AMERICA CANNOT BE WRONG?
The influence of America and her culture on the church in Nigeria is
monumental.
Although Christianity did not come from America, America was as
gentile as Nigeria as
far as the salvation programme of God is concerned, people here have
come to see
America as the standard of Christianity. Any minister of God who
travels to America to
preach, even though to less than two dozen people, leaving the
hundreds of brethren in
his congregation behind is considered a big and successful minister
of God.
Here we have adopted the American style of worship. Our musical
instruments are
American; our lyrics are American. Our ministers dress American;
some even mimic
popular American preachers sounding miserable in the process.
When our brothers, (Americana pastors) came back from America,
they began to tell us
that it no longer matter for our sisters to cover their heads in prayer
meetings. Everybody
(except some few "conservatives" said yes; America cannot be
wrong. Later they told us
that since women wear trousers to church in America, it no longer
matter for sisters here
to do same. Everybody complied; America cannot be wrong! Recently,
men come to
church with braided hair while women come with "skin" haircut, many
are in church with
tattoo and men wear ear rings. We all sing, jump and shout together
in church in the
American way; these things do not matter because that is what they
do in America and
America cannot be wrong!
Now American men are marrying themselves in church and their
women are doing the
same. Soon American churches will be full of couples who are Mr
Wood and Mr Wood
married legally in the church and Mrs and Mrs Stones married
together. America is
always right! That is the position here!
Soon in Nigeria, shall also see Olu and Ade, two brothers in the
church as couple, one in
the choir and the other an usher?
I hope America will be wrong for once and something will really
matter to the church in
Nigeria!
Soon it will no longer matter in America for Mr Coal to marry his dog
and for Miss Bush
to marry her horse. Then, I hope it will matter to the church in
Nigeria!
Brethren, for how long will the culture of America be the culture of the
church? The
"name it and claim it" faith movement came from America; also, the
capitalistic
Christianity where wealth is used to measure God's approval. Where is
America leading
the churches in our land?
Our bishops and reverends, I hope that after your next trip to America,
homosexuality will
still be a sin; I hope it will still matter?
We do not need any prophet again to know that the trumpet of the
home call will sound
any moment from now. How ready are you?
I hope the matter of eternity still matter to you?
(If it matters to you, share this message with those that matter in
your life)
Think on these things and may God give you understanding in Jesus
name.
Shalom!