Article by Oswalo U. Chikere
THE IRONY OF CHRISTIANITY By Oswalo U. Chikere
Understanding Christianity has been a perennial problem since the death of Jesus Christ. Despite the fact that many Christians, Christian scholars, and Christian theologians might not agree to this, it is the truth. The problem of Christianity is not in its definition or as a service to God (man?s function to God) but it is as a service to mankind. This is because Jesus Christ (the believed son of God) didn?t directly teach how man should behave to his fellow man (whether woman or man)? I do not dispute that Jesus taught who God is, the expectations of man to God, and, indirectly, man?s service to man. This write-up is not for the purpose of arguing whether Jesus Christ directly taught man service to man or to analyze the lapses of Jesus Christ (if there were), but to elaborating the expectations of Christianity.
Research has proved that Christianity came into existence at Antioch where the disciples/apostles of Jesus Christ were called Christians (Christ like). Since certain religions existed before Christianity, some during it, and others still existing, therefore, it?s not my call to debate on when Christianity originated, even when Acts of the Apostles of the Holy Bible (a book containing the teachings, history, and expectations of God) recorded the word Christian was first used in Antioch. Despite the uncertainty of this fact, one thing is certain and it is that Christianity is the religion of God, taught by Jesus Christ. Therefore, a Christian can be defined as anybody who believes in Christianity. And, ?Christianity is the religion based on the teachings and works of Jesus Christ?-Oxford Dictionary Ovi.
Though millions have studied or are studying Christianity in schools (especially in the university); some claim to have been called by God, to have seen the light, etc. it does not mean that they have come to meet God, or know God more than us (they claim some of us have not seen the light), or God has explained Christianity to them?. Today, when I look at individuals or group of individuals who claims to be messengers of God (Evangelists, Pastors, Reverend Fathers, Elders, Apostles, Knights, Deacons, Imams, etc.), I weep for them because they are ignorant yet do not no they are ignorant (according to Socrates).
Brethren, be not deceived, God has not given any man an exclusive/unique understanding of Christianity/the Bible, or individual or collective metaphysical powers, or whatever they might be calling it, rather He (through Jesus Christ) urges man to go into the world, make disciples in His name, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit, and commanding them to observe all Jesus taught in his time on earth. In doing this, God did not give power to anybody, or classify man into messengers and followers, or urged man to complete the statement they feel Jesus didn?t complete or make statement Jesus didn?t make or removing from statement Jesus made or interpreting statements in the way Jesus Christ didn?t. (Anybody who has received Christ and is baptized can perform the function of recruiting souls for God)Whether a pastor, evangelist, reverend, deacon, deaconess, elder, chorister in church (no matter the church), cleaner in church, new member, floor member (someone not holding any post), or not a Christian, we are all one and equal in the sight of God. If you didn?t know, know today that God created all of us (human beings) as part of a tree (Himself), therefore, we are all important and complement to each other (no one can survive without the other). Paul in the Bible explained this when he said no gift of the spirit is better than the other, and the church is like the different part of the body; without the hand or leg or head or brain, etc. the body (the church) will not function well. Even this song tells moreWe are Heirs of the Father,We are Jointed to the Son,We are Children of the Kingdom,We are Family,We are OneMany individuals and group of individuals have selfishly made themselves messengers of God, and are ignorantly winning ignorant souls for the devil. It is true, and let me remind you, that Jesus warned against false witnesses, false prophets, false jesus?, etc. but I?m not sure he expected it to be this much.The religion of Christ is suppose to be a monist religion (a total believe and worship in/of God, and God alone). Today?s Christianity for many people and in many places are now impure (mixed), no longer pure (primary, whole, or undiluted), and this is not Christianity (don?t be deceived). Mixed in the sense that things have started to determine, give reasons and condition how Christianity is to be followed; some of these factors include- environment, friends, over consciousness, over zealousness, individual goals, temptations, pride, and mostly education (especially the tertiary education).
I was at a seminar one day where genotype and marriage was the topic for discussion. I, must, confess that the B.A. Medicine, and B.A. Psychologists who were invited to deal with the topic did justice to it, not until they mentioned ?if your genotype and that of your relationship partner is screaming disaster, run for your lives? (though not directly or at the same time).
One might ask (mostly the educated ones), what is wrong with it? Isn?t it right?… Or even exclaim yes! That?s true! Correct!…. The truth remains that it was not a religious statement to make. (Another might ask, but it wasn?t in a religious concept, was it?). The problem of not understanding Christianity originates from classifying the world into moral and religious departments which God (the creator) didn?t classify. Education has turned the world up-side-down, yes, because it has and is opening the eyes of human beings (especially those who can?t hold to their faith); in fact, permit me to say that the tree God didn?t want Adam and Eve to eat from is education.(Back to the story) So, if I were SS and my right woman were SS also, what should I do? After searching till I became 50, do I continue searching? What if I don?t find another? What if I?ve become too familiar with her that I can?t let go? What if we?ve sworn to our love? Since everybody is running from me, what do I do? The answer the scientist might give to you is find someone AA. What if I don?t find? What if the one I found is scared of risking/ruining his one/last opportunity? Another might say, and then go for some with SS. If I went for SS would there be any joy knowing that my children might die? Or that my wife might die during delivery? and so on. After thinking of all these, I might end up not getting married, committing suicide, living a reserved and private life, etc. I must tell you that so many people (might not have been an SS example- may be HIV, AIDS, one form of disability, etc. you know them, so tell yourself, and ask yourself how you would feel if it were you) have chosen between either of the three alternatives, especially suicide. Hearing it from a doctor, friend, lecturer/teacher, etc. might not kill them but from a messenger of God/spiritual adviser (Imam, Pastor, etc.) will? yet they still preach love your neighbours as yourself, help others, don?t kill, etc. when themselves are partaking in killing. Answering or attempting to answer some of the above questions will enlighten you more on how discrimination, rejection, suicide, hate, anger, the motive for suicide bombing, robbery, etc. came into existence. What is most annoying (to me) is when these scholars tell you God is responsible for showing them this light. Or that if God were God, why wouldn?t he attend to the cry of this people? or even make them like that at first?
Ask yourself questions like; if it were me or someone I love, how would I/they feel? If we finish categorizing the world, how would it look like? Do we really love ourselves? Is God completely in charge? Is this really Christianity?, etc. Before this educational light came into existence or in the early days of Christianity, people didn?t need to know their genotypes before they marry, seek metaphysical answers to questions, look at the disability of one before employing him, or look at the success rate before making one a friend and half brother, etc. The indirect message of Jesus to mankind (to me) is ?love? (love not measurable, conditioned, or fostered by certain criteria). And for this love to exist, or we (Christians or non-Christians) to possess the type of love Jesus preached, we need to allow humility (the act of having or showing a modest or low estimate of one?s own importance) possess us, but this can happen only when we totally empty ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to enter in to us. When this happens, Christianity would truly be defined, and effective because we would love ourselves, we would have completely eliminated any room for negativity, like-the criticizing of the Christian religion, discrimination, rejection, class distinction, pride, we would have become one perfect religion, united ourselves, and pursuing after one goal with one religion, one preacher, one road, and possibly one messenger of God at a time.
Anyone who cannot follow you to your church,Who criticizes(d) the doctrines or believes of your church, Who cannot help/assist you in times of needWho does not understand, trust, believe, etc. in you or your ability, Who attends a different church from you,Who is proud,Whose interpretation of the Bible is different from yours,Whose prayer pattern,Whose mission you don?t understand,Who cannot forsake his position or possession for,Who does not see you as a friend and brother, Who does not take advice, Who backbites, quarrels, fights, boasts, etc. is not a child of God, not a Christian? period! His either not a believer of any faith or a believer of another religion; maybe money religion, business religion, education religion, science religion, medicine religion, etc lol
The earlier we stop, generally, distinguishing between Christians and non-Christians, the better for us, our Christian race, and the more we will be winning souls for God, love our brothers, and making the world to become one (a better place, and a heaven on earth). We can only be different in the ways we pray, we talk, we do our things? but we are the same in the sight of the gods we believe in; in fact, we are doing the same work of God but with His different attribute (as in, idol worshippers worshipping the omnipresence of God, seers worshipping the future-telling nature of God, etc. by this, I can infer that the different religions worships one God, but with His different attributes/characteristics).Be not deceived my friend, religion (no matter the type; Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, etc) is like a military parade ground; where every soldier is in the same uniform, dressed in the same pattern, with the same arms, responding to one commandant, replying in the same tone and format, and parading/matching uniformly. Whether a Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Christian, Traditional worshipper or whatever religion, believe wholly on your god, the teachings of your god, and let no reason or development be responsible for making you condition, deviate, or determine how you serve your god.
Founder of the The Exclusive Service Organization; an organization that is only engaged with COUNSELLING, SECURITY, AND COMPUTER WORKS. He is moltivational and educational writer who has published books, and still have many un-published write ups in store.Also, he is a singular achiever who had held and is still holding leadership positions in some reputable companies and organization (both in religious and ordinary), soundly counselled and adviced individauls and companies to positivity, accepted and positive touched lives, etc. He is a growing philosopher, still a youth, and from a catholic responsible family.
For enquiry, sponsorship, counselling or interest purposes, he can be contacted on 2348064008844 or theexclusiveserviceorganization@hotmail.com