Antagonism Among Christendom

INCONSEQUENTIAL ANTAGONISM AMONG CHRISTENDOM


Brethren, please don’t get my personality and my attitude twisted because my personality is me whilst my attitude depends on you. Honestly I can’t make people value me or begin to chant eulogy for my person; rather, all I can do is show them my real colour or whom I am, what I feel, and what I believe. I’m saying this so that those who watch me with their eyes heavy with belligerence would understand fully that my interest has never been a personal cause, but universal.

My last chat with a colleague of mine in my humble abode yielded something to reckon with. The associate in question shared with me a “revelation” given to him by the Pastor of a certain Pentecostal church where he worships. The Pastor told him that one of his uncles who happened to be a Reverend in another Pentecostal church buried a whole cow alive in their family compound. The Pastor went further to inform the poor man that the “evil act” committed by his Reverend uncle was behind his family’s unending predicament. Revelation indeed! From my diplomatic enquiry, I understood that the church where my friend’s uncle, the Reverend, ministers was situated very close to that of the Pastor who gave the so-called revelation. Isn’t it rivalry; or what do you think?

The colleague sought for my advice and brotherly direction. I told him that if truly he has a faith, then he ought to stick strongly to his faith. I further informed him that if he really believes in God who I knew both of us worship, thus he was not meant to exercise any fear or panic over anything. In other words, I sincerely let him understand that, prayers and faith conquer everything, or remain the key to any success room. He comprehended every bit of my candid advice because he’s a wise man, and I was very glad he did. If not that he absorbed the directions I gave to him, such dirty scenario constituted by his “Pastor” would had resulted to massacre or genocide if I’m not mistaken. Let’s ride on!

The above narrated scene was not unlike what took place few years ago in Nigeria, between the General Overseers of two different international denominations that happen to be Nigeria’s indigenous religious institutions. One of them (name withheld) told the other that he knew where he got his spiritual power before he established his own church. And, the accused clergy man retaliated by saying that, God knows that his power was from Him (God), therefore he had nothing to say about the accusation. The antagonism lingered to a very long time till both of them came back to their individual senses. Yes I would say, initially the said rivals were insane because I can’t imagine seeing someone in his/her actual sense washing his dirty lily in the public. Such act is not just absurd but barbaric.

In the same vein; few days ago I happened to come across a very shocking news on the social media, Facebook to be precise. The Nigeria’s controversial Preacher and former Presidential candidate, Pastor Chris Okotie reportedly told his congregation on last two Sundays, December 1 precisely, that, all Catholics in the world would go to hell because they worship Satan and are led by an Anti-Christ Pope who is a friend to the devil. According to the reporter (NewsinNigeria) which is one of the Facebook pages that are peculiar to me, the message by the “Cleric” left his members bewildered.

If only we would understand that, Christianity is all about acknowledging the fact that Christ came to the world and willingly died for our sake at a very young age of thirty three (33), then all these inconsequential antagonism wouldn’t had come up. Needless to say; I still find it very difficult to believe that we have the real definition of Christianity in our respective dictionaries. Or, would I say that I’m still sceptical that each of us truly have a copy of the Holy Bible in our households.

The last time I checked, the world’s population in its entirety was occupied with greater percentage of Christians. Therefore, the Christian community otherwise known as Christendom is expected to live a life worthy of emulation and of no questionable characters because other religious bodies are watching her. The Christendom is seen or regarded as a mirror by all and sundry, thus it has no hidden place. Her members are meant to coexist and as well live as one like members of one indefatigable family irrespective of denomination.

Brethren, we shouldn’t thrive in expectation of eulogy. We must at all times endeavour to show our real colours and live to practise what we actually believe in. The choice is ours and we’re bound to make it judiciously and consciously. Let’s do what exactly is expected of us instead of just being pious. Think about it.

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FDN NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com