my opinion derails from the ' obey before sacrifice' tenets of the word. Nowadays, the bulk of Nigerian Christians believe wealth and affluence are the hallmarks of a blessed and Godly Christian. Need I emphasize that Mathew 19:24 state that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eyes of a needle than for a wealthy man to see heaven? No doubt it is a good thing to be prosperous and rich, but the notion must not be sold that riches evidences righteousness or that members of the church who are not so successful ought to 'step up' their religious life either by giving more to the church, sowing bigger seeds or fatter tithes and offerings. There should be some emphasis on “seeking first the kingdom of God, while other thing-riches inclusive naturally follows.

Turning now to the most common topics in modern day church, giving-to the pastor, and of course the “church” ,show me one person that has not complained about the monetization of Christianity and I will show you ten others who have. Preachers consistently blackmail their congregation and make them feel guilty about their inability to make corpulent donations to the pastor’s welfare, like the church is now an orphanage home with the pastor and his unproductive wife and kids as the only orphans in it. Nowadays, the fastest way to own landed properties is to tax members towards the acquisition of large expanse of land for the church’s “permanent site”. However those lands are bought in the pastors’ name rather than the Church’s. When Mr. Preacher dies, his wife and kids inherit same. Thus, he has succeeded in establishing a viable business empire for his family with the hard earned money of his members.

Let’s ask ourselves this question; how do religious outfits like the Jehovah’s Witness fund itself with voluntary contributions alone and with absolutely no teachings on tithes and offerings or fund raiser services like in Catholic churches?

Obviously, the Catholic, Anglican and many Pentecostal churches are by far bigger groups than the JWs, and with way richer members. Thus, if a group as small as the JWs survive comfortably without coaxing and taxing its members for money, I don’t see how other bigger churches can’t. Christianity as we know it is a sober subject and advocates moderation, modesty, and humility rather than affluence, flamboyance and opulence.

The trend now is for any hillbilly to come up with a tape to on how they died, saw heaven and how God ask them to go back and tell the world all sorts of blasphemous bollocks. Or to send crazy broadcasts about how God wants you to do a certain act and send to certain amount of people and see who calls. That is blackmail of the highest order because God never asked for such broadcasts or for you to place a condition precedent to his blessings. His ways are not always understandable by man. So he doesn’t require our acts for him to bless us as our heavenly father in his infinite mercies and unconditional love. He loves us not because we deserve it but because he does!

For pastors who require their victims to pay for services either through some expensive olive oil, holy water, handkerchief, pamphlet or even miracles, or require money to fast for members, our Lord Jesus Christ in Mathew 10:8-9 said;

…heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely you have received, freely you must give. (9) Provide neither gold, nor silver nor brass in your purses.

With these words, I wonder why religious services and miracles, prayers and fasting would be monetized by those who claim to be men of God. Even more guilty and culpable are the worshipers who take everything hook, line and sinkers without putting their God-giving heads into use.

This is a warning shot; don’t feel hurt just yet, because blatant truth has to be said.

Till then, good morning, afternoon or night (delete as appropriate, depending on when you get this message).

NB; GOD GAVE US WISDOM AND FREEWILL SO WE USE IT CONSTRUCTIVELY, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANKIND. NOT TO KEEP IT FALLOW LIKE THE UNPRODUCTIVE SERVANT IN THE PARABLE OF THE 3 TALENTS. PEACE!!!

By Ehiwuogwu Onyeka for www.zeustelescope.blogspot.com