₦airaland Forum

striktlymi: Good afternoon, find the response you seek below:



* We already know that Mary is not God so this point is irrelevant.



* The above is your personal belief. My belief is that the God I serve does not do something for nothing. He doesn't just do things sponteneously. He has a plan for everything and coming through Mary was part of his divine plan. He had various options of coming to the earth, he could have just come down from the sky just as he went up after his resurrection. But he chose to come through this humble peasant girl. We tend to want to allow our personal views and opinions becloud our better judgement. If the mother of a prominent person comes to this state or even visit you, I am very sure you would accord that woman with lot of respect. How much more the person God chose to come through? God's choice of Mary is something very great. Even Elizabeth was quick to know this through the inspiration of the spirit. "How can the mother of my lord pay me a visit?" "Of all women you are the most blessed". So my friend if the choice of Mary is not something great to you, it was to Elizabeth and it is to me.



The above is the very basis of my love and admiration for this woman. She did not let God down. Despite the difficulty of living a good life hear on earth, she came out on top, hence proving God right for choosing her. Oh that the so called men of God would do right by God but sadly very few (if any) are at right right with God. Mary taught the world a vital lesson: It's not about the fact that you have been chosen, one still needs to work out his or her salvation.



The above quote is a very wrong teaching. It shows the extent someone can go to discredit another person for no just reason. First of all, the above denies the humanity of Jesus. Paul was very clear when he taught that Christ was like us in every way but sin. If he was like us, then what he had in his veins is human blood and not God's blood. You should note also that God is a spirit, and as such he has no blood to give. If you make God to be someone who has blood then you teach that God is mortal. This is a very wrong teaching. Jesus was truely God and truely man. It is not appropriate to say that Jesus took flesh from Mary but the blood is not from her. What makes you a man if not flesh and blood?



* Divine worship belongs to God alone. He who worships another in God's place worship's an idol and this act must be discouraged. But worshipping God does not stop us from respecting and honouring those to whom honour is due. If you make a first class in school, you would be honoured for that, this does not imply in any way that you are being worshipped as a god. Mary deserves more honour than someone who made a first class. Again, if u become the president of Nigeria, you would be accorded honour and respect. Mary deserves far more honour and respect than any preasident. Elizabeth respected and honoured her through the inspiration of the spirit, so who am I not to honour her? It is written in sacred scriptures that "all generations will call her blessed". If you do not honour her then you do not believe in that part of sacred scriptures.




* Only God can forgive sins. The mission of forgiven sins was extended to the apostles by Christ himself. Mary was not part of the apostles, hence her inability to forgive sins. But however, praying for someone is a completely different ball game. If a pastor can pray for a fellow man then I wonder why those who are in heaven cannot mediate for us. This actually is a broader topic of discussion. It brings to question, issues around the dead and whether the dead can indeed help us. But note that evryone who sleeps in Christ is alive not dead. Christ promised to take the "good thief" to paradise that very day. Christ went into "hell" to liberate the souls that have been waiting for redemption. If a fellow man can pray for me, then Mary can as well do a better job of it.


Thank you!

italo: Rev 11:19 - 12:1:

"Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. And there appeared a great sign in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars"

There it is. The Ark of the new covenant - Mary the mother of Jesus the new covenant.

Remember, these chapters weren't numbered at the time this book was written.

italo: The Catholic Church existed before the Bible and created it.

So you don't go to the Bible for the history of The Catholic Church, rather, you go to the Catholic Church for the history of the Bible.



The Holy Bible wasn't enough for the early Christians, infact it didn't even exist then... And it surely wasn't enough for St. Paul who said in 2Thess 2:15: "So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[c] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."

But apparently, you know better than St. Paul.

striktlymi: Good mornng to u too sir,

I understand the point you are trying to make but really, if we are to follow that line of thought then it would imply that the bible as we have it won't be valid today. First, when Christ was on earth there was nothing like the new testament, all we had was the old. Note also that Christ never commanded anyone to write a book when he was on earth. Also Christ never referred to his people as "Christians" does it mean that the use of it is wrong?

The community of believers continues to evolve from age to age as the spirit continues to guide, guard and inspire them. There are a lot of things that were revealed to the apostles which made it's way into sacred scripture but cannot be found in the old testament. Not everything is in the bible. There are records of other things done by the early Christians that did not make it's way to the bible. I believe I made reference of a second Century Christan (an early Christian)who used the word Catholic.

The questions I believe u should ponder on are:

1) Did God's spirit stopped inspiring his people after the Apostles?

2) Did the church founded by Christ go extinct after the death of the Apostles?

3) How did Christianity make its way to our present day?

4) Was there a broken line of succession in the leadership of the Church?

5) When Christ commanded Peter to feed and take care of his flock, did he intend it to end with Peter, knowing full well that the flock would last to this very day?

Thank you!

italo: You have forgotten that we Catholics commune with Angels and Saints everyday, its one of the many thing the likes of you condemn us for. So I'm more likely to believe an Angel than you.

...And Google says The Catholic Church was started by Christ...and that all those churches you mentioned were one and the same, only separated by location... And they were Catholic.

Let's fac it, you have nothing credible to say, do you?

striktlymi: Good morning,
I believe u have some misconceptions about the quotations you made. Firstly, the quotations really do not prove that there existed a "church" or "some churches" before the catholic church. Secondly, the use of the word "church" actually refers to the community of God's people under christ.

Before Christ left this world, he gave his apostles an order to go forth into the world and spread the good news. This the apostles did with vigour after the out pouring of the promised paraclete (the Holy spirit). Everywhere the Apostles went, they managed to win converts for Christ. These converts made up pockets of communities in their various localities. At this time there was no official name given to this growing community. However, at Antioch the community of God's people were first tagged "Christians" by those who were not even believers beccause of the way they lived their lives. i.e they were "Christ-like".

The name "Christian" was not really popular with the believers of the time, hence the use of the word "church" to refer to these communities. It was necessary for the apostles to keep in contact with these respective communities via their letters in order to encourage them and give them directions since they could not be present with them physically because they had to continue with the work of spreading the gospel.

One basic fact about the "churches" then was that though they existed in different locations, they were still one under Christ, as Paul was quick to reproach those who wanted to create division by saying they belonged to Paul or Apolos. He made them understand that the community was one under Christ. Another proof of the unity of the "church" then was the disagreement that came up within one of such communities. Paul taught that the "gentiles" do not need to be circumsized before joining the community of God's people. This was vehemently refused by some believers of Jewish descent. The disagreement was settled at the "council of Jerusalem". The Apostles came together in prayer and deliberations to decide the fate of one of such "churches" and the whole of Christendom as regards this matter.

The first written record of the use of the word "catholic" which means "Universal" was made by a bishop, St Ignatius of Antioch in the year A.D. 107. St. Ignatius of Antioch in the Near East, was arrested, brought to Rome by armed guards and eventually martyred there in the arena. In a farewell letter which this early bishop and martyr wrote to his fellow Christians in Smyrna (today Izmir in modern Turkey). He wrote, "Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church". Thus, the second century of Christianity had scarcely begun when the name of the Catholic Church was already in use, thereafter, mention of the name became more and more frequent in the written records.

italo: 2 questions.

1. Which ONE of these Churches was Christ then talking about in Matthew 16.
2. When did each of these Churches come into existence and when did the Catholic Church come into existence? Please provide proof of your answer...so that we can see which came first.

christemmbassey: What about orphans, widows etc. Pls lets discus how we can help fellow members of the body of Christ. Remain blessed.

christemmbassey: I have been waiting and praying for a while since the advent of the devilish activities of the satanic boko haram, expecting to see our big MOG, thier big churches, PFN, CAN' or even rich individual christians, preach, encourage and actually organize a kind of programme where christians especially in the south will be opportuned to contribute something to sucour our northern brethren. Now it appears if we wait for the mog or churches our brethren will never be relieved. FOR ALL SEEKETH THIER OWN, NONE SEEKETH CHRIST'S. It is very painful to see some lost thier lives, parents, children, pastors, churches, properties etc while some are flying aimlessly arround with their privaje jets, (what's wrong with that' nothing), cruising arround whith customized jeeps/exorted cars on convoy, live in mansions, with thier retinue of PAs,etc for the same gospel, pls consider Mat. 7:22-23 and Mat.25:31-46. THIS IS FOR (GENUINE)? Christians, I want us to discus how we can set up a relief fund where we cand all send N1,000 each to rebuild church and lives in northern Nigeria. Pls read Nehemiah 1:1-4, nehemiah 2:1-20. DO SOMETHING-THE HOUSE OF GOD MUST BE REBUILD. U R BLESSED

plaetton: Hey Deepsight.
Nice to see you.
We missed you around here.

As for those who want to criticize Matthew Ashi-Ole, remember that the universe is very vast and very expensive to run , with all the galaxies, stars, planets and so on, and with all the huge overheads required to run them.
Do any of you know the salary of an angel?
Even Satan is kept on a retainer to make sure he plays his own part.
S please, stop complaining.
God needs your money.

Goshen360: ^^^ Never laughing at you oo. I'm just inspired by the revelation you shared.

Goshen360: @ i.chuka,

Great! Just learnt another new thing right now from you. Meaning when David used just one stone, then he should have the remaining four stones with him. Sounds like when you point one finger to a man, the remaining four fingers points at you...Glory to God.

chukwudi44: Where in the bible is such a demonic teaching taught that a pastor should live lavishly while his members wallow in abject poverty

frosbel: really !!

A private Jet when 99% of his congregation is starving.

Nigerians and greed , no wonder the country is in the current mess.

smh

chukwudi44: Doctrine of demons!!! Pastors meat will be private jet when his members are dying of hunger

k2039: I will aprove any one he brings home.

Who he marries isnt for me to decide just as I wont want my parent to interfere with my own choice.

I can only advise him,besides I must have trained him well enough to know the qualities to look for in a woman,if he decides to follow my advice good for him and if not,also good for him.

lagerwhenindoubt: Gold in Building The Ark of the Covenant
Exodus 37:1-9 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. ...

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cFY4_A9UA3g/TUsHSOYA2wI/AAAAAAAADuw/6wSZ2lXQXiI/s640/Tabernacle+Mishkan+Ark+of+the+Covenant+Diagram+Color+-+View+2.jpg[/img]

Gold in Heaven
Rev. 21:21[b]
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.[/b]

obadiah777: joseph was the 12th star

Delafruita: father kukah has always spoken truth

elikiba: The acquisition of private jets by Christian leaders diminishes the moral voice of the church in the fight against corruption, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Kukah, declared yesterday.

He spoke against the backdrop of the presentation of a private jet to the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by members of his church during the celebration of his 40th anniversary in the ministry penultimate Saturday.

Kukah, who was guest speaker at the annual Founder’s Day Anniversary lecture of Providence Baptist Church in Lagos, described exhibition of such opulence by church leaders as embarrassing.

The fiery cleric who spoke on ‘Church and the state in the pursuit of the common good’, said: “The stories of corrupt men and women being given recognition by their churches or mosques as gallant sons and daughters and the embarrassing stories of pastors displaying conspicuous wealth as we hear from the purchases of private jets and so on clearly diminish our moral voice.”

Kukah, who was represented by the Administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Pascal Nwaezeapu, also expressed displeasure with the perceived closeness of the CAN leadership to the corridors of powers.

He said such alliance will weaken the ability of the church to speak the truth to elected public office holders.

According to him: “CAN has become more visible in relation to national prayer sessions, pilgrimages, alliances with state power and so on.

“Unless we distance ourselves, we cannot speak the truth to power. We cannot hear the wails of the poor and the weak. We should not be seen as playing the praying wing of the party in power.”

He challenged the church to speak against corruption in low and high places, saying such responsibility must never be jettisoned for any reason.

Apart from Orisejafor, other church leaders who own private jets include Founder of Living Faith Ministries, Bishop David Oyedepo; General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy Church.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/pastors-with-private-jets-an-embarrassment-bishop-kukah/

elikiba: The acquisition of private jets by Christian leaders diminishes the moral voice of the church in the fight against corruption, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Kukah, declared yesterday.

He spoke against the backdrop of the presentation of a private jet to the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by members of his church during the celebration of his 40th anniversary in the ministry penultimate Saturday.

Kukah, who was guest speaker at the annual Founder’s Day Anniversary lecture of Providence Baptist Church in Lagos, described exhibition of such opulence by church leaders as embarrassing.

The fiery cleric who spoke on ‘Church and the state in the pursuit of the common good’, said: “The stories of corrupt men and women being given recognition by their churches or mosques as gallant sons and daughters and the embarrassing stories of pastors displaying conspicuous wealth as we hear from the purchases of private jets and so on clearly diminish our moral voice.”

Kukah, who was represented by the Administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Pascal Nwaezeapu, also expressed displeasure with the perceived closeness of the CAN leadership to the corridors of powers.

He said such alliance will weaken the ability of the church to speak the truth to elected public office holders.

According to him: “CAN has become more visible in relation to national prayer sessions, pilgrimages, alliances with state power and so on.

“Unless we distance ourselves, we cannot speak the truth to power. We cannot hear the wails of the poor and the weak. We should not be seen as playing the praying wing of the party in power.”

He challenged the church to speak against corruption in low and high places, saying such responsibility must never be jettisoned for any reason.

Apart from Orisejafor, other church leaders who own private jets include Founder of Living Faith Ministries, Bishop David Oyedepo; General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy Church.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/pastors-with-private-jets-an-embarrassment-bishop-kukah/

obadiah777: you are coming out of your own vain opinion now. precept must always be upon precept. this is the precept to the sun moon and 12 stars GENESIS 37 VS 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? BIBLICAL STORIES ARE OFTEN SYMBOLIC AND ALLEGORICAL IN NATURE SO THAT THE SUN ALSO MEANS WISDOM, THE MOON MEANS UNDERSTANDING AND THE 12 STARS ARE THE HOST OF HEAVEN. THE POINT HERE IS THAT, BY PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT, THE WOMAN IS ISRAEL

Joagbaje: A prophet doesn't have to be a bible teacher. Most of the time I observe prophets enter into error when they try teaching. Except such a one is nboth a prophet and teacher by calling . These are two different offices . It's safe for a man to focus on his calling . A prophet shouldn't dabble into teaching except he is called. But he can be a good student of the word, to learn and study for himself as a christian.

Ihedinobi: For the Christian, my beloved brother, there is only one point of view or witness that matter's and it is the Lord's.

Also, the Church is a spiritual organism and can only rightly be judged as such.