Tag Archives: Bible

The Bible did not condemn prostitution. Even virginity is a burden. – Ghanaian pastor

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Ghanaian marriage counselor, Rev. Cyril George Lutterodt has said the bible does not condemn prostitution.

 

In a chat with OKAY FM, Lutterodt said virgins are also burdens and no man wants to take a woman through sex education.

 

He said, “The Bible does not condemn prostitution, so God does not also.

 

“Even virginity is a burden.

 

“Eight out of ten men won’t want to have virgins because virgins are burdens,” he added.

 

Recall that Lutterot had claimed no man can satisfy a woman sexually.

 

He said women who claim to be contented after the act were just lying to hide their disappointment.

I will soon be richer than King Solomon in the Bible – Folorunsho Alakija

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Billionaire business tycoon, Folorunsho Alakija, has said she is working towards making more money than King Solomon in the Bible.

 

Alakija, one of the richest black women in the world, who recently said she did not attend any university, made this known weekend at the Kingsway International Christian Centre, KICC facilitated wealth creation platform which held in Lagos State.

 

She said, “I will make more money than King Solomon in the Bible. I am working towards that and with his grace, I will.”

 

Speaking further, Alakija gave some tips of making and sustaining wealth at the platform.

 

She revealed one of the things that has helped her grow in wealth has been the ability to be a go-getter.

 

“You can’t afford to be laid back, I’m not saying you should be aggressive without a purpose but I’m saying there are ways to be aggressive positively.

 

“I can tell you that you have to make that move, put yourself forward and be ready to face all hurdles.”

#MentalHealth: Pastor Sam Adeyemi and The Misconception of Sin – Tosin Adeda

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The night before which was a Saturday, for some reason I stayed up so late into the early hours of Sunday, and right there and then I made up my mind I would go to a nearby church, instead of travelling all the way from Yaba to Isolo as usual.

 

My sleep was so relaxing and long because I didn’t have to wake up early for church, since I was going nearby. Woke up checked my twitter and I saw a particular tweet from a friend directed at Pastor Sam Adeyemi  that goes thus “I respect you a lot Sir, but please stop this is nonsense”.

 

The confrontation didn’t really shock me, if you are a frequent user of the social media platform called Twitter, you would know it’s a leveller and it gives people this faux belief that they are equal with everyone. The ease of mentioning the handle of a particular person and getting your message across to him/her makes it a whole lot easier. Being Nigerians that we are, we tend to overdo and take things to the extreme, hence the reason why the confrontation didn’t shock me. People are naturally rude on social media.

 

What worried me however was the thought of what exactly Pastor Sam Adeyemi said to warrant such an affront. For those who don’t know, Pastor Sam Adeyemi is a teacher and pastor of Daystar Christian Centre in Lagos Nigeria. Unlike so many other “Men of God”, he is rather known for teaching the word of God according to the bible, and not the typical flamboyance that is known with many others.

 

“The root cause of mental illness is Sin. (Rom 6:23) and the foundational solution to mental health is salvation #MentalHealth” – @Sam_adeyemi

 

That was the tweet that caused a whole lot of rancour and uproar on twitter. There were two different angles to the outrage, and both angles were founded on ignorance and the bandwagon effect.

 

The first group of angry people based their anger on the fact that Pastor Sam was preaching against seeking medical help for sick people, especially mentally ill people. They went on and on about how he was using religion to misinform and lead people astray by preaching divine healings over medical help.

 

Firstly that tweet was taken out context of a long sermon on #MentalHealth. They were quick to pick out this one tweet and conveniently formed misinformed opinions about what they felt the pastor was talking about, rather than going through the entire thread of tweets to grasp and have an idea of the pastor’s general stand on the topic. Before this particular tweet, the pastor had already made spoken about #MentalHealth and the medical angle to it.

 

Below are some of the tweets.

 

“Mental Health is a state of emotional, psychological and social well being. #MentalHealth” – @Sam_adeyemi

 

“Mental illness is a real as physical illness. The lack of understanding gives room for a lot of ignorance & stigmatisation. #MentalHealth” – @Sam_adeyemi

 

There is a controversy amongst Christians on Mental Health issues because we believe it is spiritual issue #MentalHealth” – @Sam_adeyemi

 

Seeking medical help for physical or mental illness does not contradict God’s word or having faith for your healing. #MentalHealth” – @Sam_adeyemi
 

If something is wrong and you need medical attention or if you know anyone with mental illness. Please seek medical help. #MentalHealth” – @Sam_adeyemi

 

From the tweets above, it’s clear what Pastor Sam’s stand on mental illness is. He spoke against the stigmatisation of mentally ill people, spoke about the spiritualising of the ailment by ignorant Christians, advised people with the predicament to seek medical help, went further to explain to Christians that seeking medical help for ailments wasn’t against Christianity and in no way had any negatives on their faith.

 

He was very clear and straightforward, but only those wise and patient enough to check the whole message would have realized this, others who were quick to judge blindly, others who followed the band wagon, didn’t bother to find out before casting stones at the pastor.

 

The second set of angry people are of the opinion that Pastor Sam blamed victims for their predicaments by saying the root cause is sin.

 

In a way I can understand the outrage of these set of people because they really did not understand what he meant by sin and the biblical angle from which he was speaking. In as much as I can pardon these set of people, however there are some who are supposed Christians who are expected to understand the concept of sin he spoke about, but sadly their Sunday school classes as kids didn’t impact them so much.

 

Before I explain what he meant by sin, I’ll like to state here that anyone who doesn’t believe in the bible and thinks it’s a myth shouldn’t bother with my explanation, because it would mean nothing to you, as everything I’ll be explaining will be from the bible.

 

When God created man in the book of Genesis, he made man in his own image, man had dominion over the earth and everything on earth, man named every animal, man was in the Garden of Eden, enjoying life according to the plans of God. God would come down to Adam and Eve to fellowship with them in the Garden, there was no hardship, no sicknesses, no death, the mind of man was pure and clean, Adam and Eve didn’t even know they were naked.
Temptation came from the devil in form of the serpent, Eve fell and Adam also fell afterwards. At this point they knew they had done bad and began to hide from God.

 

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. – Genesis 3: 8

 

The conversation between Man and God went thus, for the first time it was different, there was an element of guilt. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” – Genesis 3:9

 

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” – Genesis 3: 10

 

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” – Genesis 3: 11

 

At this point God was displeased with man and the whole plan of God for man changed in the following verses.
So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

 

“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,  and you will strike his heel.” – Genesis 3: 14 – 15

 

To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labour you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” – Genesis 3: 16

 

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

 

“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.

 

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. – Genesis 3: 17 – 19

 

God did not only place curses on man, he also ensured that they left the Garden of Eden lest man ate from the tree of life and live forever.

 

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.  – Genesis 3: 22

 

So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. – Genesis 3: 23

 

From this moment on, sin came into the world and every form of hardship and sufferings known to mankind today were birthed.

 

Going further into the New Testament, God decided to reconcile with mankind and had the perfect plan of redemption for mankind, hence he sent his only begotten son Jesus, to come die and pay for the sins of mankind. In Romans 3:23 the bible says that “for all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”

 

In Romans 6:23 the bible says that the wages of sin is death and the free gift of God is eternal life, through Christ Jesus.

 

What Pastor Sam did was introduce salvation into the #MentalHealth teaching by bringing up the genesis of mental illness and every imperfection of man to the sin of Adam, and went ahead to insert (Romans 6:23) which was a reminder to every man the consequences of the sin of the first man and the plan of redemption in Christ for everyone who accepts Christ.

 

The book of Romans 5: 12 – 21 gives a perfect explanation as regards the fall of man through the sin of Adam and Eve, how it affects everyone and the plan of redemption.

 

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned – Romans 5:12

 

To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. – Romans 5:13

 

Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. – Romans 5:14

 

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many – Romans 5:15

 

Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. – Romans 5:16

 

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! – Romans 5:17

 

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. – Romans 5:18

 

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:19

 

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 5: 20 -21

 

Everything Pastor Sam spoke about on #MentalHealth was correct both medically and biblically, the problem was that people were selective and chose to misinterpret him for whatever reasons, while other were ignorant of the biblical consequences of the fall of man that brought sin into the world.

 

I hope I’ve been able to shed more light on the Pastor’s message.

We Don’t Support Same Sex Marriage, It Is Against Our Belief – RCCG Pastor

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A Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG Camp ground while briefing journalists yesterday at the Redemption camp about the forth coming congress in December, where he explained that the new auditorium will conveniently adequate 12 million worshipers disclosed that the body of Christ- RCCG is totally against same sex marriage and will not support it.

“We don’t support it. There is no where in the Bible where God said people of the same sex can get married. The stand of the church is very clear and it states; one man, one wife,” he said

#PAUSIBILITY: The Silhouette Of This Presidential Election by Adebayo Coker

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The dark clouds that gathered on our nation has finally cleared. The jubilation on the streets could be likened to the celebration we had when that killer wolf, Abacha was announced dead (no apology to the Abachas as I am not responsible for their father’s irrationality). The good Lord loves this nation. The doomsayers and those prophets that had in their own flesh believed the elections will not hold and if at all it held, the incumbent will be returned, should be left alone in their pulpits as I would want to believe that people would stop ‘patronizing’ such men that lack both physical and spiritual vision.

Let me quickly congratulate all of us for the peaceful conduct of the last week’s Presidential Election. The unprecedented determination of the masses was displayed as people trooped out en mass, both old and young, defying whatever weather conditions, to salvage the country from the seemingly continued abyss and dysfunction it was being navigated into. People invested their night-club time, queued and voted into the dead of the night; some even continued the voting exercise the following day regardless of the frustration brought about by poor logistics of INEC. The common Nigerians resolved in their hearts that the road may be rough but the destination will be reached. The onus of responsibility shelved on our shoulders was borne with utmost maturity that has now birthed a new Nigeria for all of us. Once again, Congratulations!

The hiccups witnessed in some states were indications that we still have space to improve on our growing democratic and electioneering process. Though barbaric, we will get there gradually. I am sure the coming Gubernatorial elections will be better than the Presidential in those South-South and South-East states where acts of brigandage were recorded. The people of those zones will not allow their common will to be truncated.

I managed the tension that was built up during the collation and announcements of the election results in Abuja as it was televised so well that anytime I wanted to misbehave I would ask myself what would GMB or Jonathan be doing by now? That made put myself under check not to die for nothing; the protagonists may not have to check their blood pressure at all, after all it is a game of numbers.

Let me stop here again to congratulate one man that history will vilify for his ineptitude and will also recognise for his sportsmanship, President Goodluck Azikwe Ebele Jonathan.

I am not here to add salt to the injury of anyone but I must say my mind as much as I would not want to talk about politics again via this blog. Starting next week, I want to talk about Citizen’s Rights especially regarding the power that we wield through our votes.

Sir, I ‘defended’ you amongst some people that believed you are politically finished. I told them you enjoy a great deal of goodwill amongst your party men which will earn you the Presidential ticket of your party on a platter of gold just as the same had won it for you in this past election. I am sure you can still sustain that till 2019. I also told them that all your aides love you so much and are ever ready to live with you in Otuoke after 29th May, 2015. Also, we will see great a number of ‘Nuttywood’ stars that will die for you just as some of them had proclaimed.

Your aides were your greatest enemies but I hope this time, you will tell them to have their heads checked with their recent April Fool publication of your humble self deserving of a Nobel Prize. Tell them Alfred didn’t understand the word ‘indolence’, neither did he leave any of his legacies behind for any act of malfeasance. Tell them to stop scamming you by preaching that you could be endorsed by anyone in the Academy that organizes the Nobel Prize because such a prize can’t be bought with dollars. The Prize is not given to anyone who failed in office as a President but admitted the obvious when voted out. You did nothing extraordinary by conceding an obvious defeat. Anyway, you have my good wishes in your future endeavors. When fortune throws anything at one, the beneficiary should try to understand the responsibility that comes with such a gift. I am sure we all will get a better understanding of the transience of power through your acts in office.

I believe the education and social exposure of ‘Elder’ Orubebe should have been added to common sense expected of a man of his caliber to understand that in politics you lose some and you win some. If we conduct an investigation on his home, he must be a wife beater. No matter what apology the elder gentleman may tender after that display of what one good friend of mine tagged “the last rant of a mad man”; he has etched the name of his forebears and future generations in the black book of history. The web will forever hold on to that show of shame for easy referral. Thank God for a more matured Jega, the devil would have used the ‘Pastor’ to truncate our peaceful democratic transition. I am sure that but for the sportsmanship GEJ displayed, he wouldn’t have tendered any apology for that act that even an Asari Dokubo would condemn.

Another lesson to be learnt is that of synergy. I call it: The Synergy That Works. Neither Tinubu nor Buhari could do it alone. Both came together, placed their cards on the table, reached a compromise and formed an alliance to oust their common enemy. They doggedly followed through, sacrificed their personal egos and ambitions, came up with the best of their best (politically and otherwise), and managed their campaigns as well as their candidates including their supporters. Then the result came. Kudos! I hope no one will become too much of a political liability that it will discredit the slogan of CHANGE you so much touted as your singsong?

Let me call your attention to some happenings that may unfold in a few days.

Our national geography may be affected with this Presidential Election results because Fayose had threatened to secede from Nigeria if GMB wins, so, am waiting.

Let us also be wary of Bastard Doyin Okupe (don’t crucify me for adding that appellation. He christened himself that immediately APC clocked one year) because he had threatened that never will GMB be a President in this land. Could it be likened to the report of BY THIS TIME TOMORROW in the bible?

Mama Peace should be put under adequate surveillance: not that she would run away but I suspect someone may attempt suicide. The officers of the law that had turned themselves to attack dogs, political tools and thugs should be ready to take their conscience to the dry cleaners by now. I don’t want to talk about FFK for I know he will dust his APC membership card and start singing Sai Baba!

I am sure any politician will now understand better what we “the collective children of anger” can do and undo. I am glad with the youths of this nation that did not allow themselves to be used as tools of confusion.

Lastly to GMB and Osibajo, I wish I can readily congratulate you and remind you that a friend to a friend of mine used to be your neighbor in Kaduna and Anthony respectively but I am not tempted to give you a hug yet. Not just yet till we start seeing that CHANGE you sold to us in your manifesto. As for me I will begin the change in my small space as I would want to believe that my President will not condone any iota of corruption and would protect me with the rule of law in the face of whatever interest other than national interest, both locally and internationally.

I wish all of us well. It is a New Nigeria after all.

#INSIGHTWITHLARIGOLD: Of New Year Goals and Resolutions by @Lanre_Olagunju

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Thanks for reading this column ever since it started on this blog in May 2012. I also want to specially congratulate all my ardent followers and readers for making it into the New Year. You honestly should find some time to expressly ventilate an heartfelt thank-you to your guardian angel for a job well done. Most essentially when you consider that as a nation, 2012 was such a long year with several collections of disasters, gruesome killings and drama.

You might not necessarily be at a vantage point to dictate all the happenings of 2013, but to a great extent, you personally can still tell 2013 that which you want it to do and the role it should play in this chapter of the unconscious biography of yourself that you’re writing. Moreover, 2013 is still a very obedient child.

It’s actually a lot safer to pilot one’s life with clearly written goals than to depend on any autopilot of any sort. It becomes easier to persevere, remain focus and be persistent when goals are set and clearly written. Nothing boosts the self-confidence of a person striving to achieve a dream than the clearly written goals which clearly shows the end from the beginning. Goals help in mapping out sharp and intelligent problem solving strategies. Research conducted by sport psychologist reveals that world’s best athletes have concise and simple daily targets. They brilliantly understand how their daily targets connect with their long term goals.

I suggest that instead of a resolution which majorly focuses on things you actually struggled with in previous years, in 2013, do goals. Without any iota of doubt, you’d agree that many resolutions don’t live beyond the few days of the first month. And the adverse effect of this is that it makes you look incapacitated too early in the year, losing your self-confidence and self-esteem over your inability to stay true to them.

So why focus on what you don’t want to do when life has given you a plane slate where you can essentially write the things you want to see yourself do and achieve. In fact, research says that only 8 percent of those who actually make New Year resolutions truly keep them. I like the way the author of The Word For Today daily devotional puts it. “The key to breaking stubborn habits is not fighting them in your own strength. That only keeps your focus on the problem, intensifying its power. Changing your focus and submitting to God moment by moment is the key to winning, whether it’s a problem or a hang-up’”

It’s not just okay to come up with goals for the entire year in your head. As a matter of fact, it’s as good as a waste of time, definitely because they won’t live beyond the first few weeks of the year at best. When goals are written, they become so real, easy to interpret and easy to follow through. The case study of the three percent Harvard alumni who wrote down their goals at graduation, and thereafter thirty years, made more money than the 97 percent who did not; divulges that successful people write down their goals. No wonder the bible said “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it.”

It’s also important that you remain flexible as you go despite your goals. This is important because things do not always go according to plan, circumstances beyond your control might crop up, giving way to the unexpected. At such times, flexibility will help in re-adjusting your goals to suit into the unforeseen situation. In the same light, life would throw opportunities you never planned at you, by being flexible, you’d be able to respond and make the best use of them.

Do have my best wishes in 2013!

I am @Lanre_Olagunju

#INSIGHTWITHLARIGOLD runs on www.omojuwa.com every Saturday.