Adjacent to where I live, the next building houses a popular pentecostal church known for its conservatism and fiery praying style. There is no kind of prayer we have not heard from there. And, the noise that emanates from there should have been enough to smother the devil. Somehow, we have been able to cope with the noise – with an effort!
One day, as I prepared for work, I thought I did not hear it right at first. Forgive my voyeurism, but I got closer to the window. The pastor of this church was now shouting it on top of his voice, that the people should pray, “may the sweat of the unbeliever profit me, and may their money enter my own account!”
There is no form of prayer we have not heard from this church, with each successive one at a higher decibel. On New Year eve, it was the same. “Die!” And this prayer was repeated severally, with their characteristic violent shaking of the head. But Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:7, when he said, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”
The level of delusion – and deception, that pervade our churches, are unimaginable. Many of the things that are done in these churches are unheard of. If Nigerians pay their taxes the way these “pastors” bully people to pay tithes and many other scams reportedly perpetrated in some “churches,” there would have been enough money for social security, and our youths would have not been unemployed.
Instead of giving people money to start a business or teach them skills, they are made to spend their lives on endless night vigils, and fingers pointed at innocent relatives, neighbours and co-workers as responsible for their predicaments. Even the dead who are meant to be resting in peace have not been spared the blame.
Instead of some pastors to lead their flock on the right path, they deceive them. Why would so-called Christians begrudge an “unbeliever’s” wealth? What has happened to their own sweat? And, this kind of prayer at Lent! And, it is someone who calls himself a “pastor” that champions this “diabolical” prayer.
But, they fail to ask why the “unbeliever” will succeed and Christians will not. It was said in Luke 16:8 “And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Where shrewdness is needed, some Christians are lacking in this virtue.
But, how is the life of most of these “unbelievers” or even atheists these prayers are directed at? They are among the most successful people in the world in all fields of human endeavour, be it business, academics, politics, name it. Puritans will tell you the devil also gives success, yes. But ,if the devil gives you wealth, one day, he will come back and demand a ransom.
But, Jesus had this for overzealous Christians in Matt 5:45 when he said “To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers.”
That a hardened condemned criminal can steal salvation on the cross, at the last minute, and it so pleased Christ and heaven, should prick our hearts.
The lesson is that we should be careful and not think you are better than those you call “unbelievers”, or are holier than others because you attend “church”. God is the ultimate judge. Saddam Hussein was captured in a “spider hole” with Christian materials. God searches our hearts. Some have confessed Jesus in their hearts without making a show of it. Jesus said in John 4:21 “Believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.” And perhaps, those “people” understand it better than you when Jesus said in John 4:24 that “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
This Easter, as Christians, we must really work on our mindset to change the “old man” in us. We must pray to God Almighty to remove our pride and replace it with humility and the love of man. We must pray He forgives us our sins and orders our steps in our Christian journey.
We must be ready too to suffer, what Catholics call the “way of the cross,” or the Apostles Creed called “the descent into hell.” Christ suffered death to save us, we too must be co-sufferers to save our fellowmen, no matter “who” they are!
Dr Cosmas Odoemena
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