Category: Sunday magazine

The Catholic Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Archbishop Alfred Martins, has blamed loss of family values for the moral decadence in the society.

He spoke last week at a press parley on the church’s Family 2014 Anniversary with the theme, the family as a domestic church.

Martins also descended hard on promoters of same-sex, describing the practice as against the law of nature.

On loss of family values, he said: “In recent years, the rate at which marriages are crumbling is alarming and the effect on the couples and children is unimaginable.

“The effect of this aberration on the larger society is no less devastating. It is no exaggeration if we blame the many ills of today’s society on broken homes and failed and irresponsible marriages.”

He said the church has consistently valued marriage as an institution ordained by God, stating that homes can fix the many challenges in the nation with the right mindset.

Martins expressed the church’s readiness to teach the right marital values and principles to save the nation.

He lamented the concept of marriage is being given a different meaning in the society today, especially with the agitation for same-sex marriage.

According to him, “The Catholic Church believes in the sanctity of marriage. It is a permanent union between a man and a woman entering into a permanent relationship. Anything outside this is not encouraged.”

He, however, added that just like Christ, the church does not hate sinners but frowns at sins.

On corruption, the Archbishop said the menace is not peculiar to Nigeria but is a worldwide phenomenon.

“Corruption is a worldwide hydra-headed monster, which is also direct consequences of the decadence in societal values.

“People are no longer faithful to the values of their faith because no faith encourages corruption from its members. In Nigeria, it is endemic because of the get-rich syndrome.”

Praise, amongst others, is the gateway to supernatural harvest. Fearful harvest is always in response to fearful praise. We must understand that harvest is only sequel to seed time. If no seed is sown, then harvest is never in view.

Remember, While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22).

Your returns are in response to your investment. When there is no investment, returns are not in view, because in all labour there is profit (Proverbs 14:23). So, profit will only answer to input. There has to be something going in, for something to come out. Even when we have sown our seeds, it takes praise to reap our harvest.

What Is In Praise?

Wonders: God shows us His wonders when we praise Him (Exodus 15:11).

Praise is the Gateway to Supernatural Harvest: Our harvest is not in view until our praises rise up to heaven (Joel 1:12). It is our praise that determines our harvest time. Fearful praises will always culminate in fearful harvest (Psalm 67:5-7; Genesis 8:20). So, we don’t talk of harvest without seedtime. It is, therefore, important for us to know that it is seedtime that precedes harvest.

The Bible recognizes different kinds of investment. According to scriptures, in all labour there is profit. That means our harvest or returns are a function of our investment.

Dimensions of investment in scriptures:

Spiritual Investment: This is superior to any other kind of investment. It includes prayers and fasting i.e. interceding for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, and the wellbeing of the church of Christ (Mathew 6:6, 18; Colossians 4:12).

Soul-winning: This is a form of spiritual investment that guarantees amazing returns, which makes a star of every consecrated soul-winner. Every tireless soul-winner ends up a star (Daniel 12:3).

Mental Investment: We can also invest mentally into the Kingdom, by engaging in strategic planning and programming for effectiveness in our stewardship. So, it is not just about serving God, but also engaging strategically in it. He said: Come now, and let us reason together… (Isaiah 1:18).

Physical Investment: Our strength is required in our engagement with God. When we invest our energy in the service of the Kingdom, God multiplies it back to us. Our “energy-seed” returns to us as “energy-harvest” (Luke 10:27). So, see physical engagement as an opportunity for renewal of strength (Isaiah 40:31).

Material and Financial Seed: This is the key to material abundance and financial blessings. The seed we sow materially and financially, entitles us to returns (Malachi 3:10). Your material and financial investments are your access to the realms of financial fortune (2 Corinthians 9:8). There is, therefore, nothing you give to God that is wasted!

However, we are not to invest grudgingly or of necessity, for “God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). That means He hates a grudging giver.

From Deuteronomy 28:47-48, we understand that we need joy in our service to God, else it becomes a curse. That is why we need the Holy Ghost for empowerment, and the anointing of the Holy Ghost is the oil of gladness.

In conclusion, it takes joy to invest acceptably; and it takes joy to access our returns. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us (Psalm 67:5-6).

The Bible also says: Is any merry? Let him sing… (James 5:13). Therefore, receive the anointing to keep serving God tirelessly with the joy of the Lord that entitles you to His harvest, everyday of your life, in the name of Jesus!

Friend, the power for supernatural harvest is the preserve of those saved. You get saved by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are set, please say this prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, Jesus for saving me!

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: Understanding The Power Of Praise and Wonders Of Praise.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

As reported in the South West news of the National Mirror, Tuesday, January 7, 2014 (p.9), the general overseer of Victory Life Ministries International, Ilesa, Bishop Mike Bamidele, berated the government of the State of Osun for recognising the practice of traditional religion in the state. He described the action as evil and that it could retard the progress of the state. Addressing journalists in Osogbo on January 6, 2014, the Bishop said: “The introduction of traditional religion was evil. I am not the one calling it evil, but it has its basis in the Bible that it is evil and it is truly evil”. He said there is some wickedness in the religion which must be expunged to get it revived by the government, warning Governor Rauf Aregbesola to reverse his recognition of traditional religion before it is too late. Hear him: “Aregbesola should tread softly on religious issues in the state and should be cautioned against promoting traditional religion above other religions in the state.” He went on to urge prominent ministers of God, especially indigenes of the state like Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the founder of Kingsway International Christians Centre, Pastor Mathew Asimolowo and others” to help prevent the state from being turned to idols through traditional religion.” He went further: “The state would go a century backward for promoting aspects of traditional religion that promotes evil because there are contents of the religion which could cause chaos in the state if not addressed”. Although, he did not mention what contents of the religion that now cause chaos, he went on to blame the House of Assembly for passage of the bill which he boasted “will never see the light of the day.”

Perhaps the starting point of educating our holier than thou Bishop and the self-imposed representative of God in Nigeria is the universal acceptance of culture (which includes traditional religion) and civilization in the life and affairs of man and a nation. The word “culture” has a long history of definitions and interpretations. During the Victorian era culture was proclaimed to be a curtain which divides classes, religions, political parties and even university faculties. Mathew Arnold, a great protagonist of culture, enlarged this definition to include moral values. Culture is defined by Arnold as “the study of perfection” moved “by the social passion for doing good”. In the 20th century, an anthropological dimension was added to the Victorian definition of culture. In its widest sense culture now stands for a peoples’ traditions, manners, customs, religious beliefs, values and social, political and economic organisation. Culture in this sense does not refer to an individual but to the people as individuals-writ-large.

Great nations have their civilisations, education, politics, economy, moral values and ways of life based on their cultures, religions and philosophy. Examples are Britain, Continental Europe and Asian countries and the far East where their different religions have become integral part of their social, economic, political, scientific and moral engineering. Thus, we have Judeo Christian Religion which does not belief in Jesus Christ but in God only, and some other historically predominant world religious cultures like Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Lamaism, Sikhism e.t.c. as studied and researched into by scholars in the area of world religions.

I wonder whether the Bishop ever did religious studies in the university or did a dissertation on this subject in the university. Many scholars have done their Doctoral Degrees on world religions, including traditional religions, which they end up teaching in the university. Traditional religions are an important subject in a place like the Harvard Divinity School where a Nigerian, Olupona, is a professor of comparative religions. There is no perfect religion; if there is, there will be no need to subject every religion to critical study as an important methodology for the acceptance or rejection of a PhD Degree in Religion.

Obviously, our Bishop betrayed his lack of erudition in religious studies and more so of traditional religions. Hence he spoke, using expressions that seemed clever, but actually are not sincere, and do not show much thought. In this age of globalisation, and convergence of cultures, how does traditional religion lead to the retardation of progress? What progress, and whose progress?

All religions rest on belief in a Supreme Being known as God or Allah. What you call God or Allah is called Olorun (the owner of heaven) or Olodumare in Yoruba traditional religion. The ultimate prayers and sacrifices (there are sacrifices in the bible) of traditional religions is to our creator, Olorun or Olodumare. I think by traditional religion the Bishop means Yoruba (African) traditional religion which is an integral part of Yoruba culture. It is a pity our Bishop never read Bolaji Idowu’s popular book Olodumare which is a source of reference in the academic study of Yoruba traditional religion. As Christians, we offer our prayers to God directly or through His son Jesus Christ. This is not so for the Jews who do not belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God for which reason we call that religion Judaism or Judeo–Christian religion. Our Bishop should be bold enough to attack the Jews for not believing in Jesus Christ. The traditional religious priests like the Babalawos do make atonements or sacrifices to Olodumare through some lesser deities or gods, and such sacrifices have worked among the Yoruba.

This traditional religious belief has been with us ever before Mary Slessor and other colonialists introduced the Bible and Christianity to Nigeria. What the likes of our Bishop is now saying is that we should jettison our traditional and religious beliefs for foreign assimilated religion instead of using one to complement the other. It is unthinkable whether a Bishop would ask the Hindus or Buddhists to jettison their religions as he would want the Yoruba to jettison Ifa or the divination of the Babalawos whose practices have worked and largely accepted by many Nigerians, especially among the Yoruba and in the Diaspora. Afterall, a Bishop in Nigeria once proclaimed himself as a strong believer of Ifa and the practices of the Babalawos. I and my son, Olumide, have written in separate books that Ifa as a religion, culture and philosophy is not incompatible with Christian religion, nor traditional medicine incompatible with the principles and practices of orthodox medicine. Both religions aim at moral and righteous life while both medical practices aim at prolonging healthy lives on earth.

The ignorance of the Bishop shows clearly when Ifa is seen as a repository of knowledge. The concept of Omoluabi derives from an Odu Ifa while the bulk of African moral systems also derived from Odu Ifa that is being scientifically studied at home and abroad. Suffice is to say that this same Ifa as a core of Yoruba traditional religion has so captured the imagination of people in Brazil, Cuba, North America and other advanced regions of the world that the Yoruba traditional religion is being practiced in these places as African diasporic religion, sometimes with greater interest and intensity than we do here. In the last Orisa world conference at OAU, Ile-Ife where I delivered a key lecture on “Philosophy and Development: Lecture in Honour of Awo Ifatoogun” on 25 July, 2013, one would appreciate the popularity of Yoruba traditional religion as evident from the attendance from different parts of the world.

The Bishop shot himself at the foot when he veered from his original condemnation of traditional religion to an unsubstantiated rantings. Terribly confused, he changed his argument to say a different thing that Aregbe has placed traditional religion above other religions in the state. One may therefore ask him: what precisely is your grouse against Aregbesola and traditional religion? Is it its introduction or placing it above Christianity and Islam in the state? The absurdity of this religious howler is the fact that Aregbe is a muslim. Now, the Bishop has shifted to another preposterous position that the same Aregbesola is now trying to religiously traditionalize, and no longer Islamize the state just because the three recognized religions are now used in prayers at official functions in the state. Now we are confused as we do not know what to believe. This confusion is a perfect demonstration that some of our clerics have been talking as if they do not know what they are talking about.

We like to point out that culture and all religions are not immune to criticisms and revisions. To those who accept beliefs and norms without criticisms, cultures and religions are static, not evolutionary. We do not live in a world of unchanging beliefs. Thus, even in traditional religions, criticisms are welcome precisely because religious beliefs are dynamic in nature. Hence our Bishop should not be wholly bound by his subjective and dogmatic belief. As rational men we all have autonomous standing for reflexive criticisms. It is precisely these criticisms that have led to revisions of those things that the Bishop calls evil, because he is incapable of making a distinction between traditional religion of the last century and these of modern time when those aspects of traditional religion that offended our sensibilities have been jettisoned. If you like, call it traditional religion in its modernity, and this precisely is what has been recognised as the third tier of religion and practice among the Yoruba people of the State of Osun. Rather than berate Aregbesola’s effort in this direction in the 21st century, we should appreciate what he is doing to forge a unity of religions (just as we do in the unity of the sciences) among the three recognized religions in the state.

In fact, Yoruba traditional religion as practiced in Nigeria and in the Diaspora is part of the global study of African traditional religion. Why should Yoruba traditional religion be recognized in faraway places like Cuba, Brazil and the Americas and not be recognized in Nigeria, its source? Why should eminent Europeans like Susan Wenger and Ulli Bier be so interested in Yoruba culture and religion as to spend the better parts of their lives in Osogbo to the extent that one of them, Ulli Bier, has a Lecture Theatre at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding named after him in Abere, Osogbo? In as much as our Bishop acted in complete ignorance of what are meant by culture and religion and the relationship between the two, we would pardon him his offences, but he should apologize to governor Aregbesola and the entire Yoruba race, many of who not only believe in, but practice, traditional religion in Nigeria and in the Diaspora with equal passion and intensity as the christians and muslims believe in, and practise, their religions. After all religion, like philosophy and culture, is a way of life. This is probably why those who brought Christianity to Nigeria have recognized the same sex marriage which, because it is alien to our culture and traditional beliefs, Nigeria has rejected as taboo. But our holy Bishop has kept quiet about this religious and cultural evil.

I have said there is no perfect religion just as there is no perfect culture, otherwise there would not have been over 1000 Christian religious denominations as we have in Nigeria today. Now, if the Bishop’s motive is to disparage Aregbesola and the APC government in the State of Omoluabi (a derivation from Yoruba philosophy culture and traditional religion) over religious matters, he has failed woefully because he is on his own.

For all we know, Bishop Mike Bamidele may well be a hypocrite, like many of them who preach morality in the morning and break it at noon!

•Moses Akinola Makinde, FNAL is a Professor of Philosophy, DG/CEO, Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Osogbo.

Former Hillsong worship leader Darlene Zschech recently finished one of the five rounds of chemotherapy she must undergo for breast cancer. Amid losing hair and having emotional ups and downs, she’s being assured of God’s love, which is “one of the sweetest parts of the journey.”

“I am coming to the end of round one of chemo (I have 5 to go) and all I can say is, ‘Grace, grace and more grace,’” Darlene wrote on her blog Friday. “I am learning to rest in every promise from Jesus. In fact, it’s His word that is giving me the strength to inhale and exhale moment by moment.”

The singer/songwriter announced she had cancer around last Christmas.

On Dec. 29, she wrote on her blog that the doctors discovered at a routine mammogram she had developed breast cancer. “Since then, it has been a whirlwind of appointments, scans and surgery.”

“To be completely honest, this is not the kind of news anyone ever really wants to tell. However, I have seen two absolute miracles in my body thus far and I know there will be many more to come,” she said at the time, and quoted Romans 5:3-5: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character HOPE. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Zschech is most famous for penning the worship song “Shout to the Lord.” After serving as worship pastor at the Pentecostal Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, for over a decade, Zschech stepped down to co-pastor another church with her husband Mark. The couple has been leading Hope Unlimited Church on the Central Coast of New South Wales since 2011.

Since her cancer announcement, Zschech has been writing about her journey. She has been finding strength in the many prayers directed toward her as she goes through six months of treatment.

This week, she lost her hair which she finds “very confronting.” “It definitely makes me look sicker than I feel.”

The gospel singer wrote that her husband jokes with her saying she can now save a lot of money she would otherwise be paying to hairdressers. And their daughters have named her wig “Betty.” “I love my girls and they are keeping it light and laughter filled for me.”

While this has been “a quite a ride on an emotional roller,” she said, “I am assured of God’s love for me. Truly this has been one of the sweetest parts of the journey. My beautiful Emmanuel is never far away. Our Friends, family and our beloved church family are amazing every day. I’m ever convinced that life was always designed to be done in true community. Good days and bad days yet always better together.”

She said she has been using this time to write more songs and thoughts, which she’ll share “when I am on the other side of this mountain.”

“In fact, we are already planning a Thanksgiving service at our church in November, where we will record songs birthed during this season. We simply want to fill the place with praise for all that God has done,” she added.

Source: Christian Post