100 days fasting: What Nigerians should expect after April 11, 2014- by Adeboye

100 days fasting: What Nigerians should expect after April 11, 2014- by Adeboye

Yemi Olakitan 

Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God announced a 100-days fasting period for its members starting from January 2nd to April 11, 2014. The announcement came as Pastor E.A Adeboye released prophecies for the New Year, during a crossover service held on January 1^st, declaring that “2014 will be the year of overflowing blessings.  He said, Nigerians will see the end of all her enemies, after the fasting period.

In another service tagged: ‘Divine Placement’ in his honour at the Solid Rock Parish, Lagos Province 40, Ojodu, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye stressed that it had become dangerous to continue to tolerate “our enemies for a longer time, as they are capable of waxing stronger and creating more havoc.  “All those enemies blocking your progress in life and the progress of Nigeria must disappear to pave the way for the much-needed change in our lives and nation. That is one of the reasons for the 100 days’ fasting and prayer period by the church,” he said.

 However, a medical practitioner has advised against such long period of fasting by believing Christians. Dr. Obiohoa of the Nigerian Military Hospital, Ikoyi said fasting is okay for short period of time, ‘even for healthy people, fasting is risky especially if it is done on long period of time such as the one embarked upon by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.        According to him long days without food is a risk to human health. He said it was not medically advisable for men and women to go without food for so long as it can affect the immune system; the body’s ability to fight sicknesses and diseases.   A pastor of the Living Faith Church, Pastor Biola however said, it is an individual choice. He said, even one day fasting can be a risk to some people’s health. ‘Our Bishop used to say that if your health cannot carry it. Don’t do it. The aged and pregnant women are usually exempted. You can break by 12 or 3pm if you can carry it till night, so individual choices is very important in long period of fasting on Pastor Adeboye’s statement that Nigeria would see the end of her enemies, he said, the potency of fasting and prayers to change the course of a nation is not in doubt according to scriptures.According to the man of God, the 100 days fasting and prayer period are being observed to eliminate all enemies of progress, who have refused to repent and change, for good. He said such enemies of progress would be eliminated in the nation and in individuals’ lives after the 100 days fasting and prayer.   

Enoch Adejare Adeboye is perhaps the greatest pastor in Africa and one of the greatest in the world.  According to Newsweek magazine in 2008 Adeboye is one of the fifty most powerful people on earth.  Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, is the pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Christendom today. He is the national president of RCF (an interdenominational fellowship in all the campuses in Nigeria).  He is the Convener of the annual December three-day Holy Ghost Congress in Nigeria with an average attendance of over six million people. He is host at the annual March three-day Special Holy Ghost Service with an average attendance of over six million people.  He also hosts the monthly Holy Ghost Service with an average attendance of over one million people.  The story of Adeboye is not one of instant success as he was born into poverty. According to him, he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth and did not have shoes for the first 18 years of his life. However, he had vision, determination, diligence and a passion for hard work which he considered to be far more valuable than money.  Born in 1942 into a humble family in the village of Ifewara, Osun State Enoch Adeboye stated that his family was so poor that even the poor called him poor.  In 1956 he was admitted into Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State and as a youth he discovered a passion for books, and an aptitude for science particularly Mathematics. This led to an academic journey in the face of numerous challenges. Enoch Adeboye eventually obtained a Bachelors (BSc.) degree in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1967, but also a Masters (MSc.) Degree in Hydrodynamics and Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Lagos in 1969 and 1975. Adeboye worked as a lecturer at the universities of Lagos and Ilorin before joining the church. Initially, his greatest ambition was to become the youngest Vice Chancellor of a prestigious university in Nigeria.  It did seem that his ambition would be realized as he was making progress with his plan. However, a divine hand took him into the service of the Lord.  He said, ‘‘I came to know God in a fairly dramatic way. I was born into a Christian home and always gone to church because my parents said we had to go. But after I grew up and left home. I drifted away from the church until I had a problem that defied solutions and then someone invited me to the RCCG and I came expecting the pastor to pray for me and my problems would just go but instead, he said I have to give my life to Jesus Christ that if my sins are gone, my problems would disappear. I resisted, for a while, but eventually I surrendered and gave my life to Jesus Christ and my problems left me.’’ He thereafter became an interpreter of the sermons of the then Pastor and founder; Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi who was the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a man who though was illiterate had been endowed with the ability to read the Yoruba version of the Holy Bible. In 1981, He was appointed General Overseer when Papa Akindayomi passed away. He resigned from his university lecturing after three years to devote himself to full time pastoral work.  In 1977 when he was ordained as a Pastor in RCCG, Enoch Adeboye displayed an incredible passion for the gospel, pioneering Bible Study meetings, crusades, revivals, outreaches and evangelistic programs known as the Congress. When the founder passed away in 1980, RCCG had 42 parishes. The founder left a sealed document pronouncing Enoch Adeboye as the next General Overseer. Enoch Adeboye was ordained the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1981. The Lord has today through Enoch Adeboye built over five thousand Churches all over the world. In Nigeria, almost all the nations of Africa, the US, the UK, Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, India, China, Hong Kong, the Far East and even the Middle East). In the United States alone there are over five hundred Parishes and still increasing.  In Nigeria alone, it has more than 14,000 branches in cities and rural communities. Adeboye said, his vision was to plant a church in every five minutes walking distance of developing nation and in every five minutes driving distance of developed nations like coffee shops. According to him, in every family on earth, there must be a Redeemed member. Adeboye founded the Model Parishes which targeted the elites in Nigeria and there are the classical parishes which was more conservative. The model parishes were an instant success and it helped the Redeemed Christian Church of God to increase astronomically bringing into the church a harvest of souls and financial pillars which helped the church in its evangelistic programs.   Enoch Adeboye’s deep compassion for souls also push the church into rural communities as there is now where the GO is not willing to take the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Holy Ghost Services which he started 80s was a once a month revival programme which bring the churches together from every corner of the country. It was initially held on the premises of the church Headquarters in Lagos but the place was too small for the huge crowd that was coming. The church then required a change in location.  Under his leadership, RCCG purchased an uninhabited forest land located on the outskirts of Lagos. Enoch Adeboye moved his family to this forest and called the place, the Redemption Camp. He constructed a large auditorium and began to hold the monthly Holy Ghost Services there which has continued to draw crowds to this day.  Today, the crowds in attendance run in the millions every month. From the Redemption Camp, Enoch Adeboye faithfully ministers to the body of Christ all over the world. The Redemption Camp is also the home of the Redeemers University, and the other secular and theological schools which were established by the church. The Redemption is a city as many believers now live and worship there, making the place another religious nation in the likes of the Vatican city of the Catholic Church.  On December 18^th 1998, Enoch Adeboye hosted the very first Holy Ghost Festival with an attendance of over seven million people. In 1999 there were no less than twelve million worshipers present. This program has since been replaced with the annual 3-day Holy Ghost Congress held every December at the Redemption Camp. In addition to this is a Special 3-day Holy Ghost Program held in the first weekend of March yearly. At these events, miracles, signs and wonders have become commonplace as the power of God moves to set free, heal, anoint, deliver, bless and empower.  Adeboye is a father in the lord to many great men of God. He ordained hundreds of pastors at the Redemption Camp on a regular basis.  He is also pastor and spiritual father to many heads of governments. He travels to minister to unreached places where others may not go.  Adeboye has been conferred with several honorary degrees and national merit awards in appreciation of his contributions to humanity. In 1999 Adeboye received the honorary citizenship and key of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. In 2000 he dedicated the first chapel in the Nigerian Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.  In 2005 he received honorary citizenship and key of Dallas, Texas, USA. In 2005 he received honorary citizenship and key of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. In 2008, he was awarded a National Honor Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and led the Pre-Summit Prayers at the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations, Headquarters, and New York. He is the author globally-distributed daily devotional manual, Open Heavens.

Boko Haram: Should Christians defend themselves?

YEMI OLAKITAN 

According to the Scriptures, our Lord Jesus Christ forbade His disciples from taking up weapons against anyone. When Peter drew his sword to defend Him, Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.” He then healed the ear of the soldier Peter had struck,  one of those who came to arrest Him after Judas’ betrayal.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus emphasized peace and nonviolence. He instructed His followers to “turn the other cheek”when struck, teaching that vengeance has no place in the life of a believer. He urged them not to fear those who could kill the body but not the soul, but rather to fear God, who has power over both. Even when He had the ability to defend Himself, He chose to surrender His life for humanity. On the cross, He prayed for His executioners, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

But today, that teaching faces one of its greatest tests. Across Nigeria, especially in the North, Christians are being slaughtered in alarming numbers by Islamic extremists. Only recently, in Southern Kaduna, a pastor and his entire family were killed by Boko Haram militants. Hundreds of churches have been burnt. Thousands of believers have been displaced, orphaned, or murdered simply for their faith.

This is not new in the history of Christianity. The early Church endured unspeakable persecution — believers were thrown to lions, crucified upside down, or burnt alive for proclaiming Christ. Yet they refused to retaliate. They prayed for their killers and embraced martyrdom with grace.

Still, the question lingers: is Christ’s command to reject violence, even in self-defense, still practical today?** Should Christians remain passive in the face of deliberate annihilation? Should they defend themselves when confronted by armed terrorists and religious extremists?

The Bible offers another example worth pondering. In the book of Esther (chapters 3, 4, 8, and 9:1–17), Haman conspired to wipe out the Jews. But through Queen Esther’s courage, the king issued a decree empowering the Jews to defend themselves. They fasted, prayed, and armed themselves — and prevailed over their enemies. Their survival combined faith, prayer, and action.

If God approved their defense, can self-protection still be considered unchristian?

The Ndi-Igbo Peace Movement (NPM) recently reported that Boko Haram’s operations in Northern Nigeria amount to a “religious war” against Christians. According to Chief Uzor A. Uzor, the group’s president, over 4,000 people have been killed so far — 2,000 from the South-East, 1,000 from the South-West, and another 1,000 from the North. The statistics, he said, show that Christians, especially Southerners living in the North, are the main targets of these attacks.

The pain remains fresh in the minds of those who buried 14 members of Adazi Nnukwu community in Anambra, seven in Umuna, two in Amaifeke, and one in Okporo, all victims of religious killings. In Adamawa, Bishop Mamza Stephen of Yola described the horror at Waga Chakawa, where Boko Haram insurgents stormed a Catholic church during service, locked the congregation inside, detonated bombs, and slaughtered worshippers trying to flee. “Everybody is living in fear,” the bishop told the BBC. “There is no protection. People can’t sleep with their eyes closed.”

How long will this continue? For how long will Christians remain sitting ducks?

It is time for sober reflection. Faith in Christ does not mean surrendering one’s life to destruction. The Bible says there is “a time for peace, and a time for war.” Perhaps, as in Esther’s day, the time has come for Christians to combine prayer with preparedness.

History reminds us that evil thrives when good people do nothing. Self-defense is not an act of unbelief; it is a defense of the sanctity of life, a gift from God. While the Church must never preach hate or vengeance, it must also not encourage helplessness in the face of violent oppression.

Christians can remain faithful and peaceful, yet ready to protect their lives, families, and places of worship. Peace, after all, is preserved not only by prayer but by wisdom and vigilance.

THITHES: In whose interest?

THITHES: In whose interest?
Yemi Olakitan 


There have been many controversies on the issue of tithing in both denominational and individual point of views. While some say that tithing is a divine instruction of the New Testament aimed at blessing the givers others have claimed that it is a relic of the Old Testament designed to bless the clergy. It has also been said by many that tithing is the pathway to prosperity. Postponements of the faith movement such as Kenneth Hagen, Kenneth Copeland, E.A Adeboye, David Oyedepo, and Benson Idahosa have all taught the tremendous benefits of tithes payments. Is it a fact of reality or is it some Christian dogma, theology or actual reality that tithes open the way to financial blessings?  What really is the relevance of tithing to the believers and the church? More importantly, Are tithes payments truly biblical? Is it a relic of the Old Testament? Is it still relevant today? This and many other questions are answered through the scriptures and discussions with clerics and believers alike.
According to the Bible, tithing is generally defined as the tenth part of one’s income, profits, land or stock given to God and used to support the clergy or charitable cause. The custom of giving tithes reaches back to Genesis 14, where Abraham offered tithes of the spoils of the enemy to the royal priest, Melchisedech, so in Genesis 28, Jacob is recorded as giving a tithe of all his possessions to the Lord. In the time of Moses the payment of tithes was one of the laws of the Jewish people; made obligatory. The Hebrews were commanded to offer to God the tenth part of the produce of the fields, of the fruits of the trees, and the firstborn of oxen and of sheep (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22). In Deuteronomy there is a mention not only of an annual tithe, but also of a full tithe to be paid once every three years. While it was to God himself that the tithes had to be paid, yet we read (Numbers 18:21) that he transfers them to the priesthood. In the book of Proverbs 3:10) the bible encourage believers to honour the Lord with the first fruits of their wealth. It also says, it is better to give than to receive. However, the verse most often cited in support of the tithe is from the Old Testament, Malachi 3:8-10:

8. ""Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, `How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. 10. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it.

In a chat with Edmund Ike, a member of the Catholic Church he said, tithes in today’s Christian Church is meant to support the preaching of the Gospel since the Bible says those who serve in the altar should live by the altar. (1 Corinthians 9:13) Speaking further, he said provision of some kind had to be made for the ministers of God. In the beginning this was supplied by freewill offerings.  However as the Church expanded and it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy, the payment of tithes was adopted. According to Ike, Tithing is an obligatory act of giving which supports the institution of the church and it not just a relic of the Old Testament scriptures. ‘‘Don’t forget that the Bible says,
we should give and it shall be given to us. Good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give unto us. Giving is a cardinal commandment of scripture and the Christian faith.’’
In another chat with Reverend Father Steven Akinsowo of Saint Peters Catholic Church, Langbasa, he said tithing is biblically correct. ‘‘It is an offering made in gratitude to God. It is like giving back to God from the abundance of all the things he has giving to us. Giving a tenth of your income to God is a very small; sacrifice compared to all the wonderful blessings he has given to us. In the Catholic Church we recognise tithing but we do not emphasize it like other churches do, in other denominations, people are persuaded. Tithe is to be given in absolute freedom. You cannot force people to know or accept God. You cannot coerce them. People are to give tithe if it comes from their hearts, if you obey the instruction to give, God will bless you.’’ he said.
In another chat with Senior Superintendent, Apostle C.A Bayode of the Cherubim and seraphim church, Ago Igbale, Ebute Metta, he said tithing is a commandment of the scripture. In the book of Malachi, God said the people should bring all the tithes into the store house of God. The tithes are not meant for the clerics alone, they are meant for the expansion of the Gospel and also for the poor. It should also be used for the orphans, the widows and the less privileged in the body of Christ.  Tithing is like medicine for money if the believers diligently do it. There is a promise alongside the commandment. It says, I will open up the floodgates of heaven. You will become blessed. Anything you lay your hands on will prosper exceedingly.  On the argument that tithing is a relic of the Old Testament, he said that Christ did not come to abolish the law but he came to fulfill it.’’  He however, warned that when people give tithes they should not give tithes to show off, they should give it to the Lord alone.

However, Roseline Ademola, a member of the Anglican Church in Lagos, said that Christ has already paid all the tithes and redeemed us from the law. Speaking further, she said that tithes is like placing the Christians under the law and saying the death of Christ is not enough which is some kind of heresy.  ‘‘There is nothing wrong if a Christian gives tithe willingly, cheerfully, without the burden of guilt been placed on him because the scripture says that God loves a cheerful giver. The problem is that so many pastors preach tithes as law quoting Malachi. They are in error because Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law. We are not operating under that Law, we are under grace. In Malachi, God was referring to the Jews and not to us. We are operating under a better covenant than they.  When you preach that people are cursed with a curse, that they are robbing God, unless they tithe, you are preaching a guilt based giving which is contrary to ( 2 Corinthians 9:7 ) which says,  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver’’  I do not believe in tithing, I believe in voluntary giving without the burden of guilt. Jesus paid all the tithes with his precious blood. I give as I have decided in my heart. It could be ten percent, it could be 20, it could be 50 or 100 percent but it is subject to my personal decision, not imposed,’’ she said.

A member of the Jehovah’s witnesses, name withheld, who spoke to P&W on the subject, said that tithing is being used to coarse Christians to give to the church authority. He said, ‘‘it is the clergy that benefits the most because they sit on the seats of the priesthood and collects the tithes. The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:5 and 9 that every believer is a priest! Hebrews 5-8 also teaches us that Jesus is the only priest that we need. However the institutional church has borrowed from the Old Testament model of the Levitical Priesthood, thereby establishing a new priesthood that is separate from the rest of the body of Christ. This makes them collect the tithes. Jesus did not collect tithes, neither did the apostles.’’

Another believer, a member of the Global Church of the Living God, Deaconess Shola Abimbola, said ‘‘many testimonies abound in Christendom on the concept of giving, particularly tithing.  Many tithers have testified that God has blessed them financially through tithing, therefore tithing works. It is practical.  Furthermore, giving is a basic commandment of the scriptures and tithing helps the believer to cultivate a regular habit of giving to God for the support of his work.  Jesus said, when you give, you will receive. Tithing cannot be wrong. You see, without the commandment to tithe many people will not give, though you are free to give or not to give. Tithing helps; maintain the habit of giving as directed by the scriptures, so the issue of coercion is not there at all. The principle of choice is in place. I have been paying my tithes for years because tithing fulfills the law of giving and I can say, God has blessed me financially,’’    she said. 

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.