MY POSITION ON RCCG'S 3 KM BY 3KM CHURCH AUDITORIUM

One of the biggest tragedies of our time is the fact that Christian do not know were we are coming from. The late Dr David Martyn Loyd-Jones used to say that Christians, along with a sound knowledge of the bible, should know church history. Because of ignorance of where the church is coming from, we are bound to repeat mistakes of the past.

Martin Luther’s grouse with the Roman Catholic Church, which led ultimately to the 16^th century Reformation, started with this same issue of buildings. The Roman Catholic Church was in the middle of re-building the St. Peter’s Basilica at Rome. It was going to be the most awesome church building in Europe in those days. The Pope, despite being the head of the Church, had such influence over European countries that it was said that he could influence the overthrow of kings in their own kingdom. To raise money for that building, the church began a series of excruciating taxation. Quite naturally the money recovered from this means was not enough and so they enacted the outrageous doctrine of indulgence. In those days religious superstition thrived because very few people had access to the bible and did not know the word of God for them selves. So it was what the priest taught you that you believe. They taught the people the doctrine of purgatory (and Catholics still believe that) and said that loved ones who were dead were in purgatory and must be purged of their sins before being allowed into heaven. If the people were to pay a certain amount of money as indulgence money, it will speed up their being taken to heaven.

So the people who quite naturally wanted their loved ones to go speedily to heaven paid this money. In fact the more you pay, the faster the process. A certain gentleman, Johann Tetzel, came to the town, from Rome, were Luther ministered to collect these indulgence money and Luther heard of it. Before that time, Luther a priest, had been having private bible studies with his students, because he was also a theological Proffesor at the Wittenberg University. They discovered from their study of Romans the profound doctrine of “Justification by Faith”. The implication of the doctrine in relation to these indulgence money was that there was no need for the people to taxed indulgence money. We gain acceptance with God by believing what Jesus wrought for us on the cross and we live the rest of our Christian life by faith; no amount of indulgence money can move God. Salvation is free, having been paid for by the death of Jesus on the cross.

Luther stormed a public building in his home town of Wittenberg and nailed what is today known as “The 95 theses” on the wall for people to read. On it he listed 95 errors of the Roman Catholic Church, including the error of indulgence.Particularly in Theses 86, which ask: "Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than his own money?" By that time the fire of Reformation had began to engulf Europe.

When the church looses her vision like it was in Luther’s days, it would begin to prioritize things that God doesn't.  In Luther days the errors was indulgence. Today, the error is tithe. One would have thought the money they collect through tithes and offering should be able to build these projects they are continually shoring up, but never. They will always ask for more like Oliver Twist. So what do we have in our hand, a call for more money to build our own “modern day St. Peter basilica”.

What is more depressing is that what our Protestant fathers liberated us from, we the children are returning to in bondage. The biggest culprit in this matter are Pentecostals. There brazen ignorance is legendary. And this is further compounded by the miracles, signs and wonders that the Pastors display, which enslaves the worshipers and rids them of the ability to think. The doctrine of “touch not my anointed” has become so widespread that it is unbelievable how many have become servants to this lie. So the thinking is that a “man of God” should never be questioned; should never be criticized; should never be put in a bad light because if you do so, the anointing will fight against you. The implication is that these men have become demi-gods in their respective enclaves and they can do and undo - no one must talk.

When we question the tithe, we are told "who are you to question what your leaders do with tithe money; as long as you have paid the money, you should leave them to God." And I say, where do you find such in the bible? Paul said this concerning monies being collected for the needy in Jerusalem due to ravaging famine (and by the way all collections made in the New Testament were always geared at providing for the poor and needy and not to build temples or buy private jet for pastors):

2 Corinthians 8:19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:  20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:  21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.   22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

So the collections were to be as opened as possible so that no one is blamed and that the minister should provides honest things before God and men. In our days, we claim that man need not know what another man is using Church finances for. But here Paul tells us that both man and God should know. John had written in his epistles that the person who claims to love God who he does not see but hates his fellow man who he sees is lying. Same as the man who claims to be honest before God who he does not see but sees no reason to be accountable to man who he sees is not accountable to God in all reality.

The RCCG should ceaze to build bricks and begin to build men. The purpose of the pilgrimage to Lagos-Ibadan express way is dwindling every day. Pastor Adeboye is over 70 years old now. His biological clock is running out. A wise master builder will not necessarily be grooming a successor, like many of these men claim, but be working at imparting himself in a great number of the leaders under him to continue the work when he is no more. The proof that he is not doing this is in the fact that the leaders under him, just as the Church members too, cannot but continue going to “Camp” for spiritual blessings.

Jesus left 11 illiterate men, after 3 years of earthly ministry, to continue the work he had begun. He trusted them to do the job not because they were able in themselves but because the Spririt of Truth will endue them from on high and enable them to do as he did. And those men turned their world “upside down” from Christ. When the Spirit of truth is abscent in a place, another spirit takes over. What naturally the Spirit of God would do using men, any man for that matter, this other spirit will require only one man to do; and he must continue to do this things in the strength of the flesh. It is called another spirit, another gospel. That is why the priorities of this other spirit differ a great the deal from the priorities of the Holy Spirit. I call all men to beware – these are the last days when falsehood will reign.

UNVEILLING MODERN DAY JUDAIZERS

Jesus and the Judaizers

A cursory study through the New Testament will show that the gospel of Jesus Christ had enemies from its inception. First century Palestine was a deeply religious one and the world Jesus was born into had some individuals who had constituted themselves as authorities: they were the Pharisees and Sadducees – sometimes seen as teachers and scribes.

The gospel Jesus preached stood in stark contrast to that which the religious leaders of his days taught. While Jesus preached a message of inner renewal and sanctification, these men emphasized externalities. While Jesus encouraged frugality and faithfulness with money, the Pharisee and Sadducees were said to love money and encouraged people to give money to the synagogue over and above taking care of their families. While Jesus encouraged liberty amongst his followers, these people were known to tie up heaven burden on people that they could not carry themselves. While Jesus taught his disciples about the kingdom to come, these men knew nothing but earthly things. While Jesus taught with authority and in the power of the Holy Ghost, these men were clouds without rain. It is important to note that Jesus did not have kind words for these men. Hear him in Matthew 23:

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:  3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;  but do not ye after their works:  for they say, and do not.   4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders;  but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.   5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men:  they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.   8 But be not ye called Rabbi:  for one is your Master, even Christ;  and all ye are brethren.   9 And call no man your father upon the earth:  for one is your Father, which is in heaven.   10 Neither be ye called masters:  for one is your Master, even Christ.   11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.   12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;  and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

For those who make a case for not criticizing men of God, they should hear what Jesus said of religious leaders of his day above.

This position that Jesus took did not go without a price. The religious leaders saw to it that Jesus was killed. In fact as early as Mark 3, the Pharisees were already planning to kill Jesus:

6. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

They succeded at it eventually and the Lord of glory was crucified. When Paul discussed Jesus death in 1 Corinthians 2, he called those who crucified Jesus “princes of this world”.

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew:  for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory

The phrase “princes of this world” could be interpreted “rulers of this world” – the political, religious and demonic rulers of the world. The princes of this world will include Pilate, Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and the devil himself.  In their morbid jealousy and hatred, the Pharisees and Sadducees, had teamed up with satan to bring about his demonic work.

We all know now that God was using all this to birth his eternal purpose on earth in sending a savior to mankind to redeem us from our sins. But because the religious leaders of that time were so demonic compliant, they were ready tools in the hands of the devil.

I introduced this piece with Jesus’ experience with the Judaizers of his time so that I can proceed into what Paul himself experience with Judaizer of his own time before finally discuss the Judaizers of our time. We will see that except in very minor details, the judaistic religion has not changed since the days of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul and the Judaizers

Paul the apostle can only be described as a remarkable man when we realize that he confronted Judaism both in the world and in the church. Jesus had given a brief remark on the kind of suffering this man’s ministry was going to encounter when he was speaking to Ananias at Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:15-16).

From Paul’s own testimony, Paul was born a jew. He grew up and was discipled under the strictest form of Judaism – he was a Pharisee. He was taught by Gamaliel; a man of such profound knowledge of the Torah and who was held at the highest esteem by the Jewish leaders that a word from him got the release of Peter and John from the murderous grip of the Jews in Acts 4. So Paul was well taught.

Paul, however, had an encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, as he was persecuting Christians with authority from the Jewish leaders. He was born-again, and scripture records that immediately he began to preach Jesus whom he had been persecuting. Paul’s account in Galatian 2 shows that sometimes between the period of his conversion and the time he visited Peter and James, Paul was on a retreat in the wilderness and their God revealed the gospel of grace to him. Jesus himself had preached bits and pieces of this gospel in his earthly ministry but because he was born under the law and had to be subject to the law so as to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law for those of us who will subsequently come to have faith in Him, Jesus could not preach the gospel of grace (completely) as he would later reveal to Paul (this is the only way to explain why Paul’s message differed from Jesus’ without discussing the doctrine of dispensation). Jesus had however told the disciples that he could not teach them everything now but will reveal things to them bit by bit (John 14:26).

The gospel of grace was part of the revelation that Peter got when he had the encounter with God on the top of a house subsequent to his meeting Cornelius in Acts 10. Though what Peter understood was that the gospel had been sent to the gentiles also and was not to be confined to Jews, alone. The fact that Peter’s ministry was limited to the Jews shows that he did not completely grasp the gospel of grace like Paul did and even if he did, he could not pay the price to preach it.

But Paul paid that price. Why? Because God had given him the grace to do so (1 Corinthians 15:10).

The gospel of grace as revealed to Paul was revolutionary. The core point of it was Justification by grace through faith (alone), Ephesians 2:8-9. The implication of this gospel meant that everything Moses gave as law was defunct and obsolete Galatians 3, 2Corinthians 3. There has been a change of law from the law of sin and death to the law of Spirit of Life, Hebrew 7:12; Romans 8:2. Rather than be led by law written of tablets of stones, the believer was now to be led by the Spirit of God, Romans 8:14.

This gospel preached by Paul was against the Judaizers both in the Church and in the world. The latter part of the book of Acts gives an account of what Paul experienced in the hands of worldly Judaizers. But if his contention was with those in the world alone, it would have been a small matter. But Paul also had to contend with Judaizers in the church.

The main object of contention with the Judaizers of Paul’s time was the question of whether gentile believers were to be circumcised or not. In Acts 15:2 it is recorded that Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention with these group of people. The matter was taken to the Jerusalem church and the verdict read:

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;  29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication:  from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.   Fare ye well.  

Paul Accuses Peter of Judaism 

The case seem to have closed there, not until again we see Paul in Galatians 2 saying that he had to withstand Peter to the face because he was acting hypocritical. What was the matter? Some Judaistic Christians had come from James, and Peter was now beginning to withdraw from the gentiles Christians who prior to those people’s coming, he had been eating with them. Following this rebuke, Paul laid down the eternal foundations upon which the gospel of grace is founded on in the book of Galatians:

•  There is only one gospel: the Gospel of Grace, any other is an accursed thing. And anyone who preaches such is accursed. Galatian 1:8,9
• Justification is by faith(Galatians 3:6-7) and the subsequent life that the believer lives must be lived by faith, Galatians 2:20. Nothing in the law could secure a man’s salvation, v.21.
• To start in faith and then to think you can secure your salvation by doing anything else in addition to it is foolishness. Galatians 3:1-3
•  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13 (including the curse of not tithing in Malachi 3) and the blessing of Abraham comes to the believer by faith and not works, v.14
• The purpose of the law was to reveal what sin is and the utter sinfulness of man that tries to keep it, and thus our need of a savior. Galatians 3:19-24
•  The law is weak and beggarly. Galatians 4: 8-9
•  God calls the believer to stand in liberty and not bondage to the law. Galatians 5:1
•  Those who seek to be justified by the law have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4
•  Christ fulfilled the law and those of us who obey the law of love, have fulfilled the law also; for all the law is fulfilled in the law of love. Galatians 5:14
• The call on all believers is not to keep any aspect of the law but to be led by the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit; for when we do this we are obliged to keep the law. Galatians 5:22-23

An in depth study of Galatians will reveal much more than these things enumerated above.

My point in this piece is not to discuss what the gospel of grace is but to show that the gospel that Paul preached was not the ones the Judaistic Christians preached and it was a source of offence to these people, for which Paul suffered through out his ministry.

Paul did not take it kindly with these people. Because in the bid to walk in love and discern the body of Christ, we are not to condemn other believers because they are weak (Romans 14), but the fact that Paul used the strongest terms possible against these people showed that these people were not Christians but the enemies of the gospel.

Paul's Disgust with Judaizers

In Galatians, Paul suggested that any one who wanted to circumcise others to be saved should not only circumcise himself but totally cut off his own manhood:

Galatians 5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.  

Paul talked about how some people came in to secretly spy on the liberty they enjoyed as Christians in Galatians 2

3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:  4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour;  that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

In Phillipians 3, Paul used the strongest word ever to describe the sect of the circumcision: dogs

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.   To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.   2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.   3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Paul emphasized in Colosians 2 so many times the phrase “let no man…”; to drive home the 

point that people of the Judaistic religion must be resisted at all cost:

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  17 Which are a shadow of things to come;  but the body is of Christ.   18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.   20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not;  taste not;  handle not;  22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body;  not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.  

In verse 18, the apostle leaves a word for those who, like today, are always coming up with a new revelation of heaven and hell. He says it is the outcome of their fleshly minds.

In Titus 1, Paul says the mouth of these Judaizers should be stopped

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:  11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.   12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.   13 This witness is true.   Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;  14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.   15 Unto the pure all things are pure:  but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure;  but even their mind and conscience is defiled.   16 They profess that they know God;  but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.  

Paul contended these men to the end. I have an intimation that the thorn in the flesh God gave Paul was the opposition to the gospel he was going to be preaching and these opposition, though from many sources, came primarily from the Judaizers of his time.

Modern Day Judaizers

If any of us had lived in the time of Apostle Paul, there is likelihood we also would have opposed his teachings. That is why I think Peter said his teachings are difficult to understand. Take for example, the circumcision that he was so vehemently opposed to. God himself had given the ordinance of circumcision to Abraham before the coming of the law and had instructed that it was to last to all generations in Genesis 17:

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.   8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession;  and I will be their God.   9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.   10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee;  Every man child among you shall be circumcised.   11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin;  and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.   12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.   13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised:  and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.   14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people;  he hath broken my covenant.  

But here was Paul saying that anyone who allowed himself to be circumcised had fallen from grace. How then are we to reconcile Paul teachings with the whole of scripture: First we must understand that God in his wisdom chose Paul as an apostle (maybe in replacement of Judas) to propagate this gospel. Also, there was nothing Paul preached that the apostles who had witnessed the Lamb in the flesh did not know. That they did not preach it is another issue. And lastly, anyone who witnessed Paul’s ministry, the grace on it, the signs and wonders, and the sheer fact that God was with this man could not but agree that what he was teaching was sound doctrine.

Today we have a whole lot of folks who are still opposing Paul, long after he has left. I came across one Femi Aribisala who feels that Pauls writings are not scripture but mere letters. Paul himself had warned that in the last days men would no longer endure sound doctrine. The reformation of the sixteenth century gained it strength from the writing of Paul the apostle – so that in Martin Luther and John Calvin, the Roman Catholic Church was confronting Paul again. Everywhere institutional church is created, there is a head on collision with Paul’s writings. Why? Probably because Paul’s teaching were not suited for organized church but for every day Christian living.

For example, Paul’s writing did not support tithing. And tithing is the only means of supporting organized church today. No where in all his writing did Paul ask anyone to pay tithe to a church or to himself. But modern day Judaizer would have us believe that tithing is an ordinance of God. When they say pay your tithe, Malachi 3: 8-10 is quoted:

8 Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.   But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings.   9 Ye are cursed with a curse:  for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.   10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  

If we assume the scripture quoted above was not addressed to Levites and Priest (though some of us contend it was) and actually take it as God’s word, how do we reconcile the above scripture with another already quoted above (Genesis 17) where God was saying that Circumcision was to be an eternal ordinance in Israel and anyone who doesn’t practice it would be cut off? The truth is that whether Malachi 3 is addressed to Levites or Israelites or Abraham does not matter; if the doctrine Paul preached made it clear that gentiles where not to be circumcised, it is easy to conclude that gentiles are not to pay tithe either.

Now the tithe doctrine is even less arguable than circumcision even though both of them are pre-law and both of them were practiced by Abraham (By the way Abraham paid tithe only once). But tithing was never a subject for disputation in the time of Paul because most Jews of that time where not tithing. The tithe that God describes in Malachi, as well as other part of the Old Testament, was 10% of agricultural produce. And by the time of Jesus most Jews were not agriculturist so the tithe was not an issue. Even Jesus was never said to have tithed because Jesus was not a farmer but a carpenter.

So Paul again finds himself contending modern day Judaizers who are bent on ensuring that redeemed gentiles pay tithes to established church institutions.

Modern day Judaizer are also, always, dictating to their church members, the rules they must keep and not keep. Unfortunately the women folk, who have very little to say in church administration, are the ones that suffers the most. “You must not wear ear-rings”; “You must not wear trousers”; “You must not wear make up”; “You must not wear tight fitted clothing’s”. They could easily compare these rules and regulation to Colossians 2:20-22 to find out the scriptural basis of what they are doing. It does not end there. Modern day Judaizers have turned the church of God to their own by posting lists of things that make an individual a bona fide member of (their) church. Recently a prominent Pentecostal church, with a large mission base on Lagos-Ibadan express way announced to its members that anyone who doesn’t tithe would no longer enjoy the church support during wedding and other ceremonies.

The core doctrine of modern day Judaizers is that church must regulate how its members live and behave: thus the need for the rules and regulations. If this is not done, church members will bring reproach to the organization or they will sin and loose their salvation.

At the center of this thinking is ignorance of the doctrine of grace that Paul the apostle taught and lived. If this message is however shared with these people, they malign it and say people are being encouraged towards lawlessness. There are many ways to answer this but the best is to paint the picture of our Lord Himself. If Jesus, the owner of the Church, had such proprietary kind of mentality towards the church, he would not have left 11 unschooled fishermen to propagate his gospel after him. But the chief proponent of a gospel of grace that encourages freedom and trust in God, through the Holy Spirit, is Jesus Himself. He knew that days after his ascension the Holy Spirit will come and use mere, weak, infallible and untaught men to turn the world up side down for God.

This is the sort of mentality the church should have: if men have been truly converted, the church should trust God to establish those men. The God that is able to save, is also able to keep safe: genuine believer cannot loose their salvation. This God is able to also justify, sanctify, and eventually glorify those he has saved. When the church takes up the duty that only God can do, they turn themselves into modern day Judaizers.

GOOD OLD HYMNS TO THE RESCUE

Yesterday was an unusual day as I had to attend the burial of a Christian sister who died at a little over thirty years of age. I had thought to allow my wife go alone since the deceased was her friend but remembering the good old scripture that says "it is better to go to the house of mourning than to a house of feasting...", I felt it was only right to be there and maybe allow a little sobberness restore me from the hustle and bustle of work life.

It would be the first time I would be entering Sango (Ibadan) cemetry and I was not too dissapointed at the the disorderliness that characterized the place the dead lay, as virtually everything in this country has become dis-oragnized. I tried to play the cheerful one, and get some brothers and sisters to atleast smile; but no one seem to notice. Most were simply overtaken by the grief of loosing a vibrant sister, who had succumbed to ill health a day before, and who had been so full of life some days before now.

We trudged on towards the burial site and when I noticed most people did not want to go close to the grave, I did - playing the man. Next to me was another sister who was so grief stricken that she did not know when she handed over her programme sheet to me. I found there were three Hymns written there: "It is well with my soul...","Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me" and a third one. These hymns came to my rescue because I was about to succumb to the mourning and wailing increasing in tempo around me; and so I concentrated on the hymns. I read them as our associate Pastor preached (and to his credit, that message was sound). I then remembered the story I had read on Augustus Toplady, the author of that timeless hymn "Rock of Ages... Cleft For Me".

Augustus Montague Toplady (17740-1778) lived in the 18th century.  He was a major Calvinist opponent of John Wesley. He is best remembered as the author of the hymn "Rock of Ages". Three of his other hymns — "A Debtor to Mercy Alone", "Deathless Principle, Arise" and "Object of My First Desire" — are still occasionally sung today, though all three are far less popular than "Rock of Ages". Toplady was a leading theologian of his day and influenced a lot of minds towards calvinistic theology. He is most remembered, outside the popular hymns he wrote, for his controversy with John Wesley and their debate on the Sovereingnity of God in saving sinners, seen today as the Arminian vs Calvinist controversy. Having studied the controversy , I have come to see myself as Calvinist in christian theology, although with a touch of pentecostalism and so admire the likes of Toplady, Whitefield and Luther, a lot. Unfortunately, like our sister, Toplady was to die of Tuberculosis at the young age of 38. I am however certain that the Rock of Ages he spoke so graciously about in his hymn, and that has come to be a Rock for many more after him, has become the Rock that our sister stands on today in eternity.

It must be noted that modern pentecostalism grew out of the holliness movement that followed the teachings of John Wesley and whatever deficiencies were found in his theology would natural be inherited by pentecostal theology. It is because of this that I understood my Pastor very well when he warned those of us who came for the burial not to see our sister's death as from God, "this is from the devil", he said. What such a statement however betrays is the utter hopelessness in pentecostal theology. I have witnessed the way modern pentecostals face death and cannnot but quiver at their response to such situations. What is the use of a theology if it cannot give hope beyond this life? How does the family of the bereaved take comfort in the fact that the devil has killed there sibling? How does the church take comfort in the fact that the devil has taken one of them? Who is next?

When Jesus said in John 11 that he is the ressurection and the life, whoever believes in him will not see death, he meant what he was saying. The new testament gives the impression that Christians don't die, they sleep in the Lord. Paul showed us that he would like to die and go and be with the Lord, than remain here; but if remaining will benefit the church, however, he will remain for their sake. He said "death is even better". Romans 8: we are more than conquerors through him who has loved and saved us, and even death cannot seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Christians are eternal beings; with an eternal home. Christians are God's children and he has solid plans for them. The day God's plan for us is done, we are done here: Home, here we come! Death becomes our horse, and it is never our boss. When we see death in this light, we realize that death can be a blessing from God and not from Satan. Yes, death is a Spirit, that will someday be cast into the Lake of Fire with Satan. But even in the scheme of God's workings, Satan and Death are only His messengers to fulfill his great will.

That is the way I see our sister's death and that is why I did not have to sorrow like those who didn't have hope. And that is how I hope others will see the death of our great sister.

The utter weakness of pentecostal theology, steeped in miracles, faith and prosperity, all ingredients to face today's challenges alone, is brought forth when this same theology faces realities of life like death, wars, hunger, illness, disease and all other "works of the devil". Modern man may have interpreted these situations better when he called them the "Acts of God". The supremacy of the gospel of Jesus is that the believer is more than a conqueror in the face of all these ills.

An example of what I am saying came forth in a very practical manner during the burial service: none of the praise and worship songs we pentecostals sings could be sung in a coherrent form yesterday because most people where simply distraught. We had to resort to good old hymns to rescue us from our predicament. I am of the school of thought that we must all re-consider orthodox theologies taught in the past by our fathers because the same way praise songs where so inappropriate yesterday except orthodox hymns, so also will we need stronger and more orthodox theologies to face the events of the days to come in our lives. We shall all be in need of the Rock of All Ages that is unmovable in every circumstance.

- Deji Yesufu

BOMBS ON THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE

“I hope we do not get stuck in hold up again today. I must be home before my children go to bed. We may decide on an alternative route home if traffic on Third Mainland is heavy.”

“Yes sir.”

That is about all the conversation I would have with my driver before I drift off into another world consisting of my own thoughts. I had finished late at work as usual, having delayed a bit so that the traffic that usually bedevils the Victoria Island – Lagos mainland road is eased. We had set out from the office at about half past six and were gradually cruising through some newly refurbished roads by the Fashola led Lagos government. I have again miscalculated Lagos traffic because here we are stuck in hold-up. But this one is a light one. My gaze drifts to four children heckling in a car next to mine. The oldest could not be more than seven, while the youngest must be two. They have completely drowned their mother’s protest with their own noise in the car. The poor lady has obviously given up as she tries to concentrate on driving and probably trying to figure out what would be for dinner this night.

I try to glance  at the dailies I had purchased on my way to work but most of the stories where as usual not encouraging. If it was not a new Boko Haram attack, it would be the latest on a scandal involving top government officials. Nigeria, a nation of one week one scandal. I drop the paper and can see from the back seat of the car that Sunday, my driver, had found an inner city bypass so as to beat traffic on a particular notorious section of the city. But alas, here we are again, held up in Go-slow. Obviously many more people have discovered this same bypass. I think to myself: it may be wiser to just take the main street. The longest distance between two points is a short cut – those words of Tunde Bakare again ring in my ears.

Sunday is now negotiating the overhead bridge that would link us with the Third Mainland Bridge. I heave a sigh of relief when I notice that the traffic on the bridge is moving and I quickly make a mental deduction that I should be home before 8.00pm. Having driven for about three minutes we have again had to slow down to about 30kmph as we drive through another heavy traffic of late home-returnees like myself. I notice the woman with four children again but this time the children have been quietly tamed by nature itself. Every one of them has drifted into sleep and I can see through the AC tight vehicle that she is humming along with some music she is playing in the car. I think to myself this must be the challenge Jola had been having with the children that she would not cease troubling me until I got a driver to take them to and from school. I again thank God for the resources He has made available to take care of my family.

Suddenly we hear a loud bang. I turned around and tried to figure out where the sound may have come from as I peered through the rear glass of the car. “Concentrate on your driving!” I bark out to Sunday, who obviously may have been more alarmed than I. Those words were barely out of my mouth when we heard another bang, this one louder and coming from somewhere in front of us. By this time traffic had come to an abrupt stop. Suddenly I notice the bridge was shaking. At first the shaking was little then later it became more vigorous. Then the shaking stopped. I stepped out of the car, like most people around us and we began to ask ourselves what could be happening. Someone began shouting “bomb! bomb!! bomb!!!...” before we could make any decision on what to do, a series of loud bangs, this time louder than before went off all around us. Instinctively I dive to the ground, shouting on top of my voice at Sunday to do the same. Where I was I could see that many other people had done the same. Unfortunately, the unwise began running… to nowhere in particular. From where I was I saw smoke rising from every part of the bridge. Cars where on fire and people where just screaming all around us. The bridge had began to vibrate again and I felt it might actually be tilting to the side. I raise up my head from where I was lying and indeed the bridge had titled a bit to the right. I stood to my feet and I noticed a deep crevice must have been created on the bridge some 2km in front of us. Some cars heading to the mainland would certainly have dropped into the sea. Not waiting to find out how serious the situation was I turned and beckoned to Sunday (who also was on his feet now) for us to run for the other side of the road that did not seem affected by the explosions. We must be about a kilometer into the bridge. We begin to make our way through the hundreds of abandoned vehicles on the road.

As we ran I noticed the woman with four children trying to get her kids out of the car. I rush at her and pulled open the back seat. I grab the seven year old in the hand and carry another who must be about five. I could see the glance of relief and gratitude on her face. Sunday carries the third child while the woman had the two year old. Some people had tripped over themselves in front of us, so I motioned to Sunday and the woman for us to climb over the divider on the bridge and run on the side of the road where traffic would usually head towards the Island. Due to the commotion on the bridge, traffic had ceased on that side of the road. Many people were doing the same thing and everybody was simply running for dear life.

There was no time to think on what could be happening but it has been well publicized in the media that the Boko Haram terrorist group would be targeting strategic points in southern Nigeria. Was this a bomb attack on the Third Mainland Bridge? There was no time to think of an answer.

We were still well on top of the bridge. The vibration had ceased at this time but my instincts told me that if there had been a series of bomb explosions on the bridge it would only be a matter of time before the whole stretch of bridge collapses into the sea. The thoughts seem to shore up a new supply of adrenaline in my blood stream. Sunday is in front of me running and carrying one of the children of the woman. The seven year old is running beside me, while I am still carrying the five year old. I glance back briefly and saw the woman and her baby scrambling along with us a few steps behind. I can now see the end of the bridge and could only run faster despite the close to 30kg mass on my hands. Suddenly I trip over and the child and I go sprawling on the floor. Sunday rushes to my help, while I scream at the woman to take her children and flee the bridge, since the child I was carrying was not hurt. I try to get to my feet but there is a terrible pain on my right leg. It may be broken. Sunday helps me to my feet and with an arm on his shoulders I begin to half-hop and half-run to safety. The vibration on the bridge has again begun but it is more intense than ever. I look at the commotion behind me and can see that the portion where our car was situated on the bridge had given way into the sea.

The bridge is collapsing!

But thank God we have run to safety. I try to get a corner to sit on but the sight before me was simply incredible. One half of the bridge had, as far as I could see, collapsed into the sea. People could be seen still running to safety but the causality figure of this attack would be running into the hundreds as many people who did not die from the bomb blast, would have drowned in the sea below. In the safe corner that I sat with Sunday at my side, I close my eyes briefly and could feel the hot tears rolling down my cheeks. What sort of country has this nation become?!

I am suddenly jolted out of sleep with the sound of Sunday’s voice.

“Oga, Oga… which way do you want us to take. Third Mainland Bridge or Eko Bridge?”

“Eko Bridge… please”

It made sense to me to take Eko Bridge this evening despite the traffic that we would probably encounter there. This dream did not just come to me to change the direction in which I was driving my car but it is also a timely warning to our political leaders to change the direction in which they are driving the ship of state so as to avert a potential national disaster.

I flip out my palm top and begin to write this story…

-         Deji Yesufu.

WHAT THESE TIMES DEMAND

by Deji Yesufu

The scriptures give credit to the children of Issachar because it was said of them that they had understanding of the times. They knew what Israel ought to do regardless of the situation their nation might be encountering (1Chronicle12:32). We have this recorded in scripture to show us that the wisdom for the times is vested in God’s covenant people: the Church. We are told that God saved us and made us his people in a world of darkness and sin so that we can make a difference. Jesus calls it being the salt of the earth. We see this as a duty to propagate the gospel of Christ, while at the same benefiting society and helping society get better – through scientific and political innovations. I mention political innovations because politics is today studied as a science where people learn how men are governed. While democracy remains the most accepted system of government in most nations today, the world did not always practice democracy. On the other hand, most nations were ruled by monarchs. In the middle ages some countries revolted against the monarchy system they ran and began experimenting with democracy. For example the Magna Carta was enacted in 1215 by the English people to limit the powers of King John of England. That document set the pace for the democratic election of a United Kingdom Prime Minister and making the monarchy a ceremonial head with very limited constitutional powers. This is an example of a people deciding how and who was to rule them – this would never have happened if they were apolitical.

Whether we like it or not we are all affected by good or bad governance. Thus these times demand that Christians be less apolitical and more interested in who and how they are governed. It  would be political suicidal for Christians to think that politics is dirty and refuse to be associated with political movements, especially as we venture towards the 2015 general elections. We must thank God for some few and bold believers who picked up the gauntlet and got involved in politics and are today helping to influence political decisions in the polity, but they are still very few. When political big-wigs of prominent political parties are mentioned, Christians can hardly be found in the first twenty. When presidential candidates are suggested, they turn out to be Muslims. Then to court the votes of Christians, a Christian is tagged along with him. Such an individual, who prior to that time did not occupy a significant position in the party, too many times turns out to be a political neophyte. Sometimes the Christian that is brought along in this position is not even a born-again Christian and so if he eventually gets into office he behaves just like the others, because his nominal profession of the faith cannot affect governance in any godly manner – this is outside the fact that the position of deputy is very much ceremonial in the Nigerian constitution.

Christians must pray for the political state of our nation. We must call upon God the Father to give us men and women who fear God, who are skilled and equipped for leadership positions. Then we must pray that God gives them wisdom to lead. However, we must not limit ourselves to prayer alone, because when we pray God speaks and in the process some of us may begin to realize our calling to be involved in politics. Those who feel called into politics must venture into it with boldness, knowing that they represent the King of kings and the host of heaven has their backing. They must also trust God for favour with men. These are the things that causes for God to turn the hearts of the electorate in their favour. Christians must be ready to work with Christians and non-Christians alike for political advantage. I do not believe this is being unequally yoked with unbelievers. Politics should be seen as service to humanity and if the motive of the Christian politician is to bring good to the people of a nation, he need not fear associating with so called unbelievers for the good of all. On the other hand it would be a veritable platform to show the world what Christianity really is and to influence many to the Christian faith. If a Christian does not see anything wrong with working with other non-Christians in the civil service, so that the society is properly run, then a Christian should not be condemned for associating with non-Christians in political organizations. When elected into office, the Christian must then bring his Christian character to bear in the execution of his political promises to the electorate. Nothing taints the gospel more than those who profess Christianity and claim even to be born-again, but whose actions deny this fact. When violence and corruption is the hallmark of a “Christian” and a non-Christian’s time in office, anyone can make whatever unpleasant deductions they want of them. And nothing blasphemes the name of the Lord more than when so called believers behave worse than unbelievers in public office.

Nigeria is in desperate times and it is in need of good men to save her. The wisdom to navigate the nation through these difficult times is in the church. Over the years Christian men and women have dominated and excelled in every sphere of our national life but unfortunately we have been found wanting in the political sphere. The good news is that it is not too late. Christian folks can still rise up and re-define the political atmosphere of Nigeria by being actively involved in it. When national problems are discussed, Christians must be found positing the best solutions. We must cease to think politics is dirty and refuse to be involved in it. If not we will allow the dregs of the society to rule the nation and we then have no right to complain. If at this time a Christian does not have a voter’s card and sees no qualms with not voting, such an individual should be called out for a resounding rebuke. It is preposterous and very unbecoming of such an individual. Unfortunately a great number of Christians are like this – they careless who rules them and they make no conscience about voting talk less of being voted for. This attitude must change or some day we will wake up to find a failed state on our hands. We owe it to our children and generations un-born that this nation works.