LENTEN SERIES

WHAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEATH OF CHRISTIANITY?| Wednesday 3rd Week of Lent |Day 19

Posted on by Fr. Simon Onyekachi Madu, OSJ
Today it is easier to grow a church congregation by watering the Gospel and making it less demanding. It is easier to attract followers by teaching the ‘sweet’ side of the gospel message than teaching righteousness or the Cross. Churches that emphasises holiness and Christian discipline would have few followers than ‘prosperity churches’. On this 19th day of our Lenten observance the Lord calls us to examine our contribution to the crucifixion of the body of Christ. Do you know that the problem of gullibility among the God’s people is not an ‘ailment’ prone to members alone but a problem of the entire flock-ministers and members alike? If you are in doubt, read slowly… 

Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.’

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

1. The gospel passage you just read is addressed to the disciples of Jesus, of which you are one. It calls each and every one of us, especially the one who teaches (or ministers) to exhort others with the one and indivisible Word, not relaxing or adding to it, otherwise we be considered least. The problem altering God’s word for selfish purposes did not start today. It has a long history among God’s people for this reason Moses admonishes the Israelites thus:

‘… take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.’- Deut 4, 9.

Therefore God’s word should never be used as a tool of deception for promoting perversions and ideologies (like LGBTQ-rights, feminism, misogyny, mammonism, etc) but for enlightenment of the ignorant. On the contrary, the opposite is the case today and it is said: many preachers have become false and perverse, not a good one is left. But I ask, is it only preachers that are guilty of this? The answer is No. Members are as well!

2. In fact the bible tells us in 2 Timothy 4:3 that the time will come when people will grow dull of hearing sound doctrines (teachings):
For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires
This explains the phenomenon today: many things we see preachers or ministers do are actually the insatiable desires of their members on set. Like ‘actors’, many ministers act the script of their directors (members) who keeps them gainfully employed with their fat tithes and offerings. 
TASK: This message is a wakeup call to you to evaluate your contribution to the death of christianity: How am I crucifying Jesus the second time today? God bless you. Amen.

Fr. Simon Onyekachi Madu, OSJ

Is a Catholic Priest of the Oblates of St. Joseph. He developed this medium to promote prayer life, spiritual growth, and meditation on the Word of God. He is a relationship and marriage counsellor, a deliverance minister, a mentor for career development, and a Canon Lawyer. You can call him for prayers, deliverance sessions, counselling or mentorship. Follow and pray with him daily across all social media platforms and Subscribe to his YouTube Channel with the links provided on this web. God bless you.

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