₦airaland Forum

JubrinElSudan:
Anybody that has a Wikipedia account can update any page nothing like one of their writers.

Exactly, it's an open blog. Although they have a team that corrects promptly.
I believe this is just some mischief making blogger.

IsraelOA:
What is the Christian view on gay marriage? Are spiritual gifts biblical? Can Christians drink alcohol? These are some of the topics that often cause heated controversy within the church today. Christians take very different opinions on these issues and both sides refer to Scripture to support their views. Discernment is certainly necessary, even among a group of believers in today's culture. Whatever your views on each of these topics, hopefully reading this list of the areas where the church often experiences division will encourage us as Christ-followers to strive for unity within our own churches and even across denominations, because although there is much division and controversy among the broader church, there are also core doctrines that unite us.

1. GAY MARRIAGE
Gay marriage and whether it should be allowed in the church is certainly at the top of the list of modern-day controversial subjects. One need not search current headlines for long to find evidence of this controversy.

This issue has caused division among many denominations. The Presbyterian Church (USA) supports it, while the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and others do not support it, for example.

But perhaps nowhere is the controversy surrounding this issue more prevalent than in the Anglican Church. In recent years (and even months), the Anglican Church has softened its stance toward gay marriage and gay priests, but there is still much oppostion. Some have called on the church to be more welcoming of LGBT individuals, some go so far as supporting gay clergy and granting them the rights to perform same-sex marriages, while others remain firmly committed to the traditional definition of marriage. The United Methodist Church is experiencing controversy over this issue. You can read more about it here.

2. ABORTION
At first, one might think this subject is not so controversial within the church as it is between those in the church and those without. However, as a recent Pew Research Center study shows, those who claim to be religious yet don't associate themselves with a particular denomination actually are mostly in favor of abortion, with only 17 percent opposing it.

Still, a majority of Christians are pro-life, but the subject remains a controversial one within the church, especially when it comes to the argument that pro-life should mean more than simply "pro-birth."

3. WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
The issue of women teaching/preaching in church can quickly become heated. Again, more conservative denominations tend to be against women in leadership roles, while more liberal denominations tend to accept it.
Recently, there has been a particular crisis on this issue with the rise of Christian women bloggers. The online presence and followers these women have is substantial and has caused some within Christianity to question their authority, even though they are not preaching/teaching in a traditional church setting.

4. TYPE OF WORSHIP MUSIC
Contemporary or traditional? Hymns or modern worship songs? This is definitely an issue that tends to spark debate within many churches. It's often even a deciding factor when someone chooses a church to belong to. This issue also tends to divide believers between older and younger generations.

Even certain instruments can be controversial. A drum set might not be considered acceptable in some churches, while another church may have an entire praise band with a full range of instruments.

Some churches have attempted to resolve the controversy by using both traditional and contemporary songs intermixed during their worship services or even providing two different services--one more traditional and one more modern.

5. SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Although spiritual gifts are mentioned several times in the New Testament, different church denominations have different interpretations of what it truly means to have and use a spiritual gift.

The spiritual gift of speaking in tongues tends to be the most controversial of any spiritual gift. While Pentecostals fully affirm this spiritual gift, other denominations have gone so far as so say that speaking in tongues is offending the Holy Spirit.

Other Christians embrace spiritual gifts and even encourage congregants or church staffers to take spiritual gift tests to see where they are best equiped to serve.

6. BAPTISM
Although practically all churches practice baptism, baptism rituals in different denominations not only vary in practice but in theology. There has been a heated debate within the church for centuries on whether the Bible promotes infant or only believer baptism.

More liturgical churches even tend to give the impression that baptism is essential for salvation, while others don't seem to put a lot of weight on it. Some churches also baptize infants, but see it not as evidence of salvation, but rather as a commitment by the child's family and church body to bring up the child in the fear of the Lord. In this way, an infant baptism is more like a dedication of the child.

Still other churches only baptize those who are old enough to make a profession of faith of their own free will.

Chrisitans also have opinions on how and where baptisms should take place--by sprinkling of water, by pouring water on someone, or by full immersion.

7. POLITICS FROM THE PULPIT
Should ministers talk about politics or endorse a specific political party or view from the pulpit?

Churchgoers have very different views on the subject, but the controversy isn't confined to the church. Several months ago, President Trump signed an executive order ceasing enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, which prohibited a church, as a nonprofit entity, from endorsing and promoting a particular political party or candidate. Many championed the executive order, saying that it gave churches more religious freedom, but others maintained that siding with a certain political party is not something a church should be doing.

8. ALCOHOL
Can Christians drink alcohol? This question opens up all kinds of debate within the church. Many churchgoers believe Christians should completely stay away from alcohol, bars, and anything that has to do with drinking since the Bible condemns drunkenness and instructs Christ-followers to be sober-minded.

Other churchgoers, however, believe that consuming alcohol in moderation is not a sin. These Christians often argue their point from 1 Corinthians 8 in which the Apostle Paul says to "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak." Many take this to mean, by the context surrounding it, that drinking alcohol is permitted, but Christians should be careful not to cause someone who is prone to alcohol abuse or someone who believes it is a sin, to stumble in his/her faith by seeing another Christian drinking.

A church's views on alcohol can even be seen sometimes in the worship service; some churches use grape juice for Communion, while others use wine.

https://590amtheword.com/articles/church/pastors-or-leadership/here-are-8-of-the-most-controversial-issues-in-the-church-today

Great post. Nice one OP.

owukpa:
Dr. Paul Enenche, the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, DIGC, has bemoaned what he described as war of attrition going on in Nigeria.
The fiery preacher during a communion service in the church on Wednesday, decried the level of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly the killings of Christians by those he described as anti-Christ.

He has spoken with so much passion and emotion. However, no word of exhortation or direction or prophecy.
I appreciate the fact that he didn't claim God said when God has not spoken.

But we do have the sure Word and this we know- That the church is being built and will continue to grow triumphantly and the gates of hell will not prevail.

ojaysam25:
you maybe right sir...it maybe be something spiritual...but what got me confused is that he lost his sanity while reading..

Spiritual attacks often exploit people's most dominant habits. Drinking, smoking, insulting, womanising, reading, etc.

Jeffmonti:
About To Lose A Good Girl. Please Help!


Fellow Nairalanders, this is my predicament please advice a stupid brother. Insults are welcome as I hope to pick a thing or two from your comments. MODs please push this up biko.

You seem to be a good guy so I will oblige you.
It's easy to give advice, following through is where the work is.

Good thing you took the self-defecating approach by accepting the blame and owning up like a grown up to your mistakes.

Life is all about choices so i will present you with yours;

1. You can keep this from your fiancee and life goes on. You deal with the consequences in the future. Women often take this route.

2. You can respect your marriage and share the truth with your fiancee hoping she would understand but prepared for the termination of your relationship or marriage too. You will have to assure fiancee that you've turned a new leaf.

3. Have you considered marrying "Lola" instead?

Wow, the faith of this man, Nathan.
This family has been dealt a heavy hand by life but their resolve to maintain their faith is exemplary.

Leah is fighting the good fight of faith and it doesn't matter what happens now, she'll be remembered always as a hero of faith.

God continue to be with the Sharibu family and reward them beyond understanding in this life and eternity.

okeyumez:
Yet Nigerian musicians are here deceiving themselves with false celebrity attributes
Jumping up and down on stage with frog voice
Non sings music that last beyound 3 months
Good and philosophical music died long ago in Nigeria

Should Grammy be the body to determine the quality of African music?
Africans still running around with colonization mentality.

Nothing wrong in aspiring for a Grammy but in Fela's philosophy, a white man or body should not be teaching us how to be Africans.

Akpan107:
Every other stone is IDOLATRY.

The Ka'aba stone is special and divine, because it will have eyes and mouth and will be able to speak.

Can you produce any stone like it?

Has it? If all you have is future tense, then other idolators too can claim the same.
Religion is just self-contradictory.

Awol1:
Why does the far north fear secession like this?

There six geopolitical zones in this country, the West has said, "let's renegotiate our union", the East, South and Middle belt are in agreement that our union be renegotiated but only the North objects.

And why the decision of the minority has been holding this country to ransom can only be a wonder.

Nigeria is living on a borrowed time.

It's either this union is renegotiated and the country restructured or we go our separate ways.

Fvcck One Nigeria!

Cows!

Because they've strategically been positioned in power. And money (bribery) has a way of drowning the voice of opposition.

This is too self-contradictory I had to make the islam declaration just to comment and retort.

Is there any idol worshipper that you can convince that his idol is not special?
How can you claim your stone is not an idol because it is a specia stone?

Every other religion is idolatry except yours right?
Religion is truly blindening.

Akpan107:
Brother, it's not just an ordinary stone.

On that day, the stone will have mouth, tongue and eyes and will be able to speak.

So if you are unbeliever, the stone will speak against you on that day.

Kindly read the Hadith fully to understand.

Jami at- thirmidhi
Book 9: Hadith 155.

So, the stone is a special stone, but if you touch and kiss any other stone apart from this one, that'll be purely IDOLATRY.

Miffia:
Hi everyone... Good Afternoon

Your advice will be appreciated.. Thank You.

Good sex is definitely a factor to consider in marriage.
However your little portrait leaves too much to the imagination.
Now when you say he's a 1 or 2 minute man, my question is, do you only have 1 round of sex?

Statistically, local man is likely to hit the home run fast in the first round. But subsequent rounds should make up for lost time.

PS: Sexual experience can be improved with time if you're both open to it.. There's much more to marriage than sex. Are you both compatible? Does he take care of you? Can you make sacrifices for him and vice versa? Are you ok with his family and friends? Are you equally yoked?

NihiIist:
You invite a girl to come over, she promises you. Because of her, you quickly arrange your house, clean everywhere, wash your toilet clean, lay your bed and spray airfreshner. You even down a bottle of alomo bitters and all sorts of concoction just in case.

The time for her to come is here as you agreed and well you decided to give her about an hour or so maybe she'll show up but she doesn't.

You call her phone to ask her whatsup, she's not picking, some will even switch off their phone.

Pls if you know you wouldn't come, you shouldn't have made the promise. It's nothing but wickedness

You've not given her a reason to visit you.

-Some girls are motivated by potential (relationship or more).
-Some (most) are motivated by money.
--Some (very few) are motivated by sex.
-Some are motivated by fun.

Your presentation must correspond to her motivation.
Money and sex most times go together.
However there are those even money can't get you. It has to be some other form of motivation and stimulation.

Look on the bright side though; You have a clean room/house now.
Also some times, look beyond sex and you'll see more.

Garnishee Order. Funny term, brings back memories. First time hearing it in a long time.

Ogegeodey:
Why is she excited?

Any hope to get married?

She is a single mom, she has no business catching any bouquet.

Hanty leave am for the maidens

Actually it's quite interesting if you'd reconsider.
Some ladies want marriage just to get hitched and get financial security.
And here she is, she is financially secure but still believes in marriage. I think that makes her an amazing amazon.

Reffone:
Best advice comes from critics and people u don't know, no bad blood but we all learn daily

He's going to be exposed to a deluge of opinions. How does he know the best?

Now to my own opinion;
I have always been a supporter of "till death do us apart." However I do understand that situations arise which make this rather beyond unbearable.
The invader and daddy's new flame is more or less that, a temporary flame.
If mom can endure, let her endure and take solace in taking care of her kids and maybe some charitable service too.

If she has been doing that and thinks she needs a break from it all, then for her sanity, let her take some time off, if it ends in divorce then so be it.

God allows divorce on the ground of sexual infidelity. Matthew 19:9 (although it seems only the man is implied to divorce).

Topccy007z:
I wish it's true. Because to me rice is still quite expensive

Surprised too but it's actually true.

EFULEFU1:
I saw my best friends wife in a hotel with another man. Since then I have not been myself

Should I tell my friend?

Since he's your best friend, mind if I ask, is he loyal to his wife?

1. If no, let them keep fooling each other.
2. If yes, he deserves to know.

PrecisionFx:
Ur white ancestors passed it down to u and ur fellow Christians.


My ancestors arent Adam and Eve so they didnt pass down anything to me

How are you sure? Cos you don't know the names of your ancestors.lol

Balaxx:
Wizkid nah small pikin for where Akon dey,even for money,hits,YouTube views.MI with e puff puff face

That goes without saying.
But this shouldn't be coming from MI cos dude used to be humble.
Ego and arrogance can be blindening.

PrecisionFx:
"Psalm 51:5 expounds this. Even little children "

Little Christian children, keep that madness to Christians pls.

""Meaning we're born with a sinful nature due to the sin of Adam and Eve.""

Adam and eve are ur parents that gave u ur sinful nature. Leave others outta ya madness

Ok i get your point.
Let me rephrase then, our ancestors passed it down to us.

jesusjnr:
I've been praying for you.

One thing I learnt during my walk with God is to never stop praying regardless of how bad, frustrating, hopeless etc., things are. Never stop praying.

Though I have never backslided since I began walk at the level of the Spirit, because God never let me descend to that level as He has always been there just before it got to that point, the lowest i've gone in my spiritual life is the time i decided to stop praying.

It was then I really got to know the difference prayer makes in my spiritual life, as it helps prevent some unnecessary issues and reactions.

So from then on I decided that no matter what, that i would not stop praying, and that's what I have been doing since then and it's helped me a lot. Because even when I don't feel like praying, and don't even believe in the prayer I was praying, when I start and keep going, at some point in the prayer i would notice that everything would just turn around and become completely different from the time I started.

So at end of the prayer, the prayer would have helped me with the strength i needed which I didn't have before I began to pray.

And fasting also helps as well, and it recently helped a bro here where prayer alone couldn't help him, so I would suggest that to you as well.

Thank God bro for His mercies and I believe that He'd definitely see you through.

God bless.

You're a brother in deed.
I realise my spiritual drought started with downward spiral in my prayer as I perceived God had answered my prayers already by Faith after about a year of consistency. So I decided to relax. Unfortunately, that was my mistake. Even though God had answered, my prayer life should be consistent.

Thanks for your prayers.

I lost the most important thing in the world, the conscious presence of the Holy Spirit and His direction.

PS: The Holyspirit has been the most Integral person in my renewed relationship with God.
So I am presently on the road to realigning myself with Him.
Keep me in your prayers.

PrecisionFx:
Nope, everybody isn't inherently evil. Christian's are inherently evil and carry around the evils of Adam n eve....pls keep that to urself n stop roping in others

Psalm 51:5 expounds this. Even little children practice evil. I don't know if you've taken your time to observe little kids lately.

Meaning we're born with a sinful nature due to the sin of Adam and Eve. But thanks to Christ, we are reborn into God's nature which is the Divine nature. Romans 5:12-21, Romans 3:23-24

Obi1kenobi:
There is not a single person in this thread who is waiting for God to come down and personally rule Nigeria into an age of prosperity. The unserious arguments here based on strawman distortions of the arguments of your adversaries are coming from you and you're projecting that unseriousness on others. The only serious context of that comment was on the futility of religion in a country where everyone is a zealous religionist, but can't translate their faith into substantive progress. If their faith is real, we expect to see it validated in wisdom and competence and cooperative harmony and mindfulness and selfless, altruistic service to the community, and virtuous living and transparency and accountability and everything that makes good leadership and engaged followership in a working, functional society. That is how we expect faith to manifest in our society if divinely guided. Not strawman arguments about God or Jesus personally coming down from heaven or something.



Being "neat and orderly" is a humanistic value of harmonious societies, so Japanese or Korean or Finnish or Scandinavian people aren't neat and orderly because it's some kind of religious duty. ANd you're correct that failing at this is our failure. Again, you're stating obvious things that nobody is arguing against and missing the crux of the argument. The crux of the argument being in what ways are our society materially transformed by all the religiosity? I went to missionary schools as a child where everyday, we had to recite "Prayer for Nigeria in Distress" and "Prayer against Bribery and Corruption in Nigeria". Every single day. I've been reciting these stuff even before perfecting my reading in nursery and early primary school. I just used to listen to people mindlessly chant the prayers in church and I could recite it. Over 2 decades later, and these prayers are still chanted in Catholic masses all over Nigeria and we're still as much a corrupt and as wretched and miserable a shiithole as we've ever been for decades. So why not simply be engaged citizens who try to reform or revolutionize the system with mass action? Why even bother praying about it when the efficacy of that is pretty much zero influence level?

There's a scriptural answer to almost all our questions.
This post is one of the few that have probed some salient biblical points.
However, God is not the problem, religion is.

One thing I relearnt is that God has everything planned out. We are simply here to make His plan unfurl.

One of the unveiling Scriptures for me was when God promised that Abraham would be Father of many nations but this nation (Israel) would be slaves for 400 years. Genesis 15:13

Now imagine Nigeria as the nation and God already planned 400 years of suffering for Nigeria. No matter the amount of prayer and fasting, it wouldn't change God's plan.

Why that analogy?

You said you as well as other Catholics have been praying for a bribery and corruption free Nigeria yet here we are... What if we're still within our God's stipulated time of sufering?

It doesn't mean that God doesn't answer prayers, because everyone who has testimonies knows he does, it's just that the prayer is incongruent with His plan.
Just as Jesus prayed for the cup of suffering to pass over him but God's plan was for Him to drink His cup of suffering and crucifixion. And Jesus knowing this knew it's not about His own will or desires but God's will.

What am I saying in essence?

Op is going through a phase, as we all do... I hope it gives him growth spiritually, experientially, emotionally, financially, and every way he desires according to God's will.

Michellekabod2:
I am not going to create another moniker for this,i owe no one nothing!

I have spent most of my life single. I tried linking up with people but to no avail. Why? I will not do the blame game here. Is all my fault. I meet someone, get heed over heels for the person but I lose interest easily. When it comes to commitment, when the friendship is to get to the next level I ghost them. I don't know why. At best out of the blue I lose interest and become blank, not returning calls or replying messages, at worst I become disgusted at the fellow for no reason at all then move one to the next male friend. Nothing serious comes out of it...

So I decided to give up trying. My female friends and I go on an outing, some guys approach us and get our numbers. Months (sometimes years) later they are still waxing strong with the males, one of them even got married to one of them. But me? After a couple of weeks I find myself having to ghost the guy that I was head over heels for.

I gave up on love and chose to be single. I have been single for years now.

I met this guy march this year,we bonded like never before. I have never in my entire life felt like this before. It is so strange that each conversation we have all seems anew like we are starting all over.

It's almost ten months and the fire is still intense.
I have never had such a long friendship with a male. People assume we are dating. He gives me so much JOY... He is so awesome, different from all the others i have known. He changed me.

I just figured out i want to end the friendship, I don't know why. I am tired. I want to walk away. The passion is still there but i want to be away. I wanted to get a new SIM but my conscience will not. What has kept me from doing this is because i wonder how he will feel..

I want to walk away. Will i regret this?

More importantly, how old are you?
We tend to be careless where age is on our side.
But time has a way of humbling us.

I will suggest you not only decide you need to change this mindset but more importantly, you need to start to act right cos your kids depend on it.

I know one of the hardest things is for a minister to acknowledge his wrong which is why it took a while for me to create this thread, i wish i did earlier before i became vulnerable.

But more importantly the essence of this thread is for those who have been in this position to give guidance to those of us who have now found ourselves in this rather precarious position.
It's a thin line between test and temptation.

Can you atleast correct your english so we can understand the message you're trying to convey? Your headling is more confusing than a half-cast.

Flyingngel:
You, better stop granting press interview before Buhari sycophantic foot soldiers misconstrued your statement to something else thereby take you back to that hole.

Why do we defend the same peope robbing us?
As far as I am concerned he shouldn't be celebrated cos he misappropriated our common wealth in the disguise of arms deal. Although if govt was holding him illegally, that's wrong.

Rapmoney:
Many self righteous religious folks will not be happy with this. The day Christianity and Islam are allowed to thrive in China, that marks the end of the stability of the Chinese government.

It's ok not to accept religious doctrines but to alter and impose your own socialist doctrines is not exactly right either.

Sabby1:
Regardless of date or origin, If I no celebrate Christ at least once a year, wetin I gain.

Happy Christmas Nairalanders

The question is how do you celebrate him?
He stood for love and sacrifice, hope you extend some sacrificial love to some one or some people as you celebrate him.

jesusjnr:
It is well with you bro.

I don't know how far astray you've gone, but I don't believe it too far away from where you can find your way back to your Shepherd's fold.

Just try and retrace your steps back to your Shepherd, you shall soon find Him because He'd also be looking out for you.

God bless.

Thanks bro.
Please keep me in your prayers. Spiritual drought is a very unpleasant place to be.

RoyalUc:
You are welcome brother.
I pray the Lord refreshs your soul and strengthen your inner man with might.

Grace!

Amen.
I sent you a mail. Would like us to discuss more.
The challenge is when a minister backslides, it's not so easy recovering. Like a doctor that's unable to heal himself.

I often preach that humility is the access to God's Grace. It wasn't a coincidence that you should share that scripture as it's my anchor verse so much so some have labelled me minister of humility. Yet some how, I seem to find myself now seeking access to God's grace.

I knew when pride started to creep in. In fact, I urged some friends and leaders to pray with me and pray for me. But over time, I experienced a spititual dryness and became vulnerable.

I guess I need practical steps.