Christian, know your God!

I think that Nigerians (and Africans) are deeply religious and serve God because of the things He does for us and not because of His ways. I believe that if this was not so, our attitudes ( corruption, lack of integrity, honesty, civility and cleanliness) would be reduced. Thus, I read with indifference then sadness the recent "fall of a man of God". This is not first neither would it be the last that would happen. Stories like this are to be expected because the Bible warns that "in the last days, there would be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money....they would act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly [another version of the Bible says "having a form of godliness but lacking the power thereof]. Stay away from people like that. They are the kind who work their way into people's homes and the win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires (such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth)- 2nd Timothy 3:1-7.

Therefore, the onus is on Christians to know Who they believe and Why they believe. Our Christian race is PERSONAL and we are to "fear God and keep His commandments"(Ecclesiastes 12:11). Yet we are not to ignore the fellowship of the brethren for reasons I would mention later. We should know who we believe so that:

• We do not lose our faith over issues like this and offences perpetrated by the Church. The Bible again cautions us to "beware so that we are not carried away by the errors  of the lawless and lose our own secure footing" (2nd Peter 3:17)

• We do not fall prey to the foolishness happening in the name of God. The Bible warns us "not to be carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Ephesians 4:14).We see invitations to programmes like "automatic blessing, automatic answer", "Satan let me drive that car"or become oppression-conscious that every bad occurrence is the handiwork of people that do not want us to succeed. We are lazy Christians who unlike our Berean brethren do not "test everything we are told and hold on to what is good"( 1st Thessalonians 5:21)

• We know God for his ways- that makes us better people and the salt of the earth- rather his awesome acts. If we know his ways, He would perfect us and  there would be no need to judge others or point out the speck in their eyes because the light in us would reveal their flaws to them  draw them to Christ

• We do not give God's glory to men by worshipping them. To some people, their pastors can do no wrong and I wonder if their salvation is of God or of their pastor's. Pastors are humans who are to be honoured and prayed for because of the spiritual covering they provide for the church but are not meant to be worshipped. We are doing ourselves and men of God a disservice by hero- worship because God would not share His glory with any man. 

• to"motivate one another to acts of love and good works... and encourage one another especially now that the day of his return is drawing near"(Hebrews 10:25)

• because "from him the whole body (the church in all its various parts) joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love as each part (the individual) does its work.

As I mentioned earlier, as Christians we are to fellowship with other brethren that is, attend church

Fear God and keep His commands for this is the whole duty of man

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