Merchandised Holy Water: How Christian?

YEMI OLAKITAN

Holy water is a popular phenomenon in some Christian denominations in Nigeria. This concept held so much belief by some Christians that it is said to cure various diseases.  This water is even reportedly sold to believers in some churches.  Yemi Olakitan examines the concept in the light of biblical texts and Christian views through various interviews and chats with many clerics from various denominations. 

In a chat with Prophet, Dr Isaiah Oluatansuyi (Baba Aladura) of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and seraphim Church, Ijo Peter Omojola Memorial, Apongbo, he said, ‘‘Holy Water is one of the paths that was laid down by the founder of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. The late Moses Orimolade, the founder of the C&S Church used water, olive oil, perfume and incense to do various types of healings and miracles.  Water, in particular, is a tool of power and grace in the Cherubim and seraphim Church Movement. Moses Orimolade used Holy water for cleaning and prayers. Water is one of the substances that God first created and it signifies life. It is a life given force. We usually pray over water, sometimes for three days, sometimes five days. It is by faith. These prayers are conducted by anointed prophets of God in the church. The Holy water is then used for deliverance, miracles and healings of various types. A child was brought to me recently for prayers. He was born with an ailment in his tongue and could not talk as he began to grow. The parents wanted to take him to the hospital, not that hospital is bad, but the Lord told me to use olive oil and we used it and the child began to speak.  God makes use of whatever he chooses in this ministry of healing. He can use water to heal, he can use oil. We cannot limit him. The important thing is faith. I have used sugar cane to heal a certain woman who was suffering from a severe cough and she received her healing. No-one should say that Holy water is it is wrong, it depends on how God wants to deal with you.’’ speaking further, he said, it is wrong to sell Holy water to believers, salvation is free. Christians are to give a freewill offering. They should not be coerced,’’ he said.

       In another chat with Ms Chibuzor Momoh, a member of the Celestial Church of Christ, Holy Cross Parish, Ikeja, she opined that ‘‘Holy water is usually prescribed for a person in the Celestial Church of Christ. The practice is attached to one’s faith. It can be used for healing and deliverance. There was a time I was fighting some battles in my personal life. The holy water was prescribed to me. There was also a time I was sick I used Holy water. It can be used to watch one’s feet, head or bath. I believe in holy water because I have had personal testimonies from using it. Sometimes, it can be prescribed that one should use it with perfume. It is the Holy Spirit in the water that performs the miracles and answers one’s prayer. I believe in it because it worked for me. You can sprinkle it upon yourself. Holy water is used in the Celestial Church of Christ, Cherubim and seraphim and the Catholic Church. It is peculiar to us at the Celestial Church of Christ. If a believer uses it in spirit and in truth, it works but you have to back it up with prayer and fasting.  The anointing oil that the Pentecostals used, is it not mixed with faith? It is the same thing. The Bible says, according to your faith be it unto you. I have drunk it for about 41 days at some time when a prophecy was given to me, I followed it to the latter. In celestial Church of Christ, we do not sell Holy water. You have to bring your own water and the shepherdess will pray on it and it will work if you believe.’’

In another chat with Deacon Olayemi Tijani of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Agbala Ore Ofe Model Parish, Lagos Island, he said, ‘‘Holy water is not emphasized in the Bible when Jesus shed his blood on the cross, and he already paid the price. The blood of Jesus Christ was enough for the Christians, there was no longer any need for holy water or any other sacrifice. The bible says that anyone who calls upon the name of Jesus shall be saved.  I do not blame those who use Holy water, it is their doctrine. When you go to the Catholic Church, they still use many old doctrines; they do not want to change. Many of these doctrines have changed and they are modernized.’’  

Speaking on those who are selling Holy Water, he said it is very wrong for any man of God to sell Holy water because salvation is free. Jesus Christ died for humanity. He gave his life as a ransom; he did not collect money for it. There was a man in the Bible that requested to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit from the Apostles, he was rebuked. You cannot buy the Holy Spirit or any of his gifts; therefore the merchandising of Holy water is a terrible error of Christianity.’’

Pastor Jaiye Abiola, of the Christ Life Church, said, ‘‘the concept of Holy water is only symbolic and the denominations that practice the use of Holy Water use such to key into the faith of the individual. The Bible says, according to your faith be it unto you. We cannot condemn the use of Holy water in prayers neither can we condemn the people who make use of it. It is part of African behaviours we attach a lot of importance to the concept of symbolism. When clerics say that one should go and bath in the river or pray into the water to drink it is basically symbolic. All these are meant to arouse the faith of the person involved. We cannot say that it is not biblical because water itself is symbolic, it symbolizes life even Jesus Christ told the blind man to go and wash in the pool and he got his healing. It is not unbiblical to use water to minister to believers. However, that does not mean that one must use water because the same Jesus healed people without water by merely touching them.’’

On whether holy water should be sold, He said, it is absolutely wrong to sell Holy Water to the believers. Salvation is free and should not be sold. Anyone involved in such practices is definitely not a Christian. It is purely unbiblical to sell holy water.’’ He said.

Deacon Chima of the Global Church of the Living God, said, ‘‘holy water can be used to minister healing or deliverance because the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. The same Holy Spirit who uses anointing oil can also use water. He, however, said that the sale of holy water in whatever disguise is repugnant and unbiblical and should not be encouraged.’’ According to him, ‘‘many false prophets are on the loose, they all want money. This is why they merchandise Holy water for their congregation. This is not right, salvation is free, our Lord Jesus Christ died for humanity. He gave his life as a ransom for humanity and he did not sell anything.  The men who are in the ministry for the money they will make will always find a way to carry out their agenda. The Lord Jesus did not sell anything, his mission was clear; to give his life as a ransom for many and he commanded us to preach the Gospel of salvation free of charge.’’

In another chat with Pastor Emmanuel Onoja of Hope of Life evangelical Church, he said, holy water is not a doctrine of his church and it is not condoned. ‘As you know, Christianity is a subject of faith. The bible says that if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, we shall say to this mountain be thou cast into the sea and nothing shall be impossible unto you. A Christians who believe can pray to water and it will become a healing tonic or medicine to the body. We do not discourage people who use holy water either. We at the Hope of Life Evangelical believe in the use of anointing oil and that is what we preach in all our services.’’ He said.  

In a conversation with Mrs Shola Abimbola, a Deaconess at Global Church of the Living God, she said, '' We cannot completely condemn the sale of Holy Water. We have to look at the motives behind the sale. If the motive is to enable people to contribute financially to the preaching of the Gospel, then, there is nothing wrong with the sale. It all depends on the motive.  If a token is attached to the distribution of packaged Holy Water for healings, miracles, prayers and works of deliverance to enable people to sow a seed in the work of evangelism, charity, Church building projects, overseas missions, etc how can we condemn that? I believe that motives must carefully be examined before we condemn anything as Christians because only God knows the intents of the hearts. We humans do not have all the information to make an imperfect judgement. I will not condemn anybody,''' she said.