THE WORD with Bruce Itai Chimani: Why are you so nice?

I love Christianity a lot. It is one of the most interesting lifestyles one can ever engage in. However, the Christians that we have nowadays have such a wrong misconception about what this life is all about. Christianity is not just about going to church and feeling blessed and high-favoured, although all that is all good. I believe that at this time we are living in, we cannot afford to be just so courteous concerning the things that are going wrong in and around us. If you study the Word of God you will discover that countless times the Lord Jesus is referred to as being angry or displeased about the situations He would be involved in.

In Matthew 10:14, for example, his disciples deny the little children from coming to Him (Jesus) and he is angry, the Bible says. But why would God manifest in the flesh get angry over that? That seems “too much” doesn’t it? Well, it is not too much! Jesus had a mandate which he was supposed to complete at that particular moment and the disciples, sweet and nice as they were, were actually a hindrance then.

There are many of us who want to achieve great things in this life, who want to make a difference in our communities and change the course of our families’ lifestyles but in all our efforts we are constantly thwarted by one thing or the other, time and time again. I would want to say though that one of the reasons why you are always being discouraged is that you are ‘too nice’. Being ‘nice’ is good by the way — the Bible actually says that we ought to love one another; but we are supposed to get things done in our lives by ousting any obstacles that hinder us from getting to our God ordained destinies.

Many of us have the obstacles of bad partnerships. The people that are stopping us from being useful to God are really nice people; some of them are actually really beautiful and handsome people. I have met sisters who want to do great things for God and affect their families with the gospel but their only hindrances are their “handsome” and iniquitous boyfriends. I know of brothers who have given their all, all for the heart of a “gorgeous” girl, who so happens to be a very beautiful obstacle.

I’m reminded of Adam in the Garden of Eden. He knew where he was supposed to be with God and what he was supposed to do and not to do. So when he comes back to his beautiful wife, he is persuaded to east the forbidden fruit and he failed to resist. Look where the human race is today because of the scene Adam committed. The same was with Samson — like Dr Goodwill Shana says, “Delilah delights diminish divine destiny and dignity.” Samson was lured out of God’s will for his life because he was too nice to the obstacle called Delilah.

I do not have a problem with people getting into relationships by the way, lest you misinterpret where I am going. As long as those relationships are taking you somewhere with God and are submitted to His word and are for the right motives.
One of the most dramatic moments in Jesus’ life is found in Matthew 16. Jesus is talking to His disciples and he is telling them of the persecution He is supposed to go through in Jerusalem and all the things that are to happen to Him. While on it, Peter pulls Jesus to the side and he exclaims at the Lord in a rebuking tone, “God be gracious to You, Lord! This shall never be to You.” What follows after that is almost outrageous! Jesus says to Peter, “Satan, get away from me! You’re in my way because you think like everyone else and not like God.” Yes, you read that right; the Lord Jesus said that! It’s in your Bible; check it out in Matthew 16:21-23!

Here the Lord himself shows us simply how we should guard against things that take us out of the God-context. Peter at that moment was sounding like the devil himself and he had to be rebuked and shown the way.

Over the past month or so the Lord has been ministering to me on the power of discontentment or being angry and displeased with where I am in all areas of my life. I am not pleased — I want more of God, I want more opportunities, I want more money, I want more! Not being nice is a call to discontentment my dear! God says to the Israelites in Hosea 13:6 that he fed them until they were satisfied!
I don’t know about you but I’m tired of certain things around. I am overly tired of seeing poor Christians (that’s an oxymoron — it’s like saying dark-light), I am tired of seeing people who are not born again buying houses and cars and owning property while the righteous are still lodging and claiming that their God is able. I am tired of seeing people who know nothing about God doing better than sons of God. I am tired of that! How does that work anyway? I am tired of us having to wait for some help from abroad and in the Diaspora when we claim that the Lord resides in us and we are His temple! This stuff ought to work for us regardless of where we are! I am not taking that anymore. Something ought to be wrong with how we have been approaching the things of God.

If our God is able like we know, then we are too nice about it all — we ought to place a demand on Him! He says in His Word that we ought to bring Him to remembrance and we will until we see the manifestation of the promise.

I think we ought to stop being nice about certain things in our lives. I have said the things that I am tired about, personally, and I think you also have some things that you have been too nice about which you ought to revolt against! List them down and let’s do this thing!

Let’s continue chopping it up online and on Facebook.
If Christ be anything, let Him be everything.