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Tag: Christians

  • Good Friday: Obaseki tasks Christians on sacrifice, passion for national rebirth

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on Christians to imbibe the virtue of selfless service in commemoration of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

    Obaseki made the call to mark Good Friday, a holiday in the Christian calendar which marks the end of the 40 days Lenten season. It is celebrated by several Christian denominations across the world.

    He noted, “As Christian faithful celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary, I urge everyone to take this opportunity to reflect on the significance of this day, the solemnity of selfless service and the passion for the downtrodden.

    “As we go about our activities to mark this day, we should not forget to make sacrifices for the development of our nation. This is necessary to set Nigeria on the path of progress.”

    Obaseki added, “Good Friday brings to the fore, the love of Christ for mankind, for which he gave his life. So also should we remember to be our brother’s keeper, upholding the spirit of togetherness and sacrifice for the greater good of all.

    “The spirit of sacrifice as exemplified by Jesus Christ who offered himself for mankind on the cross of Calvary should be a lesson for all Christians. Genuine love for humanity can only be expressed when we take the teachings and examples of Christ to heart.”

    Obaseki urged Christians to use the occasion of Good Friday to pray for peace and progress of the country, noting, “It is only when there is peace that meaningful progress can be achieved. We must all work towards ensuring peace in our neighbourhoods, state and country.”

     

  • Easter: Buhari salutes Christians; preaches against corruption, terrorism

    …assures of the safe return of remaining Dapchi, Chibok Schoolgirls

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday felicitated with Christian faithful across the world particularly in Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebrations.

    The president in a special statement he personally signed urged Christians to imbibe the exemplary life of Jesus Christ who paid the ultimate price of redemption for mankind.

    The President who is currently in Lagos to commission some projects and also attended the 10th Bola Ahmed Tinubu Colloquium held Tinubu’s honour on Thursday (today) to mark his 66th birthday anniversary said efforts are in top gear to ensure the release of the remaining girls in Boko Haram’s captivity.

    Read the president’s full speech below:

    PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S 2018 EASTER MESSAGE TO THE NATION

    Fellow Compatriots,

    I am indeed delighted to join our Christian brothers and sisters to commemorate this year’s Easter celebration.

    We thank the Almighty God for granting us the opportunity to celebrate another Easter at a time of great promise and hope for our dear nation, despite the challenges we also have.

    Easter, the season in which Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, represents the triumph of good over evil; and life over death. It is also a time to show love, forgiveness, compassion and renewed hope in the Grace of God.

    The Holy Scripture affirms that happiness and fulfilment in life do not flow from acquiring the best things in life, but in being richer in a relationship with God and fellow human beings.

    Let us use the opportunity of this special season to deeply reflect on how every one of us can imbibe the profound teachings of Jesus Christ with renewed vigour.

    In so doing and by placing the joy, comfort and happiness of others above ours, we will make a statement that vices such as, hate speech, bigotry, corruption, banditry and terrorism have no place in our nation. We must do all it takes to love our neighbours and display increased spirit of tolerance and accommodation.

    I commend those who recognise and support our unwavering efforts to prevent the spread of conflicts in our communities; check wanton criminality and the taking of innocent lives; unite the country; and steer the ship of state to a steady path of economic growth, job creation and development.

    While we enjoin law-abiding fellow compatriots to work for peace and social justice in our beloved country, let there be no doubt of our resolve to firmly resist others who may want to make cheap political capital out of current national security challenges.

    Our programmes and policies in the last three years have resulted in bringing down the prices of staple crops; gradual improvement of road, rail and electricity infrastructure; and making Nigeria the preferred destination for investors. More than ever before, we are ready to consolidate on these gains and ensure that we improve the lot of our communities in the years ahead.

    Thankfully, our Dapchi schoolgirls who were safely released recently after 30 agonizing days in the hands of their abductors, have been reunited with their families. I am very optimistic that all others, including the Chibok girls who are still in captivity will be safely released unconditionally to their families. I urge you to continue to pray for their safe return.

  • Easter: Saraki charges Christians to emulate virtues of Christ

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on Christians and Nigerians across the nation to work towards emulating the virtues of Jesus Christ as epitomized by his passion, persecution, death and resurrection during Easter.

    In a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki also stated that all Nigerians must remain constant in their efforts to promote unity across all lines.

    He noted that it was imperative for all Nigerians to come together in order to build a country that both present and future generations can take pride in just like the work of Christ which has endured for over 2000 years and has continued to inspire generations.

    Saraki stated: “This weekend, we join our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria and across the world to celebrate the Easter festivities. This commemoration is a time for deep reflection as it marks the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. It is a time to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need.

    “It is also a time for all of us — regardless of faith, or ethnicity — to come together to pray for the peace of our nation. We must all remain constant in our efforts to promote unity — across all lines — because united, our nation remains stronger and we thrive as a people.

    “As we do this, we must all collectively work towards playing our part in the development of our nation and its economy,” Saraki stated.

  • Palm Sunday: Priest urges Christians to trust God for victory

    Palm Sunday: Priest urges Christians to trust God for victory

    A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Mathew Onyilo, has urged Christians and Nigerians to trust God for victory in whatever challenges they are passing through in life.

    Onyilo, a Priest of the Abuja Archdiocese, made the call in his homily on Palm Sunday at the St Charles Lwanga Parish, Apo, Abuja.

    The priest, who spoke on the theme “I shall never be put to shame’’ urged Christians to learn from Jesus Christ who suffered and was victorious.

    “Whatever difficulty you are going through, whatever challenge you are going through, whatever is making you shed tears because you have put your trust in God; you will never be put to shame.

    “No one who places his trust in God can be forsaken; no matter the challenge you go through if only you remain committed to God, you will have the last laugh.

    “If you go through fire, you will not be burnt; God will be with you, according to the Book of Isaiah 43 verses one to five.

    “ God has not promised us that there will not be challenges.

    “ What God has promised us is that those things will not bring us down, those things will not ridicule us and those things will not put us in shame,’’ he said.

    The priest, however, urged Christians to keep faith in God saying “God will always keep to His promises”.

    “ He cannot lie to us; He will fulfil His promises if we keep faith in Him. So, see your challenges as a means for God to glorify Himself.’’

    Lwanga, however urged Christians to obey God in face of difficulties and challenges.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Christians celebrate Palm Sunda every Sunday preceding Easter in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

    Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is the beginning of the most holy of the sublime week of the Christendom because it contains the three most important days in the life of the Church.

    The three important days are Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, according to the catholic faith.

    Holy Thursday commemorates the institution of priesthood and institution of the Eucharist, the body of Christ while Good Friday commemorates the passion and the death of Christ.

    Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death.

     

  • Christians rise up in prayer for abducted Dapchi girl who refuses to renounce Christianity

    The Christian world in Nigeria has risen up in prayer for Liya Shuaibu, one of the 110 girls of Federal Government Science and Technical College, Dapchi, who was kidnapped by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, but was not released along with the 104 girls who were released by the group, yesterday, allegedly because she refused to renounce Christianity and convert to Islam.

    According to the girl’s father, Nata Sharibu, who spoke on Raypower FM radio, he was informed that his daughter was not released along with the 104 girls whose release set Dapchi and indeed the entire country agog in joy, yesterday, because she refused to renounce her faith and convert to Islam.

    Sharibu, said even though he is sad his daughter, though still alive, was not among those released, he was still very happy that she did not denounce Christ even at the risk of her life. “They gave her the option of converting in order to be released but she said she will never become a Muslim”, she was quoted as saying. “I am very sad but I am also jubilating too because my daughter did not denounce,” Sharibu said enthusiastically.

    His call for Christians to rise up in prayer for his daughter’s safe return has been taken up by several Christian groups who have been sending WhatsApp, text messages and emails to Christian groups and individuals to rise up in prayers for Liya Shuaibu.

    The chain messages which have been circulating since last night urge Christians to rise up in fervent prayers for the exemplary Christian girl who refuses to renounce Christ and Christianity.

    “Pray for Liya Sharibu, the Dapchi girl who Boko Haram has refused to release because she refuses to renounce Christ and convert to Islam”, one of the messages said, while asking them to “Pray for her safe return. Pray for her to remain strong in her faith. Pray that God will stamp out the terrorist group”, some others urged.

    Others said “People of God, please let us raise prayer for Liya Sharibu that the hand of the Lord will be upon her, that the Lord should deliver her from the den of lions den and bring her safely without being molested. Please let us arise and pray for this girl. If you are a true Christian, send this message to other Christians and dedicate at least three minutes to pray for this girl till she is released.”

    Of the 110 students who were kidnaped on February 19, 104 of them were released and brought to Dapchi by the terrorists yesterday, while five of them were said to have died in circumstances yet to be known.

    Only Liya Sharibu, remains unaccounted for though some of the released girls told the father she was alive but remained in captivity because of her refusal to renounce Christ and convert to Islam.

     

  • Christians are idol worshipers [3] – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    Most Christian idol-worshipers are offended when referred to as idol-worshipers. We know it is forbidden to worship idols but nevertheless worship idols while convincing ourselves that we do not. But God cannot be mocked. An idol is that thing that steals our hearts from God.

    Worship of man-made goods

    In our conceit, the work of our hands have become our objects of worship. We are so impressed with the things man has made, we spend several hours every day in their devotion and adoration. A colleague of my wife’s once boasted that: “I cannot live without my cell-phone!” Little did she realise that the cell-phone has become a god to her because whatever we believe we cannot live without automatically becomes our god.

    Thus, if you are at a prayer-meeting and someone’s cell-phone rings; don’t be surprised if the person immediately dashes out to answer the call. Definitely, that means the person at the other end of the line must be more important than God.

    God says: “My son, give me your heart.” (Proverbs 23:26). The psalmist says: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).

    But today, our souls pants for the television so we can watch Premier League football or Zee-world. We pant for the internet so we can spend hours on Facebook and Instagram. We pant for video games so we can spend hours on the latest version of Super Mario and Street Fighter. We yearn to acquire Jeeps and deluxe cars.

    Mariolatry: worship of Mary

    Over a billion Catholics all over the world worship Mary, the mother of Jesus. This worship has no scriptural foundation whatsoever and is idol worship pure and simple. Catholics pray to Mary, making her an intermediary between God and man, even though the scriptures say different: “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5).

    All sorts of highly dubious traditions of men have been built around the veneration of Mary, based upon fictitious extra-biblical foundations. One of these, the doctrine of the immaculate conception, states that when Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb, the Holy Spirit came and exchanged her blood with one completely sinless. This means, like Jesus, Mary is presumed to have lived a sinless life.

    It is also claimed that Mary did not die but is “assumed” to have ascended bodily to heaven. In effect, Mary worshipers: “exchange the truth of God for a lie, and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25).

    Beyond giving birth to Jesus, there is no prophecy concerning Mary or the veneration or worship of Mary. Mary was an ordinary woman. She has no power to intercede for us or to connect us to God. She cannot heal or hear our prayers. She is not a Mediatrix, Co-redemptrix, Cause of Our Salvation, Most Holy Mother of God, Our Immaculate Lady, Queen of Heaven and other highfalutin titles conferred on her by men.

    God says: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2). I repeat, nowhere in the scriptures is there any hint of instruction that we should venerate or worship Mary.

    Therefore, the question Jesus posed to some Pharisees and teachers of the law should now be directed at today’s Mary worshippers: “Why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3). Singing hymns to Mary, praying to her, kissing her picture, parading her image through the streets and bowing down before her statue is nothing but idol worship.

     

    Worship of the rich and the powerful

    When we give too much regard to the rich and the powerful, they become objects of worship. We bow down before them, hang on their every word and even give them names exclusively applicable to God. When we do this, we forget that God is a jealous God who does not share his glory with mere mortals.

    This is what led to the premature death of Herod: “On a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:21-23).

    When we worship men instead of God, we are unable to see the glory of God. This is presumably what happened to Isaiah who says: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1). It would appear that Uzziah was a mountain blocking Isaiah from seeing the Lord Jesus. He was only able to do so after King Uzziah died.

    Having learnt his lesson, Isaiah counsels God-seekers in the scriptures: “Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; (then) the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” (Isaiah 40:3-5).

    For the glory of God to be revealed in the lives of those who worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, only the Lord must be exalted: “The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:11).

     

    Worship of fears

    What do you fear? God is “the Fear of Isaac.” (Genesis 31:42). He must be our one and only fear. Whatever you fear is your god. Whatever you fear threatens an idol god in your life. If you are afraid of poverty, wealth is your god. If you are afraid of death, life is your god. If you are afraid of being unmarried, marriage is your god.

    “The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: ‘Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.’” (Isaiah 8:11-13).

    Fears often end up as self-fulfilling prophecies. Thus Job lamented: “The thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25). The spirit of fear is a spirit of bondage. (Romans 8:15). But the Spirit of God is the spirit of liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17).

    Therefore, we are counseled to: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

  • Christians worldwide mourn death of Reverend Billy Graham

    Christians world over have reacted to passing away “into eternal life in Heaven, prepared by the Lord Jesus Christ” of 99-year old Reverend Billy Graham.

    TheNewsGuru reports Franklin Graham confirmed the death of his father, who was raised in the fundamentalist faith of his native North Carolina.

    https://twitter.com/raCCOT2016/status/966336381445398528

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BfdiMfznzA4/?taken-by=ihoughton

     

  • Christians are idol worshipers [1] – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    I went to buy blank videotapes in a van emblazoned with Christian VideoNet on both sides. When I came out of the van, an Asiatic gentleman engaged me in friendly banter. He was clearly not a Christian, but I soon got the impression he was in the marketplace for a new religion. He did not wait for me to witness to him. Having seen the insignia on the van, he wanted me to tell him about Christianity. But then he had some vital questions he wanted cleared up right at the onset.

    “Your religion,” he asked, “does it allow you to drink alcohol?” “Yes,” I replied expansively, “we even drink wine in church.” “Wonderful, wonderful,” said my new-found friend, brightening up. Then he asked: “How many gods do you have?”

    I was a bit slow on the uptake and did not quite understand what he was getting at. What do you mean how many gods do I have?” I asked incredulously. “Yes, yes,” the man replied, without any hint of mischief. “How many gods do you have?”

    “I have only one God,” I insisted marvelling at him. “Only one?” he asked in disbelief. “You have only one God?” “Well, yes,” I replied, now defensive. “I have only one God.” The man shook his head in a way that said eloquently: “Forget it.” I imagine him saying to himself: “What is the point of a religion where you only have one God? That is simply too risky. What if he happens to be busy at any given time?”

    On later reflection, I came to the conclusion that it was a god-sent question. Therefore, I pose the same question here: “How many gods do you have?” “Do you even know how many gods you worship?”

    Idol worship

    One of the most important subjects that Jesus addresses in the scriptures is idol worship.
    One of the Ten Commandments of God says: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2-3).

    Atheism does not exist. Man is a worshiper. Everybody worships. The critical question is who or what we worship. We either worship the one true God or we worship idol gods. Says John Calvin: “The heart of man is an idol factory.” Left to himself, without divine revelation, man will worship almost anything. We worship what we highly esteem. For this reason, Jesus says: “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15).

    Jesus himself faced the challenge of idol worship at the very inception of his ministry: “The devil took him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve.’” (Matthew 4:8-10).

    Many people, including those who call themselves Christians, have accepted the devil’s offer. We worship the devil and his “things” instead of the one true God. Thus, Jesus counsels: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21).

    It goes without saying that God is the only real treasure we have. Every other so-called treasure is ephemeral. God is: “the Desire of All Nations.” (Haggai 2:7).

    Accordingly, John warns all believers: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16).

    Idols of the heart

    Jesus told a Samaritan woman: You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22).

    The same conundrum applies today. Many presume salvation is of the Italians or the Romans, but it is not. Salvation is of the Jews. For this reason, Roman Catholicism is full of idol worship. God says: “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:4-5).

    But Roman Catholics have deliberately removed this injunction from their own non-scriptural version of the Ten Commandments, so that the people would be unaware that they are contradicting it. As a result, the making of idols is very big business in Rome, and the worship of idols is standard fare in Catholicism.

    However, the problem is not limited to Roman Catholics. It is a general predicament among all Christians. The problem with idol worship is that many who worship idols are unaware that they are worshiping idols. Many worship God while also worshiping idols. But when we worship God and other gods simultaneously, we become idol worshipers. Thus it is said of the people of Samaria: “They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods- according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.” (2 Kings 17:33).

    Even more fundamental is the fact that many of the idols worshiped today are not physical idols: they are idols of the heart. God identifies this tendency to Ezekiel: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces.” (Ezekiel 14:3).

    These idols are strongholds set up in our hearts and minds that prevent us from growing in the knowledge of God, and from seeing the glory of God in our lives. Thus, Paul says we should cast down: “imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians: 10:5).

    Worship of mone

    One of the idol gods that Christians have been seduced into worshiping is mammon; the god of money. Paradoxically, this worship even takes place during church services. Today, everything is upside down. People go to church to pray for money, to invest money and to learn about how to make money. God has become second-place; simply an instrument for the acquisition of money.

    Mercenary pastors now claim the gospel gives us the power to get wealth. In his book, “The $elling of Je$u$,” Victor Bryditzki observes cryptically that: “Je$u$ is a multi-billion dollar industry, expanding into places where angels (and sober Christians) fear to tread.”

    But the word of Jesus remains sure, having this seal|: “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Luke 16:13).

    CONTINUED

  • Lenten season: Pray for Nigeria, Buhari tells Christians

    President Muhammadu Buhari felicitates with Christians in Nigeria on the solemn occasion of the commencement of this year’s Lenten season.

    “As they join their counterparts worldwide to emulate the worthy example of Jesus Christ who fasted 40 days at the beginning of His earthly ministry, the President urges Christian brothers and sisters to pray fervently for the country’s unity and progress,” presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, quoted Mr. Buhari as saying.

    “He believes that Nigeria’s existence as one united country is a divine arrangement and nothing should be done to put it asunder.

    “President Buhari enjoins all Nigerians to intensify love, brotherliness and concern for the less privileged members of their communities in order to strengthen the bond of togetherness.

    “As Christians begin the period of increased prayers, piety, sacrifice and selfless services, the President wishes them and all Nigerians well.”

  • Benue massacre: stop eating cow meat, group tells Christians

    A Christian group, Koinonia Ministerial Network, has called on Christians across the country to stop eating beef.

    In a statement signed by its International President, Apostle Tony Olukoyede, and its National Secretary, Pastor Simon Okpanachi, the group said the call was to protest against the New Year killings of 73 people in Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The killings were alleged to be the herdsmen’s reaction to the anti-open grazing law of the Benue State government.

    According to KOMNET, the decision to call for the boycott of beef by the body, which has been in existence for 14 years in Nigeria and South Africa, was taken after its first quarterly prayer retreat held between January 21 and 23, 2018 at its headquarters in Lagos.

    The body also said it was worried about the country’s growing level of insecurity and wanton killings of innocent Nigerians, particularly Christians, by Fulani herdsmen.

    KOMNET said after fervent prayers for peace and divine intervention for the country, it came up with the following resolutions:

    “That all Christians in Nigeria should truly stop forthwith eating of cow meat for these two reasons: protest against the fact that the Fulani herdsmen value the life of a cow than that of a human being, which is the reason behind their killings. This is also in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were murdered in cold blood by Fulani herdsmen because of cattle in several parts of Nigeria.

    “We the members and leaders of Koinonia Ministerial Network have decided to boycott cow meat in Nigeria till further notice as solidarity to the good people of Benue State whose sons, daughters and parents were murdered by the herdsmen in the most dehumanising way ever imagined. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives and we pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort them all.”

    Meanwhile, the group also called on Christian leaders across the country to mobilise their congregations to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of next year’s elections.

    It said, “It is important for Christian leaders to encourage their followers who are 18 and above to get their voter cards, particularly now that the 2019 elections are around the corner and the Independent National Electoral Commission is moving from ward to ward registering prospective voters.”