The significance of Easter

The significance of Easter

Yemi Olakitan

Easter, like many of the major festivals of the Christian faith is one of the most popular holidays in the world. Easter is also very important to many Christians. However Easter has been argued in some schools of thought to be of pagan origin. Denominations such as the Seventh Day Adventist, The Jehovah’s witnesses have refused to celebrate it. However, Easter remain a global Christian festival that commands huge following. Pentecostal, Protestants and the Orthodox churches such as the Catholic Church celebrates Easter every year. Yemi Olakitan, Senior Correspondent takes a look at the issues. He examines the importance of Easter to the Christian faith as well as the origin. Should the origin of Easter dim its importance to the Church?  Is Easter still relevant today?

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Easter is one of the major festivals of the Christian church in which the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated on the third day of his Crucifixion. In the Christian calendar, Easter follows Lent, the period of 40 days before Easter. Easter is immediately preceded by the Holy Week, which includes Monday, Thursday, the commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples; Good Friday, the day of his Crucifixion; and Easter Saturday, the transition between Crucifixion and Resurrection.  Easter is perhaps the most sacred day in Christian history, Why, is Easter so important? In a chat Abiodun Davies, of the United African Methodist Church, (UAMC) he said, ‘‘there would be no such thing as Christianity if it was not for Easter. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the basis of everything in Christianity. Christ’s death allows us to be reunited with God.  His resurrection gives us hope that we too will live again, after death. The book of (1 Corinthians 15:13-17) says, “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).’’

Speaking further Davies said, ‘‘Easter is significant to the Christian faith because it refers to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what people say about the origin that remains in the past. Today, Easter is a celebration of our Lord Jesus. He died, he rose and we lived. That to me is far more important for a Christian to celebrate and remember.

According to the American Book of Days, Easter, has many traditions which are derived from folk customs. An example is the Easter eggs, which is said to have started in the 12th century. The Easter eggs is said to be popular among Christians in Europe and the United States. It is part of the celebration just like Christmas trees, Father Christmas, Christmas lights, decorations, and the exchange of Christmas gifts. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the fast and eat them on Easter as a celebration. Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two popular egg-related traditions. In the U.S., the White House Easter Egg Roll, a race in which children push decorated, hard-boiled eggs across the White House lawn, is an annual event held the Monday after Easter. The first official White House egg roll occurred in 1878, when Rutherford Hayes was president.

One of the denominations that rejected Easter are the ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’. In an official statement on Easter, It says  Easter is a pagan holiday and they prefer to observe the last Super instead, ‘‘we observe the  Memorial of Jesus Death as he commanded each year on the anniversary of his death according to the Bible’s lunar calendar.’’ —Luke 22:19, 20.

Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, during a communion service held at the Rock Cathedral, Lekki, in Lagos said he preferred to call Easter by another name, ‘‘Resurrection Sunday,’’  because of the origin.

Reverend Andrew Akinsuyi on the other hand said, ‘‘it is foolish to condemn Easter on the basis of customs which are clearly not related to paganism anymore. We should focus on the significance of Easter. Are we still pagans today? The answer is no. Whatever people use to celebrate Easter today is done in honour of Christ resurrection.’’ 

Reverend Father, Vincent Serpa of the Catholic, in a Church Question and Answer publication said, ‘‘First of all, who do you know that worships Christmas trees? Nobody that I know; that’s for sure! Just as people can be Christianized, so can their customs and celebrations. Christianity is a powerful thing because it is the power of God on earth. Catholic Christians have always believed this. So they Christianized trees at Christmas and eggs at Easter. Who remembers the Christmas tree or Easter as pagan things? One has to dig deep to find pagan worship in them. It is better to rejoice that they have become vehicles for celebrating the love of Christ.

In a chat with Bamidele Mathew of the Catholic Church, our Lady of perpetual Help, Lagos, he said, ‘‘people should look at the importance of the Easter festival today. It is possible that People were celebrating Easter to honour their pagan gods, many years ago. Today, it is no longer so. Easter is now a celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. We should rejoice at this instead of focusing on history that has been buried by the truth and the light of Christ. There is nobody that celebrates Easter today in the name of paganism but in the name of the true risen Christ. This, to me, is more important than tracing the history of Easter. Its relevance, its significance, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus is what is more important and that is what Easter reminds us of today. Whatever it meant for ancient pagans no longer matters today, for Christians, Easter is the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. The fact that when it was first celebrated the feast of the Resurrection coincided with pagan rites doesn’t mean it was derived from them. The Jewish Passover (on which Christ was crucified) also coincided with such celebrations, yet this didn’t mean it was pagan.’’   

In another discussion with the Venerable Thomas Adebayo Fagbayi of African Church Cathedral, Bethel, Broad street, Lagos, he traced the history of Easter to the Bible. According to him, the significance of Easter is far more important than its origin. ‘‘Easter is one of the Christian festivals in Christendom that is just as important as Christmas. If you look at Christmas as well, some people have claimed that Christmas is of pagan origin. This is foolish.  In the scriptures, you will see that the children of Israel celebrated the Passover which is a remembrance of how God delivered them from Death and bondage in the land of Egypt. God commanded them to kill a year old lamb and put his blood on the doorsteps so that the angel of death can pass over their homes as he goes about slaying their Egyptian enemies. They followed the instruction and they were delivered.

 The Israelites have continued to celebrate Passover to this day as God commanded them.

 Jesus Christ is the greater lamb. John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus saw Jesus for the first time and referred to him as the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. The one year old lamb which was slaughtered by the Jews symbolized Jesus.  If the Jews celebrated the Passover? Christians should celebrate the greater lamb who took away the sins of the world.  He was slain for our transgressions and his blood connects us back to God. He resurrected and he gives us hope of eternal life with him. Is that not worth celebrating? Do you know of anyone else who resurrected in the history of man?  This is why we celebrate Easter. At Christmas, we celebrate his birth and at Easter, we celebrate his resurrection. If some people celebrated Easter as a pagan event in the past, that is past. Today, it is no longer so, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of the son of God, It is a celebration of life’’ he said.

Christian Dressing: What does the Bible really teach?

Christian Dressing: What does the Bible really teach?

Yemi Olakitan 

Should a woman wear trouser? Should a woman wear jewelry? Should a woman wear earrings? These questions are major controversy in Christendom today. To some denominations, the wearing of ear rings is enough to take a woman to hell fire. To some the use of any form of make up or hair attachment could earn a woman utter damnation in the presence of God. Are these the true teachings of the Bible or the mere doctrine of men?

The issue of how a Christian should dress, particularly a woman has become a major doctrine in Nigerian Churches. There are many denominations where a woman must dress in a certain way. There are also other churches where moderation is the key.  Preachers, evangelists often declare the immodesty of wearing these things by women. Churches such as Deeper Life Bible Church, Mountain of fire and Miracles Ministry and the Lord’s Chosen are among those that have promoted these doctrines.  However, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Winners Chapel, House on the Rock and many other new generation churches do not find these things inappropriate. In a chat with Revrend Andrew Akinsuyi of the Salvation Church of God Mission, he said, the scriptures often quoted in support of this doctrine are:  “(Deuteronomy 22:5).  "A woman shall not be clothed with a man’s apparel; neither shall a man use woman’s apparel: for he that doeth this thing is abominable before God. 1 Peter 3:3-4 3.   Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  1 Peter 3:2-5 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.⁵ for this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, I Timothy 2:9: “In like manner also, that woman adorns themselves in modest apparel…”  While explaining these scriptures Reverend Akinsuyi said, these denominations wrongly interpreted the word of God.

 

 The word “modest” is defined in Collin’s English Dictionary as: 1. having or expressing a humble opinion of oneself or one’s accomplishments or abilities; 2. reserved or shy; 3. not ostentatious or pretentious; 4. not extreme or excessive, moderate; 5. decorous or decent. Therefore, God expects a woman to dress in a proper, well-mannered fashion—certainly not in a provocative, outlandish or excessive way. Christians are to be examples to those around them, living the pages of the Bible for those who never read them. Their appearance and actions should exude stability and good judgment.

 

The question about whether Christian women should wear pants or slacks is an issue that is raised about externals when the life of the child of God should rather be about a spiritual relationship based upon our position in Christ as believers. The obedience of a child of God is not measured by what clothing we wear but by our walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
When looking at “doubtful things," we need to use Scripture in context for the principles that will help us walk as believers, which means considering the dispensation and the whole counsel of God and not taking passages out of context. There is a passage in the Old Testamentthat speaks about a woman wearing men's clothing: "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this" (Deuteronomy 22:5). The context of this passage is the second giving of the law to the nation of Israel as they were poised to enter the Promised Land. Deuteronomy is an admonition not to live as a transvestite. This has to do with more than just clothing; it also speaks of a life that emulates in every way those of the opposite sex. Transvestitism was a practice of the Canaanites, and Israel was to consider it an abomination. We take a principle from this and apply it to our lives as believers, but we must use it in the context in which it is given and do so in relation to the dispensation of grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote extensively on the difference between the law and grace in Romans. We are not justified by our adherence to the law, but we are justified by faith in Christ (Romans 3:21-28). The believer in Christ Jesus is "dead" to the constraints of the law. "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code" (Romans 7:6). Therefore, a believer does not live by legalism, nor by license, but rather by grace.

What has that to do with a believing woman wearing pants? There is no biblical law that says what a woman should wear or not wear. Rather, the issue is one of modesty. Paul addresses the modesty of women in his first letter to Timothy. "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God" (1 Timothy 2:9-10). The Greek word translated "modest" is the Greek word kosmios, which is translated twice in the New Testament, once as "modest" in this passage and once as "of good behavior" in1 Timothy 3:1. It came to mean "well-arranged, seemly, and modest."

The word clothes is the Greek word katastole. The meaning of the word was "to send or to let down or lower." It was primarily a garment that was let down and in that day referred to a stole or a loose outer garment worn by kings and persons of rank. Since we know that Paul was not speaking to people of rank, the context here is simply modest attire, and it does not specify what that entails. Paul addressed this issue here because the women in the church were trying to outdo each other in how they dressed and the flashier the better. They were losing sight of the things that should adorn a godly woman—humility, sobriety, godliness, and good works. The words "dress modestly" are not used here in the context of specific garments, but rather to being clad in a modest covering. It should not be used to prove a prohibition against wearing pants (also see1 Peter 3:3-4).

So, the issue is that a woman should wear modest clothing. Whether or not that includes a pair of slacks should be a matter for the woman's own conscience before the LORD. If a woman allows her outward appearance to be the measure of her inward relationship with Christ, she is living under the constraints of legalism. Born-again women are free in Christ to wear whatever modest apparel they choose, and the only judgment they should be under is that of their own conscience. "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). We are not to allow our consciences to be dictated to by legalism and the consciences of others, but by our own relationship with Christ. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). God will take care of the outward woman if we walk in obedience in the inward woman.

Denominational-ism: For good or ill

Yemi olakitan 

      Christendom today has experienced denominationalism more than any other religion in the world.  According to the World English Dictionary, denominationalism is a sectarian spirit or policy or the division into denominations or sects. Denominationalism is the inclination of religious groups to experience schisms and separate into different groups over disagreements about doctrinal matters. In the Bible, it was the will of the Lord Jesus Christ that Christians should remain a united, indivisible unit, operating in love since love is the basis of the Christian faith.  Jesus prayed, ‘‘Holy Father; keep through your name those whom, you have given me that they may be one as we are. John 17:11. ‘‘I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in us , that the world may believe that You sent Me.’’ John 17:20,21.  However, over the years, Christianity has been divided into numerous denominations.  The questions arise; how beneficial is this to the body of Christ? Is the denominationalism the path of the Lord?  Shouldn’t all Christian denominations come together? What are the causes of denominationalism in a religion of love?

History revealed that in the first century, there was only one church, the Roman Catholic Church which was the earliest.  After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Jewish Christian movement was scattered and under heavy persecution.  The Roman Empire legally recognized Pauline Christianity as a valid religion in 313 AD. Later in that century, in 380 AD, Roman Catholicism became the official religion of the Roman Empire. During the following 1000 years, Catholics were the only people recognized as Christians. Roman Catholicism was then, the only Christian denomination on earth. 

In 1054 AD, a formal split occurred between the Roman Catholic and other Orthodox churches. This division remains in effect till today. The next major division occurred in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation under Martin Luther. Protestantism is one of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. It shares with all other Christians’ core beliefs in the doctrines of Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, the necessity salvation and the centrality of Jesus' death and resurrection.  Protestantism came from the split with Roman Catholicism during the Reformation in the 16^th century.  Led by Martin Luther, John Calvin and others, the reformers broke from the Roman Catholic Church due to abusive ecclesiological structures and theological differences. Protestants share an adherence to the centrality of scripture as well as a doctrine of salivation in Christ Jesus.

Different Protestant denominations have to varying degrees maintained or rejected Roman Catholic forms of worship. Anglican and Lutheran churches have maintained liturgies and rituals similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church, whereas other denominations, such as Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, and United Church of Christ, have developed less liturgical forms of worship. Most Protestants practice baptism and communion as key rites of Christian initiation and ongoing devotion. Though originating in Europe, Protestant Christianity has spread all over the world through missionary activity and has members from nearly every country, race, and ethnicity.

 Those who remained faithful to Roman Catholicism believed that the central regulation of doctrine by church leaders was necessary to prevent confusion and division within the church and corruption of its beliefs.  However under the leadership of Martin Luther, the protestant movement also had disagreements on issues of doctrines and different denomination began to emerge as well. Today, Christianity has seen an outpouring of countless churches and denominations with different doctrines and practices though all believe in the Lordship of the Lord Jesus and the infallibility of the Gospel. 

In Nigeria alone, there are hundreds denominations as there are different faces of human beings. Every day, there is a massive proliferation of churches and denominations. People receive callings and set up their own churches in their living rooms, church movements had been created in shops. Why does this happen?  Why are there so many denominations? Why can't Christian groups simply agree to disagree and remain part of a single organization? Is this good for the body of Christ? Does it help the advancement of the kingdom of God?

      

In a chat with Pastor Dimeji Isaac of the Christ Temple, Lekki, Lagos, he said, social forces: class, racial and ethnic groups, regional divisions, and nationalism often lead to split in Christendom. According to him, it is good for churches to remain under one denomination, however, the differences in human outlook, the difficulty in administration and the stubbornness of people will make it difficult for Christianity to operate under one denomination. Speaking further, he said, ‘‘the main thing is that we are all followers of our Lord Jesus and we believe that the Bible is the word of God. These are the things that qualify one to be Christian. If we all obey the word of God and follow the commandments of our Lord Jesus, then it does not matter the denomination as long as Christ is preached’’ he said.

        Deaconess Shola Abimbola of the Global Church of the Living God does not share this opinion. According to her denominationalism is from the devil.  ‘‘We are serving the same God. Why should we be separated into different denominations?  Jesus preached love. It is clear from the scriptures that he wanted his followers to remain united as one. It is greed, individual ambitions, rather than the love of God that lead the Churches into various denominations, It is clearly not of God,’’ She said and she marveled at the number of denominations in Christendom today.   Deacon Ola Philip opined that denomination is not a barrier as far as we are serving the living God.   ‘‘When you look at it from the beginning, prophet- hood started from Noah, to Abraham  and the same God that called Moses, also called Samuel and they never  said the God that called them was different. They all came with harmonious teachings and that’s why the word of God is the same. In that sense denominationalism is not bad at all.

On the cause of denominationalism, he said, ‘‘Jesus said that in the last days, there will be many false prophets. They are all in town today. Each one of them called themselves Founder or General Overseer and brings up doctrines that suits them, that is why we have different denominations. Fake prophets contribute to denominationalism. Christ says that, there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.’’ Ephesians 4:4-6

In another chat with Pastor Tolu Fowotade of the Mountain and Fire and Miracles Ministry, he said that denominationalism can be beneficial. It is not a problem at all. According to him, the word of God is a mystery and it speaks differently to people with different meanings. According to what God wants to say to them and their level of relationship with him.  One denomination cannot help the advancement of Christianity.  Jesus had twelve disciples, they do not reason the same way. When the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, they were given diverse gifts and callings by the same spirit.  The Holy Spirit operates in different dimensions to different people and gives different gifts, different focus, and diverse operations by the same God.  This is why there are different denominations.  The word of God is so deep and full of meanings so denomination is not a problem at all. It is a reflection of the diversity of the gifts and callings of God’’ he said.

Speaking further, pastor Tolu said, ‘‘if a man of God is teaching a topic from the Bible, let’s say, he is speaking about the story of the woman with the issue of blood. He teaches the word according to the way the Holy Spirit lead him to teach it. Another man of God will pick the same topic and the same scripture and teach it from a different perspective and the congregation will still be blessed. Therefore, though the spirit is one there are diverse operations. It is not possible to operate under one denomination,’’ he said.  

Funmilola Jacobs of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, said, ‘‘denomination is unavoidable because Christianity has become the greatest religion in the world. It has spread farther than any other religion known to mankind. This spread could not have been possible without the efforts of different denominations, ministry, callings and missions in the body of Christ which are all working towards the same goal which is to spread the gospel and bring humanity into repentance. If we remove denominationalism from the history of Christianity, I do not think that we could have gone this far. Take Africa for example, it was the efforts of missionaries from various denominations such as the Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and the Anglican Church, the Lutheran Church all working in various fields that brought the light of Christianity to Africa. I don’t even think that one denomination is capable of taking the gospel to the whole world as Christ commanded. Denominationalism in my own opinion is the will of God as long as we all preach the Bible undiluted and stand under the Lordship of our lord Jesus. If we all follow is teachings and obey his commandments, then denominationalism is a blessing and not a course,’’ she said. 

Falling Under the Anointing: Is it Biblical?

Yemi Olakitan

‘Falling under the anointing,’’ one of the most puzzling concepts in Christianity today has remained popular in many Pentecostal circles, the late American Evangelist Kathryn Khuman described it as being ‘slain in the spirit.’  Many have asked why people fall down when some pastors touch them, blow on them or even get close to them.  

In Pentecostal circles, it is believed that the reason many people fall down is because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, which the Bible calls the anointing. An example of this is in the life of Jesus Christ himself, the phenomenon occurred in the garden of Gethsemane. A detachment of soldiers and some religious officials came to arrest Jesus. Jesus came out to meet them and asked, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.   And when Jesus said, "I am he," the men fell (John 18:6).

In a chat with Reverend Father Francis Emene of the Saint Thomas Chapel, at the University of Lagos, he said, ‘‘there is an adage in Iboland, which says that those who are mechanics do not allow one to identify the madmen among us. This is because the madmen and mechanics all wear dirty clothes. The Bible says that in the last days, I will pour out my spirit; it also says there will be many false prophets. There are many men of God who operate the anointing of the spirit of God and there are many false, occult pastors as well, whether, they are Pentecostal or Catholic, they can be found anywhere. The bible says that the devil keeps transforming himself into an angel of light in order to deceive even the very elect, ‘’ he said.

Speaking further, Father Francis said, ‘‘people like things that are magical and phenomenal when a man of God acts like that, they say Oh! That man is powerful but the Bible says we should test all spirits.’’

 On the origin of the concept of falling under the anointing, he said, ‘‘when Jesus appeared to the soldiers who came to arrest him, he said, I am he and they all fell down. That is a classic example of what the power of anointing can do.’’

According to American preacher, Tom Brown the anointing is a tangible element that can be felt.  In the Bible, we see an example from the life of Jesus in the book of Luke chapter eight. There is the story of the woman with the issue of blood who suffered for twelve years. She went through the large crowds to touch the hem of Jesus' garment.

When she touched Jesus, He stopped and asked, "Who touched me?" When they all denied it, He exclaimed, "Someone touched me! I felt power has gone out from me" (Luke 8:46).  Jesus knew that power has gone out from Him? He felt it. According to Pastor Tom Brown, this means that anointing can be felt.  The anointing can feel like heat or electricity,

‘‘I have felt it on many occasions. Sometimes I don't feel it but others feel it when I pray for them. I remember several years ago, a young lady and I were discussing the Bible. The conversation was on divine healing. Later, she asked if I would pray for her sore knee. She lifted her knee in order to point out where the pain was. I quickly laid hands on her knee, prayed a short prayer and walked off. A short time later she came to me privately and said, "When you touched my knee something went inside of me and I became immovable for several seconds. What was that?" According to Pastor Brown, the girl was instantly healed.

‘‘I also believe that sometimes people fall down because they are preconditioned to fall down. They see others do it, so they do it also. I try to discourage this, because I want people to focus on receiving from the Lord, not on imitating the group. I do have ushers that catch people, and they are necessary for those who fall down out of psychological need. I don't want them hurt, but those who fall down under God's power do not need anyone to catch them. When our church first started, we met in a school gym, and one time I had everyone stand up, and I prayed a group prayer for everyone without laying hands on anyone. When I did, a woman fell down hard on the solid, wooden floor. You could even hear her head plop hard on the ground. People rushed to help her thinking she was greatly hurt, but when she stood up, she said she felt nothing—no pain. She describe to us, "I felt like I slowly floated onto a soft cushion."

Pastor Emmanuel Onoja of the Hope of Life Evangelical Church said, ‘‘there is a kind of misconception in it; people believe that it is until you fall before you are under the anointing. It happens when the Holy Spirit fall upon you, falling down, according to the Holy Spirit is not a major sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The Apostles did not fall down at Pentecost at the Upper room when the Holy Spirit descended on them. The Bible recorded that they spoke in new tongues and those that were with them were amazed. I am not in support of pastors; laying hands on people and everybody will fall down, that looks like magic to me.’’

Speaking further, he said, during deliverance sessions, things like that can happen to the person being delivered. We understand that it is a deliverance session.  However, the person that falls down today should not be the person that falls down tomorrow. If it is deliverance and the person keeps falling under the anointing when will the person be finally delivered from the evil spirits?  Falling down is not a sign that someone is under the power of anointing.  It can be a deception. It looks like deception to me. All the healings that Jesus did which one of them happened that way? Why is it that people do not fall when Jesus was healing them? We did not read that Jesus conducted a service and people were falling under the anointing as he laid hands on them.’’

‘‘The example in the Bible when soldiers came to arrest Jesus and he said, I am he and they fell was a demonstration of power. To me, that was not falling under the anointing. Jesus was simply demonstrating that although they came to arrest him, he had the power to stop them if he wanted. When one of his disciples cut off the ear of one of the soldiers, Jesus put the ear back and healed the man. He said if he wanted to fight that he could have asked his father to send him angles. It showed that Jesus had the power to stop the arrest but he would not because he was destined to give his life in order to save humanity.’’

Speaking with Evangelist Ezekiel Keith of House on the Rock Church, Lekki, he said falling under the anointing is biblical because no one could predict how the Holy Spirit walks and we need to be careful about spiritual things.  The Holy Spirit walks in diverse ways to different people and no one could criticize the work of the Holy Spirit of God since it is God in action. In the Bible book of Joel 2:28 the Bible says, the Lord will Pour out His Spirit28  “And it shall come to pass afterwards,   that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. God had already told us that in the last days there would be diverse manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God so falling under the anointing is just one of them.

In another chat with Mrs Akpabio Eno of the Catholic Church, she said, ‘‘no one can question the Holy Spirit and no one can understand his ways. His ways are past finding out.  When it comes to spiritual things, I tend to be very careful because they are the things of God. One may be condemning something because they cannot understand it which is wrong. You see, the Holy Spirit is the power of God. If a person is touched by an electric current, he will feel it how much more; the holy spirit of God, people should be able to feel it when they are touched by it. This is why they fall under its power.’’

 

 

Should Christians reject Blood Transfusion?

Should Christians reject Blood Transfusion?

YEMI OLAKITAN 

The Jehovah’s witnesses, a major denomination of Christianity in the world today with global membership numbering about 7million people is known for its rejection of blood transfusion as a medical procedure even at the point of death.  This doctrine is said to be supported by biblical verses from the book of (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10; Deuteronomy 12:23; Acts 15:28, 29) However, mainstream Christian denominations such as the Catholic Church, the Protestants and the Pentecostal do not support this doctrine.

 According to the United States National Library of Medicine, Blood transfusion is generally the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used for various medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood. Early transfusions used whole blood, but modern medical practice commonly uses only components of the blood, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, clotting factors, and platelets. There are many reasons one may need a blood transfusion, after knee or hip replacement surgery, or other major surgery or after a serious injury. A blood transfusion is a safe and common procedure during which you receive blood through an intravenous (IV) line placed in one’s blood vessels. It takes 1 to 4 hours to receive the blood, depending on how much the patient need. There are several sources of blood. The most common source of blood is from volunteers in the general public. Many communities have a blood bank at which any healthy person can donate blood. This blood is tested to see if it matches that of the patient.  Donated blood is tested for many different infections. Also, blood centers keep a list of unsafe donors. Donors answer a detailed list of questions about their health before they are allowed to donate. Questions include risk factors for infections that can be passed on through their blood, such as sexual habits, drug use, and current and past travel history.    

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible prohibits ingesting blood and that Christians should therefore not accept blood transfusions or donate or store their own blood for transfusion. The belief is based on an interpretation of scripture that differs from that of mainstream Christian denominations. It is one of the doctrines for which Jehovah's Witnesses are most well known.

Watch Tower Society publications teach that the Witnesses' refusal of transfusions of whole blood or its four primary components—red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma—is a non-negotiable religious stand and that those who respect life as a gift from God do not try to sustain life by taking in blood, even in an emergency. Witnesses are taught that the use of fractions such as albumin, immunoglobulin and hemophiliac preparations are "not absolutely prohibited" and are a matter of personal choice.

The doctrine was introduced in 1945, and has undergone some changes since then. The Watch Tower Society has established Hospital Information Services to provide education and facilitate bloodless surgery. This service also maintains Hospital Liaison Committees, whose function is to provide support to adherents.

The founder of Jehovah’s witnesses, Charles Taze Russell was reported to have started this doctrine on "biblical" grounds. It is described as one of the ‘‘WTS' truly odd tenets.’’

You shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwellings. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people (Lv 7:26-27).

For the life of every creature is the blood of it; therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off (Lv 17:14).14:3-21),

According to the Catholic Church is a statement on the matter, Witnesses misunderstand what these passages are talking about. In both Leviticus 7 and 17 the prohibition is against the eating of blood, not reception of blood through transfusions (a medical procedure which was developed only within the last century). Witnesses ignore the fact that in a single passage in Leviticus the Lord prohibits the eating of both blood and fat: "It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood" (3:17). Yet the Watchtower does not condemn the eating of fat, and no Jehovah's Witness would feel any moral regret against eating a bag of fried pork or enjoying a nice, fatty cut of prime rib.

 

However, in the book of Genesis 9:4, the Bible says, ‘‘but flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.’’ In Leviticus 17:10-12, it says ‘‘ I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. ¹¹ For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.^{[ 12} Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.” Similarly in the book of Deuteronomy 12:23, 23, only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.  Also in the book Acts 15:28-29, ²⁸ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹ You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.  According to the Jehovah’s witnesses injecting blood intravenously is the same as eating blood. Is this correct?

 

Can these scriptures be used to justify the rejection of blood transfusion at the point of death or severe medical condition of a Christian believer?  These scriptures are commonly quoted by the Jehovah’s witnesses in their door to door evangelism. They have been used as a valid point for the doctrine of blood transfusion rejection even in the face of critical illness although a Jehovah’s Witness name withheld said, it is a question of individual conscience for the members of the denomination.  According to her, there is no compulsion whatsoever in the doctrine as witnesses are free to make their own individual decision whether they will accept or reject blood transfusion. However, it is a standard doctrine of the organization. 

In a chat with Pastor Emmanuel Onoja of Hope of Life Evangelical Church on the doctrine of blood transfusion, he said, people suffer because of ignorance. I don’t see anything wrong in taking blood for medical reasons or in donating blood to save other people’s lives. Blood is very significant in the scripture. Take a look at our Lord Jesus Christ, he saved our lives by shedding his blood, there is nowhere in the scripture where the Bible forbid Christians from taking blood when they are ill.  The  Bible speaks of the blood of animals and not the blood of human being which is the one used in transfusion and the purpose is to save lives during critical medical procedure,’’ he said.

Reverend Father John Okoro of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Elegbata, Lagos Island, said, the Catholic Church accepts transfusions, "the Bible is not opposed to this kind of therapy that, on the other hand, was unknown in the times of Jesus.  Jesus Christ teaches us that giving one’s life for others is the greatest expressions of love, Jesus gave his blood so that we can have eternal life, he gave his blood. It is because of the sacrifice of Jesus that we have hope of eternal live after this earthly existence. To say that blood transfusion is wrong is clearly and erroneous teaching because of the example of our Lord Jesus. The purpose of blood transfusion is to save lives, that can’t be wrong or sinful,’’ he said.

Elder Ogunjobi of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Awoyaya said, I completely disagree with the Jehovah’s witnesses. The verses we are talking about is referring to food sacrificed to idols or animal blood sacrificed to idols. It was not talking about human blood donated to save lives in medicine.  I do not agree with their views on the subject of blood. As a minister of God, I feel that Christians should donate blood because it saves lives and when they have to take it for medical reasons they should. Jesus Christ taught us that the old prohibitions of food have no meaning in the New Covenant. 'The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food or drink, but of justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit' (Romans 14:17).