Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world , and preach the gospel to every creature….Mark 16:15.
“Go ye therefore , and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father , and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo , I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world. Amen”Matthew 28:19-20.
SUNDAY MESSAGE ONLINE.
Sometime in 2014, a particular Pentecostal Church with a very popular pastor, who is a friend unknowingly threw his weight behind APC when the party was contesting the election.
It was very obvious to all the members of the church from his messages that he was a member of APC.
Unfortunately, he never knew that majority of his members were supporting PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan in particular.
He came one Sunday morning to find the church deserted and empty.
Can the church get involved in the political dirtiness without getting enmeshed.
Jesus is all-knowing.
THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD.
……………………………………………………
MEMO.
From : Assistant General Overseer ( Admin/Personel).
To: All Pastors in charge of Regions and Provinces.
DATE: 28th February 2022.
Ref. ……..
SUBJECT: OFFICE OF DIRECTORATE AND GOVERNANCE.
Calvary Greetings……
We write to formally notify you that the mission authority has created the office of Directorate of Politics and Governance in the RCCG………The essence of the Directorate is to help coordinate the engagement of our people who are willing to be involved in Politics as well as mobilize support for them when required……
JESUS AND RELIGIO-POLITICAL THEOCRACY.
“Jesus answered ,My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world , then would my servants fight…”John 18:36.
The Kingdom of God which the church represents did not originate in this world, nor should it seek to take over the world’s system through involvement in politics.
Jesus never came to establish a religio-political theocracy or aspire to world dominion because he saw the injustice of the Roman Government even to his people.
Since such is the case ,the disciples were not to ally themselves with political parties ,social pressure groups or any secular organization in order to establish the kingdom of God.
The church must not turn the cross into a boastful attempt to rule the society.
Even though ,that doesn’t mean,that we should be indifferent to God’s demand for just government, justice, peace or curtailing lawlessness, we can use prayer and prophetic word ,
to rebuke the state and those in authority concerning its moral responsibilities under God.Without abusing them.
The church should not be in politics like a political party. They should rather be stating the position on issues and encourage their members to support candidate that support those issues.
JESUS FLOGGED THEM.
Jesus was even angry when people brought the commercial world into the temple.
He flogged them.
Do you think he will be happy when people bring in politics into His church today? On certain occasions, in His earthly ministry,Jesus rejected political office.
“When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force , to make him king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone”John 6:15.Should we in all sincerity agree that politics and Christianity should should blend together?
There is a reason why Jesus insisted that the church be separated from the state.
In a country like Nigeria with diverse Religious beliefs and low level of tolarance, my personal opinion is that the church as the bride of Christ should keep her distance from involvement in the politics of the world. Why should the church meddle in political affairs. I personally believe that it is a betrayal to the mandate and the body of Christ whom they represent.We can only speak truth to power.
This country has been divided enough through ethnic and religion. No church should,by open declaration and encouragement set the country on fire.We are all sad with the way the state of affairs but we must base on our actions on the Scriptures.
My personal opinion is that it is a bad idea for the church to create a directorate for politics.People can argue; of course that is their right. But eternity will tell.
If the church wants to get involved in Politics, let it be ready when Politics gets involve in the church.
I pray that it doesn’t consume the church.
ARE THEY READY FOR THE SMOKE?.
RCCG and any other church for that matter should not join politics, if they do ,they should be ready for the smoke, and not cry “blasphemy” when politics starts cooking.
If they can’t stand the heat, they better not come near kitchen.
First things first, the church has no duty in creating this kind of office….
Let’s come down to logic, I expect members to be of various political parties, how will the church “coordinate engagement and mobilize support” How can it be done?
Indeed this looks like a move for a registered political party in the making ! But the church must come clear. The true church cannot lobby to govern the world and also be spiritually resident in heaven.
“They are not of the world , even as I am not of the world “ John 17:16.
There is nowhere in the Bible that Jesus instructed His people to join politics. Those who are not versed in the scriptures keep making references to the Old Testament dispensation and ignoring the present dispensation of grace.
But they refuse to appropriate the curses in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
They limit their reading of that particular chapter to verses 1-14.
OUR FOCUS.
The apostles focused all their energy on the work of salvation. Jesus only instructed that we should obey those in authority
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers , to obey magistrates , to be ready to every good work “Titus 3:1.
The only exception occurs when governmental laws conflict with our commitment to the Lord Jesus and the clear teaching of His Word ( Acts 5:29).
What will happen if catholic priests and bishops will be on altars campaigning for its members, same with anglicans, will be telling their members to vote only members of same denomination.
Is it not war we are calling for?
Won’t there be more division in the church .Let us all be very careful.
The church ought to be apolitical. RCCG has only succeeded in creating chaos in their church. Imagine if two members of the same province are contesting for a position in different parties?! The church will be divided and the rest will be history.
If only people understand what the church stands for we will be seeing everything wrong in this decision.
NOT READY FOR STRIFE.
Can anybody just point to any Bible reference in the New Testament that supports the creation of a religious directorate in the church ? Just one Bible verse in support of this.
I am not interested in any carnal argument or strife , only the final day shall vindicate the just.
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive ; but gentle unto all men , apt to teach , patient.In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves ; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth “ 2Timothy 2:24-25.
The relationship the church has with politics is to Advise her members to pray,get their pvc ready and vote for the candidate of their choice..
Not dragging the Church into politicking or appearance of evil.
May we spend some time to pray for the church at large this Sunday for divine direction so that our “church sense” will not take us away from the kingdom of God.
“But I speak this by permission and not by commandment……yet I give my judgment , as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful “1 Corinthians 7: 6,25.