This was a comment made by a " Christian " to a sister in my local church whilst she went on evangelism .
This guy is a committed member of a church .
Probably wears shirts with scriptural inscriptions .
Maybe "speaks in tongues " too...!if you know what I mean .
Have many heard and believed the gospel ?
We have an illusion around Nigeria as been a "praying church .."
But what's the praying about ?
Assuming today ,our economy changes ,poverty is less then 1% and unemployment as well,security top notch and health care system ,world class .
Would we still be a " praying church "?
In going out for evangelism ,one would encounter very mind numbing comments ,from folks who join the " growing movement " via mass meetings and somewhat " tele guided" confession as " altar calls ", yet these folks probably never heard nor believed the gospel ..
They join churches with diverse reasons ,including the " just want my prayer answered "mindset
If we took a poll on why many " become Christians " or attend church ,you would likely have diverse reasons ,multiplicity of motives .
Interesting .
Our reasons must be SINGULAR ,if truly we heard the same gospel and believed and follow the same Lord.
I believe ,teach about and see miracles ,but it mustn't ever be substituted for the gospel else am automatically a false teacher or preacher or worst still believer
We must go back to the basics
What is the gospel ?
Who is a believer ?
What must he believe ?
Why did Jesus die ?
What is faith in Christ ?
Even folks we send out to " evangelize " many times know no better than their audience .
They hurriedly share ,and quickly extract a confession or worse still a show of interest in our menu from the audience
Elevation from recession
Calming marital turbulence ..
Manifesting our glory ..
Next level
Enjoying your goshen.
A spouse or I die
Etc
This leads to goats and sheep together in a place ..
Intriguing is the fact that ALL would receive miracles and give testimonies .
As salvation isn't the reason for miracles ,far from it .
The four gospels had most miracles happen to non believers and the book of acts too .
Same as Israel as they left Egypt ,mostly were hard hearted yet saw Gods power for 40 years .
Same God,same story .
Yet faith in Christ isn't any of these ..
For those always on the edge when wrong doctrine is being discerned ,they are simply unwise ,not knowing its eternal effects .
We so like to hoodwink ,
Some fellow in an attempt to endorse a false teacher ,claimed to have seen the same person in a vision ( familiar with this strategy ?),and was " healed " by him praying for him and he allegedly asked "the lord" why the fellow healed him
"the lord " was to have responded " to show you he's mine "
And "the lord" now added this " he has several things to learn doctrinally but he's a gift to my body "
Truth is ,we are so skilled at lying ,we don't mind using the name of the lord !
See our prophecies yearly ,churned out same time of year as though we are idol worshippers !
Sad
We must preach Jesus ,as Jesus and for Jesus .
The consequences of not doing so can better be left out of imagination .
Let me close with this historical fact
The Christian missionary society " records that upon getting to Nigeria ( africa ), it met societies largely in the worship of deities ,characterized by visiting shrines for prayers and requests for children,spouses,protection ,prosperity ,attacking enemies etc,they often were requested to bring gifts and sacrifices to effect this ,this practice ensured regular patronage of its worshippers ,it was obvious that needs ,fear and avarice drove and motivated the attendance and worship of these idols "( paraphrased )
It's over a hundred years,
What has changed is that the same idols might have been replaced with men or not replaced at all ,since many still seek an unknown God ,interpreted by a mediator,the shrines might have also been replaced by modern architectural buildings in cities of civilization ,but the reason for Worship of a deity has not changed for many.
I urge us to take a sober reflection ..
And choose to preach Christ ...
Only
Alone.
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