We must desist from eulogizing mere mortals like Arch Bishop, Prophet, General Overseer etc and allowing the name of mere mortals to overshadow the name of Jesus Christ. We must let God increase while we decrease. Any Church that is not centered on Christ but a Key Man has no future … it’s just a matter of time. Kingdoms have come and kingdoms have gone and today they’re no more but the Word of God shall remain forever. We must prevent wasteful resource use and ostentatious display during Church services and other ceremonies..
Another concern is we seldom acknowledge the role of the grace, love, mercy and power of God in the lives of the individuals when eulogizing them at their pulpit , memorial or funeral services. We rather come across as though it was by dint of their own might, effort, etc. God therefore is hardly credited. But Paul said,
“But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.”
According to Peter and the other apostles We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:27-29 KJV
In John 15:5, Jesus emphatically declares ;
for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5 KJV
We risk losing souls and members of our respective denominations if we don’t reinvent what Christianity in Africa means to us as something straightforward, hospitable, and unostentatious. Christianity must be left in the straightforward form it was intended, where everyone is treated with love and respect. Yes ..Loyalty must be reciprocal.
Jesus said my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mathew 11:28-30
Giving credit where credit is due is admirable, but in a public worship setting our sense of duty and time awareness must not be neglected. It is a shame to say the least, how many Charismatic Church leaders are projecting themselves and have relegated Jesus Christ to the background on Billboards and the pulpit. To prevent a future shift in our focus to human worship, it must be carefully monitored.
When political dignitaries and money bags appear at church services, when we experience the move of the Holy Spirit during prophetic services or All night services we must resist the urge to commercialize the Gifts of the Holy Spirit or solicit donations. This is especially true during funerals, Revival services and other ceremonies that were not designed with fund raising in mind.
