?I for one, events in my life have proven the fact that ?patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish- John Quincy Adams. This article is born from the bitter fact religious harlotry is becoming the order of the day .we are all witnessing to the fact of our Christian jump from one miracle centre to the way in search of their so called redemption. One mind boggling question I will love to ask us is that if that have God become geographical? Do Christians want to tell me that the God in my Parish I different from the God in Lagos, Enugu or Abuja? Instances are numerous where Christians run helter skelter in search of solution in face of challenges?
A story was told of a man whose only son worked in a brewery became sick. After going to the hospital, his parish priest prayed and blessed the child but months after months the sickness worsened. So one day his cousin came with a group of born against from a new church that preached to him and prayed for his child after he sowed a seed of healing with a fat ?envelop?. Begin worshiping with us and your child will be healed, that your catholic church don?t have holy ghost they boosted while smiling home. The woman and his wife abandoned the faith of their father?s and decamped to the new ministry, they became staunch members of the ministry, then one day the pastor informed them that the healing of their child was being delayed because of the pagan infant baptism the child received from the catholic church. A beggar the say has no choice, they obliged all the wanted was healing, the end is what matter for them, and the means may go and hug a transformer.
Days ran into weeks and then month after the new baptism, yet the sickness refused to retreat or surrender. Another prophet came knocking at their door. He claimed to have answers to their problem but under a condition. He could not administer medication from the hospital to this sick child. What was acceptable in their church was only fasting and prayer. Like people robbed of their senses the man and his wife swallowed the idea. Even before settling down in the new sect, he met another messiah on a bus he boarded on his way from a workshop in Lagos. The preachment of the man and the miracle advertisement seduced him and he decamped again. Solution, solution was all he needed. But this new ministry gave him their own decalogue. Which included Dou shall not touch Alcohol. Once again, he welcomed the gospel. He resigned his position in the breweries; he was working in compliance with the injunctions of his new sect. Now without money to fend for himself and his wife, he complained to the pastor. The pastor replied; ?pray and fast the Lord will provide?. In total annoyance and disappointment, he left this church and jumped into another.
He failed to assist his sick father because he was an unbeliever ? a catholic and equally expelled his siblings who refused to join him in his church madness. He avoided his relations, like a Jew will do to a leper because he never wanted anything to contaminate him. Finally, out of frustration, his father died and despite the fact that he was told, he never honoured the invitation to his father?s burial because Jesus said ?leave the dead to bury their dead?. After the funeral, the family held reunion and decided to excommunicate him.
He was deceived into believing that all that glitters was gold. Finally, he lost his faith, job, son, family and good friends.
Like the unthinking fellow in the story above many of us have dabble thoughtless into the hands of religious charlatans in the name of searching for God. Please, is God not everywhere? At least that is what my catechism thought me. Many a religious harlot have failed to realize the fact that religion is an encounter with God and has little or nothing to do with title, name or brand. I have seen people travel miles in search of miracle as if their homes, offices, villages and towns are inhabited by the demon. No doubt, outward manifestation is important but it should not bury the ?kpim? of religion ? to know God, serve him and be with him in heaven. Instead of embracing retreat so as to make introspecting questioning about our relationship with God, we run after crusade in search of miracle and material salvation. Many of Christians like the Jews of old are good in this game. Did the Jews of old not romance Jesus after he expelled hunger in the stomach of five thousand and thousand of them? In fact, they threw decorum to the dust and propelled their king makers to crown Jesus king. This same people requested for his head in a platter when he promised them his flesh and blood. Like many lovers of sugared Christianity all they wanted was bread and fish and not flesh and blood. They had to dump him after all, they were not cannibas?. Does that sound like you and me? Who are the Hossana, Hossana singers (mt21+11) (m+27:21 23) and the propagators of crucify him on Good?Friday?
wuruwuru and magomago have occupied a prominent position in our social, political and educational life because we dashed fidelity to the wolves. Who cares? Nobody wants to be left behind in the name of patience, perseverance, due process and faithfulness. Who want to become the b?te noire? Regrettable we have overtaken Usein Bolt in a race to the land of destruction.
Imagine Jesus Christ carried his cross and traversed fourteen republic of suffering before reaching Golgotha, yet he never thought of cross carpeting. I wonder why Christian will espouse use and dump, chop and run harlotry philosophy. We must understand the absolute of Christianity and the ?relative? yes the church may not save, so what the importance of remaining a steadfast in your faith in the midst of Litanies of promising alternative? A born again Tiger once meet wanted to give me a ride to his church but I gave him a simple injection. Mr. man, is salvation meant only for your church members? When did God leave heaven and made only your church his home? Can a catholic, muslim, make to heaven, are they equally the sons of God? Till date I am still waiting for my answers.
Echoes of Reality
with
Martins Esom (08165148181)
