adminI am also not a religious leader but it has been too long since someone critically observed the conflicting ways of modern-day Christians.
The emergence of new churches has seen more Christians confused and lost than saved. Many now attend church services more as a formality than a faith or spiritual-based obligation. In today’s society characterised by competition and the pursuit of self-centred endeavours, as an observer I could not help but notice that some members from well-established denominations run to join various newly sprouting churches where they acquire themselves dignified positions like deacons, reverends and other church elders.
It is only with time when they realise the bishop’s conflicting practices that they want out, but it will be too late to withdraw (as those titled positions come with responsibilities).
Where does one get the inspiration to form a church? I am sure you have heard of many bishops and pastors testifying about their calling. Some say God came to them in a dream and told them to lead His sheep. Others say they fasted 40 days and 40 nights like Jesus and then an angel appeared on the last day and handed them a Bible to start a ministry.
Yet others say they were either too rich or too poor until God suddenly reduced or blessed them to want to commit the rest of their lives to Him. The versions are endless of which we have no right to deny or justify. No one really knows how the Almighty Father selects His word Bearers.
But as proven by Christian history, it is through one’s way of life and dedication for the cause that one can be justified. I have been around long enough to observe that when a person, no matter how rich or poor, dull or educated, black or white diligently reads the Bible (from Genesis to Revelations) in the process one acquires are certain levels of understanding and wisdom.
The problem now is — how does one use that wisdom? Some begin to feel that they are not appreciated and not given enough time or no chance at all to share and flex their Biblical muscles on the pulpit; hence they develop a desire to leave their churches and open up their own. The question then is: is it a calling or a temptation?
We are living in an era where there is more calamity, spiritual unrest, poverty and moral decadence that generally people are desperately looking for answers to their problems. Christians want the Messiah to instantly answer their prayers and non-believers are tired of painlessly living a meaningless life that they want someone who promises them the answers they are looking for.
Coincidentally, the self-acclaimed pastors and prophets are very good at giving these people hope. They tell you what you want to hear and sincerely sympathise with you.
They don’t waste a moment to assure you that you have been in bondage and now your suffering is over. Miracles are performed and people are healed. So who among those healed would say Christ is not with them? Who among those who bears witness to these miracles would deny the existence of God’s power over men?
Many do not have a problem when they kneel down and a man prophesises in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Can you have a problem when a man preaches referring to the Holy Bible and thereafter calls you by name when you actually have never met to tell you that the yoke of poverty has been broken and within two months you will receive a very generous tender?
Can you hold anything against an ex-thief preacher turned prophet who exclaims “In the name of Jesus”, and you get up and walk, something that the doctors had concluded was impossible?
Not many of our ancient and pre-existing churches performed miracles but most of them are even older than most of us, so what is happening? Can’t they or are they just not meant to specialise in that department of ministry?
Maybe you have noticed that there are prophets who cannot preach and preachers who cannot prophesy or some one who can convincingly do both. Once again, are we not compelled to admit that we cannot understand how God chooses to deliver the same message to different people and how the people He chooses to deliver them do it?
The Christian religion is now faced with confusion, pointing fingers and calling one another blasphemous and satanic. The same Bible is now being interpreted in a revolutionalised way and verses are made to seem like they are out-fashioning one another.
New Bible scholars are emerging with the most frightening insinuations and claim to have scrutinised the era of the latter. It is only a matter of time before some new scholar comes up with a slang version of the Bible meant to target contemporary youths because with the way things are going, Christians might end up becoming only a more confused, misguided and frustrated bunch.
What has become of our Christian faith and who is inspiring these new scholars?
If you look around you, you will notice churches with different suggestive logos and various images portraying the centre of their faith, yet they vehemently suggest that they are Christians. But is not Christ the centre of our faith?
Today you see eagles, lions, scales, bowls and so on, on church walls. Allow me to ask where in the Bible it is written that these symbols are of significance to Christianity?
Be careful or you might actually be subconsciously praying to something else. Okay let me stop here lest I start to sound like a preacher.
Some church leaders even claim to be Jesus, which we cannot prove, accept or deny anyway because the Son of God never announced the exact date of his second coming.
However, it is everyone’s hope that those who do good and love should have the privilege of knowing He is back. So why then should that information be limited to members of a selected church when God is universal?
Some go to churches they do not understand just for formality, get there and start falling asleep because some of the churches have very comfortable seats. Demons are cast out and you are busy salivating. The service ends, you go home to suddenly realise that your life is acquiring more problems than solving. So what if back there in the church all the demons cast out found a fresh host in the sleeping you? What it means is that you went to church to gather yourself more problems, for a demon never leaves its host just to inhabit the thin air. It wants a living someone else to torment so it’s always wise to participate in church.
The Kingdom of Heaven is complex but its benefits come simple for did not God Himself teach us how to live with the 10 commandments and a golden rule of loving our neighbour as we love ourselves as emphasised by Jesus?
Online Reporter