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Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms - Religion (3) - Nairaland

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Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by Righteousness89(m): 7:48pm On Jul 07, 2019
shadeyinka:

The church now has more money and "class" than before. Check our ministers, they are known more all over the world due to televangelism and jet planes than the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
We are getting faithless by the day.

How much of evangelism do church members do (per month) on the average?
How much distinct are the average church member from the world (school, place of work)?
How much of healing and deliverance does the Lord use the average church members to do?
How much of Love to others is exhibited by the average church member?

Luke 18:8:
"I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
Rev 3:17:
"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"

Sir I am Talking About A Breakout of Revival of Real and True Word of GOD ....

The Church in Nigeria has Awakened from the deadness if used to be...

Like I said ...it depends on where u are looking at..
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by EMIOMOADEOYE: 7:50pm On Jul 07, 2019
Mujtahida:
Biblical Christianity is long dead in Nigeria. What thrives in Nigeria is churchianity

No, it's not.

It's actually thriving.

Mathew 7:13 was categorically clear and that is exactly what you see happening. It's not just in Nigeria its all over the world.

True Christianity is here in Nigeria. It has always been there. You probably have come in contact with it several times.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by Magnoliaa(f): 8:05pm On Jul 07, 2019
OEPHIUS:

That projection is based on what I think leaders of the Christian faith in the country place the accent on: Lush life-on the sweat of millions of Christians they claim to lead. The country’s Pentecostal landscape, which currently stands as the face of Christianity, is teeming with preachers, who seem to think that ownership of private jets, gleaming cathedrals, establishment of educational institutions their members cannot afford and, most sadly, using their privileged position to obtain patronage from the same people oppressing Christians are the equivalent of providing leadership. The hollow prosperity theology, which teaches that financial well-being of adherents is directly linked to seed sowing and tithing, is bereft of Christianity’s transcendental goal, which teaches believers that that there is more to life than the satisfaction of immediate material needs of hunger and poverty.
Rather than this noble goal, it has commodified Christ and showing its exponents in the same light as the grasping political elite. The commodification of Christianity has had the eminently unfortunate effect of sowing disunity among Christians, who are supposed to speak with one voice against the dangers to their spiritual and material well-being.

And here is one of the many ways the Jehovah's Witnesses are distinct from other Christian sects.

Their neutrality and they not having anything to do with the "world", YET still uncompromising when it comes to the Bible's standards and what It says.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by shadeyinka(m): 8:06pm On Jul 07, 2019
Righteousness89:


Sir I am Talking About A Breakout of Revival of Real and True Word of GOD ....

The Church in Nigeria has Awakened from the deadness if used to be...

Like I said ...it depends on where u are looking at..
But revival isn't measured by motivational words spoken around the scriptures. Revival is measured by
Increase in:
1. Righteousness
2. Obedience to the Word
3. Evangelism
4. Healing & Deliverance of people
By the average church member.

Do you think revival can be measured outside these four items?

1 Like

Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by jarell: 8:21pm On Jul 07, 2019
kiyosaki1:
Not true,the whole write up is not concerned about christianity but rather showing how the islam as a faith as leap frog christianity in Nigeria, which is partially due to the way Christians handle crises within themselves. When it comes to crises management I give it to muslims and their leaders .it's not that islam don't have its own downsides or its leaders are not involve in one immorality or the other, but the way they handle it is far better than Christians ,this I guess is partially helped by a kind of dictatorial rules and fear in Islam, that had sustain the faith and it will further sustain it the more . You can never see muslims disrupting Friday prayers or muslim celebrities bad mouthing their religious leaders because of accusations without proof ,or name calling their leaders or seeing muslims on social media poking holes in their religion or doubting their doctrines. I've seen muslims friends tried it, but after subtle threat from fellow muslims drop such. The major threat to christianity is not islam ,but Christians themselves ,and if this is not address my guess is that in the next few years Nigeria might become another Turkey . If you like call me a conspiracy theorist ,but is the truth .

You are very correct. Especially the part about badmouthing church leaders.
Muslims never such and if there is a scandal, there will codedly sweep it under the carpet.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by Funkybabee(f): 8:21pm On Jul 07, 2019
I don't understand this op emphasis
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by VULCAN(m): 8:39pm On Jul 07, 2019
So obvious you didn't even bother to read just the first paragraph of the article.

Christianity was directly responsible for The Industrial Revolution but the brains of modern Christians is rather weak.

Righteousness89:
The Church in Nigeria is Massively on the Rise.....

The Church is Expanding as Never Before...

1 Like

Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by BlackPantherCri: 8:45pm On Jul 07, 2019
deltateam:
embarassed Op what were you saying?
..long epistle. No message
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by yungcheda(m): 8:57pm On Jul 07, 2019
Another attack on Christianity. Christianity is growing stronger and we don't need to be polygamous to build unecessary population
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by Righteousness89(m): 9:13pm On Jul 07, 2019
shadeyinka:

But revival isn't measured by motivational words spoken around the scriptures. Revival is measured by
Increase in:
1. Righteousness
2. Obedience to the Word
3. Evangelism
4. Healing & Deliverance of people
By the average church member.

Do you think revival can be measured outside these four items?
You are Absolutely Right with your 4 points of Revival..
That is Exactly what am Talking About..

The Church in Nigeria was Going dead... I totally.. but there has been a Re-awakening ..
I am A Receipent of the Re-awakening of the Christendom in NIGERIA.. From 2003- date there has Being a Whole new Reawakening
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by Tejiriseth(m): 9:43pm On Jul 07, 2019
True word..
.
Fact..
.
Reality..
.
Lots of christians do not pay attention to stuff like those mentioned above..
.
Years Ago, I didnt know what atheism Is, but now I am an Atheist, Hardcore, and I know many many many Nigerian Atheist and guess what, they were all once christians..
.
Yup.. I've said it before, I will say It again.. The stronghold the church has is weakening.!
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by shadeyinka(m): 9:52pm On Jul 07, 2019
Righteousness89:

You are Absolutely Right with your 4 points of Revival..
That is Exactly what am Talking About..

The Church in Nigeria was Going dead... I totally.. but there has been a Re-awakening ..
I am A Receipent of the Re-awakening of the Christendom in NIGERIA.. From 2003- date there has Being a Whole new Reawakening
I think I understand you. It's great to be in an atmosphere where the undiluted word of God and discipleship is done in the fear of the Lord.

1 Kgs 19:18
: "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Ba´al, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by yawehoverall: 10:10pm On Jul 07, 2019
Grupo:


Christianity is long gone in Europe and America. The only places where Christianity and religion as a whole still thrive is Africa because it is a shittholle


Christianity suffered alot in the time of the apostle and after they left many years back, Bible's were bought, they were killed and all, still it survived.. to answer your question better is for you to watch and see how it goes, time will tell.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by fscream(m): 7:36am On Jul 08, 2019
I can see many immature comments here..its expected though. The ops article was the best piece on nairaland yesterday. You might want to visit google and catholic survey report to confirm his views and assertions. Big auditoriums, large crowd at crusades and massive church goers is giving myopic ones the illusion that church is on d rise than Islam. We are ignoring many salient yet significant variables. Church will stand bcoz Christ has said it all "Upon this rock I'll build my church..." but we must pay attention to the noise we are not listening to and the op has just faintly made attempt to open our ears to it. Its even more worrisome in Nigeria where we are making mockery of Christianity.
I also feel the urge to advice that if we ain't sure of someone's stand on issues even though it threatens our views, beliefs or desire, don't reply out of sentiment or anger. Just pause, close that Instagram page.. spend some time on google,Quora and make your own research and try to be objective.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by efonvine: 10:52am On Jul 08, 2019
very correct.........agree with 99% percent of this post. but who will bell the cat?
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by efonvine: 11:01am On Jul 08, 2019
very correct.....what gives Islam a better advantage in terms of increasing population is their high rate of birth fertility. people only make noise when they say their church is increasing because most of these populations are made up of other church members moving from one church to their own.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by MrNipplesLover(m): 11:15am On Jul 08, 2019
oxygenlove:
EMBRACE HUMANITY.... LOVE ONE ANOTHER.....


don't allow religion to make us hate each other..



I like this your little-but-sensible input, bro.


I have always adviced people that they should stop talking about religions, cos it'll always bring differences,differences bring hatred, hatred brings what we are experiencing today.


all we need is preaching morality, unity and love.


make dem cut me some religious bullshiit, pls! aggrrr!



I hail you, bro.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by Lanre0: 12:26pm On Jul 08, 2019
The day Oritsajafor hijacked CAN presidency from Onaiyekan marked the total irrelevance of Christianity in Nigeria. Oritsajafor and most of his likes in Pentecostal hoodwinking business network promoted corruption to a greater level. They are adulterers, fornicators, businessmen cum politicians who hide under the canopy of religion to defraud & deprive Nigerians. Remember billionaire Oritsajafor, his plane & gun running business through his satanic collaboration with Jonathan.
Re: Christianity In Nigeria: Irrelevance Looms by jhubril(m): 2:21pm On Jul 08, 2019
OEPHIUS:

By Zikeyi John
Christianity in Nigeria, on the evidence of filled church pews and mega-crusades, each heaving with millions of worshippers at any given time, appear to be in rude health. The perception of the faith being in robust health finds expression in statements such as “the Devil is a liar”, “the gates of Hell shall not prevail” and “the Kingdom of Christ is marching on”. That church leaders in Nigeria have grown in influence, often provoking the type of adulation reserved for pop stars, is taken as confirmation of the belief that, indeed, “the Kingdom of Christ is marching on”.
But looked at very closely, Christianity in Nigeria is everything but in rude health. It is actually ailing and may find itself in the Intensive Care Unit sooner than later. The signs of ill-health are bold, but are confused, sometimes wilfully, with something else.


There is a need to make a clarification. This writer has no intention to scare. What this piece seeks to do is show that the trumpeted robust health of Christianity in the country is actually a prelude to the erosion of its status and influence, a development that will be marked by huge reduction in the country’s Christian population and by extension a sharp dip in Christian influence on socio-political affairs.


There is a temptation to view this as alarmist. After all, the pews are still filled for services; crusades continue to draw more worshippers and church coffers brimming with seed and tithes. Church leaders have also become some of the country’s most influential celebrities.
Take a step back and you may begin to see that the bullish claim that “the Kingdom of Christ is marching on” is made by rote and certainly not founded proper analysis or introspection.
First, as a religion, Christianity is endangered and looks more likely to lose its influence as time goes on. According to a recent report by the Pew Research Centre, the US fact tank, 9.5 per cent of the world’s Muslim population by 2060 will be Nigerians. Four years ago, according to the fact tank, Nigeria was home to 5.1 per cent of the global Muslim population. It is, therefore, projected that the Muslim population in Nigeria would have leapt from a little over 90million (50 per cent) in 2015 to 283.1million (60.5 per cent) by 2060. The number of Christians in the country, 86.6million as at 2015 (48.1 per cent of local population), is expected to rise to 174.2million (37.2 per cent of local population) by 2060. As at 2015, Nigeria had 3.8 per cent of the global Christian population. This figure, according to the US fact tank, will climb to 5.7 per cent by 2060. In any language, this spells a reduction in the local Christian population from 48.1 per cent to 37.2 per cent and a steady march of Islam around the world, including in Nigeria. By that projection, there would be 108millon more Muslims than Christians in 2060 with dire consequences for Christians in the political space.


Islam has remained the world’s fastest growing religion and is expected to continue growing in the number of adherents and, naturally, in influence. Its encouragement of polygamy puts it an advantage, locally and globally, at having far more adherents in the near future. Between 2010 and 2015, it was estimated that 31 per cent of babies born all over the world were of Muslim parentage. The projection is that by 2035, children born to Muslim parents will comfortably outnumber those born to Christians worldwide.


The projected reduction in local Christian population portends, as earlier stated, the diminution in the influence of Christianity in the country’s socio-political sphere. With religion a huge determinant in national politics, Islam will be at massive advantage. It is currently enjoying that and stands to continue doing so by the time the next elections come around. In view of this, the idea that a Christian president is a possibility by 2023, when Nigerians vote next, is a little more than implausible. This is especially so on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which, from all indications, appears to be religiously insensitive.


I project that by 2023, Islam in Nigeria would have disappeared into the horizon that Christianity would require a pair of binoculars to catch a glimpse of it. That projection is based on what I think leaders of the Christian faith in the country place the accent on: Lush life-on the sweat of millions of Christians they claim to lead. The country’s Pentecostal landscape, which currently stands as the face of Christianity, is teeming with preachers, who seem to think that ownership of private jets, gleaming cathedrals, establishment of educational institutions their members cannot afford and, most sadly, using their privileged position to obtain patronage from the same people oppressing Christians are the equivalent of providing leadership. The hollow prosperity theology, which teaches that financial well-being of adherents is directly linked to seed sowing and tithing, is bereft of Christianity’s transcendental goal, which teaches believers that that there is more to life than the satisfaction of immediate material needs of hunger and poverty.
Rather than this noble goal, it has commodified Christ and showing its exponents in the same light as the grasping political elite. The commodification of Christianity has had the eminently unfortunate effect of sowing disunity among Christians, who are supposed to speak with one voice against the dangers to their spiritual and material well-being. The Pentecostal explosion has seen those who lost their jobs or excommunicated from other churches announce themselves as “General Overseers” and begin a scramble for relevance. This category, desperate to thrive, targets members of the mainline churches by calumniating their doctrines. And when they begin to thrive, the newly-minted General Overseers fish for members in older evangelical ministries, leaving a long trail of bad blood.


Less important, if at all, to the leaders of the faith in Nigeria is the need to address societal problems through adequate mobilization of Christians to demand social justice. A view, which I agree with, is that the church has aligned itself with the oppressors of the masses. Politicians, sadly including people of other religious persuasions, are routinely permitted to use Christian gatherings for speaking and photo opportunities in pursuit of their political agenda, while private sector criminals, such as bankers, are given front-row seats in Christian gatherings. These steps of the church make it less credible as a moral voice in achieving the desired socio-political and economic liberation in Nigeria.


There is no need sugar-coating Christianity’s outlook in Nigeria. Despite the long and loud claim that “the Kingdom of Christ is marching on”, the faith is in a bad place. For Christianity to regain its fast-dissipating influence, its leaders need to act and very fast, too. First, there must be robust and consistent prophetic denunciation of the oppressive mechanism. The prophetic stance of the church obligates her to confront and challenge the systems of corruption and injustice, which exploit and deprive Christians by criticizing and judging them by Christian standards.


In addition, the church needs to understand the context in which it operates in Nigeria and to encourage its members to participate actively and fully in the political process, being not ashamed to use their faith as bargaining chips for 2023.


Very importantly, the conversion of the ordinary man must run along with the aforesaid. The church’s mission in Nigeria goes beyond commitment to philanthropic activism, protesting against social injustice and mobilizing people for active participation in social transformation. While the church seeks socio-political and economic liberation, it must be relentless in seeking the spiritual liberation of the people. Conversion will fight depletion in Christian ranks as well as ensure that social change bears lasting fruits.


Zikeyi John sent this article from Abraka, Delta State and can be reached through zikeyijohn@yahoo.com

Concocted lies!

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