A
man of God recently declared that children of God that hold contrary views to his
on what the House of God is should not spread their poison to his Church to
confuse his members. This is true as so many have risen amongst the brethren
preaching deviant doctrines in order to lure disciples into following them
(Acts 20:30). Thus, we are admonished as overseers to be alert to watch over
ourselves and the flock of God; when certain doctrines are propagated and
supported by Scriptures, we are to go to God with it, so the truth will be
revealed to us. We cannot presume to know all, except that which is revealed to
us: “For now we are looking in a mirror
that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or
enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to
face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand
fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly
known and understood [by God]” (1 Corinthians 13:12, AMP). The truth is the
greatest of teachers know only in part. Thus, as ministers when we come across certain
teachings that negate our long held convictions, instead of knocking it out, we
ought to take it back to the Lord in prayers and further study just as the
Berean Christians did during the days of the Apostles.
Back to the said Pastor;
one issue that stood out in his treatise is his support of stand up comedians in
the House of God; he equated them with those that act drama in the Church. He
argued that the comedian and the actors (drama team) have same goal. Let’s look
at what the Bible say about this. It is true that God created laughter and it
pleases God when our hearts are merry, but this merriment must not be done at
the expense of the glory of God. That is extremely dangerous! The true drama
group is not different from preachers and teachers because true dramatization
exposes the situation of man in relation to God and they depict the way
forward. These dramas have been instrumental in bringing many back to the feet
of the Master: Thus glorifying God! Comics on the other hand end goal is to
make their audience feel good about themselves and not to bring glory to God.
They make jest of everything and everyone; nothing is sacred to their jestings.
The people laugh and thoroughly enjoy themselves; however, does it actually
glorify God? If it were okay to do this, Christ would not have chased out the
money changers and their likes from the Temple, or declare: “It is written, My house will be called a
house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).
Or equally say: “And coarse and foolish
talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. For know
and recognize this: No sexual immoral or impure or greedy person who is an idolater
has an inheritance in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God” (Ephesians 5:4-5).
Friend, this was an example of how we should live and worship God.
One cannot
mix the things of the world with the worship of God and expect God to accept
it: “Let us therefore, receiving a
Kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing
service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe;
for our God [is indeed] a Consuming Fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29, AMP). It then
follows that as a child of God, whether we subscribe to stand up comics on our
pulpits or at other occasions it really doesn’t matter. But remember this: A
day is coming which no man can dodge from – “For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be
repaid for what he has done in the body whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians
5:10). Therefore, as children of God we have a responsibility to be alert and
watchful even as we see the DAY draw ever closer: “Dear friends although I was eager to write you about our common
salvation. I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the
faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. For certain men, who were
designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are
ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying our only
Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4). Do receive the grace to be watchful and to take out the poison before it takes root in our hearts in Jesus Christ name. God bless you.
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