The Internet Church: Church in Wire Cables

In 2004, Peter Glover in his book the Virtual Church shared his views on this new revolution and the possible effects of making a Virtual Church community on the cyberspace. In his observation, Glover states:

The World Wide Web certainly has a place in supporting the general work of the Christian church. But when it comes to setting up a virtual church community on cyberspace as part of the latest communications revolution, then the surfer is no more a member of a legitimate Church, than could be a reader via the printing press (Glover 2004)

Hence, this dear-suggestion seems to out-hold the certainty of establishing a virtual church community on the web, which most Christian scholars predicts would be another road to other ends of the earth – while fulfilling the Great Commission.

In spite of this, my stand in this vital and challenging overview is that first, I believe and feel that we should understand the concept of been a Church in every age until Christ returns. Conversely, I would like to start by stating the four Bible-authorizing essentials from the New Testament perspective that makes a church ‘a church’ in the sight of God, not in our own presupposition. From the New Testament perspective, these are the essential elements a biblical church must have: Praying together for a cause, mentioned in (Acts 12: 5); Preaching the Word of God, referenced in (John 8:31,47; Gal.1:8-9; 2; I Thess.2:15; 2 Tim.3:16-4:4; 1 John 4:1-3); Administering of Sacraments, referenced in (1 Cor.10:14-17,21; 1 Cor. 11:23-30); and the exercise of Church discipline also mentioned in (Matt.18:17; Acts 20:28-31; Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 5:1-13).

Nonetheless, is of no doubt that the Church pictured in these four main contexts is however suppressed and victimize with the revolution of the virtual church. The four descriptive elements of a ‘God’s own Church’ seems to technically fall victim to the practice of the modern Church.

Glover in some other attempt tries to emphasize more on this, and said:

The great sadness of our generation is that Bible-believing Christians are finding faithful churches increasingly hard to find. And though the preaching of the Word can occur online, the Bible makes it clear that preaching ought primarily to be within the context of community church life, not apart from it. But the other two elements, sacrament observance and the disciplining of the flock, are simply impossible to administer… (Glover 2004)

In all, Glover seems to make a point. The church should be a place to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, not “cable wires”. Nonetheless, there is still time to amend and properly tune the “mission statement” of the church, while using this revolutionary-disoriented phenomenon. Apparently, the cyberspace can never provide for observing of sacraments, or even Pastoring and disciplining of flocks as the local church does. Though it might to some extent, provide some limited range of preaching to its user, but not the whole of it as compared to what you get in a local church. Notwithstanding, Christ commands us to go preach to all nations of the earth and even to the ends of the earth, and make disciples of them. However I hope we catch this illustration; let’s hypothetically think of the cyberspace as an imagined nation where we can make disciples for the LORD. However, is very possible to make disciples online and then direct them to a local congregational church where they can receive further edification, pastoring and sacramental observance. In that case, it is more fulfilling to direct cyber converts to a local church nearby, than ignorantly trying to perform the whole rituals of a biblical church – which is impossible. .

Just some couple of days ago, on the course of this research, a friend of mine told me that, “God can’t approve of building a church community on the internet because it is simply not a legitimate church – in fact it is unimpressive to me, and a trap to fence-in churches and Christian organizations to the mischievous wall of the Internet.” In his opinion, he also said something very interesting, that, “once the church have fully accepted and embraced this tool, using it to run her entire programs and activities, there will be a regulation of Christian sites from the central database system”. He further reference a passage from the bible: I will share the verse with you, it made sense in a way however. Hebrew 10: 25: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

However, his claims and comments seem real and intriguing. After this encounter, I ceaselessly thought about his views for some couple of weeks, and concluded that God might be speaking through him though, after all – ‘the internet’ aren’t ‘the church’, and on the mainstream, the cyberspace is just a new revolution not a ‘new church’. It would be wise to note this; the cyberspace can only serve this one essential purpose for the church, which is to be used as an innovative tool for reaching out to the unreached and spreading the gospel to diverse nations of the World. When converts are made, directing these converts to a local church is then considered a priority.

I discovered that most Christian fanatics kick against building a church community on the web simply because of Paul’s admonition in Hebrew 10: 25, that we should not forsake the gathering of our brethren as most of us are doing presently…, apparently, this passage certainly speaks volumes, but at the other end, are we just misinterpreting the context of that verse? The truth be told! People are more open, more friendly, and ready to discuss issues on the internet, than what it uses to be in a typical church arena. Rather than being at church service, many prefer being on an internet church service. These assumptions and speculations have only resulted to an increase in climax of the Cyber revolution, but the question now is, what should the church do? Conversely, I tender this simple practical answer to the question myself. We (the Church) can penetrate the internet and use it for ‘Cybermission’. When we have made some disciples, we can direct and engraft them to a local church near their residence for further edification (this is where church planting is vital). After experiencing God’s presence in their newly located Church, they (these converts) will see the difference between a real church service, and those they see or experience on the internet – there is a total difference.

I conclude with these last few words from Pope John II (may his soul rest in peace) in his speech at the 36^th World Communication Day Anniversary. Though he admitted that the essence of the Internet is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which passes in a moment. On this bedrock, he concluded his speech by admonishing the Church in Cyberspace with these few words of admonition:

There already exist on the Net countless sources of information, documentation and education about the Church, her history and tradition, her doctrine and her engagement in every field in all parts of the world. It is clear, then, that while the Internet can never replace that profound experience of God which only the living, liturgical and sacramental life of the Church can offer. It can certainly provide a unique supplement and support in both preparing for the encounter with Christ through communicating, and sustaining the new believer in the journey of faith which then begins. ... The Internet causes billions of images to appear on millions of computer monitors around the planet. From this galaxy of sight and sound will the face of Christ emerge and the voice of Christ be heard? …this is the purpose of evangelization. …for if there is no room for Christ, there is no room for man …I dare to summon the whole Church bravely to cross this new threshold, to put out into the deep of the Net, so that now as in the past the great engagement of the Gospel and culture may show to the world "the glory of God on the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). May the Lord bless all those who work for this aim. Amen.

However, is now apparent that the church in cyberspace cannot wholly provide the four essential components a biblical Church provides - from the New Testament perspective. My stand on this argument still, is that the internet should be a forum for evangelism, and a call for Cybermission. I am actually not in support of having a church community on the internet, neither am I countering the idea. But rather than building an Internet church, the time spent in piling up cyber junkies to form a Cyber-Church should be spent for Cybermission, because a local church provides that fresh anointing from God’s Word, right administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of church discipline as earlier mentioned, which a church built on the cyberspace can never provide. The internet might offer an extensive knowledge of the bible, and can be use as a tool and an innovative new approach to traditional evangelism, but the crux of it all is that it does not teach values; and when values are disregarded, our very humanity is demeaned and man easily loses sight of his transcendent infinite Creator.

The Impact of Relativism on the Virtual Church

First, I would like to start by observing this significant comment by Ken Ham, of the Answers in Genesis Ministry, in a recent speech of his at a youth conference, where Ham clearly said that, “human secularists are not the problem, rather a symptom of lack of Biblical upbringing”. Apparently, the children and youths of the past and contemporary generation, seems to be victim to this misappropriate direction. In our schools today, we find out that the academic system is unconsciously deleting the biblical precepts from their academic system, by excluding and challenging Biblical Principles, and questioning the Bible authenticity. This is also done by reflexively evaluating and validating evolution, anthropology, history, psychology and other humanitarian courses, which are based on human relativism, and hence, alternating and challenging the Bible authority. On this deluded background, our kids then, builds their thinking and philosophy towards this precepts and hence, disfiguring the original concept of the bible. This phenomenon however, creates vacuum that paves way to relativism, which gives birth to human secularists, and multi-religiosity in our society, especially in this Church. However, this had only vindicated Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53: 6, which says, “we all, like a sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…”

Upon this bedrock, it is likely to admit that, a child learns the truth at home, and then goes to school to learn the facts. This statement to some point sounds rhetoric but has a valuable and profound accuracy, because a truth when proven becomes a fact. However, this is a call to parents to imbed the basic knowledge of the bible to their children - first at home, because when this teachings and principles have become path and parcel of them, it will be rarely impossible for the school system to uncerment the child’s philosophy about God and His Word (bible). The child grows with these inward understanding of the basic principles of the bible, and then efficiently - guiding it from the whacks of secularists or from what was taught in class, same applies to a child brought up in a mix religious community. Here the parents plays a very pivotal role in inculcating the knowledge of the bible first to the child, because every child learns the truth at home and then goes to school to learn some facts about the truth he or she was already used to. In that case, it is important that parent grasp the concept of building a holistic child.

However, how does the rejection of the Christian belief from the philosophical view of the world, and vast increase and multiplication of multi-religious groups, which were all first, as a result of the world’s consistently increasing population, and secondly, the increase in relativism, affect the administration of this superhighway as medium for spreading the gospel? Reminiscing more, is obvious that these factors (secularization, globalization and multi-religiosity) are the main challenge of the contemporary church - but does that possibly means that these factors are also challenges of the Virtual Church?

On May 2002, at the “36th world Communication day celebration”, Pope John Paul II, officially spoke on “the internet: as a new forum for evangelism”. In his speech, he asked a question at the concluding session of his enumeration, he asked, “how can we ensure that this wondrous instrument first conceived in the context of military operations …now serve the cause of peace?” and further catechized, “Can it favor that culture of dialogue, participation, solidarity and reconciliation without which peace cannot flourish?”

However, his questions are similar to that of secularization, multi-religiosity and globalization. Part of the Church believes it possibly can, while others don’t. Regardless of this, the church can only measure out mediums to change the world - which is part of our calling. The Christian church can achieve this through determining forums and techniques to penetrate the internet, and use it as tool to reach-out to the world for change. This in a length of time will definitely yield much result by diverting this technology from being a war-machine to an evangelistic occupied machine.

The church should be aggressive now, rather than giving these factors the chance to affect her, she should rather use the cyberspace to combat globalization, secularization and multi-religiosity in our world, regardless of it challenges. Note however, that the Church can only achieve this, if she ‘consistently pastes theses on the gates of the Cyberspace’ as Luther did during his days – this I think would to an extent, fight these factors.

Conversely, in the midst of secularization, globalization, and multi-religiosity, the church in Cyberspace still has the chance to survive these factors if she would universally embrace this new technology as one body with an aim to use this tool to address and fight secularization, globalization, and multi-religiosity as one body, then we will win the fight as a Church. The church should applied the Gestalt theory on this plan, and work as a whole, because there will be no sum or massive impact if we work in parts. We cannot yield any much result as singular units or entities (there should be oneness in the body of Christ). But when the church work as one body, as brethren, and a community to embrace this new technology as a tool for internet evangelism (Cybermission), then as one body in Christ we will hold the devil in ransom. If these are in place, then we can handled and manage the problem of secularization, globalization and multi-religiosity in our society, whereby addressing the problem through a widespread of information and teaching on the cyberspace.

At Counted for Christ International, our main aim is to ‘enlighten the eyes of people’s understanding’ with godly materials, articles and stuffs that will enrich their lives, and awaken them from the illusions and intuition of world secularists. As such, it is very important what we read, listen-to or watch, because when what we read or watch is internalized or conceived, it forms our values and guides our passion, in order words given and building-us-up in a new dimension. It is very important that folks be careful with what they do on the internet, because the devil is seeking and looking for whom to destroy, and the internet is a more-better device to penetrate through us - if we are not careful. Our main goal while using the internet should be to enrich our spirit with godly things, because when this is our target, the formation will compose a deeper godly dimension in us, which will bring fourth our radiant and godly nature – making us to live a successful Christian life. Irrespective of this, Church leaders are also not out of picture in this scenario, they should be careful with the way they do internet evangelism.

The printing press was invented sometime around 1450. During its first half century, it had only a limited impact on the culture and lives of people in the Occident. Then came, Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536), a Dutch humanist activist, at about that time he published his first book, which was just volumes of proverb translated from Latin and Greek sources. Interestingly, it was not long before Erasmus acquired fame and became a figure throughout the Occidental world, and wrote and supplied poetry, plays, essays, and apologetics, defending the Church Himself. Most contemporary scholars like James Hughes speculate that Erasmus “laid the foundation for a new world of communication.”

Just years later, in the course of Erasmus fame, then came to limelight - a monk by name Martin Luther (1483- 1546), who came in with his own Reformation. Luther had a communication tool, which was his means of reaching the world. Some Historians predicted and compared the impact of his reform/ success to that of other early Reformers, like John Wycliffe (1325 – 1384), and John Hus (1373 - 1415) who were not quite as successful. James Hughes in his 1997 unpublished thesis, “The Church in Cyberspace: The Coming impact of computer on the church”, estimated the reasons for this remarkable movement, and uncovers:

The reforms of Wycliffe and Hus were silenced by a jealous Church. The Church tried to use the same tactics to silence Luther. They failed for a variety of reasons: in Germany peasant sympathy lay with Luther, the Church was loosing its control over the state, the civil rulers and the common people were loosing their patience with the sin and corruption among members of the Church hierarchy, the renaissance opened the world to new ideas, and the Holy Spirit had prepared men to speak as their highest end to the glory of God. (Hughes 1997)

“Today the world still feels the impact of Luther’s nails on the door”, Hughes further articulates.

In summer 1978, Bainton wrote a fascinating book on “the life of Martin Luther”, in his remarks to Luther’s reform, this was his stand; he states that, “Luther had access to a communication machine, which made his message of reform the talk of Europe. Wycliffe and Hus had no such means of reaching the world.” (Bainton 1978, 60)

Empirically, the Churches in Nigeria for example, are ripped in confusion and strife, and Church denominations strive for authenticity. For example, the Neo-Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria - decades ago and even today sees other Christian denominations such as the Anglicans and Roman Catholics as backsliding Christians or perhaps pagans at worst. Alas, several times, I have heard my dad agree to this presupposition, he is a Pastor in one of the Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria, and he is one of such that agrees that the Roman Catholics are not real-Christians - he sees them as pagan worshippers, is absurd to note this though. Unfortunately, the cyberspace is their best tool in spreading this effusive and vociferous message to the world, this movement tells of only one thing; that the Church is not united. Apparently, no one wants to join an un-united force. However, this has being the problem of the Church globally, not just in Nigeria. Is unfortunate the Cyberspace have become a war machine for Churches, alas, in the midst of secularism and multi-religiosity. However, in the Western world, these have really gone to high climax. Upon these facts, I discovered that in the present-day Church, the effects of Luther’s reformation are simultaneously fading into darkness. But, I still believe that the church can stop these devilish intuited actions.

Donald Macleod, a professor of Systematic Theology at the Free Church College in Edinburgh, and a well-known radical speaker at conferences, summarizes the situation this way, in one of his publication for the Free Church of Scotland, he writes:

Modern evangelicals are dancing on the tombs of the prophets. We pay willing and fulsome tribute to the heroism of Luther. But will we follow him? Modern Protestantism is in a bigger mess than 16th century Catholicism, but no one is nailing theses to the gates (Macleod 1987).

Honestly, sometimes I just imagine what will be the shape of the church decades from now. Hughes, in an illustration asked, “Will the church be trapped in superstition, plagued with corruption, splintered by selfish factions, weak in its faith, clinging to a world based movement, and ineffective in it’s witnessing for Jesus? Alternatively, will the Church be a vibrant reformed and reforming organism, which will be challenging the 21st century civilization with the Lordship of Jesus Christ over people’s lives, over the Church and over nations? This was the agitation of James Hughes in his book “The Church in Cyberspace: the coming impact of the computer on the church”.

Who will be nailing theses on the gates? On what gates will they nail them? Who will lay the foundation for a new world of communication? What will it be? Hughes further asked.

The invention of the computer device started all way back to 1950. During its first few decades it had limited and lesser impact in the culture of the Occidental world. But after several decades of its invention, an increasing number of patronizes have inevitably increased. It is used in essence to automate processes, which have for centuries had been labor intensive. However, the computer will soon make widely available new forms of communication that are beyond the experience of most of us in this century. James R. Hughes in 1997 commented on this development and emphasized:

There are really two computing eras, we are moving into the second one. The first one we’ve been living with for thirty-five years. We’ve been exploiting the calculating capabilities of computers — number processing — and we’ve been exploiting the stuff called data processing, which is a fancy way of saying, filing and retrieving, and that’s it. That’s all we’ve been doing with computers even though we’ve known from the mid-1930s and the theorems of Turing ...that computers were universal symbolic processing devices capable of any kind of symbol manipulation and whatever. ...We are making the transition now from the era of calculating and data processing to the era of symbolic reasoning by machine (Hughes 1997).

Upon these backgrounds, I want to ask this rhetorical question. October 31st, 2017 will mark the 500th anniversary of Luther’s action. What will be the state of the Church on that day; will she be rapt in secularism, globalization and multi-religiosity? The question is yours to answer.

The Church in Cyberspace

The vast acceptance and the use of internet by most Christian “Cybermissionaries” as an innovative tool and forum for modern-day evangelism, and a medium to “reach the unreached” for Christ is overwhelmingly challenging and increasing. From retrospect, most Christian organizations see the Internet as an ideal technology-footed approach to evangelism, which also stand as a new challenge for the Church. In the midst of these controversies, others speculate and object to this orientation. Conversely, some concluded that the device is a satanic illusion coated with the cable wires - but do we need to buy into this speculation? NO. However, most Christian fanatics have different odd views on this topic, and it is certain that millions of people are amalgamating with the new movement of the online community in record numbers, representing a huge harvest plantation ripe for evangelism. Meanwhile, how can the church best take advantage of the Internet to reach-out to lost souls?

The church's invasion into the cyberspace has really-not flawed or been scrubbed to the mud either, rather is yet to show its strength and objective. Atypically, its objectives, results, and impacts so far are still uncertain and out of balance.

The idea of the “Church in cyberspace” was officially looked upon during an April 1997 meeting of the “The Internet Evangelism Coalition” (IEC) conference, which had in attendance about 95 representatives from different Christian organisations and churches, reminiscing on the general concept of the internet to the church. Some disvalued and stood against the notion, while others supported the movement. Interestingly, sometimes later, certain churches and Christian groups started exploring the cyberspace, sourcing for new ways to penetrate it with the gospel as their main goal, the outcome of this movement is really what we (the church) are enjoying and standing on today. Ever since, the Committee (IEC) had grown into a universal community and Coalition of Evangelical Ministries, with many big Christian networks (like the Christian Broadcasting Network) collaborating with their vision.

Titillatingly, in this 21^st century, 80% of most renowned Christian organizations had fully embraced this concept, and are now recognizing the enormous potentials of the Internet, because of its greatly expanded reach, and its availability on a 24 hours basis for sharing the gospel and evangelizing the lost.

The focus of this paper however, is not on using the new media for administrative reasons in the Church, rather, for enhancing and spreading the gospel, and seeing this “Cyberspace”, as a medium and road to the new-modern evangelism.

Despite its colossal enthralling values, some of the mortifying and detrimental ways in which the Cyberspace can be used, are already apparent to all. Hence, the church has the obligation to guarantee that this amazing tool serves a common good, and does not become harmful to the society. One of the main goals of the church in ensuring that this does not happen should be to change the society, and conversely not otherwise. However, if the Church does not realize this intent and approach the situation pragmatically, with the objective to modify the structure, then the church would face deeper challenges than she can ever imagine - which definitely will question its authenticity. Like other networking and communication media, it is a means to achieve a godly feat, not an end in itself. The Internet can offer superb incredible chances for evangelism, and can be grasp as an open-ray to a new modern evangelistic approach, known as “Cybermission”. Above all, by providing inspiring information and motivating a stirred-up interest among the cyber users with an open encounter with a Christian message or through an awareness movement, especially among the young folks who spontaneously turn to this device as a means to connect to the world. In the year 2002, Pope John II, in his speech at the 36^th World Communication Day anniversary, admonishes the church, and commented on this internet syndrome. In his speech, I quote his views, “It is important, therefore, that the Christian Community think of… practical ways of helping those who… make contact through the Internet, to move from the virtual world of cyberspace to the real world of Christian community”.

However, in such a context, how are we (the church) to embed the wisdom which comes not just from circulating information, but comes from a spontaneous perception and knowledge that understands the difference between good and bad, right and wrong, or something just and immoral, and yet sustains the balance and standards of morals, which flows from that modification?

In retrospect; the Internet, an overwhelming contemporary electronic data-processing device is really a mystery, and a posed challenge to the present day Church. The internet is only not a revolutionary device, but is also an intriguing electronic wonder processing device. A device that can turn any computer with a modem into a world-class communication center – is obviously no joke. It would be interesting to note that any tool can be used well, and at the same time be misused – is in two folds. But am part of the movement that believe that, you and me can make the change and start teaching and educating folks on how to use this device positively, especially for enlarging God’s Kingdom by educating and bringing the message of our Lord to their email inbox.

Apparently, the knowledge of the 21^st century “Man” had been immensely enlightened and upgraded through the superhighway. This revolutionary device had also led software engineers to search for more possible world-changing vaporware. Still with the Internet, I agree with the motion that moral negligence had long been shredded apart, because most core-Christians now practice relativism and secularism in the church due to the ill-impact of this device. Is absurd to say that some core-members of the church are also embracing and practicing the worldly wisdom attitude, unknown to us, they might probably be our family members, children, relatives, or friends.

Because the cyberspace is face with both the positive and the negative consequences, it is wise that we strive hard enough to avoid the outcome of its negative illusions. Hence, it is undeniable that the internet is an essential tool that can be use as an imperative source for the spread of Christianity using the concept of “Cybermission”, which also touches on the global impact of evangelization and charitable work, including practical aspects of international politics and economic development.

Join me today and let us make this change, and work as “Cybermissionaries”, bringing the message of our Lord Jesus Christ to the unreached, who are lost on the cyberspace. The Internet is a godly oriented tool, which could be seen as such if properly used. Hence, this device however, has not only been misused for decades now, also, it has affected lives of millions positively. However, the crux of it all is that, notwithstanding the negative consequences and the ill-impact to the lives of millions, there is still time to make lots of change and turn the face the cyberspace around, this time – for the good. The Church in general should start now, penetrating the internet with the gospel. Also, the Church should pick up the challenged now, and start proclaiming the Sovereignty of our Lord, and unfolding the mystery behind His Word, revealing the kingdom Thoughts and Principals to the hearts of those who are willing to hear, by doing this, we are enlightening the eyes of people’s understanding in a godly pattern through the process of “Cybermission”.

In motion to these, the Church should not slack or be in shock over the changes that have occurred so far, and will occur in the information age. Rather we should embrace this new phenomenon and see it as an opportunity to reach out to everyone in the cyber world, and “paste godly theses at the gates of the cyberspace”, like Luther did during his days, using his own available tool of communication. The church is in shock, and has been sleeping while the world is undergoing a transforming by a revolution, is so sad that the church is idle about this revolution. The church should come in with its message of hope, and raise a new precept and concept to transfuse this new media.

I see a new dimension of revolution in various vaporwares, I can feel its adaptation and can even hear it speak in riddles, but can this be a sensation or a vision of oppression and terror, or just a feeling of renovation and restructuring the old concepts and precepts of evangelism and mission, to a new formation called “Cybermission”. If we do not get prepared, we will miss the opportunity to use the Internet for God’s exhortation and Glory, and it will be ineffective to control the negative impact of the internet, which inexorably will arise. If we do not catch this vision now, then we cannot control the workforce of the uprising consequences on the church.

On a concluding note, I end by stating this short admonition from Peter Glover himself, he says, “what the church needs is God’s help to obey Christ’s agenda for it (the church) - no more, no less”. Technically, though the Christian church has many things to offer and teach the world as well as individual Christians - through the internet, the reality of it all is that, a sincere Church membership, and genuine congregational Church worship on the cyberspace, is really-not biblical. If we are to rediscover precisely what it means to be a Church from the New Testament perspective, then we ought to humbly admit that God actively seeks those who desire to worship Him, to worship “in Spirit and in Truth,” that’s a symbol of a true worshiper (John 4:23, 24). However, I believe that the internet can be effectively use for internet evangelism (Cybermission), by drawing lost souls to God using the aforementioned techniques, and then directing these people (new converts) to a local church near their location, where they can have an experience of what it means to worship God in a Church setting – not in cables and wires. God bless you!

Join me as we scrutinized some of the vital topics attached to this broad trend, and weigh our observations and assumptions both empirically and theoretically in a moderate sequence. However, this is just an introductory message from the sub-topic “Church in Cyberspace”, a new work I have put together. So, for more detail on this topic, and other sub-topics in this book “the Church in worldly wisdom”, which will be coming out at the bookshops soon, please contact us by sending an email to CountedforChrist@gmail.com, and we will get back to you…

CAUSES OF RELIGIOUS CRISIS IN NIGERIA

Nigeria is being seen as a radical-crux religious nation, but the overall conceptions if critically scrutinized are false, and this same fervor, can be linked to any other inter-religious/ tribal nation. We cannot conclude so easily the happenstance of the state of the nation, and depict false impressions – that are ironical. Categorically speaking, life speaks in riddles, but except you understand the form and the modes of life, you cannot understand it riddles. Perhaps we can make up for an articulate formation. God as the lover of all men, have seen an ideal nation in Nigeria, a Nation with the heart to tolerate diverse religious/ tribal practices in an atmosphere of tolerance, an environment filled with deep-rooted spirituality, where Muslims strive shoulder to shoulder with Christians in an atmosphere of tolerance, this turbulent city moves seemingly endlessly. Yet in this infernal environment, there is a harmonious ballet of love and hate, laughter and violence, poverty and wealth, which for me is a sign of a good ending - if only Nigerians would grasp the wisdom of their existence and God’s creation. With these religious/ tribal interference however, pose to be an outrageous factor, yet this nation still to a scale, maintains a level of quantum peace. Many speculations have been thrown at the state of Nigeria, some being false, and while some technically true, but the paradox of it all is that none of the speculation is a definite truth. Here, we will look at some essential causes of religious violence or happenstance in Nigeria, which is also an overall threat to national integration.

The following are the major causes of religious conflicts in Nigeria, which have been portrayed as a threat to National Integration in Nigeria:

Impact of Colonial Rule:
The British Colonial rule and the administrative policy of Sir Frederick Lugard and his successors founded a foundation for inter-religious hostility in Nigeria (criticize me if am wrong, but that is the fact). After the conquest of northern Nigeria and the imposition of indirect rule system, a British in the first decade of the 20th century, and other colonial administrators deliberately restricted the activities of the Christian Missions in northern Nigeria. This was to ensure political stability in the North, and to sustain the co-operation of the Emirs. However, the attempts to extend the influence of Christianity and western education in the areas that were predominantly Muslims, gave rise to inter-religious riots in some parts of northern Nigeria.

Increasing Acts of Religious intolerance:
This is one of the major causes of religious conflict in Nigeria. Religious intolerance means the inability of some people, be they individuals or groups to tolerate the weak or deviant behaviour of other members. In Nigerian context however, religious intolerance is vividly manifested as the inability of members of one religious group, such intolerance often leads to tension discord hostility, and possibly violent confrontation.

The Upsurge of Religious Fanaticism:
The increasing incidence of violent and religious conflicts in Nigeria can be linked to the growing number of both fanatical Christian and Islamic groups in some parts of the country. These religious fanatics carry their dogma, beliefs and sectarian religious views to the extreme. They are often prepared to wage war against those who have contrary beliefs, and who maintain different mode of workshop or religious principles and practice that are not acceptable to them. The fanatics, therefore, have no regard for the fundamental human rights, which guarantee freedom of worship for the citizens.

Politics of Religion
The use of religion as a tool for achieving political ends has contributed immensely to the problem of religious conflicts in Nigeria. Some politicians in Nigeria are known to engage in reactionary recourse to religious fervor as a means of either holding on the power, or as an instrument for political ascendancy. In such circumstance, their fellow religious adherent are often manifested, mobilized and utilized to achieve selfish political goals.

Michael Jackson: What led to His Death

Is so sad that Michael Jackson had to leave this soon, honestly, am sad. However, there are some real-life lessons to learn from his life. MJ, as friends called him, was an extremely talented African America icon, funny enough to say that my two-year-old nephew knows his name – isn’t that incredible.

Michael at the twilight of his life complained of not having a proper childhood upbringing, and logically saying it was the cause of his moral breakdown, claiming it led to his moral negligence. This seems to be true; there could be some elements of truth to that still. In this thoughts and ideas of mine, I still insist he could have lived a better life which could have strengthened his lifespan not withstanding whatever that could have happened during his childhood. Is a good thing he discovered his lapses, which most of us fail to observe in our various private lives, but discovering this fact should have given him a boldface to step and tackle his challenges and succeeded more than he ever did.

They said he died of “cardiac arrest”, but should we assume this to be the whole truth, and believe the media report? Medically he died of cardiac arrest, but observationally most of us knew what led to his death. An autopsy was said to be carried to confirm what really killed him, but does that guarantee they (the medical expertise) would boldly say what really happened to MJ, or perhaps tell us how it all started. Psychological, and of course Philosophically, we learnt that men die short as a result of long assimilated and over-waited burden, stress, pains, disease, sickness, anger, hatred, stress, or any form of anxiety or pressure. As a result of all these, the heart, brains and body grows weak and the anti-protection enzymes in the heart goes on vacation, and this paves way for any form of heart disease or attack. This is when the Medical English works. Therefore, for us to live up to our cubit, we need to abstain from carrying for-so-long-in-our-heart the pressures and anxieties of this world.

Jesus taught his disciples in his famous Sermon on the Mount in Mathew 6: 25- 34, admonishing them on how to win over worries and anxiety (because he knew how important this was). He tells us not to worry about tomorrow, because sufficient of the day is his own troubles. He tells them to look at the plant and animal Kingdom, the birds of the sky and the lilies of the valley. The sum-up of it all is, if the plants and animals (the least things he created) do not worry about stuffs, why then should we worry about material and nonsensical things. I assume some of you might be asking yourselves how this words is related to MJ’s life. But the point is, it does relate to him in every way.

Michael Jackson an essentially talented young man with great performing dynamics was really a role model to millions of young and older folks in our society. For a man like this, there must be some basic lessons to learn from his life, and on that, we look at his strength and weakness. Notwithstanding, MJ’s status and value to the world is admirable. I keep asking this all-important question, “Why did God have to take him this soon”? God could have considered extending his lifespan, but that is why He is God, “He is not a respecter of any man”. Not minding Michael’s position and status, he died at a very young age (he lived just for 10 years, since life begins at 40) just of Cardiac arrest, unbelievable.

From Michael’s life, is wise to learn that we should be contented with what we have, MJ had everything as a young boy, but he wasn’t contented, he wished he was a Whiteman, is so bad that he was deceived to go for a surgery to narrow his nose and tone his skin and wax himself-up. Is obvious to say that, if he had not made this mistakes, he definitely could have lived longer than many of us (May his soul rest him peace). Michael Jackson is dead as a result of not been contented with what he had. He wasn’t the first to died of this factor (contentedness), many have died because of this, I can reoccur the wife of one of my formal president who died from not been contented with her outer-shell. PLEASE BE CONTENTED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IS VERY IMPORTANT!

In addition, we should make good use of what we have now, we should stop been sarcastic about stuffs and world’s view, plus things that are in vogue. We should prioritize our priority. As we live just for a little while in this sinful world, we should please, consider living our lives for God. Be godly. I don’t really know much about MJ’s religious life, but I have tried to ask some few friends of mine whether he met Christ before he died? Did Michael Jackson die as a Saint? I got no concluding result on that, but from the little I got, it was negative. I dearly wish he met Jesus before he died, because if he did, I have no reason to worry about his death, knowing that he is in a better place, and we will meet someday in heaven. May his soul rest in peace…

As we have observed some out-of-the-scene thoughts and discovery about Michael, it would be wrong not to admit he was a good man, and one with an outstanding dynamics and potentials. Well he has made his mark, and it would be good that the wise learn from his mistakes. Time waits for nobody brethren, we all will die one day like Michael, make good use of the time you have now and live for God, because tomorrow waits for no one. Learn to be contented with what you have or are, because that is the best for you. KNOW WHO YOU ARE, do not try to be like others, be proud of who you are, copy no one and never mind what people say, ignore them till they fade away. On a final note, be a lover of God, and make him your best friend.

Applying all these essential lessons to your life will not only make you a better person, but will make you who God wants you to be. And as such, you life a successful, happy and fulfilling life to a maximum lifespan. So go set your priorities right and be the best to your generation. For MJ, may his soul rest in the bosom of our Lord! Amen.

EXPLORING NUMBERS 11: 23 WITH CHARLES H. SPURGEON

I got this short post from Spurgeon’s daily devotional sermon (Morning and Evening 8th June), in my PC STUDY BIBLE software while doing my morning devotional prayers. I was inspired and touched after reading this text, and God put it in my mind to pass on this message of life to that dieing soul out there. Categorically saying, this is not my work, I just want to share this text with my readers, because I have that push inside of me to do so, so let us follow God’s directives and quote the text as written by Charles Spurgeon, and pray that – that same Spirit that overwhelmed my body this morning will catch yours.

IS GOD’S EYES DIM THAT HE CANNOT WATCH OVER US?
"Thou shalt see now whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not."Numbers 11:23
God had made a positive promise to Moses that for the space of a whole month He would feed the vast host in the wilderness with flesh. Moses, being overtaken by a fit of unbelief, looks to the outward means, and is at a loss to know how the promise can be fulfilled. He looked to the creature instead of the Creator. But doth the Creator expect the creature to fulfil His promise for Him? No; He who makes the promise ever fulfils it by His own unaided omnipotence. If He speaks, it is done--done by Himself. His promises do not depend for their fulfillment upon the co-operation of the puny strength of man. We can at once perceive the mistake which Moses made. And yet how commonly we do the same! God has promised to supply our needs, and we look to the creature to do what God has promised to do; and then, because we perceive the creature to be weak and feeble, we indulge in unbelief. Why look we to that quarter at all? Will you look to the north pole to gather fruits ripened in the sun? Verily, you would act no more foolishly if ye did this than when you look to the weak for strength, and to the creature to do the Creator's work. Let us, then, put the question on the right footing. The ground of faith is not the sufficiency of the visible means for the performance of the promise, but the all-sufficiency of the invisible God, who will most surely do as He hath said. If after clearly seeing that the onus lies with the Lord and not with the creature, we dare to indulge in mistrust, the question of God comes home mightily to us: "Has the Lord's hand waxed short?" May it happen, too, in His mercy, that with the question there may flash upon our souls that blessed declaration, "Thou shalt see now whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not."

TIPS FOR SETTING UP A CHURCH CHOIR

INTRODUCTION
In music one can only understand it form, only if understood from its roots. Same for any field of profession, music as a source of life and a fundamental factor for the human movement and survival, can be motivated and pioneered from many variable sources. Part of these structure, is the Church choir music movement; that minister godly songs to its audience (definitely the church members). This sub-factor in music is very essential, and predominantly is one of the vital source and factors that promotes and brings every church to the limelight. To these, we can only help by suggesting and bringing-about some factors to its pivotal stream and stating the principles to be applied in order to achieve a phenomenal and consistent standard choir for a church. Let briefly examine and learn from some precepts that will help us in administering and conducting a standard church choir. Basically, this work is to showcase and explain how to set up a standard church choir, join me as we enroll and discover some tips behind the scene of the church choir program, and perfectly arrive at the main aim of writing.

GETTING A QUALIFIED MUSICOLOGIST
The first step towards every successful choir group is to find or source for a qualified musicologist, basically, this individual often times in most renowned churches, are in charge of the administration and organization of the church choir. In a more defining way; they are choir leaders’ and are in charge of the inflow of things in this department. The contemporary view of a musicologist in most churches is that, they are music or choir directors; well that’s a good description. So, for study sake and for advancement of every church, it is required that they source for a qualified, consistent and proficient musicologist (music director).

SOURCE FOR SINGERS
The next step after finding a good musicologist is to discover talents and singers. On this platform, we should note that “everyone can sing, but not everybody can join the church choir”. The music director is fully in charge of keeping to this standard, which is why it is necessary for a church to find a qualified and renowned music director. He is in charge of discovering these talents, they probably will be somewhere in church, the steps to get these talents, are to announce in church for interested individuals, after that, call and advise the interested ones on the basic pre-requisites of been a member of the choir (note that one of the requirements is your spirituality, this is the basic), when they have accepted the terms, then you are set for a successful choir.

VOICE AUDITIONING
The third step from my own perspective is the voice auditioning decree. I think this is a necessity for an organization of a successful choir. Here, the music director tries to get those that are really talents, and good singers; at this point there is confusion on the path of the musicologist on those to be selected and those to be dropped, because not everybody can be sing. Some probably might join because they love to sing, but they don’t know how to sing, so the best thing to do here is to drop these people, and may be, put them in for a private coaching exercise, if necessary and if from the director’s path a is stress-free activity.

VOICE PARTS
After the music director have selected those to join the choir, the next thing to do is to divide and define their vocal parts, basically there are four different vocal parts fashioned in a standard church choir; these are the alto part, tenor part, soprano part and the bass part. When these four parts are discovered, then, you are sure of a reliable and formidable standard choir that probably will grow with time and succeed music threats.

VOICE PART LEADERS
Here, it is required to have voice parts leaders, these are the main figures to count on, when giving music manuscripts, this makes the work of the musicologist a lot easier because, all he or she needs to do is to consult the group leaders and give them manuscripts for rehearsals and these leaders pass it-on to their fellow vocal parts’ members. This for me is wisdom, because is stress-free from the path of the musicologist. We all need to technically apply this principle and concept to our different fields on profession, not just for the choir. It is called in Economics; “division of labour”, this is necessary for an effective and successful social group.


REHEARSALS/ CHORISTERS MEETING PLAN
The meeting arrangement rolls comes up immediately after selecting the vocal parts leaders, now the choir is about to start its operation. So the wise thing to do for an affective organization and ministering of the choir is to map-out define-time for practice. In the African context this is call the “choir practice time”. At this time, every choir member leaves whatever he or she does at home or office, and attends the choir meeting or practice. This sometimes is fixed twice weekly, and often times done during the evening time.

SITTING ARRANGEMENT
The sitting arrangement; normally this is a pattern way of sitting and organizing voice parts. Fundamentally, the first roll should be for the sopranos’, the second roll for the altos’ the third roll for the tenors’ and while the last roll should be for the bass’ part singers. This is the universal standard for a standard choir, anything outside this standard, might probably devastate the formation of the choir’s ministration – that’s the system and the resulting process.

MUSIC OR SONGS DOCUMENTATION
My lecturer calls this the music song bank, here, is the duty of the music director to organize and arrange songs in sequence. Basically this is essential for adequate delivery and consistency of the church choir. These songs are passed on to the choir members periodically and they run through these songs consistently on their own private leisure time. This principle helps the members to get use to the songs to be presented on Sunday morning; basically this is a precept that must be followed.

TIME FACTOR
It is vital to keep to time; this time concept is applied only on the choir rehearsal days, and may be if requested from the church leader (Pastor) to have a fix time for the choir’s Sunday ministration, normally this idea does not apply to the Sunday morning service, because the use of time in Sunday morning service - varies.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Well, this principle is partially part of the requirement for an effective choir; the result might probably be on a gradual scale, and yet - prolific. This is where the musicians or instrumentalists master the songs to be performed on Sunday morning service. Normally the musicologist is in charge of providing the songs or sound beats to be used - to the musicians or instrumentalists, this is for them to practice on their own private time; it is advised that the instrumentalists should not practice together with the choir members, because of distraction and misused of time, due to its procedures and formalities. So, it is the duty of the music director to select good instrumentalists that are sound and proficient in their field, this helps to foster a reliable and balance music presentation in church.

Finally on this, it is necessary for the music director to give the members of the band and choir an orientation on how to use the musical instruments, and also how to service them, for a balance and productive result.

CONCLUSION
These phenomenon and precepts should be applied and followed, in order to achieve a moderate crispy advance and standard church choir. If any of these precepts is been misused, this might result in an inconsistency or difficulty in running or managing a choir group. Interestingly this responsibilities or duties anchors on the shoulder of the musicologist (music director or leader) - is a pity he performs 95% of the task involved in achieving a moderate standard and disciplined church choir.

Nevertheless, we can still confirm to the fact that a good food is worth buying, so a good musicologist or music director is worth hiring, and should be compensated adequately. These as we know, will produce the best service from him and definitely - that of the choir members. Please let’s not forget to administer these principles while trying to set up or establish a standard choir for any church.

A LETTER TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Dear Beloved people of God,

Greetings in the Name of Jesus our eternal Lord and Savior who will and will ever be the reigning King of Kings!

Brothers and Sisters, I am writing to you with a heart of Love, and in this letter which I write to you this day, I urge you to please build up the enthusiasm to accept the message, advice and guidelines led down accordingly in this letter. The content, though concise, but prolific for this race for eternal Kingdom, and if applied, will result to a fruitful and rewarding lifestyle.

So, brethren I admonish you to please take it up to yourself to abide to this sayings, because I speak to you not as the one you knew before, but as the servant of the Most High, whom have been ordained and had being breathed upon to speak (write) this words.

I would like to touch light on the few things I've noticed and observed while away, I would, with the mind of Christ find the best way to correct this mis-direction before the devil stems deep into the heart of the Saints. This we all know, will be a defeat to our calling, and perhaps, if not talked about , this collates that we are failing to do our duties as God as commanded us to do. Nevertheless I still appreciate the yielding effort of the Church leaders, though not at its best, but, has been a source of inspiration to me and I suppose as well to the Church. My deep regards to brothers in Christ (Church leaders) for their utmost enthusiasm to perfect God’s work. God our Most Gracious Father, who understands us all, will give us the right mantra to sing of Him and by His unfolding Power give us New Life infused with joy, peace and happiness, as He has promised.

Firstly, I would like to address the issue to promiscuity, which I heard had been the order of the day in the Church, perhaps we might not have noticed that Christ detest this act, and He as our Father always wants for us that we live a Sin-free-life that will be an exaltation to Him, that is the ultimate pursuit we should all aim for. As Christians, we all are expected to live a Sin-free-life, this, God is affirming, will make us special people in His sight and also in the sight of men. We should resist and detest any act of sexual promiscuity in the household of the Father, in order to live an effective life, and most importantly-be an advertisement to the world. I believe we can abstain from this act, though like a strong uncontrollable emotional drive, we can still stop it now, and now I say. God is not happy about this. This is why He has put it in my mind to write this letter to you, He is watching us all and waiting for us to make this change, so he can be closer to us. Brethren, I urge you all to get the wisdom behind been closer to God, when you forsake all things and be closer to Him, Sin flees from your path and you come clean and pure from sin. As His children, I believe that we have been endowed with the potentials to resist sin, why - because, we are no more who we were before, we are now new in Christ Jesus (II Corinthian 5: 17). I urge you to flee from any atom of sin and as you do this, His Grace and strength will build you up.

Secondly, I would like to stress on the need for the Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit, and pointing out that our Gifts are not our Fruit, and the Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit are given to the believer after being saved (Not before) for the work God wants him to do. Brethren, please understand that your Fruit is who you are, while your Gifts are what you have… that enables you do the Ministry Work effectively for God. It is wrong and Ministerially unthinkable to operate in the Gift of the Holy Spirit without having the Fruit of the Spirit - and it amounts to nothing but share deception. I heard that some of you are confusing these two functions of the Holy Spirit. We should note that, Spiritual Gifts are those which the Holy Spirit gives us as his chosen ones (Christian/ Saints), while the Fruit is what we work-out for ourselves. It is a necessity that each member of the congregation be endowed with at least either one of the Gifts of the Spirit, which the Bible talks about in Ephesians 12: 6- 8 and I Corinthians 12: 7- 1. Also expanding on the necessity of the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of every Christian, and most importantly to you folk(s), we should note that the Fruit of the Spirit is a necessity for this Kingdom race and understand that the Fruit of the Spirit is the outworking of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a Spirit-guided Child of God. This is an evidential proof and visible indices of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.

I will still not fail to point out the rules behind the use of these Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which when misused causes calamity to its violator, please let’s observe these essential precepts:

● That a sinner cannot manifest Spiritual Gifts
● That Spiritual Gift is meant for service and not for window dressing and show-offs
● That any Holy Spirit baptism that culminate in zeal for evangelism and soul winning is fake and not Biblical
● That anyone speaking in tongues, but who lives in sin and does not evangelize is not truly filled with the spirit of God.
● That in a salvation where everybody speak in tongues and professes to be Spirit-filled and nobody goes out to evangelize, there is a problem - it is either they are all lying about what they say they have, or what they have is not genuine baptism of the Holy Spirit.
● That the Ministration of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to sinners is an exercise of futility, a disservice to God and a deception in the Christian Church.
● That the gifts of the Holy Spirit works to the fullest capacity only in the life of someone having the fruit of the spirit and who loves the Lord and obeys the scriptures fully in all things.

Also assimilate that, our Fruit is not our Gift, our Lord Jesus Christ made a clear statement on this and profoundly said that: "by their Fruit, we shall know them". Not by their Gifts, this is to unveil the need for the fruit of the Spirit in the life of every Christian, most especially the Church/ Ministry workers. Without the fruit of the Spirit we can’t work effectively for God. But with this Fruit of the Holy Spirit, we have: Love for one another, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, goodness, faith (which is essential), meekness and self-control - which I have discussed and talked about in my earlier later to you (visit http://www.vic-counted.blogspot.com/ for these notes).

This drives me to my third and final point - "LOVE": We should understand that without Love (God’s kind of love) for one another we cannot move any far as brethren and most especially the logo we bear as Christians. Please I urge and admonish you as the servant of the Most High to love one another as God Loved His Son - Jesus Christ, and us His children. Love for this eternal race is vital and required from each and every single one of us. I am writing with deep pains, because most of our brethren misconnect the idea behind this kind of God’s love, but remember that God will judge us all for those permissive sins we hid behind our hearts. God hates Hypocrisy and disowns anyone that acts such. I trust and vouch on you all to be abiding and diligent in effecting changes. I admonish and pray that you all will catch this message of life, which inspirationally, are not my own Words, but Gods’. So I admonish you to start today and make corrections in anyway you have frustrated the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, He is always and ever Merciful, reconcile with Him and taste the breeze of this New Life in Christ Jesus. As you reflect on these Words and put-to-practice the instructions, may He guide your path and direct you. Amen.

In Conclusion, I which to alert you all of the goodness of our Loving Father who have brought so much joy to my soul and engineered His work in my life and in my Ministry. God has made ways where there was no way for me times without number, I high-count how He has effectively guided my paths. Brethren, please join me and thank Him for providing exceeding for us all.

Also to remind you all that, as God’s people we should all be aware of some lobsters and crabs in our midst, they cower their faces with cloaks of fake-holy garment, but are fake and false Christians, we should flee from these hypocrites. Many of these people are filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit without the manifestation of the Fruit, they have the Gift, but no proof of the fruit of the Spirit, and they speak in tongues and participate fully in every function of the Church, these people are vague and I urge you to take flight from such persons’ because they will delude you. Surprisingly they are in the Church - these are signs of the End time. Is disappointing to hear that many of us who were filled with the Spirit and who have lost the fire, fervency and zeal for God are now complacent, relaxed and comforted in Luke-warmness, most of them are now "retired by God" unknown to them.

Before I take my final bow, I want to drop these few words of encouragement: as we all work towards an effective lifestyle, I would like to remind you that our reward is and will be based on our Service to God. There is a Soul winning Crown awaiting us, copy-down in your heart that Angels will not do the work God expects you to do. If we want sinners to come to Church; the believers must go out to win souls, the Master’s last command must be the first concern of a true believer and finally, we must demonstrate firm commitment to God’s Work and Will, as an evident Proof of our Love for God our Creator, because, our rewards are not here on earth but beyond. And as we all work effectively to put a smile on the Face of our Creator, I have that conviction that He is up there smiling down at us.

God bless you as you work towards an effective lifestyle that will connote a form of worship to God, and be conceived as such.

Yours in the Lord, Bro. Victor Counted.

SUMMARY NOTES ON THE LIFE OF PAUL

Introduction

The life of Paul showed an endless mark to follow for Christians both past and present. For ages now scholars have tried to examine and capture the significance and lessons to learn from the life of dynamic being. Paul’s life is a spot to look at and assimilate the wisdom therein – that God can use any man. This shows that the creator of the world works extensively in the minds of everyone, not minding how sinful or bad you have frustrated His work.

In this research, the researcher examined ideologically the life and Ministry of Paul – the Apostle. We will crucially explore his conversion, Ministry, Strength, weakness and major symbolic lessons which should be integrated for our Christian learning and for assimilating his values.

In all, Paul’s life was an enigma that will continue to open the eyes of men and women, to understand the uniqueness of the Master’s Love.

Background

Little had being written or said by scholars about the birth and early childhood of Paul’s life, not until he came to limelight in Jerusalem as the persecutor of the Christians, from there, he made an unending mark to the study of the Christian religion and writings of the ancient and present scholars. Paul was born in Tarsus a Roman Citizen of the tribe of Benjamin and he was a zealous member of the Pharisee Party. (Romans 11: 1, Acts 23: 6, Acts 16: 37, Acts 21: 39).

Some scholars have tried to justify Paul’s claim of being born in Tarsus. Sir William Ramsay in one of his commentary, have shown that Tarsus truly was "no mean city", as far as the birth and upbringing of Paul is concern. He put Tarsus to be a centre of learning, and has assumed that Paul became acquainted with various Greek Philosophies and religious cults during his youth there.

On the other hand Van Unnik has challenged this assumption. He argues that the relevant texts (Acts 22; 3, Acts 26: 4) place Paul in Jerusalem as a very small child. Unnik further used Acts 22: 3 in this sequence: (i) born in tarsus; (ii) brought up at my mother’s knee in this city; (iii) educated at the feet of Rabban Gamaliel the elder. (Unnik 1962, 67)

From the researcher’s assumption and opinion it must be of great value to note that Paul’s education and early prominence (as a young man, Paul was given an official mandate to direct and officiate the persecution of the Christians and cast vote against them) may be presumed that his family was of prominent status. And notably; his nephew’s access to the Jerusalem leaders accords with this impression (Acts 23: 16, 20).

Conversion

In Acts 26, Paul recounts his conversion experience to King Agrippa. This account narrates…

Verse 12 "… as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priest; Verse 13. as midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shinning around me and those who journeyed with me; Verse 14. and when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads; Verse 15. so I said, who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; Verse 16. but rise and stand on your feet, for have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. Verse 17. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you. (Acts 26: 12- 17).

The result of Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ gives ample assurance that it was an experience of a healthy mind, and it can be adequately interpreted. As indeed Luke interprets it, only as a miraculous act, which transformed Christ’s enemy into his Apostle.

Some scholars have suggested the essential importance for Paul’s Christology and the interpretation of his Ministry to the Gentiles. From their ideas, these scholars noted that Paul’s calling was one of the prerequisites for which non-Christians were converted at that time. A few of those scholars were J. Dupont and M. E. Thrall. In like manner, Benjamin Robinson stresses on the significance of Paul’s conversion/ vision in his 1928 publication on the life of Paul.

Robinson in this sequence gave this unique insight on the worth of Paul’s conversion, and says; (i) this conversion was a personal conviction that Jesus was alive (ii) the conversion included a conviction that the truth he had (Paul) had learned was for all nations and, (iii) the conversion was his relation to the international destiny of the gospel. (Robinson 1928, 54).

The conversion of Paul is an enigma, which teaches, how God loves both the non-Christians and the Christians, irrespective of their background. Paul seen as an extreme tormenter of the Christians, yet, God saw this and still invited him to work in His Vineyard. Paul was wise to accept this calling and yielded to God’s will, which was in effect, rewarding to him years after. Systematically, the bible opens up on God’s purpose for Paul’s conversion in Gal. 1: 16. This scriptural verse says that God’s reason for arresting Paul was to reveal His Son (Jesus) to him, and that Paul might preach Jesus among the Gentiles. Christ appeared to Paul on his way to Damascus to appoint him a minister and a witness to all nations of the world also that He may use him (Paul) to open the eyes of men and woman from darkness to light. (Acts 26: 16- 18)

Early Ministry

Paul was a man of intimate wisdom – the bible records. After Paul’s conversion, the bible accounts in Galatians 1: 17 and Acts 9: 19 that Paul spent three years following his baptism and preaching in Damascus. Due to pressure from the Jews he fled to Jerusalem, where Barnabas ventured to introduce him to leaders of the suspicious Christians. His Ministry in Jerusalem lasted just for scarily two weeks, because some certain Hellenistic Jews sought to kill him. So to avoid them, Paul returned to the city of his birth (Tarsus), spending ten years in tarsus, doing his Ministry work silently, as most scholars claim. Thereafter Barnabas wrote to him to come to Antioch to assist him and help flourish Gentile mission there, they both walked in pairs as partners from Antioch till they were sent to Judea to help their colleagues there.

Upon there return from Jerusalem in 46 Ad, Paul and Barnabas, commissioned by the Church of Antioch, embarked on an evangelistic tour – which took them all round the oriental world: through Cyprus, Galatia and the rest of them. (Acts 13- 14).

His Mission Strategy

The strategy which had became a pattern of mission for Paul and other Apostles even to our contemporary Apostles and Christian Missionaries, was, reaching the willing-at-heart. Paul and his colleagues first preached at the synagogue for all to listen. In effect, some Jews and Gentile "God fearing people" accepted the message and became the nucleus for the local assembly. The "Acts of Paul" recorded that, when the mass of the assembly in the synagogue rejected the gospel (preached by Paul or his colleagues), sometimes with violence, then, the focus of the preaching shifts to the Gentiles – the bible gives a clear picture of this scenario in the book of Acts 13: 46.

In good-ending to this scene, and despite the confusion and violence among the Jews in accepting this gospel, the Gentiles receive and accept this message of salvation. Thus, this brought about the spread of Christian witnesses in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and some parts of Perga.

Though this crisis later on metamorphosed to an extensive argument, and was a great danger to the Christian leaders at that time – this (history accounts) led to the first theological crisis and debate among the early Church leaders in 50 AD. And this crisis was also propelled by Paul’s letter to the Galatians, in which the Pauline Credo, "Salvation by grace through faith", was forcefully presented – thus, conflict aroused.

Persecution and Death

Following the conquest of Paul’s Ministry in the Aegean region, Asian and the oriental world with the message of salvation, and also planted churches all through the coast of the Asian world. As he was sailing towards Jerusalem, targeting to reach Rome with the vision of bringing the message of our Lord Jesus Christ to them, on his way, he disembarked at Caesarea with a collection for the poor there, so he arrived at Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 21: 23). On arrival, he was careful of violating the temple rituals, so in the process, some Jewish Pilgrims recognizing who he was, trickily, accused him of violating the Temple and incited the crowds to riot. He was placed under arrest (though allowed to address the crowd) and was later handed over to Felix the Roman governor and was imprisoned for two years in 58 AD- 60 AD. (Acts 23: 26).

After two year in prison, Felix the Roman Governor, knowing what will happen if handed-over Paul’s judgment to the Jews, he smartly shifted the case to King Agrippa. Paul and other prisoners where boarded on ship to Rome to meet with King Agrippa, on the way, there was a shipwreck which made them settle in the Island of Malta where Paul was welcomed and he as well began his Ministry project there: preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the thing which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence and preached rationally with no one forbidding him. (Acts 28)

That was the end of the story of Acts on (about) Paul; not much was shown or written about Paul’s life and Ministry after his Malta experience. Additionally, a helpful survey of the rest of Paul’s life was pieced-up together by F. F. Bruce in his book – New Testament History.

Bruce claimed that Paul was rather on house-arrest while in Malta for two years, but was allowed to preach his message to those that wants to hear his "distorting message" as the Maltase so claim. Bruce further wrote that, Paul was released in 63 AD, and he visited Spain and the Aegean area before his re-arrest and death at the hands of Nero in 67 AD. (Bruce 1969, 115)

There way no much story line made on Paul’s life after the two years in Rome, many scholars conclude from the ominous silence of Acts, that Paul did not survive his imprisonment while some sound otherwise. In all, much was not known about the very last days of Paul, and not many documentaries gave an accurate understanding on his last moments on earth. Most scholars gave concise view on this, though not prolific and definite. Over the years after the death of Paul, other sources that gave remarkable as well questionable description of Paul’s life after he left Malta were the 1st Clement 5: 5- 7, the Muratorian Canon and the Acts of Paul, these documents witnessed Paul’s journey to Spain, till his death. These sources appraised Paul for fighting a good fight.

At Paul’s conversion, Christianity was a Jewish sect, but at his death it was a world-religion. He led the Christian religion far toward the day when it was officially recognized as the supreme religion of the empire. (Robinson 1928, 216).

Conclusion

The life of Paul should be modeled. In this scene, we pictured Paul’s life and his zeal to proclaim the message of our Lord Jesus Christ without limit, even though he was persecuted, yet, he stood his ground and did what God wanted. His life teaches the essentiality of fulfilling our God ordained purpose – of being workers in His Vineyard: which focuses on serving people. In sense, to be a blessing to people around us, one has to stand and speak the truth at all time. Apostle Paul showcased these principles, and that was the starting point of his turn-around. What a dynamic symbol and role model for ministry workers to emulate.

Paul’s miraculous conversion to the Christian belief brought about so many changes and unspeakable enthusiasm for the early Christians. And his Ministry pushed the Christian religion far beyond the imagination of the early Church fathers – Paul spread the gospel to many nations of the world and his determination for God’s work, gave him success in the oriental world and beyond.

In a snap shot; Paul was wise and smart. A man of wisdom that had passion for the lost, his acts were infused with some dynamic lessons, which the researcher believe, was primarily because of his love for God and his quick response for God’s work - no wonder he was a Saint. Apostle Paul to the end fought a good fight and kept the faith - even in pain and isolation (2 Timothy 4: 7). His crown awaits him, as we are working towards ours.

God bless you as you learn and meditate on this words.

PLIGHTS OF THE FIRST BORN

What is wrong with the first Born? This is a question that has been echoing in my ears for years now. I seem not to come out with the solution yet. I feel depressed and broken while trying to write on this trend. As a first born in my family I feel and want to help other fellow first borns’ out there, in finding a way forward to unyoke ourselves of this predestined happenstance that has caused damages and harms to our lives.

From the days of the patriarchal fathers, this unwarranted punishment to the first borns’ emanated. Sometimes I ask myself, why God has allowed this to be. As a Christian I feel pain deep inside my heart whenever I read the Bible and come across story tales of first borns’ in the Old Testament period, from the days of Abraham – the father of many nations. His first son Ishmael did not make it with his father’s inheritance rather was deserted at the wilderness of Paran. Isaac the second son of Abraham succeeded Ishmael. But his first son Esau missed the mark to Jacob. As well Jacob’s eleventh child "Joseph” succeeded the eldest Reuben. Paradoxically this yoke transcends to Joseph’s children, Manasseh his first son missed his blessing to Ephraim. This ravaging trauma has being going for centuries now, it seems unstoppable and nobody cares to know why God allows this to occurrence.

Can we with reasoning, ask ourselves, why God ignored the first borns’? Also, what is God’s plan for the First Borns’? Let’s call a spade a spade, in our very own contemporary society, first borns’ seems to have the highest share family or background problem, why?

I feel hurt deep down my heart that I belong to this class of "great people". Am not insinuating that I have a problem: but every single day of my life I ask and imagine, what would I have being if I was not the first born of my family – would I be better-off than what I am presently, or the same embodiment (person). I guess this same question is in the hearts of every other first born out there…

In subsequent time, we will look from a biblical perspective on God’s plan for the FIRST BORN. Stick around for that interesting piece. God bless You!