NIGERIAN CHURCHES AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL MADNESS (PART 1)

Believers Love World, aka Christ Embassy, is my favourite clan of all the Nigerian Christian blocs.

If you are no stranger to these Christians, you’ll definitely agree that there is no funeral spirit around these guys. They are just one hell of a sui generis in the sky-daddy bandwagon.

Attend one of their services, I assure you there is no house of bedlam like the Christ Embassy church service. I call it a beautiful absurdity; an orgasmic show of religious fascism at its best. Nobody, I say it again: Nobody does the mental fascism thing better than the Christ Embassy bunch. It is so enviable that I had to dedicate my biro to this.

First of all, a moment of silence for a Christ Embassy brother somewhere, applying gel and hair relaxer on his head. Right now as you read this, an adult male somewhere is partaking in some form of fascist cosmetics in order to come close in appearance to his venerated Pastor Chris Onyakhilome; their idol of a general overseer. I heard if you are an adult male in the crew and you haven’t applied some gel and hair relaxer, then you are a novice. The sisters, droll for the brother who speaks, looks and act Pastor Chris.

Ever attended a Christ Embassy service and listened to their sermon? If the preacher is to preach for 60 minutes; 40 minutes of sermons goes this way: “Pastor Chris says….”, “Pastor Chris once said…

To the fellas: Is there any Christ Embassy female you are wooing and she is not giving in? Now, take my generous advice to the Casino:

Go get your hair some laxative product, practice some Pastor Chris accent and then memorize his fuzzy lines. Get a clean white suit. Learn to technically use words like “Zoe”, “Rhapsody”, “Grace”, “Different”, etc. Most importantly, spew your garbage very beautifully; you know that soft-madness they call “Speaking-in-tongues”? Get it right.

So you walk-up to your “Embassy” sister target with your curly hair, a pastor Chris smile on a white suit and of course amble graciously like the venerated idol, and then begin with the Pastor Chris accent:

“Hey sister, you are the “Zoe” of the year, the prophecy of the century; the one who Isaiah spoke about. You are the Rhapsody of our time, for the Grace of your beauty shall make nations fall at thy feet. Because of the supernatural auction of the word on you, you shall suck the breast of Kings and become the envy of nations. All things are mine in the holy ghost; I speak you into my bedroom lapasantrakado! Pepelepekendato! Meme suntafantakando!” And boom! It is done. Lest I forget, be sure to have Pastor Chris’ posters in your apartment, use it for your mobile wallpaper. Play Pastor Chris sermons and some Sinach’s music in your car stereo. Be 100% “Christic” and I swear she’ll be in between the sheets performing the holy ghost show.

Ever attended a Christ Embassy service and listened to their sermon? If the preacher is to preach for 60 minutes; 40 minutes of sermons goes this way: “Pastor Chris says….”, “Pastor Chris once said…”, 

“I remember when Pastor Chris talked about…”, “I learned from pastor Chris that….” etc. The remaining 20 minutes will be dedicated to motivational lines and rhetoric like “You are different!” “You are the salt of the earth”, “where men fail, you shall succeed”, “Let the world see the excellence in you”, etc. And most importantly the organizational soft-madness called “Speaking-in-tongues”, is never missing in action. Christ embassy has remixed their with version spices like “holy-ghost laughter”, “Holy-ghost worship”, etc. If you’re bored on a Sunday morning, just visit a branch and see the beauty of organizational mental fascism.

One thing that seduces me about them is their holy secularism. In this Christian sect, there is little discrimination on the appearance of a person. Wear dreadlocks, tattoos, mini-skirts, low-waist jeans, sagging pants or even walk into their auditorium with a bikini, nobody cares. “To the pure, all things are pure”, they say. Their open-arms to all is unequal; Pastor Chris is not a limited minded pastorpreneur. I am so inspired!

Yes, business man I say. Don’t kill me dear pastor “Christists”. Isn’t the gospel a business? The biblical Jesus once called it “my father’s business”, do not crucify my garrulous ass please. I know you all can catch a grenade for Pastor Chris and throw same for him. I pledge allegiance!

The Christ Embassy clan are the most intelligent and creative of all the Christian sects in Nigeria. An average Christ Embassy churchgoer is more tolerant, open-minded and creative than their other sky-band counterparts in Nigeria. Put a Christ Embassy member side by side with a TB Joshua patronizer or a Lazarus Mouka crew member, the mentality of the Christ Embassy fellow surpasses the rest.

They have a way of making their “shit” sound intelligent by applying some fancy verbiages and pseudo-philosophical rhetoric to sound nice. But shit is shit no matter how hard you try to package it in a beautiful bag. Once you open it up, it still greets your nose with it’s reputable reception.

By Imoh David

A TALE OF TWO CONTRADICTORY GOSPELS

The true gospel empties the churches; while the false gospel fills them.

Most Christians are unaware that the gospel Jesus preached is contradicted by Paul. The gospel of Jesus is bittersweet; presenting great challenges to believers. Paul’s gospel is “sugar and spice and all things nice;” offering few challenges.

Of course, the preferred gospel is the one Paul preached. It is the commercial gospel, tailor-made for lovers of life. It is enamoured by those who desire salvation but are not inclined to meet its costs. But don’t buy the lie. Paul’s gospel cannot save. Jesus is our Lord and Saviour.

Gospel imperatives

At the centre of Jesus’ gospel is the need for sinners to repent. Jesus says: “‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13). But Paul disagrees. He says: “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29). Furthermore, he bases his gospel on sacrifice. Hear him: “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The gospel of the kingdom requires that we yearn for the righteousness of God. Jesus says: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6). However, righteousness is not a prerequisite in Paul’s gospel. Instead, he reassures sinners nonsensically that God justifies the ungodly: “To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.” (Romans 4:5).

In Jesus’ gospel, the righteous are rewarded with eternal life. (Matthew 25:46). Jesus says: “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43). However, in Paul’s gospel: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10). Therefore, Paul says: “(Righteousness) shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Romans 4:24).

The gospel of a kingdom not of this world is bad news to the rich of this world. Jesus says: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24). But Paul’s gospel of grace is about our becoming rich in this world: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Faith with works

Jesus’ gospel requires us to become God’s children by doing God’s works. Jesus says: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45). “Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” (John 5:29).

However, Paul’s gospel is about faith without works. He says: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

In Jesus’ gospel, we determine our salvation. His cardinal kingdom principle makes salvation entirely our responsibility. Jesus warns: “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25). He says elsewhere: “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mark 4:24).

But in Paul’s gospel, salvation is God’s responsibility; we are predestined to salvation. Paul’s says: “Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son… And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified.” (Romans 8:29-30). This clearly contradicts Jesus position that: “Many are called but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14).

With Jesus, we carry our crosses ourselves. Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34). However, with Paul, Jesus allegedly carried our crosses for us in that we were crucified with him. Paul says: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20).

Cost of salvation

With Jesus, forgiveness comes as we readily forgive all our offenders. Jesus says: “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15). But with Paul, forgiveness comes without preconditions; it is the grace of God: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.” (Colossians 2:13).

With Jesus, freedom from sin comes as we follow his word. Jesus says: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). But with Paul, Christians are automatically free from sin because we died with Christ: “Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7).

Paul says: “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). But according to Jesus, eternal life is not God’s gift at all; it comes at great cost. Jesus says: “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29).

Therefore, Jesus warns us to count the cost before deciding to follow him: “No one can become my disciple unless he first sits down and counts his blessings- and then renounces them all for me.” (Luke 14:33).

Everlasting gospel

Some maintain Paul’s gospel of grace is a post-resurrection dispensational replacement for Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom. However, Jesus confirms no such replacement. Instead he says: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus does not introduce Paul’s doctrine of blood-atonement on his resurrection. His directive remains that “repentance and forgiveness of sins” should be preached in his name.” (Luke 24:47).

In Acts, Peter does not associate Jesus’ death with the atonement of sins. (Acts 2:37-43). He says the righteousness of God comes by works. (Acts 10:34-35). But Paul says Christians automatically become new creatures: “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In effect, Paul’s gospel is false. It merely tests those who would embrace Jesus’ gospel. Jesus’ gospel offers a narrow gate and a difficult way that leads to life; while Paul’s gospel offers a wide gate and a broad way that leads to destruction. (Matthew 7:13-14). Accordingly, the true gospel empties the churches; while the false gospel fills them.

Christians must reject Paul’s enticing gospel. John warns: “Whoever does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him.” (2 John 1:9-10)

 

By Femi Aribisala.

 

RELIGION IS NIGERIA'S OPIUM AND WOES!

Nigeria is endowed with unbelievable wealth, but resources without a system, structure and lasting institutions is dangerous. Religion, poverty, ignorance & illiteracy have destroyed our value system in Nigeria. Religion is clearly the opium of the oppressed and keeps Nigerians addictively high with illusions that things will get better as long as they fast and pray.
These can clearly be seen in this viral Video of Wealthy man of God in Nigeria assaulting young female who is unyielding and kneeling before him in front of his congregation as they cheer him for his actions Click here to watch



or this documentary by Seyi Rhodes exposing Nigerian preachers Click here to watch.




With all these religious intolerance going on in Nigeria wars are fought, lives are lost and the little infrastructures we have are destroyed. There is a notable saying in Nigeria that says "Suffering and Smiling" which means Nigerians are happy people though we face hard times in our country we still get to smile. Let us not forget that the saddest people have the best smile because they try to cover up their sadness so smiling doesn't make you a happy person. Let us not boast with smiles, because other countries with little natural resources like Nigeria have more than smiles to brag about. If only Nigerians will change their mentality of suffering and smiling which makes us laid back and accept our fate as it is and bother less to make changes or even fight for what is right.
My observation form the ongoing problems Nigeria has been facing can be traced down to religion. Be it Muslims, Christians or any other religion in Nigeria. Religion itself is very confusing with more than 20 documented religions existing in the world and all battling for supremacy of their messiahs. It is this confusion that the religious leaders capitalize upon to sedate their followers, oppress and extort them of their meager salary and hold them hostage with promises from above (Heaven) and hopes for miracles.
Religion is seriously turning into social gatherings, house of senate and life future securing areas where the unmarried go to seek for marriage, the jobless go for job seeking instead of filling out applications, actions that should be taken against our corrupt leaders are tabled in the church in prayers. Students come to pray for success in exams instead of studying, the weirdest thing I have seen in Nigeria is the pastors blessing the pen the students will use in writing exams and asking the Holy Spirit to take control in the exam hall. Nigerians forget that faith without works is dead, little or no input of energy leads to less or no force output and "he who do not know that he doesn't know it will never know it expect you try to know it".
The only way out of this bondage of fanaticism, religious bigotry and too much uncontrolled religiosity is education and empowering Nigerians. But unfortunately many Nigerians prefer to be instructed than educated, oppressed than empowered and always blame spiritual influence on any predicament they face which leads to an average Nigerians paranoia.
There are many things that require our physical actions to change positively but instead we Nigerians hide in our rooms, churches, night vigil, religious conventions etc. pretending to be praying for a solution. We do not need any rocket science to turn the bad situation around for better but our collective physical efforts to get in tune with our community, what is going on around us and know our rights.
Nigerians only believe in prayers without any physical action whatsoever, which is the result of the stagnant growth our country is facing today. We spend most of our time praying for things that need our efforts and actions (Example: please God touch the heart of our leaders, please God make Nigeria a better place, please God touch the heart of our corrupt police men, Fire of God burn our corrupt leaders, the list goes on). Leaving our corrupt leaders unchallenged and grant them freedom to run the country down because the followers are not concerned with the politics of the country rather waiting for an Act of God to turn Nigeria to a beautiful utopia. Why can't we call a spade, a spade and stop letting sleeping dogs lie? With all sincerity, religious sentiments put aside of which Nigerians are sentimentally dogmatic which makes them conceal the truth because the subject is from their constituency (religion or tribe).
If Martin Luther King didn't fight as hard as he did to make a change, only spent his time in the church and preferred to be instructed by most uneducated religious leaders we have in Nigeria who are money minded, he wouldn't have had a "Dream". If Nelson Mandela prayed once and asked the Holy Spirit to stop apartheid, and didn't sweat, bleed and go to jail for it what would have been the fate of South Africa? If Obama decided to be a junior pastor whose duty is to carry the senior pastor's bible around and preach false messages of change only to enrich his pocket than working hard to make his famous and Victorious Change Speech, I guess a USA black president would have been a Greek myth.
If only the Nigerian youths will reject our countries apathy towards ongoing crisis and be the voice of the nation, if every Nigerian will stand upright and challenge what is wrong, things would be a little better. A revolution doesn't have to be bloody to be a revolution. If we have unity amongst us, empower the young generation, educate and not destroy, work towards bringing positive change to be able to revolve around Nigeria's current political and economic situation, that is what I call a "Revolution". Change is all we have, education is the foundation to build an economy and "In God We Trust".

by Michael John Anyaehie

THE FALSEHOOD IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

The fact that a book is in the bible does not mean everything in it is true.

In the debate about sacrifices, Christians put great reliance on the book of Hebrews. However, Hebrews is very unreliable. It is one of those books in the bible that is full of falsehood. As a matter of fact, there is more falsehood in Hebrews than in any other book in the bible except Romans.

Doctoring the Scriptures

Hebrews specialises in re-writing and falsifying the biblical record. David says: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; MY EARS YOU HAVE OPENED.” (Psalm 40:6). This quote is changed in Hebrews to: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME.” (Hebrews 10:5). How can such blatant distortion still be construed as the word of God?

Hebrews says: “It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4). This is pure fabrication. Ezekiel says: “The prince is to provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land. Every day during the seven days of the Feast he is to provide seven bulls and seven rams without defect as a burnt offering to the LORD, and a male goat for a sin offering.” (Ezekiel 45:22-23). Therefore, the efficacy of the sacrifice of bulls for atonement is in the scriptures.

Hebrews then contradicts itself by saying: “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22). This statement is an outright lie. Nevertheless, Christians persist in referring to it. It is not necessary to shed blood in order to receive forgiveness. For example, money can be used for atonement: “You shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.” (Exodus 30:16). Money is without blood.

Fine flour could be used to atone for sin: “If, however, he cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, he is to bring as an offering for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering.” (Leviticus 5:11). Flour is without blood. Jewelry was also used to atone for sin: “We have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired- armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces- to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.” (Numbers 31:50). Jewelry is without blood.

Unnecessary sacrifices

As a matter of fact, sacrifices are only required in the few cases where the sin is unintentional: “When anyone sins UNINTENTIONALLY and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands- if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.” (Leviticus 4:2-3). Where the sin is intentional, sacrifices are unacceptable: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD.” (Proverbs 15:8).

Time and time again, the prophets preached repentance and obedience, placing them above sacrifice. Accordingly, God says in Hosea: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6). Even praise worship is better than sacrifice. The psalmist says: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.” (Psalm 69:30-31).

Indeed, Hosea says: “The children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice.” (Hosea 3:4). How can they “abide many days without sacrifice” if “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness?” Since sacrifices are only permissible in the Jerusalem temple, how can they receive forgiveness for their sins while in captivity in Babylon, which soon had more Jews than Palestine?

The answer is simple. Forgiveness can be obtained solely through repentance and prayer, for the simple reason that: “In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity.” (Proverbs 16:6). God says: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This means forgiveness is obtainable without blood sacrifice.

Concatenation of falsehood

Hebrews says: “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11). This is not true. Sarah doubted and did not believe. The Ishmael option came from her.

Hebrews says the Law was given by angels. (Hebrews 2:2). This is false. Moses says God gave it to him. (Exodus 33:11). Hebrews says Jesus tasted death “for everybody.” (Hebrews 2:9). This is false. All men continue to die. Hebrews says Jesus was not perfect but was made perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10). This is false. Jesus was perfect: he did not become perfect. (1 Peter 2:22). Hebrews says: “God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” (Hebrews 4:4). This is false. Jesus says God has never stopped working. (John 5:17).

Hebrews says: “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27). This is false. Some men, like Lazarus, die twice. Hebrews says: “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls.” (Hebrews 13:17). This is rubbish. No man watches over another man’s soul. Jesus is the only Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. (1 Peter 2:25).

Hebrews says Melchizedec is a priest forever like Jesus because he is: “Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life.” (Hebrews 7:3). This is false. Jesus has a genealogical record. We know his father and mother.

Falsifying the New Covenant

Hebrews says: “When there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.” (Hebrews 7:12). This is false. The new covenant does not imply a change of the law. God says: “I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33). It is a new covenant but the same old law.

Moreover, the priesthood does not determine the law. Hebrews talks about a change of priesthood. But Moses talks about an everlasting priesthood. (Exodus 40:13-15). In truth, the priesthood does not change because Jesus is a descendant of Levi. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was a cousin to Elizabeth, who was “of the daughters of Aaron.” (Luke 1:5).

This means Mary’s mother was either a sister or aunt to Elizabeth, making her a pure bred “daughter of Aaron.” This makes Mary herself to be from both the tribes of Judah and Levi. Mary’s mother was from the tribe of Aaron, but her father, Heli, was from Judah. (Luke 3:23). In effect, Jesus is also of the tribe of Levi. Hebrews is wrong in talking about a change of priesthood.

Do not be deceived. The fact that a book is in the bible does not mean everything in it is true.

 

By Femi Aribisala

THE SACRIFICE OF FOOLS

To sacrifice the valuable, Jesus would have had to give up his eternal life in heaven.

God said to the Israelites: “What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.” (Jeremiah 6:20). It is not surprising therefore that Solomon also says: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1). Christians would do well to heed these counsels.

Ungodly sacrifices

Why are sacrifices so objectionable to God? Jesus teaches that if something is of men, it cannot be of God. He says to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23). Jesus also says if something is from men, it cannot be from heaven and vice-versa. Accordingly, he asked the Pharisees: “The baptism of John- was it from heaven or from men?” (Mark 11:30). Sacrifice is of men; therefore it cannot be of God.

Men have always seen sacrifice as the way to worship deities. Primordial man sacrificed. Idol-worshippers sacrifice. Devil-worshippers sacrifice. In the bible, men sacrificed even before the Law of Moses. But God has no need for sacrifices. Hear him: “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens.” (Psalm 50:9). “Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?” (Psalm 50:13). Thanks to Jesus, we now know that: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).

Jesus says: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13). When we follow this injunction, we discover that sacrifice is incompatible with the abundant mercy of God. God does not withhold forgiveness to the penitent, pending the offering of a sacrifice. If he does, the Father of the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable would not have rushed out to embrace his returning errant son. He would have asked him first and foremost: “Where is your sacrifice?” However, instead of requiring the blood of bulls and the fat of rams, it was the Father who killed the fattened calf in celebration of his son’s return.

Inadequate sacrifices

God desires love without sacrifice. By its very nature, a sacrifice is hardly ever given whole-heartedly because we are required to sacrifice what we love. However, the love God requires comes “with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.” (Matthew 22:37). That means it cannot be sacrificial. A sacrifice involves loss. The man who gives sacrificially loses the valuable thing he gives. Therefore, there is often discontentment in sacrifices.

But with love, there is no loss: there is only gain. When we truly love, we don’t give sacrificially; we give wholeheartedly. The man who gives out of love loses nothing. There are no grounds for disgruntlement because he delights to do the will of God. Accordingly, David acknowledges to God: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; my ears you have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering you did not require. Then I said, ‘Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God, and your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8).

When Jesus told the chief young ruler to go and sell all he has and give the proceeds to the poor as precondition for inheriting the kingdom of God, the man saw the requirement as a sacrifice and refused to fulfil it. But the love God desires is not sacrificial. It is one where we give God everything without batting an eyelid because we are completely overwhelmed by his love. This is why Jesus says: “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33).

Jesus insists on love and not sacrifice. God never takes anything valuable from us. He only insists that we give up rubbish in order to receive the Excellency of all things, which is God himself. Just listen to Jesus: “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46). Buying this precious pearl does not involve any sacrifice.

Bloody sacrifices

Sacrifices are evil and unjust. Jesus says: “If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” (Matthew 12:7). With every blood-sacrifice, the innocent is killed. Such injustice contravenes the mercy of God. Therefore God says: “Whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man, and whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood.” (Isaiah 66:3).

The kingdoms of men are built on the injustice of sacrifices. We build kingdoms on the blood of others. We sacrifice slaves; we sacrifice blacks; we sacrifice minorities; we sacrifice the poor; we sacrifice women; we sacrifice the under-privileged. Therefore, God who is love cannot be part of any sacrificial system, including the one allegedly ascribed to Jesus. But God is at the centre of every truly loving system.

False religion justifies violence as sacrifice. But true religion exposes this as deception. Sacrificial systems are founded on violence and killings. Once sacrifice is falsely construed as a basic requirement of faith, cruelty is the answer. Sacrifice often entails the shedding of blood. In the bible, the children of Israel sacrificed their neighbours, sacrificed their prophets, sacrificed their children and they sacrificed Jesus, their Saviour. Leviticus depicts a bizarre society that regarded the spilling of blood as a means of maintaining an ungodly religious civilisation.

Hatred of life

Jesus sacrificed nothing by allowing himself to be killed. On the contrary, he traded the futility of this world for the glory of the Father. That is the antithesis of a sacrifice. Jesus said to his disciples on his departure: “If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father.’” (John 14:28). Where then is the sacrifice?

Jesus teaches that: “The man who loves his life will lose it.” (John 12:25). Accordingly, Jesus himself hated his life on earth. If he had lived to a ripe old age, that would have been a sacrifice for him. But he died young; ensuring that he went back quickly to the Father he loves. That is not a sacrifice. A man who gives up what he hates does not make a sacrifice. A man who hates his life cannot sacrifice his life.

Jesus says: “Love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13). Jesus is not asking us to sacrifice here: he is asking us to love. A sacrifice implies the loss of something valuable; but life in this world is disposable. To sacrifice the valuable, Jesus would have had to give up his eternal life in heaven.

 

By Femi Aribisala.

PASTOR, DON'T TEACH ME NONSENSE (PART 2)

Last week, in the first part of this article, I argued that pastors are not immune to error. Ecclesiastical impostors are having a field day dredging up fables that impoverish the spiritual, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing of many. In fact, in a bid to make Christianity a syncretistic, money-spinning, show biz religion, some Nigerian pastors have inadvertently become couriers of delusion. It is worthy of reiteration, if a pastor is swayed by the spirit of seduction, he will be Satan’s bait to those within the orbit of his authority. Doom looms when people uncritically accept theological nonsense.
There is hardly any catastrophe as huge as having a pastor that is Satan’s bait to his flock. It fosters satanic colonisation of the minds of weak-knead churchgoers. Baits do numb minds. They induce false happiness, senseless actions and blind loyalty.  It is safe to assume that was why some South African Christians eagerly ate grass under the instruction of their pastor, claiming it will get them “closer to God.” Generally, heresies have the effect of a lullaby, when dripping from the mouth of a respected preacher. Or better, tsetse-fly effect; causing the sleeping sickness of the soul. If a Christian starts listening to “doctrines of devils”, he would inevitably cultivate dangerous habits of the mind and become docile in Spirit, even though he may still be hyper-active in church.  
It appears religious people do not primarily use their minds to seek truth, but to authenticate falsehood they wish were true. Hence, we sometimes justify twisted truth, condone apostates and castigate those who warn us about their antics.  Largely, we do not bear in mind the forewarnings of Paul at Miletus to the pastoral elders of Ephesus, as recorded in Acts 20:29-31:  “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  So be on your guard!” 
As promised in the first part of this article, let me draw your attention to some mushrooming nonsense in the Nigerian church. I am not well predisposed to name and shame game; so, this is not to expose anyone to vulgar taunts, but to contribute to stemming the rising tide of error. Time and space will fail me to highlight many common errors. However, I will endeavour to state their working principles.
Nonsense number one: This witch-must-die syndrome, fall-down-and-die prayer. These nonsensical practices affront the integrity of God’s word. Spirits don’t die.  Praying for the death of your perceived enemies is not consistent with biblical truth. Jesus is a life-giving saviour, not a terminator. He wants all men saved, not dead. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, not the doers (1 Jn. 3: 8). Hence, during his earthly ministry, he did not call angels from heaven to consume those who vehemently opposed him. 
It seems to me that churchgoing witch hunters are not seekers of God and truth, their longing is not to live the Christ life.  They are ensnared by fear and drowning in delusive superstitions, so, they clutch burning straws. Don't be fooled. Your blessing is not in the devil's storeroom. No enchanter can bury your glory.  Witches don't have to die for you to live your best life. You can reign in their midst.  
Noticeably, hermeneutic laxity marks the way some pastors approach the sacred duty of studying and feeding God's flock. Also, some manifest paucity of knowledge about exegesis, which is the art of drawing meaning from biblical text.  What is common is “eisegesis”, which is reading ones meaning into biblical text.  Some read their cultural idioms, biases and stereotypes into scripture. This has given rise to many doctrinal errors, predicated on pre-conversion experiences.
For example, in Yoruba mythology, Ṣàngó is venerated as the god of thunder and lightning, his double-axed attribute makes him a willing destroyer of wrongdoers. Someone raised in this cultural milieu may read Elijah’s fire-from-heaven encounter with the prophets of Baal and their eventual death as a biblical parallel of Ṣàngó’s workings and enact a prayer doctrine out of it. 
This is worrisome, for Nigerians unduly place religious leaders on the pedestal of avatar of enlightenment. Hence, many people without thinking or testing the biblical validity of what their spiritual leaders say, act as told and spread their sayings.  
Nonsense number two: Praying to the God of your pastor in the name of your pastor. Proxy access to God is erroneous.  Apostle Paul did not confront controlling spirits by flaunting his impressive spiritual pedigree. He did not pray like this:  I am Paul, the author of two third of the New Testament, erudite Apostle to the Gentiles, veritable church planter and leader builder, o God hear me, or you demons get out.  His spiritual sons did not wage war against the forces of evil by alluding to his exploits of faith. His testimony was not their weapon of war, or access to God. 
So, why do some of us pray in this fashion: The God of Pastor Fire Abu, whom I serve answer me now by fire?  Remember the error of the seven sons of Sceva. Don’t relieve their mistake. Devils don’t bow at the mention of the name of celebrity preachers. Their names cannot cure a rat’s headache.   
The faulty beliefs that pastors are infallible and mediators between God and men have fuelled this practice of name-dropping while praying.  It also makes us to accord greater significance to their words than scripture. As a result, the expression “my pastor said” is used more frequently than “the Bible says.” This indicates shift of authority and loyalty.  Where the Bible is not revered as the final authority in matters of Christian doctrine and practice, unthinking religious parrots would confer false primacy on the words of their pastors.  
Nonsense number three: Physicalising weapons of spiritual warfare and idolising symbols. Biblically, it is nonsensical to fight spirits with physical instruments and symbols. Koboko services are Pentecostal jamboree. You cannot flog demons. Prayer shawls from Holy Land are not access code to God’s heart. Jerusalem candles don’t repel evil. Holy water sanctifies nothing.  Olive oil is not the anointing. You cannot “give the devil a hot slap in his face” by waving and offering dollars.  I am sure you have read: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” 
Pastor, don’t teach me nonsense. The fact that you are always digging deep for fresh revelation is salutary. But the feverish quest for “new truth” could lead to error. It is detestable to elevate Jewish mythology to the rank of canonised truth. When you say things like Lilith was the first woman, not Eve, without situating it in its proper mythological context, makes the occasional use of earplugs desirable when you are speaking. 
Pastor, don’t teach me nonsense. God is not money-oriented. He does not esteem men based on their possessions. Buying a customised Bentley 2014 model is not a proof of God’s love. 
God is not a money doubler.  Yes, He is in the business of blessing generous people. But it is not consistent with His character to bless people, because, psyche pressure was mounted on them to give. Some sold their cars after listening to action-inspiring messages about “24-hour miracle”, and nothing happened.  Others gave $119: 99 to activate the blessing of Psalms 119: 99, yet, nothing happened. 
The clarion call is: Pastor, don’t teach me nonsense. Protect the sanctity of the pulpit. Be a custodian of truth. Uphold the inerrancy of scripture.  What and how you teach matter. Habitual failure to differentiate biblical truths from personal opinions demeans the pulpit.  Dogmatism, which is about conferring the force of truth on opinion, often fuels heresies. This is because; it is hostile to enquiry, and open to unquestioned acceptance of propositions. This mode of transmitting knowledge cannot raise defenders of truth. You cannot force feed people and hope they will become heroes of faith poised to extend kingdom frontiers.  Imitate Paul.  He had an effective teaching ministry.  He wasn’t dogmatic.  He was a master of the arts of polemics.  Hence, his spiritual seeds could smash warped philosophies, break down barriers erected against truth and heal massively corrupt cultures.
Pastor, don’t teach me nonsense. It may bring quick fame and fortune; make you the pastor of the fastest growing, always-in-the-news church in town. But at the end, stardom is vain. Make your works free of Satan’s fingerprints. 



 By Omozuwa Gabriel Osamwonyi
@omozuwaspeaks (On Twitter)

ATHEISM AND HYPOCRISY OF NIGERIANS

This piece is elicited by the string of tweets going on recently on the Twitter space about a boy who purportedly left Islam to become an atheist. He goes with the Twitter handle @mubarakbala and claims to be from Kano. His Twitter profile then reads ex-Muslim. Why an ex-Muslim? Why not just ‘I am an atheist’?
An Ex-Muslim can be a Christian, an Atheist, a Hindu or Buddhist. Is he ashamed of his new faith? When someone leaves other religions to Islam, s/he does not say I am an ex that. S/he says I am a Muslim. And I think this also applies to other faiths, probably, except this new form of atheism.
Then I decided to go through his timeline. As expected, his ex-Muslim tag fetched him a lot of the backing he desired. There was deluge of messages of support for his newfound freedom of belief. Many people, especially the non-Muslim, tweeted on his right to believe whatever he wants to believe in. They were outdoing one another to get this ex-Muslim out of  a psychiatric bed to which his relation has confined him as a befitting place. But, I was able to discern the hypocrisy which defines Nigerians as being religious people and human right champions. Annoyingly, prevalent among the so-called enlightened youth. I found out that the support he enjoys for his freedom of belief was because he was an ex-Muslim-whatever that means-not because he actually enjoys any sort of freedom of worship.
Nigeria is a religious space, you know. So, when the congregation of one religion depreciates, the other gets happier. This is just the mentality here, no matter how we pretend that one people’s religion is accommodating while the other is intolerant.
I was able to see further the Nigerian human right activists in their true nature as just religious people behind the mask of civil society groups. I even saw a write-up on the situation ex-Muslims face in Africa by one Leo Igwe. But it is understandable why Nigerian pseudo human right activists would be in the active mode when the issue at hand goes against Islam and Muslims, but become silent when crimes are perpetrated by a particular religion or region.
I recall I couldn’t count the number of lawyers jostling to represent Muhammed Masaba in his 86 wives saga, as they were so many. However, I vividly remember that only one insignificant lawyer took up the case of the little girl who was slapped by a prominent pastor for claiming to be a witch for Jesus. Does that little girl not deserve freedom of belief? Why have our human right activists not fought for the daughter of a pastor who converted to Islam in Niger state to let her be? Is she not entitled to freedom of religion which we so much sought for ex-Muslims? She was kidnapped by the Emir, they say.
What of the pervasive cases of children being violated in churches across eastern Nigeria under the label of witchcraft? Yeah, only Almajirai in the North is a problem. What about the rampant cases of baby factories in Christian populated southern Nigeria? Okay, it is only child marriage an issue worthy of signing phantom petition for. What of the little girls who are picked from southern Nigeria villages to be used as housemaids in Christian households of Lagos, Ibadan or Enugu, but are chained to pillars, tortured and burnt with pressing iron. You know they are actually bewitching the children of their aunties/madams and therefore the pastor ordered that they be exorcised. It is okay for some people to commit crime because of their region and religion. Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy!!  Hypocrisy!!!
Now coming to the topic of atheism, is atheism actually a lack of belief? It is not. It is essentially a belief in nothing, but nature. It is the belief that God is non-existent. Atheists believe there is no life after death. Things by themselves happen by nature. May Mubarak and other atheists be guided.
Well, the way I have come to decipher atheists is that they are misled by ‘freedom’which in essence is their belief. Atheists suffer from freedom of thinking. While you have freedom to think, you should also have freedom to think rationally. This is what an atheist lacks. The problem of atheists is that they think they have a limitless knowledge of universe or nature. This is where most people don’t get it. Human knowledge is very limited. The limitation of human knowledge makes him discover things from time to time. If human being has complete knowledge, there would not have been need for researching. Man should have just made a list of future knowledge, discoveries, advances and the end of them.
Atheists are misled in the belief that they possess a comprehensive knowledge, and through their adding together of events of the universe they conclude that God does not exist. But one can easily see through the shallowness of atheists’ intelligence by their analysis of events. They question why there is hunger, oppression, inequality etc., if God exists. Indirectly, they accuse God of injustice and unkindness, if really He exists.
For instance, in @mubarakbala’s timeline, an evidence of his non-existence of God is the picture of a crawling, close-to-skeleton man devastated by hunger. I believe @mubarakbala eats at least twice a day and yet a man walks around without a meal but he does not deem it fit to get him a ration of his meal and still he accuses God of lack of generosity. He wears nice shirt as I can deduct from his profile picture. I guess he has more than one of that shirt. Yet, many children walk about in Kano in tatters. Did nature not teach him to be kinder than God by sharing his nice shirts with those children? Or free-thinking does not enjoin sympathy, kindness and justice.
The very nature of the confusion we have in the world today is what strengthens my belief in God and the hereafter. Someone, greater than all of us, must ask that pastor why he slapped that little girl. So, you mean if Shekau the Boko Haram leader dies today, he will not account for his many atrocities against innocent people. You must be kidding. Then if such is the case, nature does not worth believing in because it makes people not to answer for their crimes. God may decide to forgive as well. The atheist would say injustice. Why does the atheist see anything wrong when s/he wrongs someone and the person decides to forgive?
Freethinkers may wonder what sort of punishment would God hands down to some criminals that will commensurate with their crime. As much as we may think any punishment is lenient, yet someone who commits multiple murders will not want to go to jail for 50 years or be killed. Is a 50-year jail sentence or his being killed equal to a single murder?
Atheists think nothing must be left to God to decide and everything must be open to them like black and white. Yet they never question their examiner at school, a fellow human being, why s/he decides to ask some questions but leaves others out in a test. These are very basic things that atheists have been unable to understand, yet they think they possess knowledge of creations.
In conclusion, the very problems of human, which the atheist uses as testimony of non-existence of God, are human being themselves. Humankind accuses God for what it has brought upon itself. The atheist opined that if God exist, He should not have made the opposite of whatever we consider as being good. Then the essence of the Day of Judgment would be negated.What use is the court or justice department when everyone obeys the law? Whereas humanity has blamed God for destruction of wars, it has not blamed God for technology which give birth to the former. Have the atheists question nature why it created them, unless they also believe there is nothing call ‘purpose’. Then nature must be stupid for creating for no purpose.
Ramadan Mubarak to all my readers.

A.S.M Jimoh (anehi2008@gmail.com)