VBCampaign's Posts
Nairaland Forum › VBCampaign's Profile › VBCampaign's Posts
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 (of 29 pages)
 Christianity Etc › Re: I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 3:34pm On Aug 03, 2023 |
I Met a Traditionalist (Part 2): What I Said to Him By: Deji Yesufu The first part of this article narrated my encounter with the traditionalist. I explained what led him to renounce Christianity and I shared a few of the questions he asked me. In this piece, I want to narrate what I told this man and then I will venture to provide answers to his questions. No one who hears this man’s story will blame him for the conclusion he reached as far as the Christian religion is concerned. God says “My name is blasphemed among the gentiles” because of the actions of his people (Romans 2:24). The 16th century Reformation was sparked over the contentious issue of money. The Pope was building St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and needed money badly. He then began to send out his emissaries all around Europe, promising that if people gave to the church, God would suddenly release the souls of their loved ones from purgatory into paradise. Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, challenged this thesis from scripture and the result was a reformation and the creation of the Protestant churches. When men face difficulties, they find a way to think through the philosophical bases on which their lives stand. Mr. T reached his conclusions based on the available data in his hands. After hearing his story, I began to show Mr T that his situation was not unique. In fact, I am in ministry for this very reason. I then told him the story of the birth of Providence Reformed Baptist Church, Ibadan. Our church was founded on the principle that church can be done differently. In a recent dialogue with members of the church, I explained to them that while the church is a Reformed Baptist assembly, only the people who will enter the ministerial cadre will be required to subscribe to the confessions of the church: The London Confessions of 1689. Those who will become members will be required only two things: first that they are born-again individuals and second that they hold the Bible as the sole authority over their life and faith. I then added that in my ministerial experience, money was the last thing needed in the church. I showed him that since Providence Church has been meeting in 2019, we have not collected a Tithe or an offering. Yet we have an bank account that has never turned red, we support church members financially and we have enough to pay for our meeting space. We have people who give but we do it biblically: with utmost secrecy, such that the right-hand does not know what the left is doing. The implication is that our finances are low, but it also means that we can trust God more and wait on God in faith to meet our needs – just like any other organization within the Nigerian system. When money issues have been removed from church leadership, the people you find left there will be genuine. Afterwards, I endeavoured to provide Mr. T with answers to his questions. To be sincere, I cannot argue against the Old Earth theory. I’ll rather put this in God’s hands, with the belief that what I cannot explain today, we can know tomorrow, or in eternity. The biblical position is one of a young earth. From Adam to Moses is approximately 2,000 years old. Moses to Jesus is another 2,000 years. Jesus to us today is 2,000 years old. Making the age of the earth approximately 6,000 years. I cannot explain how artefacts are found to be tens of thousands of years old. I cannot explain the presence of dinosaurs. I have a dogmatic commitment to holding scripture as true and I am convinced that what cannot be explained today, will be sorted tomorrow. As to the position that Christianity was a white man’s religion, I have sufficient data to dispute this. Probably the best course I read in seminary was Church History, which traced how Christianity came to us in Africa. The Christian Faith started in Jerusalem, following the death and resurrection of Christ. After Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD70, Christians dispersed all over the Roman world – with key Christian leaders, like Paul and Peter, going to live in Rome. But Christianity was mostly in the Eastern nations and in North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia). The rise of Islam in the 8th century began to eat at the Christian presence in the East so most Christian thinkers began to emerge from Western Europe. It took military might for many countries in Europe to ward off the encroaching influence of Islam on European countries in the medieval period. And with the fall of Constantinople in Turkey to Islam, the only other Christian power left was Rome. The Roman Catholic Church ruled most of Europe until the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The protestants took their evangelism zeal from Britain and America first to the Indian nations in the early 19th century, before heading to Africa later that century. Thus, it is safe to say that two kinds of white men came to Africa: the colonisers and the evangelists. And because of so few human resources, these two groups often relied on each other for the success of their missions. The colonisers used the preachers to reach the natives. The preachers used the colonisers for protection. Regardless of motive, we received the gospel and today we rejoice. So, Christianity’s primary centers moved from the middle east to Europe and now to Africa. What will make a grown man renounce Christianity and then lead his wife and children out of religion into traditional practice is not a small matter at all. I trust God that in my third instalment on this subject, I can lay out a philosophical defense for the truth of the gospel, while at the same time defending it against the fraud that much of religion has become in our day. My aim in the first part is to show our sins to the churches and to call those with ears to hear to repentance. This second part aims at answering Mr. T’s questions. The last instalment will be a worthy summary of it all. I will also request that good-hearted Christians should pray for Mr. T and his family, that God will open them to the truth of the gospel. Amen Source: https://textandpublishing.com/i-met-a-traditionalist-part-2-what-i-said-to-him/ 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 6:48pm On Aug 02, 2023 |
| Christianity Etc › Re: I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 5:14pm On Aug 02, 2023 |
Kobojunkie:  |
| Christianity Etc › Re: I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 3:35pm On Aug 02, 2023 |
CC: Seun, Lalasticlala |
| Christianity Etc › Re: I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 3:35pm On Aug 02, 2023 |
Acehart:Very true 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 12:41pm On Aug 02, 2023 |
Image123:He still believe in God |
| Christianity Etc › Re: I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 11:14am On Aug 02, 2023 |
IconicR:Ok |
| Christianity Etc › I Met A Traditionalist: What He Told Me By Deji Yesufu (Series) by VBCampaign(op): 10:28am On Aug 02, 2023*. Modified: 3:34pm On Aug 03, 2023 |
I Met a Traditionalist: What He Told Me By: Deji Yesufu Those who follow my writing on social media will remember that in the past few weeks, I have been complaining about this matter of power supply in the area where I live. Well, I finally found a way around it. Someone suggested a very affordable solar system for me, where I could even pay in instalments to defray the cost of the whole installation. The man who came to install the system in my house just yesterday was a traditionalist and I want to use the first of a three-part essay to tell you what transpired between him and me. I met a traditionalist, and this is what he said to me. While installing the system in my house, Mr T (I will recognize him anonymously) asked if I was a pastor. I told him I was; how did he know? He said he just knew – that my mien showed it. He then said that he was not a Christian; he was a traditionalist. He used the time to install the system to tell me his story. Mr Tee is a 51-year-old man who lives in a humble abode here in Ibadan. He has been installing the solar system for two months now because he would rather find himself doing something than sitting at home. He is a graduate of Engineering and has lived in the city of Portharcourt for many years working for an oil company. It was his experience living in Portharcourt that led him away from Christianity. I told him that I had only recently visited Portharcourt and when I mentioned the place I lived in, Rumoadara, he said he knew the place well – even mentioning neighbourhoods that were close to that place. Life in Portharcourt was good until he joined a Pentecostal church there. We’ll call this church PFFG. While in PFFG, Mr T became an ordained pastor and rose through the ranks to become a senior Pastor. He was a pastor in this church for 18 years. He told me that he spent practically everything he earned in his days working in Portharcourt building the PFFG – that he single-handedly built two churches for them. He looks back now and is thankful that he had the sense of judgment to have bought a house for himself while there. And that even this happened by chance. He had gone for an overseas training that was to last for six months and he suddenly discovered that if he could take advantage of a facility a church was offering in that country, he would be able to save money and bring home for a large project. He said that his senses began to open after he travelled out. That church offered a living facility for people with low income. So, rather than spend money on rent and feeding, he saved all that money and returned to Nigeria to buy a house – the only property he took out of his labours working in Portharcourt. Mr T, the traditionalist, explained that after he returned from his training overseas, two incidents occurred that jolted his faith. The first one concerns a young lady in the church who found herself in a financial mess. This lady had procured a generator set for the church – although she took money off her company’s finances to pay for the facility. She planned to pay the money back bit by bit. Unfortunately for her, there was a sudden arrival of an auditor, who demanded to see the books of the company. At this point, the lady had paid back most of the money but there was remaining a N600,000 to balance the books. The auditors asked for the money, and she told them she would get it for them in a day. She rushed to the church and explained to her leaders her peculiar situation, and requested to be loaned the money so she could pay her company back and not lose her job. Her leaders refused. When Mr Tee learnt of the situation, he gathered a few friends, and they gave the lady the money. The lady never got over that incident. She left the church, although she remains a friend of Mr T to date. The second incident had to do with a mission outreach Mr T and a few friends were involved in. This initiative was something outside the purview of PFFG and it required that they travel to a village in the deepest interior of Niger State. He explained that the village was so backward, some of the people wore no clothing. After the outreach, a medical doctor and his family volunteered to remain in that village to cater to the health challenges of the people, and at the same time share the gospel with them. Mr T returned to Portharcourt and reported this initiative to his leaders at PFFG, Portharcourt. He also told them that to put things in motion at that mission, they needed six million naira to sort out that missionary and other things. He said his leaders showed no enthusiasm for the project. He then went to different branches of the church explaining this need to them. No one responded. Everyone said they had one church project or the other they were pursuing and could not add this to their financial burden. Then this happened. Mr Tee was discussing this challenge at the office and one of his bosses heard about it. Now this man was not a Christian. He had some deep moral flaws that I dare not even mention here as this essay could reach his table. It was this man who kicked started the mission work by donating a sum of three million naira. Mr Tee said he also put a million naira into the project, while others in the mission group raised the remaining and the work in that interior village in Niger State was kickstarted. Mr T explained that many such experiences led him to the conclusion that churches were only stealing from their members. It was about this time he began to examine the religion of his father. Mr T’s father was a traditionalist. But he had practiced this faith along with his attendance at the local Anglican Church. His four children, of which T was the last born, were raised in a Christian environment. T explained that as they grew older, three of the four of them became ostracized from their dad. He explained that somehow their association with the new Pentecostal phenomenon had made them believe that the little challenges they were facing in life could be traced to their father. He said that it was only one of them that stood with that man till his death and that that is the only one of the siblings that is doing well now. The rest of them have either lost their jobs or facing one life issue or the other. He said he is thankful that ten years to the end of his father’s life, he realized his mistake and retraced his steps. That it was during that period, he learnt the traditional religion that his dad practiced. Then he confronted my Christian faith – because I told him his experience with PFFG should not be enough for him to renounce Christianity. He then asked me a few questions. He asked how old the earth was. I explained that I was a young earth believer and that the earth could not be more than 6,000 years old. He said I was wrong because even in Yoruba land there are artefacts that are up to 30,000 years old. He explained that Christianity was a white man’s religion imposed upon us by those who came to colonize us, etc. In the second part of this essay, I will tell you how I responded to Mr T’s enquiry. But for now, I think it is safe to examine the merits of this man’s story. I have long argued that the Pentecostal religion was producing a mass of atheists among Nigerians. My thinking then was that these people abounded among the youths who had been in these churches and had turned their backs on them. I am now realizing that even older people have their experiences too. People invest their livelihoods in churches and when they lose their jobs or retire, these churches turn their backs on them. The story is everywhere. My response to Mr T was that church could be done differently. I hope those who are in the leadership of these churches read this essay and learn something from it. I also hope that all these young people investing their lives in churches will take a cue from this. When you are old and should be earning a pension, these churches will not be there to help you. I will stop here for now. Watch out for the second part. Source: https://textandpublishing.com/i-met-a-traditionalist-what-he-told-me/ 1 Like
|
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Heart Of The Christian Faith By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 5:33pm On Jul 15, 2023 |
Gbadebo19:Yes |
| Christianity Etc › The Heart Of The Christian Faith By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 3:14pm On Jul 15, 2023 |
The Heart of the Christian Faith by: Deji Yesufu Many years ago, I visited the Mass Communication Department of my alma mater, Ahmadu Bello University, and someone shared a basic idea behind newspaper publications. It is this: grab the attention of your readers. Publishers do this through headlines, pictures and most importantly, writing your report so that the first paragraph grabs the attention of your readers. This is why a good blog either begins with a captivating headline or an interesting thought. This is why, although I will be writing about an essential gospel theme, I want to introduce it with a rather gripping story. Some people might be uncomfortable with this narration; I’ll however request you bear with me as it is very important I state it this way so as to prosecute my theme well. Skit-making is the newest venture Nigerians have entered into now. While most of these skits are not helpful, I found one that is a little different. This gentleman is called upon to solve a problem. He comes in with a camera and mic, and after a little discussion, he resolves deep-rooted family issues. Thankfully most of the problems are sorted. This particular one, though, was not resolved. A 33-year-old lady had invited this man to resolve a problem in her home. This woman is in an incestuous relationship with her father. She’s his only child. They have been sleeping together since she was 14, a few years after her mother died. Now, the man wants to get married to another woman, so he can have a child to keep his name. The lady will have none of it. As far as she is concerned, her father is both her lover and husband and cannot marry someone else. Incidentally, I am presently reading Leviticus in my personal Bible reading and the words that God gave Israel not to behave like the nations – with their despicable sexual perversions come to mind (Leviticus 18). Perhaps I should worsen the narrative by saying that the father, in this story, is a committed Deacon of a church. As I said, this particular problem remained unresolved by the time the skit ended. This story and others like it, remind the Christian minister of the awesome responsibility of gospel preaching. When we speak about the problem with Nigeria, we forget quickly that at its root is a moral bankruptcy that cannot be compared even with the Leftist madness of the West. Ours is a situation where religious profession combines with the most obscene sinful practices. It is the reason why, while many people in the West can be open and honest about who they are, we dare not. The depth of the sins we practice here is unimaginable. And the story is the same for those within the church as well as those outside of it. How can this matter be resolved? Gospel preaching. This Sunday, 16th July, 2023, at Providence Reformed Baptist Church, Ibadan, we will be doing a review of all that we have been teaching since December last year. In the final weeks of December 2022, I started a series of topics on the foundations of the Christian faith. Using the book that comes by the same name and written by Roger Weil, I have been trying to help my listeners appreciate the heart of the Christian Faith. We began by examining Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus in John 3, where I taught on the topic “YOU MUST BE BORN-AGAIN” for five weeks. I had those sermons recorded but lost them when I purchased a new phone. This is why all my sermons are now stored on Audiomack. So that after examining the foundation of the Christian Faith for seven months, I have come to the healthy conclusion that there are essentially two things that must happen to an individual if they will be useful Christians on earth and redeemed souls in heaven. These two are: 1. God must save a sinner by his sovereign grace. 2. That the Bible must govern the life of the redeemed. Every other thing we do in church; any other battle we fight as Christians; any association we enter as saints; etc, must have these two themes at its heart. The doctrine of God saving sinners sovereignly makes our church distinctively reformed. It is the only way to explain the words of Jesus to Nicodemus: “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7). Our Lord is saying that there is no religion, except God himself takes the initiative of starting it. The man who is born of the Spirit comes to spiritual life via the supernatural and sovereign work of God. It must all start with God. This is the reason why any genuine work of God must be premised on what God is doing and not the works of men, which undoubtedly will be an operation in the flesh. I’m always glad that God gave our local church the name “PROVIDENCE”. Nothing describes the sovereign works of God better. After the man is born from above, the rule of that man’s life must now become scripture – the Bible. Now, this is where all the problems begin because men will forever bring different interpretations to biblical texts – leading inevitably to different denominations. I think that denominational positions are not necessarily harmful, as long as the denomination remains biblical. The problem arises when a denomination claims to be obeying the Bible but in actual fact not doing so. Men of good conscience must rise up at that time and oppose such actions. It is the reason why reformed people hold the position that reformation never ceases. We continue to hold all our actions and beliefs in the light of scripture. No man is Lord of Christ’s church. Jesus rules the church by his word. And these words of God in the Bible rule both the church and the people in the church. The whole process of bringing men to faith in Christ, and teaching them God’s word to grow spiritually, is what Christian living is all about. Conversion and a commitment to a sufficient scripture are the heart of the Christian Faith. I do sincerely hope that we use the story of the incestuous relationship I narrated above to understand the gospel need of our day. While Nigeria faces economic challenges, there is a deeper need that we have. It is moral bankruptcy that has enveloped our youths, families, and institutions. Genuine gospel preaching will birth repentance in the heart of the sinner and cause conversion to occur. After which one hopes that the church such people join turns out to be gospel churches at heart. Providence Reformed Baptist Church, Ibadan, is labouring to be that kind of church and we will love to have you in our membership. Source: https://textandpublishing.com/the-heart-of-the-christian-faith/ 1 Like 1 Share
|
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Christ Embassy Healing School by VBCampaign: 10:29pm On Jun 18, 2023 |
This thread... 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Health › Postrate Cancer: What A Doctor Told Me by VBCampaign(op): 10:51am On May 25, 2023 |
https://www.nairaland.com/7700304/not-feel-loved-wife-enough I have decided to share this story both in response to the thread above (where a wife is denying her husband sex) and to educate both husband and wife on the health implications of sex in marriage. I will use my story as an example. I hope the moderators of Nairaland.com will put the thread front page for people to learn from. A few months ago, I suddenly found a growth at the edge of my anus. When I visited the doctor, I was made to understand I had pile. That modifying my diet and exercise can fix it (I also employed some local remedies). I did this and in two weeks, the pile was gone. But the doctor did something else: she felt that at my age she may need to physically check my prostrate. When she did, she thought they were enlarged. She then referred me to the Urologist and also to do a pelvic scan. The result from the scan showed that my prostrate was OK. My PSA was also OK. But I still needed to see the Urologist. The implication of an enlarged prostrate is that it could either be benign or cancerous. The Urologist saw me and said his examination showed I was OK. I was however to see him again in a year. But he said something to me that warranted this thread. He said that his summation on modern marriages is that many women are killing their husbands slowly. He said that while this happened in the days of our fathers, they easily solved it by marrying multiple women. Today, however, religion is constraining a lot of men and limiting them to one wife. The implication is this: a high libido man lives with a low libido woman. When men have sex, the Urologist said, their PSA reduce considerably. When they don't, it builds up and can result in an enlarged prostrate and then cancer. That if women will keep their men alive, they must have sex with them atleast twice a week. Anything short of this is sure death. He gave me examples. A young man of 37 reports in with high PSA. He calls the wife and recommends the sex therapy. His PSA drops drastically in 3 months. Another case: a man of 70+ complains of being denied sex by the wife. The man develops enlarged prostrate and is dead between 5 years of making the initial complaint. Etc. The natural solution many proffer is promiscuity. That's not I am suggesting. I am simply telling the wife: if you have the means to care for your children when your husband dies, deny him sex. If not, do the needful. End of discussion. 1 Like |
| Education › Carry-overs: Dealing With A Student’s Nightmare By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 8:10pm On May 23, 2023 |
Carry-Overs: Dealing with a Student’s Nightmare By: Deji Yesufu I saw an article on social media a few days ago. A young man in one of Nigeria’s universities is in depression. He is weighed down by multiple carry-overs and is at a loss as to how to handle the situation. The incident was being reported by his elder brother, who was calling on the public to save his brother. There is no one in a Nigerian university system who doesn’t know what a carry-over is and the psychological way it drains a normal human being. But if you happen not to have schooled in Nigeria, this is what the carry-over is all about. A normal degree in a Nigerian university will require between 4 and 5 years to complete. Each year has two semesters. And in each semester, you will be required to do an average of 10 courses. In the lower levels, you do more courses and at the higher classes, the courses reduce so you can face your project and conclude them. The carry-over is actually a fail on a compulsory or elective course, which you are required to pass before graduating. The trouble is not in the failing, especially when you consider that anyone can fail. The trouble is that the more carry-overs you have, the more courses you are left to do in school. And in some cases, there are prerequisites. To do certain courses in 200 level, for example, you have to pass some courses in 100 level. A student may even end up being forced to repeat a class because he failed so many core courses, he finds himself unable to sit in the same class with his mates in subsequent years. It is one reason why carry-overs lead many students to sometimes commit suicide. Few things are more depressing than a carry-over in school. In this essay, I want to suggest some practical ways to dealing with this grave evil. I will be writing from experience, having battled carry-overs myself in my student days. The first step at avoiding failure and being ladenned with some debilitating carry-overs is to enter the university with a business mind-set. Too many times young people enter school with a carefree attitude, basking in the euphoria of being on campus; enjoying newfound freedoms and forgetting too quickly what they came to the university to do. Before you know it, the course work days are over; exams are at your feet; and students are at a loss as to how to respond to the situation. University life is a microcosm of what life will be for an individual after school. If you are unable to deal with school issues, you will leave school and life will remain a mystery to you. University is serious business. A wise student hits the ground running. You must attend all your classes. Ensure your notes are up to date. And you must read EVERYDAY: I cannot emphasise this enough. What will save you from reading a mass of texts as exam draws near is having grasped a working knowledge of what your course is all about long before your exams begin. When exam arrive, all that will be left will be to study past questions, discuss with your mates and stroll into the exam hall and nail the course. I remembered that in my first year in school, all the guys that had either attended polytechnics or remedial schools had a better grasp of handling school than those of us coming straight from secondary school. Now, if you are in school already and you are weighed down by carry-overs, do not worry – there is nothing that cannot be solved. There are options: you could either shelve all your new courses and face the carry-overs square, or you can leave that course of study and do something else. You may require to see a school counsellor, talk honestly with your parent or somebody who knows these things well. There is no point sometimes flogging a dead horse. Carry-overs may be a pointer to the fact that you were not designed to do the course. These days young people enter school very early. If you drop out and start a course afresh at 22, by 26/27 you can be a degree holder. Many people have started afresh and gone on to do very well in life. At this juncture, I want to enumerate a few things that will help you to fail in school. If you love failure, by all means when you enter school, find one or all of these things and indulge in them. Young person, if you want carry-overs plenty, by all means when you get to the campus, find a young man or woman (as the case might be) and begin a love affair. This is what such relationships do to your thinking: they occupy your mind and the time you should be thinking through a course of study, you will be worrying over a guy or a girl. You will fail. Some will argue they did it and passed. You were lucky and would have done better if you had a clearer mind. Shelve relationships till later. Or, do not seek a man or woman in school. If you are destined to find a partner in school, it will come naturally and it will add to you; not subtract. When you do well in school, you will get a good job and then can have whatever relationship you want. Beware of revelling, carousing and binge partying. It will destroy your stay in school. Separate from friends who do it and find those who will help you study. Revelling are activities that will kill your time and leave you drained, unable to study. The flip side of drunkenness is indulging in campus fellowship. Some even become pastors while in school – you will have carry-over plenty. For a Christian student, the two times you should gather with others is on Sunday and at a mid-week fellowship. Each of these activities should also be heavily timed. Any gathering that will exceed 2 hours is not good for your studies. Avoid tasks in fellowship that will impede on your studies. Leave pastoral duties to ordained pastors who have finished school. This nonsense of students gathering and praying for hours by the school Chapel is a sure way to carry-overs. Pray in your room and then head to class! I believe this last point need no mention but for those who may need to hear it, I will touch on it: avoid cult membership on campus – it will not only save you from failure, it could save your very life. Young men could grow to be tremendously strong and handsome, and one of the ways some seek to vent off some energy is to join these cult gangs. To control the young man’s energy and ego, people invented something called sports. Sports range from the ones that are extremely energetic like football and basketball to the ones that are purely intellectual like chess and scrabble. Find one of these sports and burn your energies there. Avoid cult membership like a plague. If you are in one, you may need to leave school, report yourself to your parent and have them change your school entirely. If they have the resources, you can leave the country and school abroad – it is that serious. The carry-over is not the end of the world. I had them plenty and I overcame all of them. In my first year, I failed Maths 107 – Calculus. It was a prerequisite to all my maths courses in subsequent years for four years in a row. That course was what led me to stop over reading. It was the only exam I did on campus where I read overnight and went to the exam hall without sleeping – and still failed. The following year, I attacked the course with a vengeance and scored an A. I never failed any maths course again and never read into an exam hall again. I stop reading the previous night and go to the exam hall trusting God and never my reading. This may not work for you but after a while of trying, you come to know what works best for you – them keep doing it. One day, while we were in four hundred level, our class representative told us that most people failed a course and that the lecturer was offering the whole class to rewrite the paper. The brilliant students among us will have none of it. I wasn’t sure of what to do with the information. Then one of us stood and told the class: he said that we have all just returned from our 300 level industrial training. Our experience out in the real world was not based on how well we were doing in school but merely on God’s mercies. He appealed that we should all rewrite the course for the sake of those who failed. I’m not sure if his advise was taken. We didn’t rewrite the course. I escaped with an E. But I never forgot that incident. In real life, we are not distinguish by As or carry-overs, it is God’s mrecies that distinguishes us. The student weighed down with carry-overs today can become a Soyinka, Dangote or Peter Obi tomorrow. Carry-overs are not the end of life; they are only a bitter taste of what life can be in Nigerian universities. Your battle and victory over carry-overs can become the impetus for your success in the real world. And you can surmount that carry-over. (The attached picture is a lecture hall with my classmates and I at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, sometimes in 1999/2000. We might have been attending a Maths class) Source: https://textandpublishing.com/carry-overs-dealing-with-a-students-nightmare/ 1 Like
|
| Christianity Etc › Re: Joshua Selman Is A False Teacher By Shotola And Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 7:37pm On May 18, 2023 |
OkCornel:Those who have ears to hear, will hear. Those who don't will keep asking these kinds of questions. I've been here long enough to know those who are true seekers and those who are here to waste one's time. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Joshua Selman Is A False Teacher By Shotola And Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 7:01pm On May 18, 2023 |
OkCornel:When you find yourself in a bad marriage, you'll appreciate that these words are indeed divine 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Joshua Selman Is A False Teacher By Shotola And Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 4:18pm On May 18, 2023 |
CC: Seun, Mynd44, Lalasticlala |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Joshua Selman Is A False Teacher By Shotola And Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 4:16pm On May 18, 2023 |
Kobojunkie:The words of Satan are in scripture is a pointer to the fact that we live in a world full of demons and Deception. But the Holy Bible are the very words of God bc the Bible, as a collective, do not present the words of Satan but the words of God, especially such as point us to salvation to come. When Selman teaches that the Bible is not the word of God, and adds that Paul's words are not necessarily the words of God, Selman is contending against God himself who says Paul's words are Scripture: 2 Peter 3:15-16. 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Joshua Selman Is A False Teacher By Shotola And Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 3:17pm On May 18, 2023 |
GodHimself:Really?! 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Discuss the above scripture in the light of your submission |
| Christianity Etc › Joshua Selman Is A False Teacher By Shotola And Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 2:36pm On May 18, 2023 |
JOSHUA SELMAN IS A FALSE TEACHER By: Biodun Shotola and Deji Yesufu “A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that the truth of God is attacked and yet remained silent.” – John Calvin We acknowledge, along with the rest of the Christian community, that God operates in mysterious ways and may employ even the most unqualified individuals to tend to his flock. However, we reject the notion that a man who consistently assails the inspired scripture and preaches messages contrary to the holy scriptures can be deemed “a man sent from God.” Joshua Selman, a self-proclaimed apostle from Nigeria, has been lauded by certain “Christians” for his purported feat of shutting down the largest indoor arena in the UK. These “Christians” consider Selman’s achievement in the UK as a sign of a 21st-century revival. Yet, as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we stand in opposition to this man, his false doctrines, and his so-called revival. We choose to distance ourselves from the fallacious belief that a man, merely by invoking God’s name or amassing a considerable following, is divinely ordained to spearhead a revival. It would have been preferable, or at the very least prudent, if his works had not been attributed to our Lord. We shall persistently and resolutely employ all the resources that our God has provided us to denounce this imposter. While we empathize with our critics, who are easily swayed by their emotions, we derive no satisfaction from being labeled “holier than thou” or “assistant to Jesus.” Our critics may hurl insults and utter whatever they wish, but it is our duty to expose false teachers. We shall refrain from laboring to expound in detail on the erroneous teachings of this man. Such an undertaking would be superfluous and an article cannot document all the false messages of Joshua Selman. Perhaps we may briefly touch upon a few of them. This is not an act of cowardice or an attempt to misconstrue the man’s sermons. Many sincere Christians have already highlighted the egregiousness of this man’s teachings. However, instead of adopting the Berean attitude of scrutinizing Selman’s message, his followers and sympathizers have resorted to name-calling. In one of his messages, Selman attempted to explain the involvement of Joseph of Arimathea in the burial of Jesus Christ, stating, “The name of Jesus is so weighty that it requires financial resources to exalt it before the world.” However, this teaching by Selman deviates from scriptural truth, the teachings of the apostolic fathers, and the spiritual leaders of our faith. Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus or any of the Old Testament prophets suggest that financial resources are necessary to elevate the name of Jesus. In another video, Selman boldly declared to his audience that not every verse in the Bible is the word of God. He went on to say, “There are many things Paul said in the Bible that are inconsistent with the character of God.” This statement directly undermines the divine inspiration of the word of God and amounts to an attack on its authenticity. In yet another video, Joshua Selman tells the story of how he obtained his apostolic credentials. He talks about meeting Apostle Paul and conversing with him. Yet again, he meets with no other than Jesus Christ, who imparts apostolic authority and prophetic mantles on him. In the video, titled “MY ENCOUNTER WITH APOSTLE PAUL AND THE LORD JESUS”, Selman recounts other encounters with both biblical figures and historical Christian figures – who are long dead. It is the stock in trade of false teachers to employ vision of encounters with divine beings, like angels, to legitimize their claims to the apostolic. When you remember that the foremost modus operandi of false teachers is to resort to dreams and revelation, rather than depend on the simplicity of teaching scripture, you understand that Selman is yet another false Apostle – a false teacher that the Bible command we beware of. Charles Spurgeon, in a sermon delivered on March 18th, 1885, regarding the Bible, eloquently proclaimed, “Thou book of immense authority, thou art a proclamation from the Emperor of Heaven; far be it from me to employ my reason to contradict thee. Reason! Your role is to stand and discern the meaning of this volume, not to dictate what this book ought to convey. Come, my reason, my intellect, sit down and listen, for these words are the very words of God.” Certain critics, driven more by their emotions than by scripture, adamantly assert that the gathering of such a multitude can only be a work of God. They contend that it is inconceivable for someone who is not a true apostle of God to attract thousands to their meetings. We remind our critics of the inspired words of Peter: 2 Peter 2:2 – And MANY will follow their destructive ways because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (Emphasis added) In a rather derisive manner, our critics have asked us, “What have you done to preach Christ’s gospel?” While we could respond to our critics with a detailed account of our endeavors, our sense of piety restrains us from succumbing to the sin of pride. Instead, we implore our critics to focus on the matter at hand and refrain from constructing straw man arguments. Is the message that Selman preaches aligned with the teachings of Christ? If Christ were to descend today, would he commend Selman’s efforts or rebuke him? How else should we describe a man who fails to proclaim the excellences of Christ? It is far from acceptable for us to remain silent when our Savior is diminished and a man is exalted. We shall not permit an impostor to usurp the honor that belongs to our God. A newly converted Christian, who has embraced the true Gospel and recently placed their faith in Christ Jesus, would find it utterly preposterous to be instructed that they must journey to Abeokuta and Lagos in order to succeed in life – as Joshua Selman once suggested in a sermon. The new Christian understands the redemption offered by Christ from the consequences of sin. They acknowledge that they possess no inherent goodness and will never be capable of fulfilling God’s righteousness through their own efforts. They find solace in the good news that the sins of sinners can be transferred to Jesus Christ, while the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the sinner. Scripture contains numerous admonitions regarding false teachers. None of these impostors would brazenly declare to a congregation, “I am false and an enemy of Christ.” Instead, they present themselves in sheep’s clothing. They may employ the language of the chosen, yet they are deceivers. They may invoke the name of Christ and perform miracles in His name, but they are enemies of God. We implore our readers, who may perceive our fervor as unrestrained, to reflect upon the words of Jesus Christ: Matthew 24:24 – For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Deji Yesufu is a missionary pastor to Providence Reformed Baptist Church, within University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Biodun Shotola, the lead writer of this piece, is a graduate of Archaeology, University of Ibadan, and a member of Providence Church. Source: https://textandpublishing.com/joshua-selman-is-a-false-teacher/
|
| Travel › Portharcourt: Visiting The Garden City By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 10:54am On May 11, 2023 |
Portharcourt: Visiting the Garden City 1 Like
|
| Business › Re: How Much Are POS Operators Now Charging For Withdrawals In Your Area? by VBCampaign: 5:39pm On Apr 12, 2023 |
N400 on 10k, Bodija, Oyo State 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Righteousness Can Exalt Nigeria By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 4:35pm On Apr 08, 2023 |
Kobojunkie:If you're not an Israelite, then by your submission, you're heading to an eternity without God. Thus I'll need to know whether or not you're an Israelite. On the other hand, my submission presents eternal hope to all men. That's my point. 2 Likes |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Righteousness Can Exalt Nigeria By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 1:47pm On Apr 08, 2023 |
Kobojunkie:Are you an Israelite? |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Righteousness Can Exalt Nigeria By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 8:52am On Apr 06, 2023 |
Kobojunkie:It doesn't make any sense at all. When you refer to the Bible, you must see it in an holistic manner and never in a narrow way as dictated by a few scripture conveying your preferred interpretation. God's primary concern with humanity is redemption. The story of the Bible is the outplaying of redemptive history. Redemption began with the fall of man and God's efforts to restore Adam and Eve in their fallen state, which included a promise of the seed of the woman destroying the serpent. God began his redemptive works with Israel but never was it to be limited to Israel alone. It was meant to reach all nations. In the death of Christ and resurrection, redemption came to all men. So that a Nigerian can access redemption as much as a Jew. Now, the political climate of a nation will dictate whether that country will know peace bc it is only a state of peace that gospel preaching can reach men. Christians pursue a stable Nigeria so that the gospel can preached, and so that redemption may reach God's people, the new Israel. 2 Likes |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Righteousness Can Exalt Nigeria By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 1:16am On Apr 06, 2023 |
Kobojunkie:Kindly explain... we are at the religion section |
| Christianity Etc › Righteousness Can Exalt Nigeria By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign(op): 9:08pm On Apr 05, 2023 |
𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗠𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗘𝗫𝗔𝗟𝗧 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔: 𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 A cursory study of the Bible will reveal two things: democracy are recent developments in the manner countries are governed. Second, it will reveal that while governance is not the primary concern of God in his dealings with his people, our God is intimately involved in the way and manner nations are governed. In fact the biblical pronouncement is that God installs and dethrones kings (Daniel 4:32). Those who understand how providence work, know that God is actively involved in the process in which leaders come to the thrones of countries. If God does not permit it, no one can become king or president. A second consideration this article wants to look at is an examination of how democratic norms became the more accepted form of government around the world today. Prior to now, most countries operated a monarchy: a system of government where one man ruled. It was never tenured and he ruled all his life, only passing on the reins of government to his offspring at death. It doesn’t matter what kind of person he was, people will have to live their lives under him. The blessing of time, the workings of God through modernity, brought forth democracy as an alternative system of government. Fact is that democracy is not a divine establishment; there is no where written in a holy book that countries must be ruled via democratic ethos. Having stated these two points, may I now present to us an argument on how righteousness will exalt Nigeria, even as I use the recent elections in our country as a case study. A few things have happened since the last voting processes were completed. Cases are in court; the internet is rife with debates; the Igbo/Yoruba relationship has been tested; etc. What has, however inspired this essay, is the song Falz the Bahd Guy released yesterday, which is titled “Mr. Yakubu”. In the song, Falz and Vector are rapping lines filled with innuendos directed at the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, alleging rigging of the just concluded elections. Falz is not new to politicking in Nigeria’s national life. He almost single handedly plunged Nigeria into chaos with the ENDSARS protests – which he and a few others started. The latest song is a testimony to the shoddy manner an election is carried out despite so much resources expended on it. The question then is: how does this concern righteousness and the exalting of a country? Righteousness is a reflection of God’s holiness on a society. Righteousness will birth justice, truth, equity, love, etc, in a society. It doesn’t matter who governs a society or what systems of government exist, righteousness will allow for the right thing to be done. Now, human beings are naturally wicked, selfish, self centered, dubious, etc. It is Christians and the Church that shows the world what right is and how righteousness can exist in a society. Christians often form the ideologies that allow for good governance to thrive; Christians influence public opinion until those opinion become mainstay and can influence how a country must be governed. Now, let us examine how Bola Tinubu, the president elect, reached this stage. Tinubu effected an alliance that wrested power from the PDP in 2015. He sat back and watched President Muhammadu Buhari complete his terms of office. After this, Tinubu declares it is his turn to govern the country. He made this statement on the eve of the primaries of the APC. At the venue of the primaries, there were allegations of large sums of money disbursed to party delegates. Tinubu was overwhelmingly voted for and he emerged the APC presidential flag bearer. After this, money politics began in earnest. The cooperation of Northern governors was obtained, some allege bought, and Tinubu emerged president elect. Can Nigeria say with certainty that Tinubu became president on the path of righteousness? On the other hand, Tinubu’s opponents are contesting his emergence at the courts and they have all shown willingness to allow the judiciary dictate the direction the country should go. Yet the judiciary is a part of society and Falz’ song on the INEC Chairman would have reached their ears. Perhaps influencing what decisions they will take in the days to come . My point is simple: there is no divine pronouncement anywhere that Bola Tinubu must be president of Nigeria. The whole process of contesting the election results at the courts is still part of the electioneering processes. Whoever emerges victorious is God’s will for Nigeria. Yet, everything happening in between is God’s ordained will to bring about his good purpose for our country. Therefore, the Christian Church can not assume a non-chalant attitude towards government. Churches must add their voice to the call for the right things to be done in society. It is as we do this that righteousness will exalt a nation. But where all kinds of brigandage is permitted in the name of elections, sin becomes a reproach to a people. Many people that God will use to uphold right in society may not be professing Christians, but Christians must be able to recognise righteousness in their course and support such worthy courses. I think the song Falz sang was so on point and I think it is a creative way of reminding Nigerians of what the right is and that we should never lose sight of it. All righteousness: right, justice, truth, peace, etc, will exalt a nation. As long as we continue with the same old ways elections are run in this country, such sins will not cease to be a reproach to the country. 𝘽𝙮: 𝘿𝙚𝙟𝙞 𝙔𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙪 https://textandpublishing.com/how-righteousness-might-exalt-nigeria-a-case-study-on-recent-elections/
|
| Jobs/Vacancies › Re: Have You Worked In The Same Place With A Married Couple? by VBCampaign: 9:40pm On Mar 30, 2023 |
doggedfighter:This is not Mr. Bamgbose and yes it is free advert 1 Like |
| Jobs/Vacancies › Re: Have You Worked In The Same Place With A Married Couple? by VBCampaign: 1:59pm On Mar 29, 2023 |
ecolime:No. I worked for the Bamgboses years back |
| Jobs/Vacancies › Re: Have You Worked In The Same Place With A Married Couple? by VBCampaign: 11:35am On Mar 29, 2023 |
I worked with The Bamgboses, owners of Educational Advancement Center (EAC), Ibadan, between 2008 and 2010. Husband and wife bosses of the school. Theres was not heaven on earth, but they had a synergy that made the organization work. The man was visionary. The woman was an executor. They used the same office. It is something I doubt my wife and I can do bc it is quite rare to have couples work so well together. Looking back now, I must commend the Bamgboses for a job well done and it is not a surprise that EAC is still a leading A level center in Nigeria today. 91 Likes 3 Shares |
| Politics › Is Lagos A “no Man’s Land”? by VBCampaign(op): 7:04pm On Mar 22, 2023 |
Is Lagos a “No Man’s Land”? By: Deji Yesufu This question is probably the most debated theme in Nigeria’s political space at the moment. It is a question that was precipitated by the recent elections in Lagos State. In the presidential elections, former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lost to Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the state by a little over 10,000 votes; though Tinubu won the overall elections – polling massive numbers from northern Nigeria. Three weeks later, incumbent Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu won re-election to office, beating his rival Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party by over 400,000 votes. The question as to who owns Lagos or whether Lagos should be declared a no man’s land arise from the realisation that many people of Eastern Nigeria have taken over Lagos and are able to now dictate the political direction of the state. Peter Obi is Ibo and won Lagos; and a few people allege that Gbadebo is actually half Ibo, with his mother and wife being Ibo, therefore these two enjoyed the support of Ibos in Lagos. But is Lagos State really a no man’s land? The answer, to be honest, is not easy to reach and I’ll explain why. First, Lagos State is in South West Nigeria and South West Nigeria is Yoruba. Those who pitch their argument on the geography of Lagos are therefore right to conclude that Lagos State is not a no man’s land. Lagos belongs to the people’s group called the Yorubas within whose land mass Lagos is situated. Dr. Abass Abdus-Salam of UCH, Ibadan, in a private conversation, told me that the when states were created in Nigeria, ethnicity formed some of the primary considerations in dividing up the lands. The aim was to put as many ethnic groups as possible in a geographical space, to minimise friction among them. That the primary reason for creating Lagos as a state must therefore put into consideration the fact that Lagos was in Yoruba land, albeit a state that enjoyed federal presence because it was the capital of Nigeria. On this argument alone, Lagos is not a no man’s land. Lagos State belongs to the Yoruba ethnic stock in Nigeria. A second argument will tilt the discussion towards a different conclusion: Lagos was the federal capital of Nigeria and it enjoyed a cosmopolitan status. Even long before Lagos was made capital of Nigeria, the city was a port town that received visitors to Nigeria via the sea. In fact the original dwellers in Lagos, and those who lay claim to having laid the cosmopolitan nature of the city of Lagos, were visitors to Nigeria from Senegal, Serena Leone, Liberia, Ghana and other West African countries. These people had been exposed to western education and they came to Lagos as business men. Their children, individuals with names like Thomas, Campbell, MacCauley, Rhodes, etc, will become the earliest aristocrats in Lagos and quickly filled the void that the British left behind in the civil service and in the political spheres. Along with this group will also include the original dwellers of Lagos, the ones that should be rightfully called the true owners of the land. This will include the Aworis and the Eguns. But this group of people will be in the minority in Lagos State today, which leads us back to the question of who then are the owners of the Lagos land space. Because if the original settlers are themselves minorities, it means that every other person in lagos are visitors and this is how I want to answer the question of whether Lagos is a no man’s land or not. Lagos, at some point in our national life, became cosmopolitan. Its nearness to the sea meant that visitors to Nigeria reached Lagos first and most stayed there. It also meant that Lagos was open to business opportunities that no other parts of Nigeria knew. This is besides the fact of presence of the Federal might in Lagos, with that city enjoying the first bastion of investment that oil rich Nigeria had in the 1970s. Today’s Lagos is therefore the combined effort of many factors and no people’s group can lay sole claim to Lagos. Lagos is what Nigeria should be: a no man’s land – a land that’s the result of the investment of all Nigerians – an all Nigerian land. Most people in Lagos today are visitors to that city. The Yorubas only enjoy the advantage of proximity. Having said that I think that the idea of Lagos being inherently Yoruba should not be denied the people of South West Nigeria. Just a city in South East Nigeria cannot be said to be no man’s land. In the long run, we should understand that mutual respect is the foundation for peaceful and prosperous coexistence. It is a reality that Lagos can enjoy and our Yoruba and Ibo brothers can teach the rest of Nigeria how to do it. Source: https://textandpublishing.com/is-lagos-a-no-mans-land/ 1 Like
|
