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Tag: faith

  • In 2020 I lost my faith in God – film producer, Editi Effiong

    In 2020 I lost my faith in God – film producer, Editi Effiong

    Film producer and writer Editi Effiong has opened up on being an atheist.

    Effiong, who is a producer of ‘Up North,’ took to his Twitter page to reveal his religious status.

    According to him, he would never go back to religion again.

    He stressed: “I’m probably never going back to religion but I could never shake the feeling that God is there. We are not cool but I’m willing to try,” he said.

    “I lost my faith in 2020. Went through 2021 without God. Don’t invite me to your church abeg. And don’t preach in my mentions.”

  • Oritsejafor: A Fiery ‘Defender of Faith’ – Michael West

    Oritsejafor: A Fiery ‘Defender of Faith’ – Michael West

    By Michael West

    One thing anybody cannot deny about the immediate past President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Joseph Ayodele Oritsejafor, is his voice, courage, and passion in defense of the Christian faith in Nigeria. The foremost charismatic preacher represents different personality to different people. He’s torn between two extreme loyalties: those who accept and follow him passionately and those who virulently dislike his guts. The latter class of people often see Oritsejafor from the prism of ostentation, unflinching faith activism and the audacity to tell truth to power. Like a general in the army of the Lord, his actions and utterances are anchored on the principles of his call as a priest of God and a prophet to the nation of Nigeria.

    Like any other man, Oritsejafor has been through his own phases of challenges in ministry, as well as in his personal and public life. That’s why it is convenient for him to identify with the needy and the vulnerable members of the society and responds to their situation as he’s led to do. The father of triplets is a passionate lover of children and supporter of talents. Known for firmness and courage, Oritsejafor gave the Nigerian Church the much needed leadership that scared and curtailed the oppressive and aggressive onslaughts against Christians at the time. Despite his numerous obligations, Oritsejafor sacrificially spent his personal resources to fight oppression of his constituency – the church, provided relief for the victims of natural disasters like he did when floods wrecked havoc in parts of Sokoto State in October 2012.

    He was very vocal against the undue advantage of one religion over the other as demonstrated in the official patronage over the years. Oritsejafor was despised in some quarters for being audacious by cutting-to-size the larger-than-life image of the ‘feudal lords’ in national affairs at any given opportunity. Even in the face of threats to his life at the peak of the Boko Haram onslaughts, Oritsejafor used the weapon of his tongue to protect and defend his people while holding the federal government, northern political elite and Muslim leaders responsible for the havoc wreaked by the insurgents because of leadership failure on their part. These were the reasons why those uncomfortable with his unrelenting and fearless disposition silently employed acerbic media attacks against him.

    Last year, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, a notable Christian activist and Executive Secretary of Christian Social Movement of Nigeria, CSMN, in his tribute describes Oritsejafor as a rare gift in leadership to the Body of Christ. Emmanuel was privileged to be close to CAN leadership to know and evaluate the contributions of Oritsejafor while in the saddle. “In contemporary Christianity in Nigeria, only one Christian leader has distinguished himself as corporate leader willing to surrender the resources of his ministry for the common good of all, irrespective of Church group, denomination, ministry or tribe. Only His Eminence, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has accomplished this feat.

    “Christianity in Nigeria is yet to raise another corporate leader that would fearlessly confront the adversaries to defend the flock of Christ. He was bold, fearless, and inspired many Christian professionals to rise to support CAN. His tenure as President of CAN witnessed the introduction of some landmark policies that would not only have prevented the current persecution of Christians but would have enabled Christianity to transform Nigeria.” He stated.

    November 10 every year is Oritsejafor’s birthday. In a tribute exclusively made available to me on Wednesday, Bishop Abraham Olaleye, an evangelist, one of the leaders of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Olaleye described Oritsejafor as a charismatic leader who demonstrated the “qualities of a good leader” not just by himself but also he possesses “the ability to see the leadership qualities in others and give them responsibilities and this is why he delegates authority to others.” He further expressed his opinion on the person of the former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.

    “I will describe Pastor Ayo as a great charismatic leader, a fiery preacher who easily warms himself into people’s hearts. I encountered him first time in 1979 on his popular TV program called ‘Hour of Deliverance.’ Wherever I was, on Sunday afternoon, I make sure I head home so I won’t miss that fiery preaching which was aired at 5pm. It was a delight for me when I met him personally in 1982 during R. W. Schambach’s crusade held at TBS Lagos. He hosted the crusade in which Evang. Dr. Ebenezer Obey was actively involved.

    “Our next meeting came In 1986, when he gave me accommodation during the Church of God Mission Convention of that year in Warri; that was before the inception of Word of Life Bible Church. He is also the spiritual father to my sister-in-law Bukky Omolu and her husband, Abel. After nearly two decades, I had the honour of meeting him again, but this time as the National President of the PFN. This was 2006, when he came to inaugurate the newly appointed Exco in Lagos State. I was appointed the vice chairman to Pastor Wale Adefarasin – chairman, and it was a great pleasure working with this charismatic leader.

    “After Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Pastor Ayo is the next person I came close to, that loved and served the Body of Christ the way he did. This unusual commitment was evident to all, and it no doubt led him to becoming the President of CAN, the highest Christian position in the nation. This elevation made him the first Pentecostal pastor to become the head of the umbrella body. Pastor Ayo may come to many as flamboyant, but one cannot deny the fact that he is a lovable personality, especially when one comes into close contact with him. I believe that God had used him to put a shine on Christianity and the gospel ministry in Nigeria.

    “One of the qualities of a good leader Pastor Ayo amply demonstrated is the ability to see the leadership qualities in others and give them responsibilities and this is why he still delegates authority to others. For instance, he sent me to mediate in feuds between leaders at the national level on two occasions during his leadership in the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. He related with other leaders in the body without any semblance of discrimination. This he did to promote fellowship and foster a healthy relationship and unity among God’s people.

    “Pastor Ayo is a detribalized Nigerian and leader. I remember meeting him in 2009 to discuss ministers and ministries related issues and my concerns in that respect. He listened attentively and gave me a response with the following words, ‘someone has to take up the challenge and help many of these young ministers so they can have a God-focused ministries’. That is apostolic and the heart of a true leader. Shortly before the end of his tenure as PFN president, and in one of our NEC meetings held in Jos, Plateau State, he appointed me as the National Vice Chairman of Evangelism Committee.

    “In summary, Pastor Ayo is a great leader, a faithful husband, father and leader. I pray for long and fulfilling years ahead for him. I wish him an awesome birthday celebration.”

    Quote:
    “Oritsejafor was despised in some quarters for being audacious by cutting-to-size the larger-than-life image of the ‘feudal lords’ in national affairs at any given opportunity. Even in the face of threats to his life at the peak of the Boko Haram onslaught, Oritsejafor used the weapon of his tongue to protect and defend his people.”

    • West wrote via mikeawe@yahoo.co.uk
    08035304268

  • [Devotional: IN HIS PRESENCE: Jesus, the game changer

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Luke 2:6-14
    Meditation verse:

    “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

    Picture this: you are watching a match where one team is leading the other with a score of 2 – 0 at half time. As the second half begins, a new player is brought into the losing team by the coach and suddenly the game begins to take a different turn. The scores become 2 – 1, then 2 – 2, and just as the game ends after the extra minutes, the scores become 3 – 2 in favor of the initial losing team. The player introduced into the game in the second half is known as the ‘game changer’.

    When Jesus Christ was born into this world over two thousand years ago, the game of life changed in favor of the entire human race. Up until then, Satan had the upper hand due to the fall of Adam. However, with the birth of the Savior and Messiah in the fullness of time, the scores were reversed.

    Jesus Christ is the ‘ultimate game changer’. The angels announced His birth to the shepherds in the field and declared good tidings of great joy, peace, and goodwill towards all men. Several years later, experienced fishermen fished all night in tested waters, but caught nothing. When the game changer arrived on the scene, they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. Five loaves of bread and two fishes were insufficient to feed a hungry crowd, but in the hands of the game changer, several baskets of crumbs were gathered after the crowd had eaten to their full.

    Jesus Christ is still in the ‘game changing business’. Hebrews 13:8 states that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Irrespective of what you are going through today, He can change the game in your favor. However, you need to trust Him for the salvation of your soul.

    Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart? He says in Mathew 11:28, “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He longs to give you rest. Here’s a prayer you can say right away: “Dear Jesus, I confess I am a sinner and I believe You died to save me from all my sins. Today, I invite you into my heart and I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me my sins and help me to live my life for You”.

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder, Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)
    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com
    or call +2348155525555
    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Faith like potatoes

    Oke Chinye

    Meditation verse:

    “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)

    I stumbled upon a movie some years back which has made a huge impact on my faith even till this day. The movie “Faith Like Potatoes” is based on the autobiography novel of farmer turned evangelist Angus Buchan. It portrays the inspiring true story of Angus, a local farmer in South Africa who learnt to trust God with every detail of his farming work. After his conversion, Angus began to

    live out his newfound faith in God in his work as a farmer. When a chance fire threatened to spread, Angus challenged his Zulu Farm assistant to pray with him for rain. It wasn’t yet the rainy season and the assistant scoffed but Angus prayed, and it rained. The rains extinguished the fire.

    When the land experienced severe drought, such that nothing could grow on it, Angus challenged the farmers to go ahead and plant their potatoes. Everyone was skeptical, but Angus knew the God he had come to believe in. So, the potatoes were planted, but the surfaces remained very dry. It seemed nothing was growing underneath. But when it was harvest time, Angus again challenged

    the farmers to dig and harvest the potatoes. That little Zulu town experienced a bumper harvest of big, fresh potatoes like never.

    At the end of the day, each one of us must live out our faith wherever we are and in everything we do, otherwise our faith is useless. Our Christian faith must be lived out especially in the marketplace. There is no separation between that which is secular and spiritual – everything is spiritual. Our business practices, engagements, associations, decisions, goals, activities, and outcomes must reflect our faith in Christ. And this faith must be like the potatoes harvested by Angus Buchan and his co-farmers several years ago. Our faith must be big and real enough for others to see, feel and touch.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder, Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Who do men say you are

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: MATHEW 16:13-20
    Meditation verse:
    “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mathew 16:15)
    As you interact with people daily, they form impressions about you which inform
    who they think you are. Their opinions – which are entirely dependent on their
    interpretations of what you say and do – may not necessarily be a true
    representation of who you are.

    Whilst Jesus was on earth, He ate with sinners, visited the home of a tax
    collector, ate without washing His hands, healed on the Sabbath and allowed a
    former prostitute to anoint His feet. To Jesus, these were all acts of love- His way
    of saying “I do not condemn but love you”. However, the pious Pharisees and
    Sadducees saw things differently. Based on their own interpretations, they
    called Jesus a wine bibber, breaker of sabbath laws and a friend of sinners and
    outcasts. They even accused Him of heresy when He said He was the son of God.
    Jesus was not distracted by their accusations. He knew who He was and
    remained focused on the task at hand.

    If you are adversely affected by what others say of you or get distracted, you are
    undermining your progress and doing yourself a huge disfavor. The bible says in
    Ecclesiastes 7:21, “do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your
    servant cursing you”. If Jesus was unfairly and wrongly accused, why do you
    suppose you will not be spoken ill of?

    When Jesus wanted to know the truth about what others thought, He asked
    those closest to Him; His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?”. If you truly
    desire to know what others think of you, ask those closest to you and they will
    tell you, warts and all. But be sure to ask those whose judgement you trust.
    Nothing means anything except the meaning we give to it, and the meaning we
    give to things differs based on our lens of interpretation. Do yourself a favor and
    stop whining over what others think about you. You cannot be the most popular
    person on earth. Instead, focus on what God wants you to do. Let Jesus’ example
    encourage you today.

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder, Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)
    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com
    or call +2348155525555
    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org

  • God is the troublemaker (2) – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and End of all things. (Revelation 1:8). Accordingly, He not only brings trouble to men, but He also redeems men from trouble.

    The psalmist says: “God turns man to destruction.” (Psalm 90:3). But he also acknowledges that it is God who redeems our life from destruction. (Psalm 103:4).

    Here is the kingdom dynamic: “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.” (1 Samuel 2:6-7). “He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.” (Job 5:18).

    Contradictions of faith

    The good of God often comes only after something bad happens. God does not make the good out of the good. He makes the good out of the bad. He creates success out of failures. He creates life out of death. He creates wealth out of poverty.

    He also brings joy out of sadness: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5).

    Indeed, God often makes things very bad as a preface to making them very good. This is the principle behind His salvation:

    “The law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21).

    Accordingly, Simeon prophesied to Mary that Jesus would cause many to fall and then cause them to rise. “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against.” (Luke 2:34).

    Misnomers

    Paradoxically, bad things bring out the best in believers. The wisdom of God says our enemies are not our adversaries but our allies. Indeed, they are often members of our household. (Matthew 10:36).

    Therefore, we should love and appreciate them for they help us to learn godliness and to attain the righteousness of God.

    James says:

    “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12).

    We must respond to the challenges of our troubles by working out our true selves; our God-created selves. The things that glorify God are often at variance with our pleasures and convenience.

    God is in the business of trying our hearts and our faith. He sends trials to prove and strengthen our graces. He is determined to test the genuineness of our virtues and to add to their vigour. Our faith is so important to God that He will not shield us from those trials by which our faith is strengthened.

    Believers are “trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord.” (Isaiah 6:3). We become even better rooted after we have been buffeted by strong winds and storms, making us dig deeper to take firm hold of the precious truths of the gospel of our salvation.

    Blessing of trouble

    Worldly ease is the enemy of faith. Faith without trials is worthless. It makes believers: “clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots.” (Jude 12).

    Faith prospers in adversity. No water tastes so sweet as the one we drink in the boiling heat of the desert. No star shines so brightly as the one that glistens in the dark polar sky. And no faith is so precious as the one that lives and triumphs in adversity.

    Therefore, the psalmist testifies to the blessing of trouble:

    “You, O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; you laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but you brought us out to rich fulfilment.” (Psalm 66:10-12).

    Know this: the fire of God only refines it does not destroy. When God’s fire burns the bush, the bush is not burnt. (Exodus 3:2-3). When silver is refined in the fire, only the dross is removed.

    Moreover, we are brought through the fire; we are not left in it. This is God’s assurance:

    “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:2).

    Godly sorrow

    We often confuse the absence of problems with blessings when it might be a curse. Amos says: “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion.” (Amos 6:1). The man who lives a life of ease and therefore feels no need for God is at the end most miserable.

    Rather, anything that drives us to our knees before God, making us call upon him, is a blessing. Trouble is a specialist at doing that.

    It pushes us closer to God.

    If we were wise, we would rather welcome God’s refining process than decline it. Our prayer should be that our alloy should be taken from us, rather than that we should be withdrawn from the crucible.

    When a man of the world is sad, it means something bad happened to him. But when a believer is sad, it means something good is going to happen to him. Godly sorrow comes not to make us miserable but to wipe away every tear from our eyes. (Revelation 21:4).

    Trials and tribulations, afflictions, and adversities are all designed to bring believers into closer intimacy and knowledge of God.

    Accordingly, the psalmist acknowledged to God that: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:71).

    50:20 principle

    The beauty of kingdom dynamics is that it confounds all natural expectations. Samson says: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” (Judges 14:14).

    What was intended to kill became a source of nourishment. What was designed to impede became a stepping-stone.

    Joseph says to his wicked brothers who sold him as a slave to Egypt: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:20).

    Had they not sold him into slavery, he would not have become the prime minister of Egypt. Had they not sold him, he would not have become the instrument of their salvation from famine.

    Troubles provide invaluable life lessons. Nevertheless, expect God to deliver you from all of them.

    Habakkuk says:

    “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls- yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

  • I’m optimistic about Nigeria’s future – Obasanjo

    I’m optimistic about Nigeria’s future – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday declared that his faith in a better Nigeria remained unshakable.

    Obasanjo insisted that the country would not be destroyed by the myriads of challenges confronting it.

    Obasanjo disclosed this during the opening of Abeokuta Window on America held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    The Abeokuta Window on America is a type of American Space located in over 150 countries worldwide set up to engage Nigerian youths in learning about American culture and politics.

    The space is set up in the youth centre of the OOPL in partnership with US consulate in Nigeria.

    Delivering his keynote address at the event, Obasanjo expressed optimism that no matter what the country was going through, evil would not triumph over good.

    The former President, who was represented by the Deputy Coordinator of OOPL, Mr Ayodele Aderinwale, said, “Whatever may be the problem or challenges currently confronting Nigeria today, I assure you that they are not problems on the attack; they are actually problems on the retreat.

    “My faith in Nigeria remains unshakable. My optimism about the future is resounding; some may wonder how the future will be rescued. (But) I see hope in the determination, resilience and the indomitable spirit of Nigerians. I see hope, in their resistance when they are pushed to the wall.

    “I see hope in the zeal, commitment and courage in the face of adversity. I see hope in the boundless and incurable optimism of young Nigerians.

    Read Also
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    “I see hope in the willingness of Nigerian young people who have resisted with all their might the evil that are being perpetrated.

    “I see hopein the unwavering conduct and uncompromising drive of Nigerians in demanding a democratic process. I see hope in the ingenuity and infinite creativity of the Nigerians. I see hope in the youth and young, for our tomorrow lies in them.

    “I see hope in the great potential of the Nigerian, empowered, motivated and well led. I see hope in the blending of experience, energy and dynamism of the old and the new.

    “I see hope in the dynamism, vibrancy and richness of our culture. And I see hope in the commonality of humanity.”

    Speaking on the importance of the Abeokuta Window on America, the U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli, disclosed that the space would offer programmes on topics of interest designed to bring Americans and Nigerians closer.

    He said the space would further deepen the US-Nigerian relationship, adding that no fewer than 100 youths would be engaged on a weekly basis in learning about the culture, history and politics of America through books and over 300 online publications.

  • How to defend your faith!, By Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

    How to defend your faith!, By Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

    Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

     

    At the dawn of creation, there were no classified religions in the way and manner we have today. Existence was anchored on humanity as God’s family and not pluralism of religion and ethnicity. Faith in humanity enables human beings to appreciate the mission and vision of life. God created humanity for himself hence no human heart can find rest until it finds rest in God. The mission of a human person is to know God, love him and serve him on earth. The vision of human beings is to find peace with God at the dusk of life. The human family is destined to live in peace with God Almighty as the Supreme King. God allowed human leadership to manage pluralism and diversity. To do this well is a key indicator of good leadership. A good leader defends his faith and tribe by carrying everybody along in a way and manner that ethnic and religious differences do not render the world asunder. If God wanted only one religion and tribe, he would have made it possible (Quran 5:48). One of the effects of pluralism is the tendency to blindly defend a fellow religious adherent and fellow tribe’s person who has no value for human life. The dangerous effect of this is ethnic profiling that can lead to unhealthy inter-tribal conflict.

    Witness of life is the best way to defend our faith. Jesus did not teach Christians to defend him with swords, eloquent oratory and prolific writings. God is too Omniscience and Omnipotent for any human being to defend with sword, word and pen. During the Passion when the soldiers wanted to arrest Jesus, Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus said to him, put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26: 51-52; John 18:10-11). There is a better way Peter should have defended Jesus without drawing the sword. Jesus told the apostles to watch with him. Instead of watching, Peter slept. Jesus asked Peter, “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour” (Matthew 26:40)? When Jesus was being led to calvary, Peter kept a distance until he denied Jesus three times (Luke 26:54-62).

    Every responsible person makes efforts to be a good ambassador to his religion and tribe. Paul told the Romans, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you (Romans 2: 1-3,24).

    The situation in the world calls on traditional, religious and political leaders to bear witness to God’s love, mercy and compassion. Every leader must know that there is no peace without justice. An unjust leader exposes his faith and tribe to public ridicule. The ugly effect of this is that some hungry people put on the garments of religion and ethnicity to defend the leader for peanuts. The right thing to do would have been a general condemnation of the injustice that is being perpetuated by the leader who has betrayed his religion and tribe with the sin of injustice. Then the hungry people who benefit from conflict will stop fighting those who attempt to correct the leader who lacks the political will to provide security and peaceful co-existence to the nation.

    An ideal society supports a leader who has the Spirit of God. Everyone yeans for a leader who has the capacity to bring forth justice to the nations. The world hunger and thirst for an ideal leader who does not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice on the earth. Even the coastlands wait for his law (Isaiah 42:1-4). Justice is a value that is shared across different religions and cultures. A sense of justice leads to making right decisions on current problems. Evil is overcome only by good, hate by love, egoism by generosity. We must therefore sow justice in our world. To be just, it is not enough to refrain from injustice. One must go further and refuse to play its game, substituting love for self-interest as the driving force of society” (Pedro Arrupe SJ; https://whycare.ie/index.php/justice-in-religion).

    Justice is the only tool to social harmony and peaceful co-existence. In the Bible, “justice” means that those who want to defend their religion or faith must do the right thing. Justice means that people must live in right relationship with God, one another and nature. “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (Psalm 82:3). “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless and the widows” (Isaiah 1:17). In Islam, justice is a central theme. The Qur’an tells Muslims to be staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves, parents, kindred, rich or poor (Quran 4:135). For the Hindus, justice (dharma) is the means to achieve the higher spiritual goals. Justice is linked to the principles of karma and ahimsa. Actions in this life will directly affect experiences in future existences. The Buddhist perceives justice in terms of the fair distribution of resources, the impartial rule of law, and political freedom.

    If every leader has the political will to correct injustice and bring criminals even from his or her own tribe to justice, he would be free from criticisms. He would not need defence but praise if everybody lives in peace without fear and fury. What does God actually want from us? God has shown us what is good. God wants each and every one of us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God the creator (Micah 6:8). There is no better way to defend your faith, religion and ethnicity. There is urgent need to change our attitudes and orientations towards materialism. Those in the hospital do not think of their material acquisition. The dying and the dead do not remember the billions of money they have saved for the future. A criminal who has sold his soul to the devil does not need a hiding place in governance. A criminal is an enemy of his religion and tribe. Criminals need to be exposed to face justice. Amnesty to criminals is another form of crime. Rather, let us ask again and again, how did we arrive at this point where criminals have a loud and commanding voice in the society?

    How I wish that Nigerians could stop profiling criminals with religious and ethnic categories. For instance, when you use expressions like, “Islamic Terrorist, Christian Terrorists, Fulani Herdsmen, Yoruba Terrorist etc”, you are simply giving the criminals a sense of belonging to a religion and tribe. A criminal by the very fact of his crime has excommunicated himself from his religion and tribe. No revealed religion or responsible ethnic group should accept and defend a terrorist group. This is because mortal sin separates a sinner from God and humanity. In Nigeria, there are so many credible people from every ethnic group in responsible positions. These responsible people should not support and defend the way and manner the criminals who come from their ethnic groups disgrace the name of their tribes. Every ethnic group has criminals hence naming criminals as criminals will deprive them of a hiding place. I pray that criminals may never be defended by any tribe or religion so that we can live peacefully on this planet earth that God has given humanity freely. May no person be so hungry for power to the extent of using these same criminals for his or her political ambition.

    Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and Secretary General of the West Africa Inter-Religious Council.

     

  • Fighting the good fight of faith – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    Members of the Healing Wings choir came to me with the suggestion that we should establish a recording studio at the back of our building in Festival Road?” I thought it was a good idea, so we sat down to discuss how to bring it about. First, the building would have to be sound-proofed. Then, we would equip the studio.

    By the time we had finished with the planning, the price-tag for the project came to 7.5 million naira. I was able to raise 2.5 million naira, which meant we had a big shortfall of 5 million. Not to worry, I went on my knees and asked God for the money.

    Way back when, He had made me a promise: “(I will) make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

    God’s answer blew my mind. He told me he had already given me the money. The required 5 million naira was even then sitting pretty in my bank account.

    Miracle funding

    Indeed, some weeks earlier, 5 million naira was deposited in my bank account. But, strictly speaking, the money was not mine. It belonged to an Alhaji in Ibadan to whom my brother had sold a piece of land.

    My oldest brother sold the backyard of our family house in Ibadan to him for 5 million naira. However, I refused to sign off on the deal on the grounds that our family house is not for sale. But my brother had not only collected the money, he had spent it.

    When I refused to sign the agreement for the sale, the Alhaji threatened to have my brother arrested. We either must refund his money or sign the papers for the sale.

    Then my other brother came up with a brilliant idea. He suggested that we should sell another plot of land in Moor Plantation that we inherited from T.S.B. Aribisala, and then use part of the proceeds to refund the Alhaji.

    So, we sold the Moor Plantation land for more than the needed 5 million naira, and the money was paid into my account. We then divided the balance between the three of us, leaving 5 million for the Alhaji.

    But then we hit another bottleneck. My oldest brother refused to sign the agreement for the new Moor Plantation sale. He insisted the money should have been paid to him, the oldest brother, and not to me, the youngest.

    It was while we were at this stalemate that the issue of building a studio came up. The Lord told me He orchestrated the stalemate so I could use the 5 million naira earmarked for the Alhaji to establish the studio in the meantime. He promised to refund the money at the appropriate time.

    Shepherd’s voice

    Jesus says: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). “They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:5).

    By the grace of God, by that time, I knew the voice of the Lord. So, I knew He was the one who gave me the go-ahead to use the 5 million naira. Therefore, I used the money to put up a spanking studio in Healing Wings.

    But a few weeks thereafter, the impasse with my brother was resolved and I was required to pay the 5 million naira to the Alhaji in Ibadan. I confidently asked the Lord for the money, but all I got was the silent treatment. He ignored me and did not provide any money.

    I suddenly found myself in a quandary. The Alhaji from Ibadan was not amused. He wrote me a stinker. He called me all kinds of names. I was accused of being a thief; a 419 man to boot. Worse still was the reaction from one of my brothers. He was very quick to hurl insults at me. He told me that I had been pretending all along to be righteous and Christian when he knew that, deep down, I was nothing but a crook.

    I could not defend myself but turn to the Lord. I cried out to Him: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.” (Psalm 22:1-2).

    Reproach of men

    I did not know then what I know now that God deliberately puts those He loves in such cul-de-sac. He does this because he wants us to share in the reproaches of Christ.

    David says: “For Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children; because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” (Psalm 69:7-9).

    I did not know at the time that the answer I sought from the Lord was already written in the scriptures.

    Paul says: “In all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true. as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10).

    Fight of faith

    As believers, God requires us to fight the good fight of faith in all situations and circumstances. Since I knew it was God that put me in that conundrum, I had to take all the abuse and insults with fortitude and determination, waiting for the salvation of God.

    In the end, the Lord provided the funds to repay the Alhaji in Ibadan. He not only did that, but He also gave me, at the same time, the money to send my son, Femi Kevin, to boarding school. This not only shut up my abusive brother, but he was also confounded when he asked after Femi Kevin and I told him: “He has gone to school in England.”

    The Lord says: “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law: do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation.” (Isaiah 51:7-8).

    Therefore, the writer of Hebrews counsels: “Let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore.” (Hebrews 13:13).

  • Walking by faith and not by sight (1) – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    Paul says: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). He is not telling us how we should walk. He is telling us how we walk. This is like telling a boy that we don’t walk with our hands. We walk with our feet. Believers walk by faith. Those who believe in God walk by trusting Him.

    Jesus says: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3).

     

    Little children learn to walk and talk. Like them, Christians must learn to see.

     

    All men are born blind. As a result, we cannot see God. Because we are blind, we steal right in front of spiritual CCTV cameras, foolishly thinking no one can see us. Because we are blind, we cannot see that God is standing right there looking at us while we are engaged in all manner of ungodliness.

     

    Therefore, Jesus says: “‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.’ Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.’” (John 9:39-41).

     

    This means we need to admit we are blind and pray that God would open our eyes. “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.” (Proverbs 20:12).

     

    The ability to see is a privilege given to those who are disciples of Christ. To them, Jesus makes this promise: “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (John 14:19).

     

    Then we will discover that the invisible attributes of God are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. (Romans 1:20).

     

    Trusting God

     

    A workman quoted a certain sum for a job I wanted him to do. I responded by drastically slashing the price. The man protested, saying: “You don’t trust me.” I replied: “Of course, I don’t trust you. Why should I? I don’t know you.”

     

    What about God, do you know Him. Has he earned your trust? If not, we need to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God. As we grow in the knowledge of God, our trust in Him grows.

     

    God told me a storm was coming. I believed Him because He had told me so many things in the past and they all came to pass. Therefore, when He told me a storm was coming, I not only believed but told others to prepare for it. Then the storm came in the form of a violent EndSARS protest in Nigeria.

     

    Certainly, if He tells me something else in advance tomorrow, I will believe. I will see it even if I cannot see it, if you know what I mean. For this reason, Paul says it is possible for our faith in God to grow. The correct translation for faith here is trust.

     

    It is necessary for our trust in God to grow from faith to faith. As we see daily the workings of God, we need to get to a point where we trust God in everything. Has He said it? Yes! Then we know He will do it or bring it to pass.

     

    Holy Spirit tutelage

     

    As a new believer, God will give you some revelations. Thereafter, they will disappear. But then: “The gifts and calling of God cannot be revoked.” (Romans 11:29). Therefore, do not worry. You are just undergoing training. The training can last for many years. At the end of the training, the gifts will reappear.

     

    I thought I was a slow learner, only to discover that God is a slow teacher. He does not like novices. Therefore, He takes us through an exacting period of training. Now, after over 25 years, my gifts have blossomed. For example, now I see things before they happen. Now I am fully inducted into the office of a prophet and a seer.

     

    As a new believer, God taught me a new song. I woke up singing: “When the Spirit of the Lord is upon my soul, I will dance like David danced.” I thought it was a one-off. But now, the Holy Spirit chooses praise songs, and He sings them all day long in my heart.

     

    Use the gift you have. Let nothing discourage you. If it does not seem to work, don’t give up. God is not mediated through results. Jesus says: “Whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” (Matthew 13:12)

     

    Faith’s good report

     

    How can I travel from Lagos to London in the confidence that my plane will not crash or be blown out of the sky by terrorists? I can do so by trusting in God.

     

    The writer of Hebrews says: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.” (Hebrews 11:1-2).

     

    By faith, we obtain the good report that if we travel by air from Lagos to London we will not die in an accident on the way.

     

    Do you have the good report of faith? What does it tell you? It tells you that you can face any challenges because God is your helper. It tells you that, because of Jesus, you can overcome the world. It tells you that whatever God brings before you providentially, He will give you the measure of faith to handle it.

     

    Will things get better for you or will they get worse? “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come.” (Hebrews 9:11).

     

    It all depends then on what you can see. Can you see that you can pass through the Red Sea? Can you see that you can defeat Goliath? Can you see that you can feed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fishes? Can you see that you can walk on water? Can you see that you can turn water into wine?

     

    You can see all these things if you know that God is with you. That is why we walk by faith and not by sight. To walk is to live. We live by faith. We live with God and we walk with Him. That is the essence of Christianity. True Christians are the people who live with God and walk with God.

     

    Jesus’ name is Immanuel meaning God with us. God is with believers. He is always with us. He never leaves: He never forsakes. He said to Joshua: “I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5). He says to all believers: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).

    CONTINUED