₦airaland Forum

samwash:
From my own view, some Church members or pple may think that becox they are so deep into sin that God can never forgive them of their atrocities.
Hearing the past testimonies of the Man of God,their hope is jacked alive, they make the decision of salvation & their life is turned around.
Its the context of narrating their past life.
@op, what of the Pastors that always narrate how they have encounter with God one on one or how God delivered them from accident of Major destruction.
Nothing actually wrong wit the act ,'' where there's no testimony, there's no liberty''.

I insist, there should be a limit. Discretion is the key word here. The more the words, the less the meaning. Let the Holy Spirit do the conviction.
During personal counselling , a preacher may open up a bit more.

Eulalia:
Hmm... And how many pastors have you seen going the extreme? Most of them I know only hint on it but as for giving details like " I used to drink human blood" I don't think any pastor has ever done that as that would be gross.

The only etiquette i noticed some of them are beginning to violate is the use of fowl language... Like saying " he's a mad man" or "hes a stupid man" or saying " some Christians are foolish " I dont think its right to use such fowl language on the pulpit. And as thus should be called to order by sending out these observations on social media platforms where they can see it and make necessary adjustments. Including yours too if there are actually pastors going the extreme with details of their past excapades.

You certainly haven't listened to a long list of Pastors, there are many who go extreme. Not necessarily the superstars you know

COdeGenesis:
It is just your mindset working. Perhaps, you hate people who talk too much about their past achievements or success stories and you are these cool easy going guy that doesnt like to blow his trumpet. So anytime yiu hv a conversation with somehow and the person starts telling tales about their life, it kicks in

Again, read to understand. Don't inject your predisposed prejudiced perception into this topic.

COdeGenesis:
You better learn.

Galatians 1:12-16
New International Version
12 I did not receive it from any man,(A) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation(B) from Jesus Christ.(C)

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,(D) how intensely I persecuted the church of God(E) and tried to destroy it.(F) 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous(G) for the traditions of my fathers.(H) 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb(I) and called me(J) by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,(K) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.(L)

Rather you are the olodo and coconut head who cannot read to comprehend.
My first line says " there should be a limit " Google the word limit , it will help.
Which of Paul's words in those verses you quoted sound insensitive, extreme , immoral, bizzare and strange to you. In fact, he was ignorantly fighting for God which was the way they practised Judaism. Equivalent to a Muslim narrating his overzealousness for God.

I thought you would show me the scripture where Paul mentioned that he slept with people's wives , raped people's daughters and gave graphic details of how he did them.

Oversabi Bible scholar

[quote author=Eulalia post=91155176]Seyi, I think why some pastors use their past experience as illustrations is to help some members who still feel unworthy with a pricking conscience of their past not allowing them enjoy the full grace to feel more calm and accepted in the body of christ. so they dont easily revert back to the world thinking their past sin is so enormous that God cannot accept them.

Do you know some can leave the Church if these fears of rejection are not allayed? And the best way to do this I think is a man of God using himself as a case study just like Paul said that he became like them when preaching the word so he can fit in and be well accepted by those he preached to. Even though likening Paul's case to this isn't directly same but its similar in a way.

Trying to be like them to win them or make them understand you were once like them so they dont feel odd.

I think thats what kobojunkie was on about. And please let's stop being harsh to one another when a question is thrown at us. Where is now the fruit of the spirit ( Patience) in us as Christians?

We all are still learning.

Shalom.

Happy Sunday to everyone.

The first line of my post " There should be a limit" simply settles it. The pulpit is not a platform where all things should be mentioned. It's ok to give a hint of your past but going deep and building a career out of it to the extent that it becomes your logo and the reason why people know you and invite you, that preacher is derailing . Details could be given during counselling sessions to specific persons who need that info. not to the general audience

COdeGenesis:
You big be olodo. Coconut head. U read thebible upside down. You just cut one verse without following the story. Paul was dwelling on the present, of course why lock him up when he has done nothing. This is a direct opposite of what the topic is, In Galatians 1 vs 13 - 14 Paul talks about his past. Even in organisations as a leader when you want to motivate unserious workers, you coulf site urself as an example and explain your past.You could tell them there is nothing profitable in what they are presently doing and if they want to be successful in their position there is neex for change. It is done everywhere not only in churches and it is done to motivate people.Even in your family, it will get to a point you would tell you children of your past and how what they are doing doesnt pay them

Who is this?

EwuGambia:
Go and tell pastor Adeboye, shebi he said he used to be a playboy...with many galfriends
But then i think there is a need to make the sinners know that you once used to be like them, and you were saved (if you were really saved )

I guess he also went ahead to give graphic details of how he slept with those girls and all the dirty intricacies involved.

DennisEche:
Seyi360 big ups to you for bring on this topic. Any time I hear a preacher boasting about his women excesses in the past , it sounds so awkward and not necessary.

Thanks bro

Same applies to Pastors and Evangelists who are ex herbalists, ex cultists, ex robbers etc who build a whole preaching carrier around their past horrible and sinful life.

One of them would even dress in his herbalist demonic attire on a crusade ground to pull crowd. Narrating his oddyssey in the dark world.
Sharing stories that does not glorify God or edify the saints.
Preachers need to draw the line between entertaining the church and edifying the church.

Preach the word!

Eulalia:
No now, not so. Hes only asking to get you clearly. No harm in that.

May be I should have interpreted my post to an indigenous language for him to understand

2 Corinthians 7:2
[2]Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

Rather than dwelling on his notorious past as a persecutor of Christians to impress ,the great Apostle Paul talked more about his regenerated new self and focused on the things before him.

In fact, in the scripture above, he denied his wayward past.

Eulalia:
Lol . What about him? Please answer my bros o.

Your Bros no dey reason matter wella, I tire for him stalking o

Preachers must stop glorifying sin

Kobojunkie:
is this really your response to the question I asked of your post ?

Sincerely, you have identity issues and you need help.

Kobojunkie:
So it is wrong for followers of Jesus Christ to admit they too had a sin-fillled past like every one else?

You again?

There should be a limit to what a preacher says about his past life especially while preaching.
When a preacher says
"back in the days, I slept around with my mother's mates"
"I used to be a serial fornicator and rapist"
"I was a murderer and a burglar " etc

Really? And you're proud of such acts? I think that clearly is the height of ecclesiastical insensitivity.

Such unguarded statements has the tendency of poking unhealed wounds in the hearts of some of your listeners , opening you up to temptations and easily making you a victim of extended hatred.

You're called to be a healer, not a killer.

amuwo1980:
Rubbish useless write up

Na so e pain you reach?

The dynamics of politics, the intrigues, suspense, backstabbings, permutations, postulations, tactical negotiations etc all came to bear in the ongoing internal squabble of the APC.
This week in particular is indeed dramatic as the political pendulum swung in the direction many keen political observers predicted as far back as 2015.
The major albatross bedeviling this contraption called Nigeria is the lack of trust amongst the 3 major ethnic groups.

Seasoned and experienced political voices with a good sense of Nigeria's political history though in the minority warned Senator Bola Tinubu about this strange alliance with the North he was leading with the intent of ousting PDP and Goodluck Jonathan.

Jagaban replied them in his speech at the inauguration of APC," if we sink in this alliance, so be it . But history will be fair to us that we rose to the occasion to salvage Nigeria from the grips of political and economic saboteurs"

He went ahead with the alliance in the hope of been appreciated and rewarded with the Presidency after Buhari's tenure. It was a risky game,but I can't blame him. No visionary leader could have watched the wantom impunity and executive recklessness of the PDP and stood aloof. The miasma of corruption around the Jonathan presidency was unbearable.

As if he saw the future, his prediction began to crystallize immediately the President was sworn in. About 80% of the names he forwarded for political appointments were replaced by the cabal who controlled the Presidency.

His only eye and voice in the Presidency, the vice president was rendered irrelevant and inconsequential in the scheme of things.
The ultimate agenda was to silence him, grind him to a powder like substance and blow him in to the air of political Oblivion at least at the Federal level.

It is an open secret that the political elites of the North are scared of Asiwaju's political brilliance and are envious of the influence he wields across-the-board.

They couldn't have been comfortable with him. They fear he might actualise the restructuring agenda that Nigerians have clamoured for to address the political inequality in the polity.

The President had become the proverbial falcon who no longer heeds the falconer.
As it stands today, the Asiwaju camp seem to be licking their wounds, but the game is far from over. He still commands an army of dedicated loyalists who may decide to play along or sink the ship.

All of these makes 2023 presidency all the more interesting because no one can say with certainty which zone will produce the President. Certain elements in the North wants power to remain there to compensate and complete Yaradua's tenure.

A wounded Tinubu has given a boost to the extension of Northern Presidency as the south can't boast of any other politician that matches Tinibu's clout.
With the possibility of PDP fielding Atiku for 2023, APC might as well choose a Fulani flag bearer.
The south may have to wait till 2027 to taste the Presidency again.
Peradventure the APC decides to relinquish power to the south come 2023, they will hand pick a southern puppet they can control. The Asiwaju I know is not a political puppet.

Where does this leave Tinubu? May be he isn't destined to be President, may be.

delkuf:
He is always out of point

Thought I was the only one who noticed.

Kobojunkie:
All created in letter Paul supposedly wrote.

What's your point?

Here are the 5 fold ministries
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers

Ephesians 4:11
[11]And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Of these 5, Prophets seem to accrue more followers than others especially when the Prophetic gift is accompanied by the Teaching gift.
I've attended prayer meetings where tens of people will run after a Prophet to consult, get his contact or give him an envelope the moment he drops the mic.
Whereas no one approaches a Pastor who just raises prayer points and teaches the word in the same meeting where ministers take turns to speak.
In a derogatory way, some Pastors say things like " there is no prophecy besides the word of God, the world is full of fake Prophets and prophecies, don't allow prophecies fool you"

While Prophets respond with " where there is no vision the people perish, pastors who can't see visions don't know their left from their right "

Though many may not like to admit it, but there is a silent rivalry between Pastors and Prophets over who carries more spiritual authority.

The truth is , the grace of the 5 offices are needed at some point in a Christian's work and walk through life.
Let the rivalry stop.

Babacele:
No doubt but all the Jewish prophets had to visit Egypt for one succor or the other and copied so many things from there....Moses, Jesus etc

What succor, what was copied?

Babacele:
long before the two, a pharaoh started the believe in God.

Egyptians were idol worshippers

Babacele:
claims by all religions to own God (the father the universe irrespective of sentiments.).

Monotheism is the belief that there is one God
Polytheism is the belief that there are gods

Thus, all religions don't profess a common belief.
But I know that Christianity and Islam believe in monotheism, they however differ on the medium to reach Him.

Romanoff:
You can say your truth without insults. I am assuming you're a spirit filled child of God, the spirit of God in you should let you know that you're not uniting the church.

Read your post paragraph by paragraph, what you mostly did was insult the Pentecostals. I maintain my stand that this is a jab at the Pentecostals further dividing the body of Christ.

Since you're an advocate of the truth always being bitter, I pray you'll be truthful or honest enough to see that your post is not uniting the body of Christ.

May God find us worthy and ready at his coming in Jesus name.

Pentecostals deserve the jab.

Babacele:
Then ,what is it with all the religious claims we make especially when we try ,so unsuccessfully though, to appropriate God?

What claims precisely?

helinues:
Oya, make una tear una self apart

Far from that, we are simply reasoning.

Romanoff:
You termed them as "penterascals". Isn't that derogatory to you?

If your attempt was to call for unity, it tilts more towards division.

You might want to check your post again, if you're a spirit filled child of God, you'll see the errors in many statements on your post and you'll put your message across in a less insulting manner.

The truth is always bitter. The first person to use the term "Penterascals" is the great but late Arcbishop Benson Idahosa who was the first president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. Neither you nor myself can claim to be more Pentecostal than him. He made giant strides in his attempt to unite the body of Christ not only in Nigeria but globally. This rascality has been with us for decades, the strange things some of us do in the name of pentecostalism is not just rascally but criminal.
Yet we walk around with a chip on our shoulders, castigating white garment and orthodox folks while some of us do worse things under designer jackets and shoes embellished with the best American accent. Kiss the truth.

Sodiquinone:
seriously

Seriously

Babacele:
Preach brother......if I may ask, what is God's religion?

God is not religious

Romanoff:
Sometime, the way we so called Christians divide the body of Christ cause of our sentiments to our beliefs and doctrines just amazes me.

Spirit filled Christians shouldn't be found doing this. At the end of the day, it is the same standard used for the Orthodox that will be used for the Pentecostal.

In all, we should take care of the body of Christ and not scatter it by pointing fingers and name calling.

Shalom

Not sure you read it well, what exactly is divisive about this? This is rather an eye opener for critics to drop their prejudiced disposition towards other denominations.

The Arrogance of Pentecostalism

Permit me to set the ball rolling with this daring statement " pentecostals are arrogant "

Before you get it twisted ,the writer is one himself. I've never been a member of any orthodox establishment, except for a few times we've had to pray together on prayer mountains.

Self righteous pentecostals gaze at white garment and Orthodox churches through the lens of disdain and resentment , while parading themselves as the custodian of the Holy Spirit.

The popular notion that all white garment churches are fake,fetish and hell bound is born out of the womb of religiosity, pomposity and self imposed doctrines.

Ask an average Pentecostal what he thinks of White garment folks, the response will only gravitate in the direction of condemnation.

They never believe that the Holy ghost recognizes them let alone dwell in their midst to work signs and wonders.

Unknown to the over rated Penterascals , diabolic and fetishistic practises has crept in and strongly holds sway underneath the designer tuxedoes, Italian shoes and polished American accent of their charismatic leaders.

They are quick to ask " where is it in the new testament?"
Where is what?
a. Wearing of white garment to church
b. Walking bare footed in the white garment
c. Use of candlesticks
d. Use of frankincense

Apparently, they haven't come across it in their new Testament or they saw it but were so blinded by their hatred and prejudicial disposition to them.

Little do they know that the appearance of a typical white garment member on his/her white garment with a girdle and barefooted, depicts John the Revelator's description of the glorified Christ in Revelation.

Revelation: 1. 13.
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15. And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

According to verse 13 , The glorified Christ was seen in the midst of seven golden candlesticks. So why do you condemn the use of candles ? Except its used wrongly

John even saw and described his feet because the glorified Jesus had no shoes on. Rev.1:15
So why look at them strangely when they walk barefooted?

Revelation: 8. 3.

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God out of the angel's hand.

The above scripture affirms the use of incense by Angelic beings. Apparently, our criticism is void of knowledge.

Promiscuity which seems to be the white garment churches' trademark has been equalled if not surpassed by pentehooligans with damaging reports of their lustfulness littering the social media space.

The writer is by no means attempting to rubber stamp all the activities and doctrines of white garment and orthodox churches . Some of them still struggle with their long list of doctrinal errors and diabolic practises as much as the Pentecostals do.

The self righteousness, over bloated self esteem and judgemental spirit exhibited by the pentihooligans is the log of wood that has blinded their eyes to their own errors.

Our idiosyncratic and eccentric dispositions shouldn't set us apart , but should rather make us appreciate the multi breasted and all encompassing creator whose open handedness can't be censored by our childish bias.

Many are even unaware that The Redeemed Christian Church Of God is a product of The Cherubim and Seraphim Church.

Are you a white garment church member? worship God wholeheartedly and study the word to know God for yourself . If you realize you are being led to take a walk, only then should you. Don't be bamboozled by the glitters and glamour of Pentecostals. You can make heaven if you do God's word where you are.

May his name be praised.

Demola Akinyeye