AkuOlisa: Majority of the Igbo accepted christianity through coercion and not an immediate inspiration of the Holy spirit.
Now before you (the Igbo/African Christian) begin to tear yourself apart on this, I would want us all to pay attention and take these lessons of our history. If you must understand why the Igbo practice Christianity as opposed to Odinani, you must do your best to trace back to when it all started and how it all started.
This is not an attack on Christianity as presently practiced by the Igbo – No. This is my own analogy on why a good number of Ndi Igbo refused to become Christians and have remained with the ways of their ancestors (Odinani).
The Igbo people met the Europeans face to face in the nineteenth century. That collision was to change the Igbo history (both culturally and religiously).
Although European slave traders had exported a great number of Igbo people from the Bight of Biafra to Europe, up until 1830, no European had penetrated the Igbo hinterlands. And so after the abolishment of slavery, Europe and America realized they needed other sources of economic interests in Africa; this drove them to venture into the Igbo interior. Between 1832 and 1854, expeditions up the Niger River were carried out, despite health risks.
The near-forceful introduction of Christianity to the Igbo cannot be separated from the quest of the British to annex the Igbo land; first as a business colony and then a political one. The traders made up their minds to control the trade along the Niger, which certain Igbo towns sat along.
The British traders signed a merger in 1879 which resulted in the formation of the Royal Niger Company – a company whose forces and influence were vital in the infiltration of Igbo land.
To defend their position against the French traders and other British newcomers who had taken positions on the Niger, the company decided to seek a Royal Charter. They also started to conclude treaties with the Igbo and other African people living on the different parts of the river.
According to these treaties/agreements, the Igbo communities accepted the sovereignty of the company, although it was clear that the Igbo signatories were not aware of the full implications of what they signed. Some of the treaties which gave the British trading companies control over the Igbo were reported to be deliberately forged. But knowing full well that these papers which gave away certain rights of the Igbo were forged, the British consul went ahead to sign them.
Increasing European demand for palm oil and expanding African demand for imported European goods encouraged the British to establish trading posts in Agbor/Aboh (in present-day Delta state), Onicha (Onitsha), and Lokoja in 1857. Satisfied with the booming trade, a couple of Igbo communities welcomed European traders and missionaries to come and live among them. But these friendly relations began to crumble during the depression of the palm oil business that followed in 1875.
The drop in palm oil price and rise in the price of European manufactured goods led to trade disputes between the Europeans and the Igbo. Igbo chiefs collected tolls, duties or tributes to maintain the peace along the Niger River and the surrounding mainland.
European traders paid these tolls initially, but when British gunboats began to patrol the river in the 1880s, the Europeans arrogantly refused to pay their tolls. They made excuses about the chiefs not been able to provide enough security; so that led to the chiefs relaxing security. There was then an increase of robbery cases on European trading posts and vessels.
The British first show of power was registered in October of 1879. Following a report of mistreatment of British citizens, as a result of trade disputes, the British war office authorized Captain Burr to bombard Onicha (Onitsha). Mind you, Onicha was a town of armless civilians. But they still went ahead to lay siege to a town of innocent Igbo people, just because a few British men were attacked (not killed) in a quarrel. After bombarding Onicha for two days, Captain Burr led his men into the town and destroyed every object they could find.
The warriors of Onicha fought back but were no match for the better-armed British, who were out to show force and also protect their interest. And in 1883, three British warships shelled Agbo (Aboh) and killed its citizens, on the grounds that some Agbo citizens had attacked a British citizen. Of course, who would be silent in the face of bullying, which was the attitude of the British traders/citizens in Igbo land? They saw themselves as lords over the Igbo (Africans).
Now because the British army had succeeded in scaring the trading towns into partial submission, the missionaries, in turn, demanded military security. Protecting the missionaries was more tactical than the traders. The Christian missionaries carried their gospel into the heart and hinterlands of Igbo land, provoking indignation among the inhabitants.
These missionaries were the first to venture deep into the Igbo villages, and their ignorant and biased opinions of the Igbo ways of worship were what set the tone for the British ambition to rule and to decimate Igbo religion.
In light of the foregoing, Chinua Achebe said: “… The Igbo had adopted a conciliatory stance in their early dealings with the missionaries because the Igbo religion was pacific and the Igbo themselves respected the religious views of other people. The Igbo usually listened patiently to the Christians and then expected the missionaries to pay equal attention to their own viewpoints. Some Igbo saw the missionaries as essentially harmless, and shrugged at the uncomprehending priests who fraternized with outcasts and gainlessly occupied themselves with preaching.”
It is recorded that most missionaries painted ghastly pictures of Igbo society, which they sent back to Europe and incited European governments and traders against the Igbo.
The British colonial agents had access to more villages while they protected the missionaries. They did these without thoughts on how the proud Igbo natives would feel. They treated the Igbo man like a spineless sheep. They never for once thought that the Igbo man would defend himself and his religion.
The missionaries were emboldened by fierce military presence, and so they intensified their dismantling of Igbo customs. They saw their course as just; they referred to their campaign as a fight against darkness.
Their misunderstanding of Igbo tradition was enough conviction for them to lay siege on a tradition which was over 5,000 years old – a tradition which had sustained the Igbo people. It took the Igbo a long while to realize that the missionaries were more dangerous than they appeared.
In Obosi, the chiefs accosted Bishop Crowther and protested the pulling down of their objects of worship and shrines by the Christians. The Christian converts were demanded to confess the wrongs done to the Igbo Gods, pay for the damage, and promise not to repeat those wrongs again.
In Illah and other villages to the South, the Igbo in defense of their religion, tradition, and lives, burnt down churches and drove the Christians away. At that juncture, the Igbo felt betrayed and started to fight back. They had to defend themselves against perceived aggression.
The Igbo decision to defend their age-long religion and tradition from the assaults led to more harsh measures from the British officers. The British army, under the Royal Niger Company, attacked various Igbo communities in the guise of protecting the missionaries.
Incited by missionary complaints that the people of Asaba still practiced human sacrifice, the company forces raided Asaba in 1888 and destroyed half of it. This type of attack was to be recorded in various communities in Igbo land.The British, who nursed dreams of annexing Igbo land (politically), used the missionaries to infiltrate the Igbo.
Their show of force made the Igbo accept their religion, and have their lives spared. If the missionaries had gone about their teachings and allowed a majority of the Igbo to accept Christianity on their own terms, then maybe we could attribute the Igbo conversion to the Biblical Holy spirit. But in this case, it was not.
In conclusion, it is my opinion and born of actual facts that Christianity was partially forced on the Igbo. No wonder there are still pockets of resistance to Christianity in Igbo land till date.
When my father was a boy, there were an almost equal population of Christians and traditionalists in our village. No one was forced. My grandpa was a traditionalists yet he was a civil servant. In you article, you couldn't quote to show one instance where Igbos were compelled to become Christians. Don't say what you don't know. The white men did not destroy any of our shrines. It was only recently that Igbo Christians began to destroy shrines.
AkuOlisa: Majority of the Igbo accepted christianity through coercion and not an immediate inspiration of the Holy spirit.
Now before you (the Igbo/African Christian) begin to tear yourself apart on this, I would want us all to pay attention and take these lessons of our history. If you must understand why the Igbo practice Christianity as opposed to Odinani, you must do your best to trace back to when it all started and how it all started.
This is not an attack on Christianity as presently practiced by the Igbo – No. This is my own analogy on why a good number of Ndi Igbo refused to become Christians and have remained with the ways of their ancestors (Odinani).
The Igbo people met the Europeans face to face in the nineteenth century. That collision was to change the Igbo history (both culturally and religiously).
Although European slave traders had exported a great number of Igbo people from the Bight of Biafra to Europe, up until 1830, no European had penetrated the Igbo hinterlands. And so after the abolishment of slavery, Europe and America realized they needed other sources of economic interests in Africa; this drove them to venture into the Igbo interior. Between 1832 and 1854, expeditions up the Niger River were carried out, despite health risks.
The near-forceful introduction of Christianity to the Igbo cannot be separated from the quest of the British to annex the Igbo land; first as a business colony and then a political one. The traders made up their minds to control the trade along the Niger, which certain Igbo towns sat along.
The British traders signed a merger in 1879 which resulted in the formation of the Royal Niger Company – a company whose forces and influence were vital in the infiltration of Igbo land.
To defend their position against the French traders and other British newcomers who had taken positions on the Niger, the company decided to seek a Royal Charter. They also started to conclude treaties with the Igbo and other African people living on the different parts of the river.
According to these treaties/agreements, the Igbo communities accepted the sovereignty of the company, although it was clear that the Igbo signatories were not aware of the full implications of what they signed. Some of the treaties which gave the British trading companies control over the Igbo were reported to be deliberately forged. But knowing full well that these papers which gave away certain rights of the Igbo were forged, the British consul went ahead to sign them.
Increasing European demand for palm oil and expanding African demand for imported European goods encouraged the British to establish trading posts in Agbor/Aboh (in present-day Delta state), Onicha (Onitsha), and Lokoja in 1857. Satisfied with the booming trade, a couple of Igbo communities welcomed European traders and missionaries to come and live among them. But these friendly relations began to crumble during the depression of the palm oil business that followed in 1875.
The drop in palm oil price and rise in the price of European manufactured goods led to trade disputes between the Europeans and the Igbo. Igbo chiefs collected tolls, duties or tributes to maintain the peace along the Niger River and the surrounding mainland.
European traders paid these tolls initially, but when British gunboats began to patrol the river in the 1880s, the Europeans arrogantly refused to pay their tolls. They made excuses about the chiefs not been able to provide enough security; so that led to the chiefs relaxing security. There was then an increase of robbery cases on European trading posts and vessels.
The British first show of power was registered in October of 1879. Following a report of mistreatment of British citizens, as a result of trade disputes, the British war office authorized Captain Burr to bombard Onicha (Onitsha). Mind you, Onicha was a town of armless civilians. But they still went ahead to lay siege to a town of innocent Igbo people, just because a few British men were attacked (not killed) in a quarrel. After bombarding Onicha for two days, Captain Burr led his men into the town and destroyed every object they could find.
The warriors of Onicha fought back but were no match for the better-armed British, who were out to show force and also protect their interest. And in 1883, three British warships shelled Agbo (Aboh) and killed its citizens, on the grounds that some Agbo citizens had attacked a British citizen. Of course, who would be silent in the face of bullying, which was the attitude of the British traders/citizens in Igbo land? They saw themselves as lords over the Igbo (Africans).
Now because the British army had succeeded in scaring the trading towns into partial submission, the missionaries, in turn, demanded military security. Protecting the missionaries was more tactical than the traders. The Christian missionaries carried their gospel into the heart and hinterlands of Igbo land, provoking indignation among the inhabitants.
These missionaries were the first to venture deep into the Igbo villages, and their ignorant and biased opinions of the Igbo ways of worship were what set the tone for the British ambition to rule and to decimate Igbo religion.
In light of the foregoing, Chinua Achebe said: “… The Igbo had adopted a conciliatory stance in their early dealings with the missionaries because the Igbo religion was pacific and the Igbo themselves respected the religious views of other people. The Igbo usually listened patiently to the Christians and then expected the missionaries to pay equal attention to their own viewpoints. Some Igbo saw the missionaries as essentially harmless, and shrugged at the uncomprehending priests who fraternized with outcasts and gainlessly occupied themselves with preaching.”
It is recorded that most missionaries painted ghastly pictures of Igbo society, which they sent back to Europe and incited European governments and traders against the Igbo.
The British colonial agents had access to more villages while they protected the missionaries. They did these without thoughts on how the proud Igbo natives would feel. They treated the Igbo man like a spineless sheep. They never for once thought that the Igbo man would defend himself and his religion.
The missionaries were emboldened by fierce military presence, and so they intensified their dismantling of Igbo customs. They saw their course as just; they referred to their campaign as a fight against darkness.
Their misunderstanding of Igbo tradition was enough conviction for them to lay siege on a tradition which was over 5,000 years old – a tradition which had sustained the Igbo people. It took the Igbo a long while to realize that the missionaries were more dangerous than they appeared.
In Obosi, the chiefs accosted Bishop Crowther and protested the pulling down of their objects of worship and shrines by the Christians. The Christian converts were demanded to confess the wrongs done to the Igbo Gods, pay for the damage, and promise not to repeat those wrongs again.
In Illah and other villages to the South, the Igbo in defense of their religion, tradition, and lives, burnt down churches and drove the Christians away. At that juncture, the Igbo felt betrayed and started to fight back. They had to defend themselves against perceived aggression.
The Igbo decision to defend their age-long religion and tradition from the assaults led to more harsh measures from the British officers. The British army, under the Royal Niger Company, attacked various Igbo communities in the guise of protecting the missionaries.
Incited by missionary complaints that the people of Asaba still practiced human sacrifice, the company forces raided Asaba in 1888 and destroyed half of it. This type of attack was to be recorded in various communities in Igbo land.The British, who nursed dreams of annexing Igbo land (politically), used the missionaries to infiltrate the Igbo.
Their show of force made the Igbo accept their religion, and have their lives spared. If the missionaries had gone about their teachings and allowed a majority of the Igbo to accept Christianity on their own terms, then maybe we could attribute the Igbo conversion to the Biblical Holy spirit. But in this case, it was not.
In conclusion, it is my opinion and born of actual facts that Christianity was partially forced on the Igbo. No wonder there are still pockets of resistance to Christianity in Igbo land till date.
The way you tribalist look for every opportunity to attack the Igbos amazes me. I am sure you have igbo nightmares
Obinoscopy: Disclaimer: I don't support Tinubu's Presidential Bid.
I have noticed the numerous attacks on Tinubu. While some are valid, there are many that are just false and biased.
First is his health. They say his "hand dey shake" and that he pees his pants. They say he can't walk unless he is being held by the hand. But that's not true. I've seen numerous recent videos of him walking by himself and his hands were steady. Nobody, and I repeat, nobody is 100% healthy. So I think its wrong for anyone to brand him unhealthy. He appears healthy to me. Is he healthy enough to be able to juggle the stress of Nigerian presidency, I don't know (maybe he isn't) . But going by the Nigerian constitution, he's fit.
Second is his academic qualifications. I've heard him talk and he seems very academically sound. Even though his primary and secondary schooling appears to be an unsolved mystery, the fact remains that he is academically sound. Also his postgraduate degree seem to be verifiable. Attacking Tinubu's primary school is like attacking a Professor's primary school. So, let's all drop this primary school attacks. He is an almamater of a prestigious university and he is academically sound.
Which leads me to the attacks on the things he said in public. I think Tinubu is a deep thinker and speaks almost in parables/proverbs. So sometimes, it would seem what he is saying is unintelligible. But the reverse is the case. When he was talking about Corn and Agbado, he was simply referring to Agricultural Self Sustainability. When he talked about tongues from the Bible, he was referring to the Babylonian Tower where God made everyone speak in different tongues which is now responsible for human cultural/language diversity (Genesis 11:1 - 9).
So let's cut this man some slack on irrelevant things and attack him on issue based concerns. We should attack him on his policies, on his financial dealings, on his gubernatorial achievements/failures, etc
When you start a sentence we I don't support Tinubu then you go on to support his foolish Agbado speech, we know where you stand. Be brave enough to support your man. No one is beating you.
Ayodeoba: I have been curious about what will happen to igbos if peter obi eventually loose this election. With the look of things,Igbos have already seen this obi candidacy as an opportunity for the Igbos to rule,they have been violently campaigning for obi,my fear is what will happen should obi loose. Part of the reason Igbos re doing everything to make sure obi wins is,they want to get nnamdi kanu released from jail through the back door.
Why are liars and tribalists like you always going about being mischevious? You need a doctor. This fascination with the Igbo tribe is turning out to be a mental illness.
Aderewah: You said people are more taxed in places that have more igr. That’s warped logic. People are not more taxed. Those places just have more taxable companies and individuals. A place with 500k companies will raise more tax than a place with 30k companies. More companies, more employees. More igr.
To increase the IGR, you increase tax, even a baby knows this. The government does not perform any special magic to increase IGR. We have seen it all over the world. Newyork and California have some of the highest taxes in the US. On the other hand, Texas has less tax and less revenue. Higher IGR means the government has more money to do more. Lower IGr means individuals and businesses have more money to do more. Both have their tradeoffs. It's not a measure of development in any way.
Aderewah: It means people are taxed more or there are lore people to tax? How many jobs are in delta? Who you wan tax? Is that not why most youths resort to yahoo or deve tax?
First youths are involved in Yahoo all over the country and I am not sure I get your point. Can you please explain yourself better?
Aderewah: We are not asking for beer parkour talks. We know states with better secondary schools and universities. We know states with highest igr. We know states with highest numbers of companies and jobs. We know states with highest number of GRAs, hospitals, and many more indices of development. We know Warri and Asaba are behind places like kaduna and Kano not to talk of Ibadan, Abeokuta, osun and even ondo states
Come, what do you mean by better secondary schools? How many SW states do better than Delta and Bayelsa in exams? You are the one in the beer parlor, drunk by 11 am. IGR means very little. It only shows that you tax your people more to increase revenue. Also, the oil companies do not pay taxes in Delta and Bayelsa.
Tinubu Spoke during the event of Bishop Kukah's Birthday.
The APC Presidential candidate who attended the event with his Vice Presidenrial candidate said Nigerians appear to be in confusion about Nigeria but Nigerians must be ready to serve as the national Anthem is a pledge to be ready to serve
In his words, and quoting from the old National Anthem of Nigeria.
"Though tongues and tribes may differ, but in brotherhood we stand"
He continued "it is a pledge that Nigeria, I am ready to serve"
"It is about service to this country"
"We inherited speaking in tongues from the Bible, but our diversity is a promise for Prosperity"
"our diversity is a promise for Prosperity." This statement means nothing.
walefresh3: Your fore fathers were also artitial landlord in 1963 but ran back to their barren indigenous state in 1967....
When the time comes u too go run go back to your unproductive region... Anufia... Dream on
No problem, we would always come back for our property. I know you have been dreaming of stealing Igbo property in Lagos. Our slice of Lagos keeps growing every day. Our population keeps increasing. Don't worry keep dreaming about kicking us out of our property while we continue to buy Lagos. Just so you know, we have started encroaching into Ogun state. Very soon we would be buying your dead father's grave. Somehow, you guys don't know how to reject our money, yet you keep telling us to leave Lagos. Money talks my Agbero friend. No be gragra. Make money and own property
walefresh3: The foundation was build by Tinubu... Lagos is not enugu....
Continuety development , 8s what 8s developing Lagos....
But your mumu Obidient sense go blaim Tinubu for every bad news in Lagos , but refused to acknowledged his efforts in Lagos development... Hypocricy dey your nyamiri head
See Dem tinubu boys for lagos
The foundation was built by the Portuguese and later the British. There has been continuity in Lagos's development even before your grandfather was born. Was it Tinubu that built the airport or seaports or the mainland bridges or other major infrastructure? Before Tinubu, Lagos was already the headquarters of every commercial bank, Multinational company, and National investment. Unless you were born yesterday you wouldn't know this. So I ask what did Tinubu add to Lagos in 8 years. He did absolutely nothing. He added no major project to Lagos in 8 years, and built no major road. He did nothing. Yes, Lagos is not Enugu neither is it Osun or Oyo. What is your point?
johnmartus: Behave I might old enough to be your father.
You are a disgrace to your kid. They should be ashamed of you. You teach your kids hate and tribalism. You are weak and wicked. To you, an Igbo president is terrible for Nigeria but you are satisfied with the kind of leaders we have. You don't have a problem with the system but your problem is with the Igbos. May your children grow up to be better than you. they don't deserve a father like you.
johnmartus: This people have been crying all this while on marginalized .igbo don't have any interest in Nigeria but they just want power by all means.
We have seen the Yoruba agenda, we have seen the Hausa/Fulani agenda. None of them worked. Maybe Nigeria would be saved by the Igbo Agenda. Lets try something new.
Templee333: MOVING ON-2010 I decided to put more effort in the ministry & made progress in my spiritual life. I studied JW publications & grew in love with kingdom melodies. I burnt & discarded all worldly songs.I had only kingdom melodies in my memory card.My study habit improved. I was a very promising child in the cong.I made many return visits & bible studies. I felt my relationship with Jhvh grew stronger.I made return visits everyday after school. I didnt wait for a partner,I moved around alone. My family members couldn't measure up with me anymore. They were trying to make me slow down but i never listened to them. In school I was well knwn as a JW who couldn't compromise his beliefs for whatever reason...
I do not know your present beliefs or religion but I believe you were being led by God. Your experience with the JW was not by chance. Your hunger and thirst for righteousness could not be satisfied by what they had to offer. But I know you learned many good principles that guided your life. But unlike the rest, you sought the whole truth. You read, pondered, and prayed. I believe you left only when the organization had no more good to offer you. This is my word to all Christians, JW, and all, do not settle, the search for God and godliness is a lifetime pursuit. Be ready to learn and unlearn. have the humility to admit you are wrong or you are in the wrong place. Retain the good within your organization but never settle for the wrong and confusing. Don't stop asking questions and don't stop demanding the truth. I believe most JW are good people but their organization like many others has so many faults and incorrect teachings. Once again thanks for your story and try not to mind the insults. As much as you can, ignore them. They see it as their religious duty to bring you down. Like the Savior said, 'They know not what they are doing."
walefresh3: Go back to your unproductive region and enjoy your mediocrity infrastructures built by your pathological furking lieing Personified.. OSU naa badstard
But we now own Lagos sir. It's our sixth state. And even Tinubu from Osun is welcome. As the new owners of Lagos, we wouldn't be sending anyone back to Osun or Oyo. We welcome you all. You all tend to forget that just like me, Tinubu is originally not from Lagos. And just Like him, I am now a Landlord in Lagos.
Janosky: Galatians 2:11-14 & Acts 10:34, between Paul and Peter , which of them disobeyed/disagree with the doctrine of Galatians 2:11-14 & Acts 10:34? Oga Tctrills, you profess Christian. I have 2 questions to ask you: When you disagree with 1 Corinthians 5:1-2,9-13, have you disobeyed God ?
When you a Christian disagree with 1 Corinthians 5:1-2,9-13, have you disobeyed 1 John 5:3? & Disobeyed God?
Janosky: Janosky NEVER said so. I have to ask you some questions so you get the picture.
Is 1 Corinthians 7:39 in your Bible? Was the mother of Timothy married to Jehovah's servant?
Is 1 Corinthians 7:10-13 evidence that there are Jehovah's servants married to unbelievers?
When a JW flouts 1 Corinthians 7:39 ,Gen 24:2-3, Deuteronomy 7:3-4 & 2 Corinthians 6:14 to yoke with unbelievers in marriage, (or was married before he became a JW),should he/she divorce the spouse?
I don't understand your point, you stated earlier that JW could marry non-JW that was what I said. Also, check 1 corinthians 7.39 it has nothing to do with the mother of Timothy. 1 Corinthians 7:39
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
Thinkam: Please we're talking Nigeria standard, America and Nigeria can't be compared on any level. How many major towns or cities have amenities in Nigeria?
Oga my point is that we do not define cities by how beautiful the buildings are. Cities are mostly a matter of population. A city can have very bad buildings while a village could have beautiful houses.
Thinkam: What's your definition, pray tell Does that place look rural?
What is your definition of rural? Yes, the houses are beautiful, but it's what Americans would call the suburbs. It's outside the major settlements and lacks many of the amenities you would find in big towns or cities.
Thinkam: When person for Lagos, Abuja, Kano say he's going to his village, this is the kind of place 60% are referring to..
Easterners should learn learn how to better sell their origin, this enuugu agidi doesn't qualify as a village, this very place beats numerous private Estates in lagos and Abuja ...
This is actually a village The definition of a village has nothing to do with the quality of the buildings there.
Softmirror: AND MAINTAINED EVER SINCE, WHILE ADDING MORE AND MORE MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURES.
. Please give us details, how many of those structures were built by Tinubu's government? Again, if you go to any single state in Nigeria, you would see so many structures that were constructed after 2000. If you visited Ado -Ekiti before the year 2000 you would not recognize it anymore. Same with Asaba, Uyo, Abuja, and basically every state in the country. people are building new structures every day. Rather than praise Tinubu for the structures in Lagos, tell us what he achieved as Governor in Lagos.
Jones4190: A local champion built his party ACN from the scratch, won 6 states, had 6 governors from 2 regions, 19 Senators including Ngige from the SE, and 50 HOR members, the Minority leader seat of the NASS, 136 House of Assembly members. Tell us anyone else who did it like him.
Tinubu did not build ACN. He was only part of its founders. ACN was made up of most of AD. Please stop posting lies.
nencounter10: The Bible proves clearly that a child of God is God.
Let's see the relevant scriptures.
John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
The above scripture stated clearly that anyone fathered by God is equal to God.The Jews rightly held this notion. Neither Jesus nor the Bible disprove this notion.
We know for certain that a child of God is fathered by God.(See John 1:12-13, James 1:18.)
John 10:30 I and my Father are one. 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
In this scripture the Bible is saying any man who says God is his father is saying that he is God. This is the notion held by the Jews. Jesus, in latter verses confirmed that this notion is correct. The Bible also did not disprove this notion.
Since a child of God is born of God ( See John 1:13, James 1:18), he has a right to call God his father. Therefore, he has a right to say he is God.
So, this is an incontrovertible fact: a child of God is God because he was fathered by God.
The Jewish leaders would not believe that Jesus was God because he was a man. They wouldn't believe that God fathered him. So, they went about plotting his death and did not stop until they killed him. Similarly, some groups of persons in this generation would not believe that children of God are Gods because they are men. These people are no different from the Jewish leaders who killed Jesus. They are going about "attacking" children of God who say they are Gods. They are like thier fathers- the Jewish leaders. Were they to be alive during Jesus' days, they would have been at the fore front of killing Jesus.
The child of a Lion is a lion. The child of an eagle is an eagle. The child of a human is human. The children of God are Gods.
Bro, we have answered that question already. Janosky said that because he was embarrassed about how it looked when we pointed it out. Understand the psyche of a JW. If they have to deny their rules to make themselves look good, they will. Let me narrate a story I read from a forum. An ExJW noticed two JWs standing with their cart in a busy place. This person said to people walking close to the JWs, "Do you know these people don't take Blood Transfusion? They actually allow their families to die because of this." The people walking looked at the JWs and one of them said, "That's not true. We take Blood Transfusion."
Are you getting me now? Watchtower frowns against marrying Non JWs and there are consequences. I mentioned them earlier. This is why you will see JWs do what we call Convert and Marry. That is, a non JW must convert to a JW before they marry.
I have to believe him. Does he have a reason to lie?
Politics › Re: Peter Obi Will Defeat Tinubu In Lagos And Emerge President by tctrills: 9:31pm On Sep 01, 2022
