BY WHAT AUTHORITY?

HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH

 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:23-25)

 INTRODUCTION

“By what authority?” Think on this question. What chord does it strike in your mind? “…By what authority do you do these things…?”

Issues pertaining to authority are weighty in all areas of life but weightier in the realm of Christian doctrine and practice. To determine the authority with which we do the things we do in Christianity, we need to ask, “Is it from Heaven or is it from men?” (Matthew 21:25; cf. James 3:14-17). If it is from Heaven, then it is from God. If it is from God then it is found in God’s Word (Bible). On the other hand, if an authority is from men, then it is not from God and cannot be relied upon. Such must be expunged from our religious practices. In Matthew 15:13, Jesus said,

Every plant, which my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

When we go outside God’s Word, we err (Matthew 22:29), thereby making our worship of God to become vain (Matthew 15:8-9).

            When Jewish leaders met Jesus, they sought to know His authority. The authority issue bothered on two things: what Jesus did and what he taught. Jesus went further to clarify issues of authority by highlighting on the source of authority. He asked, “John’s baptism, was it from Heaven or from men?” (Luke 20:3-4). If it was from Heaven, then God was behind it but if it was from men, then it was not worth the stress. Caught in the thicket of their own spin, these religious leaders held consultations to decide on how best to respond to Jesus’ question. Knowing that the odds were against them, they came to Jesus and said, “We do not know.” (Luke 20: 5-7).

            Are you like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who admitted to not knowing where John’s authority for the things he taught and practiced came from? One can be forgiven for not knowing source of John’s authority but MAY not be forgiven if he/she does not know the source of authority for his/her own religious teachings and practices.   

 The question of authority in Christianity is at the very heart of determining what is pleasing to God and what is not. It also goes to show whether we are on the path to glory or on the path to damnation. Christianity is not popularity contest. It has nothing to do with what people think, say or claim. It has nothing to do with popularity of a religious organization or ‘distinguished personalities’ who are identified with it BUT it has everything to do with whether its teachings and activities are in consonance with God’s eternal Will – God’s Authorization.

When one operates outside God’s authorization, that individual or organization is on his/her own. Isaiah 8:20 declares, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Are you speaking and practicing in consonance with law and testimony?  By what authority do you do the things you do in Christianity today?

WHAT IS AUTHORITY?

    Authority is, “The power or right to give command, enforce obedience, take action or make final decision.” The need to have authority in the family, society, institutions, etcetera have long been recognized by our forebears. When there is no authority or standard, confusion results. When people do not obtain proper authorization for the things they aver and practice, the situation would become an all-comers’ affair. God is not identified with confusion (I Corinthians 14:33).

    In governance, you must have authority to lead. No one in his right mind wakes up one morning and claims to be a leader. For you to be married, you must have received the authority to do so. No one in his/her right mind wakes up one morning and claims that a particular man or woman is his wife or her husband. There must be an authority for one to be married. Authority is at the heart of everything we do in life. If you do not have it, you don’t have it. If you have authority, then you have! Do you have authority? Who gave you the authority?   

VARIOUS FALSE BASIS OF AUTHORITY IN CHRISTIANITY

      Human beings in their confusion have been holding on to anything in sight as source of authority in Christianity. Proliferation of authority sources has become order of the day. To some people, their authority in Christianity are:

Church Synods and Annual Conventions

       To be sure, church Synods and conventions are traditions of men, which have become enthroned over and above God’s ordained precepts. Synods and conventions are where religious legislations are made. This was what our Lord Jesus described in Mark 7:7-9, 13:

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men….For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men,….Full well, ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

       Truth is: religious legislation is not a reliable authority in Christianity.

Church Creeds

       Various creeds abound. Men and women subscribe to creeds and hold them as if they are God’s Word. Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, etcetera are not reliable authority. Why? Because, all creeds written by men either contains too little or too much to be the Will of God. We are warned in I Corinthians 4:6, “Not to go beyond that which is written in Scripture.”

Human Headship of Churches

      Archbishop, Primate, Priest, Pastor, General Overseer, etcetera. Jesus remains the only Head of the Church. Thus far, He has not relinquished that authority to any man or woman. Men and women can head their religious organizations which they founded or were founded by their forebears, but Jesus remains Head of His Church. Colossians 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Majority Rule or Voting (Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13)

      To some people, their authority in Christianity lies on what majority have said. This is usually followed by voting for or against. God warns us against following majority (Exodus 23:2)

Visions, dreams and revelations

      Do not trust prophets and prophetesses; dreamers and those who claim to see visions and hear from God. In Jeremiah 23:25-32, God denounced such people:

I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

      Any prophecy, revelation, dream or vision by any angel contrary to revealed Will of God is not acceptable. Galatians 1:6-8 declares,

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Personal Feelings and Conscience (cf. Numbers 15:39).

      Feelings and consciences are not reliable guides (Proverbs 14:12). Your feelings cannot direct your life (Jeremiah 10:23). Saul of Tarsus was one man whose conscience misled him even as he was killing Christians (Acts 23:1; cf. John 16:2).

BE WARNED

      On the last day, you will stand alone before God to answer for yourself (Romans 14:12). No man, Synod, Church Council, Creed, Human Headship: Pastor, G.O, Priest, Bishop, Prophet will answer for you. You will be judged exclusively by the Word of God (John 12:48). 

TRUE BASIS OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY  

All authority in Heaven and on Earth are in Jesus’ hands (Matthew 28:18). It is He who has the final word and remains God’s spokesman for today (Matthew 17:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-3). Our absolute adherence to Jesus’ teachings is what really determines whether we are acting right or wrong (John 8:31). Reliance on Jesus’ doctrine shows whether we are His or not and whether we enjoy God’s pleasure or are abhorred by Him (II John 9-11).

BY WHAT AUTHORITY…?

Having established that all authority are in Jesus and that God’s Word is found only in Bible, we now ask: BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU:

Establish denominations?

     Jesus promised to build His Church (Matthew 16:18). God’s Word condemns in totality proliferations of Christian religious organizations known today as denominations (I Corinthians 1:10-14). God has only One Flock and remains Shepherd of only One Flock  (John 10:16). There is only one Body (Ephesians 4:4). That Body, without controversy, is the Church (Colossians 1:18). So, by what authority do you have in establishing denominations and calling it whatever name that meets your fancy?

Appoint women pastors?

     At I Corinthians 14:34-38, God’s Word speaks unequivocally against appointment of “women pastors” and the like:

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Apostle Paul reiterated God’s word in this regard at I Timothy 2:8, 11-12 as he wrote,

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

      Considering the above Biblical statements, by what authority then do people appoint women pastors? And by what authority does a woman have to refer to herself as “pastor”?

Infant, sprinkling and pouring as baptism?

     Scripturally, baptism is not meant for infants or children but for adults and those who have reached age of accountability. No where in Bible do we find children and infants being baptised, only adults were. Baptism is a burial in watery grave (Romans 6:3-5). It requires going down and coming up out of a body of water (immersion, Acts 8:38-39). Baptism requires “Much water,” not sprinkling or pouring (John 3:23). Baptism is a burial (Colossians 2:12).

Use of musical instrument in Christian worship? (Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5).

     Note: God at Amos 6:5 accused “David of Inventing instruments of music” in His Worship. Was this allegation true? What has David to say to this? At I Chronicles 23:5 and II Chronicles 7:6 David admitted that he was inventor of musical instruments in Old Testament worship (see also Psalms 150). However, under New Testament (Christian), teachings and use of Christian Music are purely A-cappella (Singing without any accompaniment of mechanical instruments (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; Hebrews 13:15; James 5:13).

     No where is the use of instrumental music commanded, taught or used by and among Christians in New Testament. Jesus did not command it. Holy Spirit did not authorize it. Apostles and early Christians did not use it. Since these were so, by what authority then do people use musical instruments in today’s Christian worship?     

Payment of Tithe?

      Originally, payment of Tithe was commanded by God for the care and wellbeing of Levitical priesthood who did not receive any landed inheritance among Israelites (Numbers 18:20-24). The tithes paid were to feed Levitical priests (Malachi 3:8-10).

       Of all tribes of Israel and nations of the world, it was Levites only who were authorized to accept tithes payments (Hebrews 7:5). However, because Levitical Priesthood was ineffective and imperfect, God changed the Priesthood as well as laws and regulations guiding them, which includes tithing. Hebrews 7:11-12, 18 states:

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ….For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

     There is no Levitical priest anywhere in the world today, which attests to the fact that it has been abolished by God. According to God’s Word, no one has authorization to receive tithes from anybody today. Since this is so, by what authority do people pay and receive tithes today?

Harvest and Bazaars?

     Harvest and Bazaar sales, as instituted by Christendom are no where authorized by Scripture. They are merely avenues concocted by men and women to further rob church members. According to God’s Word, Church premises are not meant for the “buying and selling” which go on in our Christian religious organizations today. When people tried that in Jesus’ era, He became angry and drove them away. Matthew 21:12-13 tells us:

 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Celebration of Christmas and Easter?

     Modern Christianity has become feasting religion of all sorts. In Galatians 4:9-10, God’s Word declares:

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

    There is only one feast or celebration authorized by Jesus in New Testament for His Disciples. Christmas, New Year, Easter and the likes were not part of it. We are only commanded to celebrate the death of Jesus (Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 10:16; I Corinthians 11:23-28), not His birth (Christmas) or His resurrection (Easter). Unfortunately, what Jesus commanded is not being done the way He has instructed that it should done, but what He has not commanded is celebrated to high heavens and with fanfare. At John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” By what authority are people celebrating Christmas, New Year and Easter today?

DETERMINING BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

1. To know whether there is a Biblical authority for a teaching or practice, you need to ask: “Is it according to the Bible? Which book, chapter and verse can it be found?
2. God has always insisted on our being true to His instructions (Hebrews 8:5). True servants of God have always maintained a “Thus saith the Lord” attitude (Exodus 8:27; I Corinthians 4:6). Those who did not remain in God’s instructions suffered great loses when they decided to follow their own initiatives (Leviticus 10:1-2; II Samuel 6:3-7; cf. I Chronicles 15:13-15).
3. If Jesus did not teach it, Apostles did not command or practice it and not even an example of it could be found any where in the teachings of Jesus (New Testament), then it is of men and the best anyone could do is to repent of such teachings and practices.
4. Be like Bereans who checked what they were taught with what was written in God’s Word to see if they agreed (Acts 17:11).
5. Demand for Bible proof (I Thessalonians 5:21). Do not accept anything you are taught line, hook and sinker. Always demand for Bible authority.  

HEED THIS APPEAL

        Dear reader, if a teaching or religious practice is not found in the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), neither in the “things pertaining to life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3) nor in the “Faith once delivered” to Saints (Jude v.3), then it does not enjoy God’s authority. The only way you are sure that you are with God is when you teach and practice by His authorization. Anything short of this is mere waste of time and amounts to “vain worship.” Please, be sure that you are sure.

    There is a group of Christians who are working hard to ensure that what they belief, teach and practice are by God’s authority. They are not interested in fables and story-telling but on the sure Word of God. You are encouraged to study and worship with CHURCH OF CHRIST near you.

God bless you!

PATTERN - A THEMATIC ANALYSIS

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

ANALYST: HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH

INTRODUCTION

        Psalmist in Psalm 68:19 testified to God’s goodness, affirming that He “daily loads us with benefits.” Lamentations 3:23 states that on a daily basis, God’s faithfulness is renewed. Because every morning God manifests His unfailing faithfulness, our strengths are renewed like the eagles (cf. Psalms 103:5).

        We are happy to be of the company of those who publish God’s Goodnews. It is a privilege beyond the ordinary, an honour beyond compare.

As privileged people, annually we are invited to renew ourselves because as iron sharpens iron, ministers sharpen the ministerial countenance of themselves (cf. Proverbs 27:17).

To remain relevant in ministerial scheme of things, there is need for us to re-sharpen our theology, re-align our message to meet Biblical standards and approval of Heaven; re-evaluate happenings in our environments and refocus our energies on ensuring that we remain in God’s scheme of things.

It is one thing to be zealous while it is another to be zealous in accordance with knowledge (Romans 10:1-3). Christianity is not grandstanding or playing to the gallery of public opinions and expectations, but remaining true to God’s original foundations. Serving God is not doing what we think is right, but doing what God says we should do, irrespective of how popular or unpopular they are.

Assumption is a sin with grave consequence. We must be sure that we are sure. There must be a Bible book, chapter and verse authorization of what we do. The key word, therefore, is PATTERN. Missing Biblical pattern is missing the mark. When we miss the mark, we end up dissipating energy in that which is of no value.

Pattern is one concept that says it all – whether you are in manufacturing, building and construction, shoe-making, fashion designing, etcetera. If men and women, fickle as we are know the strategic importance of maintaining pattern, we should begin to see that God places high premium.

Calling and commissioning Moses to build a Tabernacle, God told him matter-of-factly, “…See, that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you on the mount” (Hebrews 8:5). Capitalizing on this landmark instruction, Holy Spirit applied this instruction and testified that certain things, “… serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things…” (Hebrews 8:5a) In other words, earthly activities of mankind, whether in their general daily comportments or worship should be reflections of how they are done in Heaven. No wonder our Lord while teaching His disciples the modus operandi and vivendi of prayers had said, “…let Thy Will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Keying into or a failure to key into Divine Pattern is make or mar, determining whether one is right or wrong; approved by God or disapproved by Him. Show me a person who sticks to God’s Pattern and I will tell you the name of a person that God is pleased with.     

CONCEPTUALIZING PATTERN

The word, “Pattern” means, “Standard measurement.” It is a concept that is not foreign to Scripture. In Exodus 25:8-9, God told Moses,  

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

That was God’s desire and it was law. No one dared trifle with this sacred injunction. He had a pattern. He wanted it followed by everyone in Israel. If anyone was to do God’s Will, he/she was to ensure that the Pattern was to be followed.   

When two and half tribes of Israel who were left behind across Jordan entertained fears that in time to come, their children would be denied membership of the Commonwealth of Israel and replicated the Altar, their action was frowned at by the remaining tribes. Consequent upon this, war was imminent. However, when a meeting was held, representatives of the two and half tribes in Joshua 22:28 appealed to pattern and stated as follow:

Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.

Writer of book of Hebrews went to a great length to stress the importance of Pattern when he recalled God’s instruction to Moses thus,

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

The strategic importance of pattern can be seen in the fact that without pattern or measurement, there are bound to be confusion. Conventionally, a ruler or cup is a pattern used for measurement (cf. Deut. 25:13-15). To use different scales and measurements will only lead to anarchy of sorts. This was what God sought to avoid and so established a Pattern that should be followed by all. Today, people have thrown caution to the wind and have opened doors to all manner of things. This is more pertinent when we look at our religious environments. It is very unfortunate because our religious experiences have become an all-comers’ affair without concern for pattern.  

IMPORTANCE OF PATTERN

In industrial production, every company has a pattern; else, there would be differences in subsequent production. Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) is laden with the responsibility of ensuring that all products produced in Nigeria or imported into Nigeria meet regulatory standards. The same applies to NAFDAC.

God recognized the need for pattern or standard before man and so ensured that His patterns should be adhered to. Few Biblical examples might help in driving this point home:

1. When Noah was to build an ark, God gave him a pattern or specifications (Genesis 6:14-16; 7:5).

2. When Moses was to build a tabernacle for God, he was expressly warned to follow a particular pattern provided for him (Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40).

3. Because God’s Ark Covenant with Israel was not carried according to God’s pattern, God was angry with David and so slew Uzzah (I Chronicles 15:13; cf. I Chronicles 13:7-12) but when they went back to God’s word, the pattern (way and manner which God had instructed that His Ark of Covenant with Israel should be carried) was uncovered and Israelites in King David’s time were able to carry it successfully (I Chronicles 15:14-15; cf. Exodus 25:14).

4. Because Nadab and Abihu did not abide by God’s pattern, God slew them (Leviticus 10:1-2)

GOD’S PATTERN FOR US

Jesus is our grand pattern (I Peter 2:21).

Jesus’ pattern of is found in the things He taught and did (Acts 1:1). He had left this patterns with His apostles, which is why they are part of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20). We are, therefore, called upon to follow the examples of Jesus and His apostles. We must follow the examples of those who followed Jesus’ examples (I Corinthians 11:1). Succinctly stated, early disciples followed God’s pattern (Acts 2:42). We must do well to follow that pattern.

There is a pattern of worship (cf. Exodus 8:27).

Not all worship is acceptable to God (Matthew 15:8-9). For a worship to be acceptable to God, it must be done according to His express commands (cf. John 4:22-24; John 17:17).

There is a pattern of teaching (doctrine) (Romans 6:17; Philippians 3:16-17).

Not all doctrines are good (Hebrews 13:9) because there are doctrines of men (Matthews 15:9), doctrines of demons (I Timothy 4:1) and doctrines of Jesus Christ (II John verse 9-11).

The soul of the “Doctrine of Christ” is found in Ephesians 4:3-6 to the intent that there is, One Body, One Spirit, One Baptism, One Lord, One Faith and One Hope. These are the foundations upon which to build the superstructure of God’s Pattern today.

LOADING THIS YEAR’S WORKSHOP WITH BENEFITS OF PATTERN

        This year’s theme is most interesting. Topics are woven, like tapestry around the concept of Pattern. Seasoned speakers, as always, have been selected to enlighten and to sumptuously feed us with God’s inerrant Word, from the deep springs of their knowledge and wealth of experiences.

        Amongst topics selected are:

·        The Pattern in Fellowship.

·        The Pattern in Worship.      

·        The Pattern in Marriage.

·        The Pattern in Prayer.

·        The Pattern in Evangelism.

·        The Pattern in Giving.

·        The Pattern in Holiness.

·        The Pattern in Cooperation.

·        The Pattern in Doctrine.

        You cannot but agree with me that this year’s Workshop is loaded. The benefits are far-reaching. We are encouraged to relax and savour the Word as our spirits are lifted, and our minds enlightened. There is never going to be a dull moment.

        A brief analysis of these topics would, therefore, suffice:

Fellowship is a time impartation and mutual edification (cf. Romans 1:11-12). There is a pattern in which this is done.

Worship, as conceived by Brother Jim Massey, “Is an outward expression of an inward sense of praise.” There is an incontrovertible Biblical pattern of worship. In Old Testament, Moses summoned it up when he said, “We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us” (Exodus 8:27). In New Testament, our Lord Jesus unequivocally stated, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24).

“Worship” is not the contraptions of men and women but doing what God says we should do.

Marriage is a confluence, a union of two hearts. As one of the most sacred institutions of God on earth, God has ordained patterns for contracting marriages and sustaining it. Marriage is the epicenter of “Home.” Martha McKay in one of her best sellers, Beyond Pardon penned these time-tested words, “Home is a sanctuary, and to invade a sanctuary is sacrilege. Let man or woman who trifles with the most sacred tie on earth remember this.”

Prayer is a solemn activity at private and corporate levels. A powerful spiritual resource, providing us direct access to God’s Throne (Hebrews 4:16). However, this powerful spiritual resource is not only being misunderstood but grossly abused by those who have turned it into what it was not meant to achieve.

Evangelism is a means of reaching out to others (churched and unchurched) with the everlasting message of Jesus Christ. There is a pattern for doing this and getting results.

Giving is fund-raising but not the like that are in practice today by our religious neighbours who engage in levying and its like. Also, not the sort that Brethren in various Congregations engage in. If we conduct giving in line with Biblical patterns, we will have no business with the kinds of lack that have come to define Congregations of our Lord today.   

“Holiness is the beauty of the believer” was a song that we used to delight our souls in time past and to remind ourselves that He who called us is Holy and, therefore, should be holy ourselves. We are gradually loosing grip with holiness, which is a Christian’s most beautiful garment. What are the patterns for holiness?

There is a Pattern for Cooperation. God designed each Congregation to be autonomous but has not asked that autonomy should negate cooperation. In his book, Why I am a Member of Church of Christ, Leroy Brownlow wrote on God’s wisdom of ensuring that each Congregation is autonomous,  

The wisdom of God is seen in such an arrangement for His churches. If one became corrupted in doctrine or affected by evil practices, other churches would not be so affect. If dissension arose in one, it would not spread to the others; if one perished, the others would not be dragged down. If a window is made of one large pane, a break injures the entire pane; but if it be made of several panes, it is not so bad to break one. The independence of the churches is a protection for each one.

 Cooperation leverages on the principles of “power of two” or more. When we cooperate we achieve results (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Doctrine is the soul of Christianity while Jesus Christ is its power. When doctrine is compromised, Christianity looses its essence. Doctrine is so important that we are charged to, “…charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (I Timothy 1:3). The reason for this is not far-fetched: Apostle Paul charged Titus to,

Hold fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, … whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

(Titus 1:9-11).

CONCLUSION

        Brethren, I have no doubt on my mind that I have taken much of your time. This was not deliberate. It is the offshoot of the importance that this year’s Workshop elicits. If Pattern is established, then a major battle would have been won. So long as Pattern remains not on the religious menu of our time, the battle rages on as confusion will remain one of our greatest challenges.

        Let us relax, soak in the ministrations, and challenged to become apostles of Patterned Christianity. This was and has remained the plea of Restoration Movement: speaking where Bible speaks, being silent where Bible is silent, calling Bible things by Bible names and doing Bible things by Bible ways.

        We thank organizers for coming up with this theme. I want to appeal to the Central Organizing Committee to ensure that the proceedings of this Workshop (papers presented) should be published and made available to a larger audience. If you do not know how to go about this, you can do well to talk with me after this Workshop on how you can have this done.

May God Almighty bless all of us as we engage in this very important exercise!

Township/Campus Church of Christ,

                                14, Agbugwu Lane, off, University Market Road,

                                P. O. Box 351, Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria.

                                Phones: 08039596919;08054890845; 08182820677

                                E-MAIL: hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com;

                                             hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com

TOPIC: SATANIC INTERFERENCE, DIVINE INTERVENTION.

TEXT: ISAIAH 59:19.
EXORDIUM
God is actively involved in the lives of His people. In Zechariah 2:8-9, God declares that we are the “Apples of His Eyes” and that whatever touches us touches Him. This implies that we are the objects of His daily attention. No hair on our head would fall to the ground without His knowledge (Matthew 10: 29-31).
For every child of God there is a solid Divine security. Angels are encamped around us (Psalms 125:2; cf. II Kings 6:8-17). He does this because He knows we are up in arms with a diabolical monster called Satan (I Peter 5:8). Satan’s activities are everything but not that which will bring well-being to God’s people. He comes purposely to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a).
Every single day, God seeks to neutralize the various poisons that Satan injects into humanity and to frustrate the various activities of Satan against His children.
God is a great Intervener but Satan is a great Interferer. When Satan interferes, God intervenes. It must be emphasized that Satan’s interference is lesser than God’s Intervention. By simple mathematical equation, Satan’s Interference is lesser than Divine Intervention while Divine Intervention is greater than Satan’s Interference.
Picture in your mind’s eyes a situation where someone, an enemy lurks around in the dark against an innocent person. Or, put in another way, someone is walking about unaware that an enemy is stalking him or her. As the enemy is about to strike, a greater force demobilizes him with a shout, “Stop!” and then rescues the one being attacked. This is the picture that Isaiah 59:19 paints for us and the message God wants us to appreciate. In no unmistakable terms, that was what had happened in the life of our Brother whose survival and deliverance as a result of Divine Intervention we are celebrating today.
God is actively involved and interested in our lives. Several Biblical accounts abounds where Satan had concluded plans to destroy but Interventions were made to stall his plans (Luke 21:32). Be rest assured that whenever and wherever Satan has set out to interfere with in your life God will Intervene on your behalf. In Matthew 15:13, Jesus said that God would uproot everything in our lives that were not planted by Him.
God is our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalms 46:1-3). In fact, problems of life and Satanic interferences activate God’s Involvement in the lives of His people. There is a Rapid Response Approach to issues of Divine Intervention. God comes to the rescue of His servants so that they in turn will bask in the sunshine of testimony to His faithfulness (Psalms 50:15).
When Bible declares that no one who ever puts his/her trust in God will be put to shame, it is for this very purpose. God will never allow Satan take the glory that is due Him in the lives of His children (Isaiah 42:8).
Satanic Interference in some cases are as results of two factors: possessing Satan’s property (John 14:30) and being a faithful servant of God (II Timothy 3:12). In the case of the former, God may or may not intervene but in the later He certainly doe intervene! Every form of satanic projections and demonic manipulations would remain foiled by God. When Satan plans, God would frustrate (Isaiah 54:15-17).
Do you want God to keep intervening where Satan has decided to interfere? You must come into partnership with God. Coming into partnership with God is what sets in motion Divine Intervention in event of satanic interferences (Job 8:5-7). However, when we go out of His purpose, we make ourselves susceptible to Satanic interferences (Ecclesiastes 10:8).
“I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5-6). That is God’s promise to each of us. Trust God. He never allows those who put their trust in Him to be to shame. God is our helper.
Psalms 20:1-9 is an important passage of Scripture, which shares in the joys of what God would do in the lives of those who repose their trust in Him:
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
Selah
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 O LORD, save the king!
Answer us when we call!
As we draw this ministration to a close, I want to leave you with this prayer:
May God expose and dispose whatever Satan has proposed against you!
May God frustrate every plan of Satan against your life, your family, your well-being, your business and job, etcetera in Jesus name!
May God Intervene wherever and whenever Satan has decided to interfere in your life in Jesus’ name!
May every force or retrogression and retardation that have held you sway thus far be broken and destroyed in Jesus’ name!
From this day onwards:
May God’s Reply be your supply;
May His Name be your Fame;
May His Glory be your Story;
May His Presence be your Essence!

Go in peace and may the Lord be with you in Jesus’ most precious name! Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah
Township/Campus Church of Christ,
14, Agbugwu Lane, off, University Market
Road, Nsukka, Enugu State.
PHONE: 08039596919.

FUNSHIP,FOODSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP: WHERE DO BELONG?

EXORDIUM:
John chapter six is a very important passage of Christian Scripture and an index into the lives of many people and of the Church today. Human nature has not changed much for the better but has consistently grown worse (cf. II Timothy 3:13).
Without much controversy there are three outstanding categories of people found among the bands of those who profess faith in Christ. These are the people we want to talk about in this short discussion.
There are people who are pleasure-oriented (Foodship), entertainment-oriented (Funship) and Kingdom-oriented (Fellowship). I am afraid that this is going to get personal with us. We are not going to talk about somebody else but us as we ask, FUNSHIP, FOODSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP: WHERE DO I BELONG?
To do justice to this discussion we would have to go back to the text of John Chapter Six and ask, WHAT KIND OF DISCIPLE AM I? Am I a funship disciple, foodship disciple or fellowship disciple? These questions are rhetorical and mean to help me realize my true identity in the Kingdom of God. Again, it is important to ask, “Am I spoiling or spurring; self-centered or Christ centered?”
Undoubtedly, there are two classes of followers: Situational followers (fair weather, none committal Christians) and the unconditional followers. There are Christians (disciples) of convenience and Christians (disciples) of conviction. Ask yourself again, “Where in these do I belong?”
In John chapter six our Lord had sumptuously provided for the masses of His followers. Recognizing His power of provision the people planned to take Him by force and make Him King probably with the Chieftaincy title of the “Great Benefactor 1 of the Jews” (John 6:14 –15). But then Jesus left them because He did not come to make foodship disciples. The people pursued after Him and having found Him the following day heard the Lord telling them, “You seek me not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate bread and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes but labor for the food which endures unto eternal life” (John 6:26-27).
Am I following the Lord because of the food He provides or because of Who He is and what He has done in my life and for me? Foodship discipleship is seen in many professing Christians today.
Some twenty first century Christians characterize the foodship discipleship mentality. Hear them when a call for burial is made as they ask, “ Would wine flow?”. See them at any given ceremony struggle and fight for food. Romans 12:15 enjoins us to “Mourn with those who mourn….” How justified are we then to demand for food and drinks from those whom we have come to share their sorrows?
If a preacher is a foodship disciple, his primary interest is not in the Spiritual well-being of the flock but on how to fatten himself and line his pockets (cf. Phil. 3:17-18; Ezek 34:1-10). No wonder many would down tools and leave the ministry should supports cease to flow.
OUTLINE OF DISCUSSION
FUNSHIP, FOODSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP: WHERE DO I BELONG?
Those who are funship and foodship disciples Warship, that is, they War and Ship to each other. This explains why there are many conflicts in our congregations. It is because of the presence of these categories of disciples. However, those who are fellowship disciples Worship, that is, they Word and Ship to each other. In the Kingdom of God here on earth, Funship and Foodship discipleship are more interested in “Serving tables” (Acts 6:2) while Fellowship discipleship basks in the WORD OF GOD (Acts 6:4).
Let us examine the character traits of each of these three groups in the church and see whether I as a Christian manifest any of these traits in my Christian life.
I. FOODSHIP (PLEASURE-ORIENTED) DISCPLESHIP:
(a) They are preoccupied with laboring for the things of temporal nature,
“The food which perishes” (John 6:26) and have been told not to (John
6:27). This is because the true nature of the kingdom of God is not
such (Romans 14:17).
(b) For the child of God, proper understanding should be gained
concerning the world and the things therein (Hebrews 13:14; I
Corinthians 7:29-31; I John 2:17).
(c) Foodship discipleship will come under great condemnation as the
objects of their interest will someday be destroyed (I Cor. 6:12-13).
(d) Such do not stand to gain anything but to loose (Matthew 16:26-27).
REMEMBER THAT JUDAS WAS A FOODSHIP DISCIPLE (John
12:4-6; Acts 1:16-20).
(e) If only in this life we have hope in Christ we are of all men most
miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19).
II FUNSHIP (ENTERTAINMENT-ORIENTED) DISCIPLESHIP:
(a) These are the self-centered and not God-centered people. Self is the
pivot of their existence (II Timothy 3:1-2,4). They go for what satisfies
their selfish and materialistic needs. To them self is all that matters.
(b) They are the fun-loving, easy-going and none-comitial Christians.
They go to church not to worship God but to be entertained by the
musicalities of preachers’ voices with no apparent interest in what
God’s Word says (Ezekiel 33:30-33).
(c) These are those who want their fancies to be tickled. Their motto is,
“TICKLE ME” (II Timothy. 4: 2-4; cf. Isaiah 30: 9-10).
(d) These are Spiritual pollutants, poisoning the atmosphere of sound
spirituality, attracting to themselves Divine condemnations (Jude vs.
11-13).
(e) Demas was a Funship disciple (II Timothy 4:10). What was he doing in
Thessalonica considering what the spiritual temperature was? (cf.
Acts. 17:11a).
III.FELLOWSHIP (KINGDOM-ORIENTED) DISCIPLESHIP:
(a) These are beautiful souls, God’s Vessels of Honor and Heaven’s
pride. These are God’s generals. When God’s roll call of who-is-who
is made their names are written in gold.
(b) Fellowship disciples are kingdom-oriented whose true objective is
to seek the Word and the Lord; the Word of the Lord and the Lord
of the Word. They are focused on Kingdom matters (John 6:66-69).
(c) “FELLOWSHIP” is from the Greek word, “KOINONIA.” Christian
fellowship is both vertical and horizontal and have three dimensions –
with Godhood: Father, Son and Holy Ghost (I John 1:3), with one
another (Act 2:42) and in the WORD.
(d) FELLOWSHIP WITH GODHOOD:
There must be an agreement (Amos 3:3) and this entails that we must
walk in the light (I John 1:7). To walk in light means that we must love
what they love and hate what they (Hebrews 1:9; Psalms 97:10).


(e). FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER:
This means that we feel the feelings of each other
(Romans12:15; I Corinthians 12:25-26), Sharpen each other and
(Proverbs 27:17; Isaiah 41:6-7), promote
sound spiritual well being (Romans 14: 19; Hebrews 10: 24-25)
and by sharing things in common (Acts4: 32, 34-35).
(f) FELLOWSHIP IN THE WORD:
This means that we must culture our selves in the Will
and ways of God; Studying to show ourselves approved
unto God. We must feast upon the Word daily and also
in endeavoring to internalize its precepts (Psalms 119: 9-11).
SUMMATION:
As were sharing on the subject of FUNSHIP, FOODSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP: WHERE I YOU BELONG? I had wondered within myself if in the course of this discussion you had recognized a negative familiar personal landmark (FUNSHIP or FOODSHIP) or a positive familiar landmark (FELLOWSHIP).
If you are a FUNSHIP or FOODSHIP disciple, I challenge you today to get out of the wrong boat and get into the right one. But if you are a Fellowship-Kingdom-oriented disciple, I encourage you to remain where you are. Keep paddling and committed!
Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah (Evangelist)
Minister, Township/Campus Church of Christ,
14,Agbugwu Lane, off University Market Road,
P.O. Box 351 (Personal Box), Nsukka -410002.
Enugu State, Nigeria.
PHONES: 08039596919; 08182820677.
E-mail: hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com;
hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com

PLIGHTS OF PREACHERS

TEXTS:
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (II TIMOTHY 4:5).

"Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, “Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen” (II KINGS 4:1)

INTRODUCTION
Standing before you today is an honour that I do not think I deserve. However, I consider it an opportunity to represent my constituency, the preaching profession.
Having served the Brotherhood in ministerial capacity for more than twenty years now, I think I have gained two or more experiences. I have served with rural (village) congregations and have also served urban (cosmopolitan) congregations. The experiences I have garnered over the years have been a mixed grill. I have enjoyed the fellowship of Brethren and have treasured relationships that I have cultivated. Women have been most supportive throughout the places I have served. Men on their own part have shown leadership skills and commitments to the growth of the Lord’s Church that have inspired and encouraged me. While ministering to these wonderful people, I have learnt from them much than they have learnt from me. To a large extent, it has been a reciprocal affair. I owe no man any apology to say without equivocation that I am happy and righteously proud to be a member of the Lord’s Church and a preacher of New Testament Christianity. We have a Great, Beautiful and Wonderful Brotherhood.
However, like Apostle Paul I have had reasons to despair, weep and be topsy-turved (counterbalanced) by a number of brethren. In spite of the joy that preachers derive from ministry, there are dangers inherent in the job. You would never understand and appreciate what preachers go through on a daily basis unless you are one. Most preachers do not know who to run to and on whose shoulders they can comfortably and confidently cry on. A preacher is every body’s resource but he lives a lone-ranger life. His life is like the proverbial, “Water, water everywhere but there is no water to drink.” He is surrounded by so many but he rarely has close confidante.
In this presentation, I shall try the much I can to x-ray a couple of the challenges (plights) of preachers. It is unfortunate that I would be the only preacher to speak on the plights of preachers because I am sure that I would not be able to point to all the subtle issues that have bothered and are still bothering preachers today. I am sure that a number of preachers present and those who would read these would have more to contribute than I can attempt to do in the course of this presentation.

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF PREACHERS
Preachers in Bible times, as prophets were God’s mouthpiece. The Will of God was made known to His people through the agency of prophets (Amos 3:7). Listening to and heeding prophetic declarations guaranteed the continued spiritual, physical, economic and social wellbeing of the people (II Chronicles 20:20). God’s grace has in every era of human existence ensured that proclaimers of His message were never lacking (II Chronicles 36:15-16).
Under New Testament era, messages were passed to congregations through preachers who were referred to as “angels of the Church.” This can be easily seen when we read through the first four chapters of the Book of Revelation. Future of God’s Heritage is anchored on sound teachings, preaching and preachers’ faithfulness to the Message. Else, God had promised there was going to be a famine of the Word (Amos 8:11-12). This prophetic declaration became the experience of the nation of Israel in what theological historians have dubbed, “The four hundred silent years” and “Between the Testaments.” Acts 13:40 warns that God’s people in our era must be careful not to allow prophetic utterances become their experiences.
Today, there are tale-tale signs that all are not well in our spiritual and theological milieus as ministry has become an all-comers’ affairs; a situation that has encouraged charlatans and opportunists who are bestriding our various landscapes with their falsehood, so much so that the Truth of God’s Word is gradually being lost. If adequate care is not taken, our generation might become the last frontier. Today, lie is gradually becoming truth while truth is gradually being lost to sham and phoney-religiosities of our times. The unfortunate thing is that these are taking their roots in the larger Brotherhood which a segment in the Brotherhood has already compromised and buckled up under the aegis of “Change Agents” and the “New Hermeneutics.”
Preachers keep their hands on the knob of spiritual and theological thermostats of the people. As preachers go, so go the people they minister to (I Timothy 4:16; cf. Matthew 15:14). They can shipwreck souls if they do not know their onions (I Timothy 1:18-20) or build souls if they do. Faithful and uncompromising preachers who have the rimmer of the Word are hedges against spiritual and theological suicides of a people. Nigerian Churches of Christ are blessed with faithful ministers whose interests are largely to serve the Lord and His Body.
The work of preachers, without controversy is a critical one. Like the Eldership, they keep watch over souls (Hebrews 13:17). Consequently, it would seem unlikely that a work of such eternal and spiritual significance can go without challenges. This is where preachers’ plights come in, and these plights are subtle, grave and many.
Brethren, preachers need help! Preachers need understanding, compassion and support. As men who are in the lines of fire, preachers are often wounded and bleeding. Many preachers are today carrying emotional, psychological and economic scars well beyond the phoney baloney façades of ads and fads fronts which they sometimes try to project. Beyond the very many, “It is well” mien, which some preachers endeavour to project lie deep pains, lack and insecurities.

PREACHING: PRINCE OF PROFESSIONS
Preaching is the prince of professions. Of all professions known to mankind, it is only the work of preachers that have spiritual and eternal significance (Romans 10:13-14; I Timothy 4:16). Other professions, no matter how highly placed they may seem begin and end here. Perhaps, this explains why when God sent His Son and thought of the work He was to do, the only work He considered princely enough was preaching. Jesus lived and died as a preacher. So, when we treat a preacher the way we do, we are invariably treating Jesus because He, not only is our Savior and Lord but our senior colleague (Matthew 10:40-42).
The works of preachers are of great significance: moulding characters and shaping destinies of those they preach to. Preachers are like medical doctors – always on call. They are like lawyers – always arguing cases, presenting the best sides to issues, negotiating and mediating between persons. In fact, preachers are conflict managers extraordinaire. The job descriptions of preachers are all–involving. Basically, preachers have their hands in all pies.
Preachers’ work is tasking and energy sapping, which explains why burnout remains one of the most prevalent sicknesses amongst preachers. Some Brethren are mistaken when they think that preachers are lazy and that their works are easy. They think that the only things preachers do are sleep, wake up, pray, read and study Bible; prepare lessons and stroll to few houses of brethren in name of visitations – then the day closes. These may define activities of a given preacher in a given geographical location. They are not representative of preachers’ daily activities. 90 per cent of preachers are more involved; their ministries are total: ministering to bodies, souls and spirits of those they minister to (I Thessalonians 5:23). In fact, the more cosmopolitan an area a preacher serves, the more complex his activities and demands placed on him become.
Preachers have been described as, “Wounded healers.” They, in spite of their personal challenges must provide hope to the “hopeless” and strength to the weak. They must be at the scene where a Christian Brother or Sister is hurt, someone dies, in hospitals, at police stations, at attorneys’, etcetera. In II Corinthians 11:27-29, Apostle Paul describes what an average preacher does in the course of carrying out his daily work:
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?
Preachers seek to build faith in people and to prepare them for life beyond this realm. It never fails to surprise me that while preachers seek to make people earthly and heavenly useful, some people actually want preachers to be earthly useless. In II Corinthians 6:10, Paul again describes some of the sterling contributions of Ministers in people’s lives: “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Preachers have invested and are investing lots of resources in people through their teaching and preaching. Often great ideas emerge out of preachers’ teachings and preaching which the audiences apply to become great in societies. Preachers have to dig deeper to be able to make lessons applicable and achieve their intended meanings. As London and Wiseman (1993:21) observed, “Unfortunately, few people stop to think about how much difficulty, how much depression, and how many obstacles he faces to serve in this way.”

PLIGHTS OF PREACHERS
Let me ask each of us gathered here today, “Who wants to be a preacher?” Ministers and ministry are becoming endangered. It is becoming increasingly difficult to become a preacher and to continue in ministry. To ascertain the veracity of this claim, we need to ask ourselves, “How many men, young and old are willing to become preachers? How many parents are willing and at the same time encouraging their sons to take to preaching as a profession? Again, how many women would be so happy with shouts of ‘Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!!’ that their husbands have taken the noble decision to become preachers?” We do not find these common amongst us. Rather, those who are already there are looking for ways to get out. These days’ preaching as a profession is not attractive. It never was. If there was ever a time it attracted a large following, that era belonged to the past.
Materially speaking, preaching is not attractive. However, spiritually speaking, preaching/ministry is one of the most rewarding careers. When God chose what His Son would be, He chose for Him to be a preacher!
Among the teeming Plights of preachers are:

Welfare
Welfare is germane to issues bothering on preachers’ plights. Most preachers would happily contend with other forces against them if welfare issues are given considerable attention. I Corinthians 9:6-14 make a strong case for the welfare of preachers. Welfare is not just about salary. Welfare is holistic. It cuts across the present and the future. It bothers around wellbeing, being able to meet one’s daily personal as well as family obligations.
Preachers have families, not just their immediate (nuclear) families but as Africans, they have extended family members. Success, it is said has brothers, sisters and friends but failure does not. As far as some members of preachers’ families are concerned, preachers are failures. A situation where a man hardly meets up his responsibilities robs that man of his dignity as a man and reduces him to a mere figurehead in a family where he should be head and where he has the natural right to “rule with all authority.”
Many people have complained that some preachers’ children are wayward, turning around to accuse these men of God of irresponsibilities. We must stress the fact that the power to feed is the power to lead. A man who is able to “feed” his family is a man who has the moral right to control his family.
Most preachers because of welfare issues are living below the poverty line. How much do preachers in most congregations around Nigeria earn? Hearing the figures would send cold shivers down your spine. I have preached for more than twenty years. I hold a degree in Communications and pursuing a postgraduate in the same discipline. What then is my salary? To be candid, my entire monthly take home put together as I speak is in the neighbourhood of twenty thousand Naira (N20, 000. 00). This represents half of the salary a least paid civil servant in my congregation earns. For me, an average daily spending for my family is way above two thousand Naira (N2, 000. 00) daily “maintenance money.” My earning as far as it stands today does not guarantee any future for me and for my family. It implies that I would not be able to send my children to good schools. It also implies that I would never be able to execute any medium ticket project such as buying a piece of land and erecting a house of my own. My colleagues in the secular professions have strong assurances of better future than I do and can do much more than I can ever hope to do. Yet, in comparisons the work I do has more benefit than the ones they do.
Preachers in the Lord’s Church in Nigeria do not have pensions and gratuities as people in other professions do. Even our counterparts in denominations have pensions and gratuities. This implies that as a younger person, I would expend my energies in this work and when I grow old, I have nothing to fall back on. The only pensions and gratuities we have are our children, that is, if we are able to train, educate and empower them. How possible are these with the kind of salaries we earn?
People in other professions can afford to go on strike but preachers cannot. Ever heard of preachers going on strike over welfare? Unthink of. If it does, it would be considered sacrilegious. The only way to go on strike is to resign. Preachers these days are resigning their appointments in droves.
Preachers have the same needs as others. They buy from the same market and are subject to the same economic climates and conditions. The disparity between the earnings of a preacher and that of others in the same congregations is like comparing the poorest African country with the wealthiest Western economy.
Agreed, there are factors that are chiefly responsible for this low earning. These are non-centrality of funds which we can excuse on the platform of autonomy, size of individual congregations, locations, preachers’ educational qualifications, evangelistic fervour and economic standings of individual congregations informed by the financial prosperities of their members.
To aggravate the welfare situations of preachers, most congregations have “full-time preacher” policy. As welcome as this may be, it is pertinent to state that preachers who were hired under this policy are not enjoying full-time benefits. If our preachers are encouraged and allowed to tent-make like Apostle Paul had done (Acts 18:3; cf. Acts 20:33-35), they would be able to better their lots in life. If preachers are allowed to use their talents in holding jobs outside their ministerial callings, they would not cry too much about welfare that we have today. The disadvantage in holding jobs outside the ministerial work is that it would make preachers’ attentions to be divided with their attendant half-hearted commitments.
Because of inadequate remunerations, most preachers go cap in hand before Brethren in the congregations where they serve and also go to those outside the Church for financial assistance. This, to a large extent reduces a preacher’s sphere of influence and prestige. Most preachers’ families live on handouts. Many preachers live and die in penury and debt as was the case with widow of a prophet we read of in II Kings 4:1. I have personally heard preachers say in their privacies that they would not encourage their sons to take to ministry. Only few preachers would encourage their sons to take to preaching as a profession. Also, I have heard preachers’ children say to the hearing of others that if being preachers were what their fathers were doing, they would never become one.
One preacher’s wife made this comment: “Our challenge is to live within our income and still not embarrass the church with the kind of clothes we wear and the car we drive. I am not talking extravagant, just respectable.” Do you know that it is easier to identify a preacher and his family by the kind of articles of clothing they put on? In their book, Pastors’ At Risk, H. B. London and Neil B. Wiseman (1993:1) observed that “The church faces a perilous future when pastors (preachers) find it so tough to survive emotionally and economically.”
Brethren, those who sow spiritual seeds should expect to reap material benefits (I Corinthians 9:11). God stipulates that he or she who is taught the word should share with him who teaches him or her in all good things (Galatians 6:6). This means sharing with the men of God ministering in our midst is our responsibilities.
While a number of congregations have taken steps to remedy the situation of preachers’ welfare. I have heard of congregations’ efforts in this direction. The stories I hear are quite encouraging. I want to use this medium to request congregations to do more. I have heard of congregations that built houses for their preachers, bought cars, sent their preachers to tertiary institutions for further education, assist in the training of preachers’ children. These are all welcome developments but the situation is a still a far cry from what it should.

Unrealistic Expectations
These unrealistic expectations can be seen when congregations advertise for the positions of preachers. This is where you see a list of qualifications and requirements. Soon, I see it coming - congregations would be requiring preachers to have PhDs. One Protestant church recently posted an opening for a “Senior pastor's position,” boldly stating a long list of characteristics:
We want a Pastor who is well-organized, dynamic and youthful in outlook: one who is not afraid of innovative ideas or of risk-taking; one who takes strength from and is strong in preaching and teaching the Word; one who is open and inventive, able to find new and different ways to worship God. Our Pastor will look for ways to develop consensus . . .
Realizing, perhaps, that these characteristics sounded much like a description of Superman, the Pulpit Committee added a note at the bottom that reads, "The ability to walk on water would be nice, but is not required."
A preacher is expected to be a Know-it-all person. Because a preacher ministers to variegated classes of people, cutting across all professional divides, he is expected to personally minister to each of them. He is expected to speak with the finesse of a grammarian and with the erudition of a scholar. He is expected to be at home with history, economics, politics, law, current affairs, education, philosophy, theology, just name them. He is a kind of lecturer who is supposed to know at least little of everything and everything about Bible.
Aside these, he is expected to be a sound administrator, church growth expert, counselor, fundraiser, even as a benefactor to indigent brethren in congregation where he serves. Have you not heard of Brethren approaching their preachers to lend them money? I have been a victim of this and till date my life has been frustrated because those I stood on their behalf as sureties have landed me in scores of debts running into millions of Naira, which I am still paying.
Preachers are expected to be above boards with no visible signs of weakness. While this should be so, Brethren must and should know that preachers are humans with their own peculiar idiosyncrasies. Preachers are not “angels,” they are humans with flesh and blood. In my many years experiences as a preacher, I have noticed that some categories of persons in congregations seem to take delight in making preachers lose their cool, make them blow hot and exhibit one “nasty attitude” or another. The same persons would be quick to point accusing fingers at the preachers and recommend that a panel of inquiry be set to investigate the preachers’ attitudes, and possibly recommend their sack. This kind of attitude brings no small frustrations in preachers and also adds to his retinue of plights.

Controlling Preachers Outside-In
Agenda-Setting is a communication theory which journalists have to acquaint themselves with. Next to Agenda-Setting theory is Gate-Keeping theory. In Agenda-setting theory, the media of mass communications control what people think but under the Gate-Keeping theory, certain classes of editors stay at the gate and determine which story is to be published and which should not irrespective of their relevance to the newspapering business and society in general.
Agenda-Setting and Gate-Keeping have gradually found their way into the church and to a great extent, are defining how ministry is to be done and actually how ministry is being done.
Today, almost every brother and sister in church has one agenda or another for the preacher. By acts of omission or commission, they seek to keep preachers on the edges of their ministerial seats. It has become a recent practice in congregations for committees to be set up with the sole responsibility of monitoring preachers in guise of giving preachers job descriptions. While this practice has its own advantages, some people are actually using it to control the man who does the work of ministry.
Consciously and unconsciously they keep reminding him that if he does not measure up, he would be fired. By doing this, they put so much fear into the preacher that he keeps living a false life, works extra hard to meet the expectations of his “masters” and goes home each day feeling insecure and frustrated. Ministry under this atmosphere is no longer a “labour of love” but a compulsive one because if a preacher fails to measure up he stands to lose his job. Of course, anyone who does not like the face of the preacher can engineer his sack anytime and any day under any guise, real or imaginary.
Rather than seek to control preachers through Agenda-Setting and Gate-Keepings, let us cultivate the culture of affirming them. When we do this, we will be helping to build the morale and psyche of preachers and by so doing contribute towards building great congregations where growth in all indices is assured. Ministerial effectiveness is anchored on minister-motivation. The joy of a minister is the strength of the congregation. Let us not seek to pull preachers down but to encourage them. Let us pray for them because their well-being are ours (cf. Jeremiah 29:7).

Political Manipulations
Preachers are humans just like everyone else. In view of this, they are amenable to all manners of manipulations. Sometimes, some powerful interests in congregations who may become their preachers’ benefactors and benefactresses may capitalize on this to engage in subtle remote-controlling of preachers in their respective congregations. When some of these preachers do not want to play along or allow themselves to be swayed, the same powerful interests would scheme against preachers and have them either disgraced or ejected from their midst.
Brethren must appreciate the fact that when they support preachers from their personal resources, it is not the person that they are supporting per se but the work of God. Financial supports should not be means of any sort of manipulations. We cannot do anything against the truth but for the truth.
One of the preachers’ plights stems from the fact that when such brethren do what are wrong and the preachers sets out to rebuke or call them to order they would politicize and would seek to resist these moves with all manners of threats. Many congregations have gone down because a certain powerful brother or sister was a negative influence. Nothing frustrates a preacher than to have his hands and feet tied because of the political manipulations of powerful forces in congregations.
Preachers Doing Ministry at Families’ Risks
It is on record that ministry is hazardous to ministers’ marriages and family. In their book, Pastors’ At Risk, H. B. London and Neil B. Wiseman (1993:7, 11) observed,
All too often time spent in ministry equals time away from spouse and kids. If family stability isn’t attacked and eroded at one end of the scale, it seems it will be at the other! This is a serious and delicate situation. And caught in the middle of it all, trying (frantically, sometimes) to keep ends of the candle burning, is that person we know as a professional minister - a human being like the rest of us, who increasingly finds himself working against a legion of obstacle, unrealistic expectations, and stresses and strains unique to his position in the world…. Ministry hazards are choking hope out of pastors’ souls.
That preachers are ministering at their families’ risks can be established and justified by scores of Biblical accounts and contemporary examples. Eli lost his children because he was too busy with ministry’s demands (I Samuel 2:12). The same went for Samuel who equally lost his children to both spiritual and moral delinquencies because he was busy shuttling from one end of the spectrum to the other, preaching and saving others while losing his own at home (I Samuel 8:1-4).
Why were these so? “Why would it not be so? “A man would be able to attend to the needs of his children spiritually, morally, educationally, emotionally, etcetera only when he is around. Preachers are known to take care of other people’s needs while neglecting their families’ (Songs of Solomon 1:6). Indeed, preachers are caught in the middle of a multifaceted junction: the world, ministry, family needs and a host of others – striking the appropriate balance is one of their greatest headaches.
Let me say this and this also goes to pay much belated tributes to preachers’ wives wherever they are - it takes grace to marry a preacher. It also takes extra courage to remain married to one. Preachers’ wives are at the receiving ends of all that preachers go through. Often, their husbands heap on them their transferred aggressions.
London and Wiseman (1993:21) observed, “Family groups living in minister’ homes face all the pressures every contemporary family faces plus the unique demands pastoral ministry makes on them.”

Attempts At Making Preachers’ Errand Boys
This may not be the appropriate nomenclature, but that is the way I conceptualized it. In some congregations preachers have become errand boys. While appreciating the roles our “able Church Secretaries” play in running the affairs of congregations, we would also need to call some of them to order because some of them have of recent assumed the positions of boss while preachers have become errand boys.
Biblically speaking, there was no office known as “Church Secretary” but there is an office of a minister. Minister is not a position per se, it is a calling. The position of Church Secretary came to be because there were needs for it. When secretaries complement the efforts of preachers, preachers would perform optimally but when they become cogs in the wheels of progress they make things very difficult and often the very source of conflict between a congregation and her preacher.
Some Secretaries have become domineering having adopted Diotrephesic mentalities (III John v.9).This attitude is seen when correspondence are sent from congregations and signed by a certain “Secretary-In-Charge.” Some church secretaries are known to run their congregations while preachers are expected to take orders from them. In my years of experiences in ministry I have worked with scores of these people. One told me that I should know that he was the one who employed me and that I should know that preachers are like wives married to the church, even threatening to initiate my sack if I dared questioned his authority. When I requested for official files of the church, he was quick to tell me that I had no right to ask for any and that the best he would do was to give me World Bible School files of the church to follow-up on students. Except for the fact that I am a bit of an expert in teaching conflict management and conflict resolution and have written a book on that, I would have had it hot with this particular secretary. However, using sanctified common sense diplomacy I was able to relate with him until he left.
Some Church secretaries would not consult their preachers when mails arrive, they would assign responsibilities to brethren without preachers’ knowledge, call for meetings without consulting with preachers, etcetera. Most times, secretaries are the ones who draw roosters for the Church and determine who should preach or who should not.
Preachers are supposed to know the spiritual well-being of members and assign who should do what. Today, secretaries have taken the place and positions of preachers. Some secretaries now have special seats in congregations and woes betide a preacher if he is not in good terms with his church’s secretary.
If the church could be likened to a secular corporate organization, preachers would be likened to chief operating officers (COO) and no secretary of an organization in that capacity would relegate his COO to an errand boy’s position.
Stifling Preachers of Fund
Closely related to this errand boy status is the act of stifling preachers of funds in doing the work of ministry. Many preachers do not have an Imprest Account. Preachers going out to do the work of the Lord and of the Church would have to go cap-in-hand to virtually beg for funds. Sometimes he has to write applications and fill requisition forms just to obtain money. This puts psychological pressures on preachers and adds to their other plights.
There is no point consciously subjecting preachers to lower class status in congregations. If they feel demoralized they would not be able to function optimally and that would rob off negatively on the Church – her spiritual growth and numerical developments.

SUMMATION
“Overwork, low pay, and desperation take a terrible toll as ministers struggle to make sense of crammed calendars, hectic homes, splintered dreams, starved intimacy, and shriveled purpose. Some quit in utter hopeless to sell used cars, hawk Amyway or peddle water softeners. Others lapse into passivity like holy robots. And many of the remaining stouthearted hold on by their fingernails, hoping to find a hidden spring to refresh their weary spirits and scrambled thoughts. No aspect of pastors’ lives has been spared, neither personal nor professional” that is the way London and Wiseman (1993:11-12) describe an average preacher working with congregations.
Time would not permit me to x-ray others issues and plights of preachers. Suffice it to say, however, that what I have pointed out in this presentation would serve as basis for further investigations and discussions.
As I go down from this podium today, I want to thank you for organizing this seminar and for the topics you have selected to be discussed. These go to show that the church is becoming concerned about the plights of her preachers. I want to believe that there is a great future for preachers in this side of our world. This, indeed, is a step in the right direction. Thank you and God bless us all in Jesus’ name!

Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah,
Township/Campus Church of Christ,
14, Agbugwu Lane, off, university Market
Road, P. O. Box 351 (Personal Box),
Nsukka – 410002, Enugu State, Nigeria.
PHONES: 08039596919; 08182820677.
EMAIL: hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com;
hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com.

REFERENCES

London, H. B., Jr. and Wiseman, N. B. (1993). Pastors At Risk. Wheaton,
Illinois: Victor Books.