- Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm praying for the health of Zion in this clime of ours, and also for good fruit in the upcoming camping.The above subject matter refers, sir. I'm forced to renege on the oath of silence the elders made us to acquiesce before they revealed the matter which I'm about to relate. Deep in my heart, I feel disorientated by the event that it may affect my faith if I don't share it with you for a fatherly advice.After close of service, the pastor announced the meeting with the elders, some mothers, some children from Bro Francis Egwu's household and the Sunday school teachers. Being a teacher, I sent my wife and children home and stayed back for the meeting. Bro Linus Okorie from Lagos was a part of the meeting. Bro Chukwuma Onyetube, who was not in any of the categories invited for the meeting, elected to be a part. (The pastor had announced in the morning service that Bro Linus from Lagos had told him he would come to Benin with a message from God. In the message read from Rev 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown", he highlighted the need for unity among the members of Eguadase congregation.
- He also referred us to Php 1:27 "...that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel". However, the emphasis was on “one spirit and one mind”. Strangely, the basis for oneness was not made clear, though he seemed to hinge it on the leadership of the pastor. To buttress his point, he reasoned that some of us could become leaders in the future, and asked whether we would want opposition from our followers.In the meeting after the service, Bro Christian Elui addressed us for about an hour. He mentioned two issues to be discussed. One was about a text message by one of Bro Francis’ son. The other, which he said was a related matter, was about the Ebonyi debacle. He spent much time on this issue, recounting the history of the problem, which we all are very familiar with. He struggled to keep some the audience from sleep. As for me, I kept awake trying to make sense out of the speech. I wondered why he was reserved about the first issue and spent much time on the second without bringing any new thing to the table. The issue about the text message was unknown to me, yet it was only just hinted at. At the end of the speech, he requested for the way forward out of the problem of Ebonyi State congregations, which he said has affected the Benin church.Before commencement of the deliberations, Bro Christian, Bro Isaiah and Bro Linus, urged that the issues discussed should not be leaked outside this meeting. I wondered what was so secretive about the matter, because to me, they had not said anything new that everyone was not aware about. I wondered why Bro Christian had spent an hour or more talking without letting us know the real reason for the meeting. It was when he had been assured that there was no spy among us that he proceeded into the issue of the text message. He called for the phone where the text message was written. It belonged to Bro Nnamdi Egwu, Bro Francis’s son. It was agreed that I read out the text message to the hearing of the gathering.The message was written to Bro Ogbo Okike, by Bro Nnamdi. He started by hoping that Bro Ogbo’s cup would run full someday. He promised to “show” him, intimating him that he (Nnamdi) was not like those whose life Bro Ogbo had frustrated through training. Among other boasting, he concluded by praying that God would open his parents’ eyes, as well as the eyes of the Benin elders, to see Bro Ogbo’s true color.After the text was read, Nnamdi was asked whether it was any of the Benin elders that encouraged him to send the text message. He said no. He was then asked why he wrote the message. He started by absolving himself of any selfish malice against his brother in law. He said he does not take offence when a matter personally affects him. It’s only when it has to do with his siblings or family that he reacts. In this matter, he said he was not comfortable when his sister, Amaka Egwu, was staying in their house in Nsukka, without parental protection, working for Bro Ogbo Okike, who does not give proper attention to the overall wellbeing of workers, as it concerns boy-girl association. At this point, Bro Christian Elui stopped from further comments, stating the ones already given were enough for the discussion. This action of his visibly displeased everyone, especially Bro Francis Egwu, who expressed bitterness that they were not treating him well. Hewondered why they were trying to mum his son. “If he saw Bro Ogbo with his daughter, let him tell us. I am not one to hide evil. Say everything plainly,” he pleaded. After few speakers added their voice to the pervading discontent, Nnamdi was told to continue his testimony.He submitted that he had not seen Bro Ogbo commit any such act, neither had he seen his sister in any appearance of evil. He said that the problem with his brother in law was that he was more interested in the output of the bakery business than the morality of his workers, citing an incidence where an employee was caught smoking weeds and the matter what reported to Bro Ogbo, who did nothing about it, but esteemed the worker for his diligence. He also mentioned the event reported where the said employee had been seen in the room of the female workers, and expressed his pain for the risk his sister faced.I’ve come to understand that these people have a way of beating around the bush before they let out the cat from the bag. It is time consuming and intriguing. So, after cross-questioning, it became clear that the initial reason Nnamdi had postulated was not the real issue at hand. The real issue, as his statement further revealed, was the suggestion by Bro Ogbo Okike that sis Amaka Egwu should not go the polytechnic where she had been admitted, but rather that she should wait for another opportunity to get admission into a Federal Government University, which he opined, is better and cheaper. Bro Francis had bought the idea and insisted that his daughter should forfeit the monies already expended on the polytechnic and wait for the next JAMB, where she should work hard to do better and pass the cut-off point for admission. This seems not to go down well with sister Amaka and her siblings who felt Bro Ogbo’s influence on their parents was becomingunbearable.Bro Francis explained that Bro Ogbo only made a suggestion, and that the final decision was his to make. But this point seemed to fall on deaf ears. Sister Ngozi Egwu, who is their mother, clarified that the fear of Amaka being without parental care in Nsukka was out of place, since she is now in the said polytechnic without the much touted parental care. She said Amaka was under the care of her grandmother and relatives in Nsukka; therefore, the sentiment about her exposure was misplaced.My surprise was aroused when Bro Christian, as well as the elders and other members, eulogized Nnamdi’s courage and fighting spirit, which he described as an excellent spirit. If I wasn’t present in that meeting I would have denied that such a thing could happen in a church of God meeting. My heart couldn’t bear what my ears perceived. I could hear the increased pulsations of my heartbeat, fearing I would soon have a stroke. I prayed silently for help from above. When I gained grace, I heckled at Bro Christian, “the text message, excellence spirit?”I could hear Bro Francis express approval for my question. Bro Christian humbly tried to explain to me that he meant the spirit with which the boy had written the text message, not the text message itself, which he promised to speak on later. He explained that the intention for doing a thing can excuse the method used, however faulty. I watched them with horror, as I saw all the moral lessons I had learnt through my childhood years being flushed down the sewage drain. I was sure I had to throw away my knowledge of good and evil to accept this new religion or philosophy. The benumbing notion I got from the pastor and all was that this was a spiritual matter. They kept speaking about the leading of the “spirit”. The youths took their turn to praise this “spirit” which the boy had, and admonished his father not quench it, and that every family needed such for safety and protection. Bro Chukwuma Onyetube was the first youth to extol the “spirit”.I doubted I could survive that meeting and, in order to get some respite, I whispered to Bro Christian and others close to where I was sitting that the issue of the text message had to be addressed. The dominant voices were that there was no real need to address the text message. I witnessed a loud demonstration of the unity which Bro Linus had so much canvassed for in his morning message. I shuddered at the thought that I should be the only dissenting voice to attack the unity, and quietly gave tongue to my frustration that I had to go home and leave the meeting. I could hear Chukwuma tell me to go if I felt like going. The tone was cold. Bro Christian urged me to express myself. When I was given the chance to speak, I mentioned how I had learnt from Bro Isaiah’s past teaching that it was wrong to bring a father with his son in judgment and condemn the father in the presence of the child. I also touched the issue of respect for elders. The pastorused to teach that every man should man his own family. I humbly drew their attention to importance of not harming the authority the father had in his house as the head of the family. The father had stated that the decision for Amaka not to go to the polytechnic was his, and not Bro Ogbo’s. He ought to be given the benefit of the doubt. But it seemed the children were united in rebellion against their father, and the church was supporting them. I reasoned that the wording and the tone of the text message were threatening and unchristian; thus the boy should be corrected. I could hear Chukwuma say that the Bible is full of threats. To that, Bro Linus brought Ac 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. He also mentioned how Jacob’s sons had shed blood to revengethe rape of their sister; and a similar thing done by David’s sons for their sister. Thus, he showed that we can sometimes do some untoward things when the situation requires it so.Bro Isaiah Onyetube reiterated the point that the message was direct from the Holy Spirit, and that the child didn’t need to apologize for it. At that Bro Francis Egwu loudly expressed his discontent. He rejected it for his family and said the boy should not write such a text to another person lest he’d face the wrath of the law. The elders tried to calm him down, but he didn’t relent until he made the point that he and his family and his estate that came to the church with him would hearken to the voice of God if it became impossible for them worship Him in peace at Eguadase. The pastor retorted that he had also made up his mind that if it meant for only he and his family to remain in the church so be it, calling off the threat. Chukwuma was still full of vigor in his point that the sons of the house had a rightful place, he derided the view that they should submit to their father under such circumstances. They were right to protest. Bro Ogbo hasno place in the internal affair of the family. He’s only an in-law.Bro Ifeanyi bemoaned the way the church had esteemed certain individuals even over the elders. According to him, it was this esteem that had given Bro Ogbo (who is also his biological relation) an underserved place in the congregation, over and above even the local elders. He said that such respect was also being given to certain unnamed persons in our midst, even now. This statement of his received the approval of many. He went further to allege that Bro Francis loved Bro Ogbo more than his wife; and that his wife also respected Bro Ogbo more than her husband. He lamented that we don’t place value on what we have, showing that Bro Egwu had five graduates in his immediate family, yet he didn’t find it appropriate to confer with them before consulting his in-law in matters affecting one of them.Bro Christian avowed that there was nothing wrong with the text message and challenged any “grammarian” to analyze what was wrong in it. With that I looked straight in his eyes and asked him, “really? Is the text message not truly wrong?” He affirmed his position. I then asked him about the tone of the message. He laughed and said I was rating the tone above the intent, and that there was no insult in the message. At that I disagreed with him and stated that the message itself was full of insults. I asked if it was christianly to say, “I will ‘show’ you!” Chukwuma accused me of using logic and politics, and insisted that the message was void of insults (though he did so by way of side talk). I asked him if he would say the same thing if the subject of the text message wasn’t Bro Ogbo, or if it was his uncle, or another relation. Bro Monday Igboji came close to me to try to convince. I couldn’t bear the atmosphere that was consuming mysanity. I challenged him to speak to me from his conscience. (He had said earlier in his submission that the sister, Amaka who had been described in the meeting with Bro Igbanibo as “young” was as old as the bank employees we respect outside).Sister Rachel rose up to speak. She, in her characteristic manner, touched several issues and cautioned the church to check the doctrines they were parading and see if it was really the right one. Musing on her desire to please God and make it to heaven at last, she alleged that the church had changed their initial doctrines. She also reasoned that their present position on this matter was right by worldly standards, though not before God. Bro Christian Elui, while indirectly describing her speech as pointless, challenged her to speak clearly and point to specify points. As she rose up to the challenge, the pastor stopped her and insisted that anybody had not done any wrong thing in the meeting, that we’ve only expressed our minds, which would show us hypocrites if we had not done so. He repeated that sister Rachel had not spoken wrongly. However, he regretted calling for such meeting and swore that there would never be such meetings in future.To cut the long story short, we were redirected to the second issue, which the commentators said was more important than this one of a text message. Bro Isaac Aneto, who had remained quiet in the meeting, reasoned that the issue of the text message was a family matter which Bro Francis was capable of solving in his house. He opined that it was a temptation for Eguadase church; and that they ought not to have deliberated on it because it could be used to find out what they had to say on the matter. On the Ebonyi issue, he reasoned that every congregation is autonomous, thus, Ebonyi issue should be left for them. We only owed them prayers. He therefore appealed that naught be mentioned about them on the pulpit ever again. This was received by all and sundry. Apart from Bro Isaac, I observed the silence of others, such as Bro Emeka Okoye, Bro Timothy and Bro Onyeka (both sons of Bro Isaac). I could not verify their position on the matter, however.Bro Linus added that those who were close to Bro Ogbo should advise them to come and beg the elders of Benin for forgiveness. Bro Francis then responded with a proverb that if the mountain does not go to Mohammed, he would go to the mountain. Bro Isaiah in the course of one of speeches had asked me to advise Bro Igbanibo not to give attention to the Okikes (Bro Joshua’s family) whom Sister Rachel had described as unrelenting in battles. He said their issues have no end. He also thanked Bro Linus for coming for the meeting all the way from Lagos, although it was not clear at the beginning that that was the purpose for his coming.The meeting ended peacefully with prayers by Bro Chukwuma, Bro Christian and Sister Rachel.After the meeting, Bro Linus Okorie meant me outside to explain to me that the issue of honoring parents does not arise in this case because of the disposition of Bro Ogbo to the elders of Benin church.
I write the report hoping to be advised whether I was wrong in my stand during the meeting. I do not feel comfortable any more with those brethren who I feel are calling evil good. I hope I’m not having hatred in my heart. I need prayers and counseling.
Eric Winter
Friday, February 1, 2019
A Controversial Meeting At COG (Last Trumpeters) On Sunday, 2nd of August, 2014
The Offloaded Burden
- Dear Elderly Brother,Thanks for your kind words and advice cum suggestions.I'm comforted to know that you are not opposed to the content of my message to Bro Isaiah, except for the few additions and subtractions you have suggested. I hope you would not be offended to know that I have already presented the paper to him. I did so yesterday after service. The circumstances surrounding the day made it imperative for me to do so. Please, sir, bear with me a little as I relate it in the following lines.I received text message on Saturday evening from Bro Solomon Obi directing me to prepare for Sunday School lesson. It's titled, "A Blessed Hope In Facing Death". It is in the Volume 45 No 4 October, November and December 2013 edition of the Bible Lesson. We have been using it as our Sunday School manual. The present series is on Job. We treat it sequentially. Bro Solomon is the Sunday School superintendent. I was added to the crew of teachers by the pastor about two years ago. The other teachers include Brothers Timothy Isaac, Onyeka Isaac, Goodluck Omozeze, and Ifeanyichukwueze Caleb. The topic I was to treat is dated 'November 10th, 2013' on the Bible Lesson. During my preparation, I was thrilled in my spirit to see the lesson so fitting to Bro Francis' case, which the Benin elders and Bro Linus Okorie have christened 'chastening for sin'. The Comments and Application session of the next lesson dated 'November 17th', which is titled 'Despise Not the Chastening of the Almighty' also answers Bro Isaiah's belief that there is no chastening without sin. With the help of God I treated these things fearlessly, in the presence of Bro Ogbo Okike, who had come to Benin for a visit. I emphasized the teaching on the need for individuals to know Christ personally, without the mediation of a prophet. I also touched the issue of soul sleep, the state of the dead and the blessed hope of Christians which makes them unruffled by threats of physical death by any mortal man. At the end of the teaching, I observed that Bro Solomon did not come up as usual to summarize the lesson and ask questions, etc. Instead, it was an angry Bro Isaiah that came out to counter the Lesson by citing Lamentation 3:33, Eze 33:11 and Heb 12:10 to show us that God does not afflict willing, but only chastises believers because of sin. He also stated that anyone who fights against the doctrine ofEternal Security will find themselves fighting with God "because all the Corinthians would be saved through chastening of sickness or death if they didn't obey". He made some unsavoury innuendos, which drove me into meditative prayers, disconnecting from the negative flow. I was comforted in the Spirit. But I could still feel the intensity of his dominance over the congregation. I felt that time of the essence. I had to let him know the things I had in my mind. Right now I'm so sorry that I could not wait to make the adjustment you desire.Their teachings are not always consistent. With one breath, they'll deny the existence of personal beings called devil and evil spirits; with another, the pastor would accuse some of having familiar spirits, etc, especially his enemies. On the denial of Satan, they quote Rev 12 verse 9, showing that he is just symbolical of Pagan Rome. They believe it is God that does everything both good and evil; that He has set everything in an uninterruptible order. What we call Satan is what they call a retributive force or phenomenon put in place by God to correct disorder in the universe.Their inconsistency is also seen in their teaching of chastening for sin. Refuting the thought that a Christian could experience the trial of Job, Bro Isaiah argues that Christ promised that "there shall not an hair of your head perish" Luke 21:18; and that the "son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son" Eze.18:20. Therefore, he concludes that a son cannot die for his father's sins. (In my lesson yesterday, I accused Word of Faith pastors like Chris Oyakhilome of teaching such things; and I asked the congregation whether the disciples to whom Christ directed the promise in Luke 21:18 did not suffer physical harm, which they affirmed. I also showed them from the first few verses of John chapter 9 that the Lord taught His disciples that it wasn't the sin of either parent of the man born blind that caused his condition). Since Bro Isaiah claims God will not kill a son for the Father's sin, why does he now insist that Bro Ifeanyi Egwu's death is a chastening from God for his parents' sins of rebellion against him? O consistency, thou art a jewel!Thanks for your tender care and prayers, brother. We are up against a behemoth here.
The Burden
- The BurdenAlthough taking records of events is not in my custom, I now consider it necessary to do so because it seems some with whom I’m working will not understand certain things until it is put plainly before them. It is difficult when you try to express a burden that needs to be addressed and those in position to address them seem unaware of the issues surrounding the burden you are expressing. Therefore, by the grace of God who called me to save me as well as those with me, I shall put straight the accounts of the happenings since Thursday, 19th of June, inasmuch as it will make clear the understanding of the current circumstances of the church of God that meets at Eguadase Street in Benin. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord will use this humble piece to do a perfect work of resuscitation and healing where appropriate.APOLOGYBefore I begin I feel the need to apologize for my inability to openly challenge unsound teachings and practices, as any straight forward person would do under the circumstances I’ve found myself. The devil works in subtle ways. His insidious maneuverings are very difficult to detect, especially when he shrouds himself in robes of righteousness, garbs of light and habiliments of truths, which I’ve long sought for. I used to be outspoken until it was pressed upon my consciousness by the prevailing atmosphere in the congregation that the authority of the elders is sacrosanct. Thus, any seeming challenge on the leadership is a threat to the cohesion of the body. I for one would not want to be a cause of division and disorder, even if it was obvious to me that a position of the eldership does not agree with my understanding of the Holy Bible and the writings of the pioneer elders of the church of God, since the days of Bro D. S. Warner. I have been bearing otherwise strange teachings because it was made clear on several occasions that questions and corrections would not be permitted in the church. Being new in the church of God and unlearned in many doctrines, I had to respect the submissions of the elders of the place I fellowship. I remember my first encounter with a strange teaching that man was created before the angels. I couldn’t bear it. I had to raise my hand to draw the attention of the pastor to the 7th verse of the 38thchapter of Job, which shows angels rejoicing when God created the world. Surprisingly, the pastor still insists till date that angels were created after man sinned. He goes as far as stating that the ministry of angels came to an end when the church was founded; and therefore that the saints have replaced the angels. No scriptural supports have so far given for these. Since we are not allowed to reason the scriptures, I felt I could quietly worship with the brethren without causing trouble until it was made clear to me that we all have to accept whatever the elders say in the church. This is just one example of the kind of teachings we are forced to bear with. Time and space will fail me to highlight many common errors. Meanwhile, I’ll focus on theRecent Events since Thursday, the 19th of June.While preparing for the journey to Port Harcourt for the campmeeting committee meeting, I received a phone call from Bro Christian Elui, who thought he was on to Bro Solomon Obi. I informed him it was my line he was calling. So, he asked me to tell Bro Solomon that he learnt that Bro Felix Onuoha was coming for the committee meeting; and that we should convey the position of Benin church, namely, that the church was not in support of Bro Felix’s inclusion in the committee, due to his unsettled issue in his home church. He instructed that we should insist that if Bro Felix is not excused from the meeting, we, the members from Benin, would desire to be excused from the meeting instead. I gave Bro Solomon and Sister Rachel the message, which they actually complied with in the course of the meeting. Although few of us pleaded that deference be accorded the advice of Brother Igbanibo that the brother be allowed, it was to no avail. It turned that night that the pleas and tears of the penitent brother could not sway the stand of Bro Linus Okorie and others. It took my mind to events in some state houses of assemblies, where some external forces would influence house deliberations and negotiations through lobbying et al. The external factors would not tolerate a change of position by their loyalists without due consultations and permissions. We are all aware of the other events that played out during the ministers’ meeting of the following day. I was grieved all the way home as I heard the ventilations of my company in the vehicle that were derisively relaying the event of the profuse show of penitence by Bro Felix Onuoha. The derision was to continue in the fellowship of the following day in Benin, in forms of testimonies and remarks. I openly testified how I was touched by the brother’s tears, and that I was not in the position to attest to its being genuine or otherwise. I voiced my thought that it was good for believers to have such godly sorrow whenever they transgressed against God. I would be lectured directly and indirectly in subsequent preaching and remarks from the pulpit that the Benin elders have a higher gift of discernment and are well acquainted with better ways of handling such dissenting characters until genuine salvation is afforded to their souls. I still am looking to see the effect of their work in the lives of the teeming members of the local church. It would gladden my heart to see youths on fire for God in Benin; I would love to hear testimonies of soul-winning, spiritual progress in individual walk with God and diligence in church attendance, etc. I would be elated to observe a positive change in the “Africa time” approach to the things of God. I would be blessed by evidences of spirituality, holy living and conversations among the members of Benin church.On the contrary, I am not encouraged by the day to day observations, which I hope the elders would address instead of majoring in temporal and administrative matters.The message delivered by Bro Isaiah Onyetube on Sunday, 29th of June from Hebrews chapters 2 through 6 culminated in the submission that it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. In this message allusions were made to the show of penitence by Bro Felix in Port Harcourt, which tears, by the testimony of Bro Christian Elui on the previous Sunday service, was compared to the tears of Esau in Hebrew12:17. The allusions which also touched some “dissident” brothers in Ebonyi state congregations pricked the conscience of Sister Esther (A.K.A Sister Iye) who was having friendly correspondences with Bro Joshua Okike. She confessed to the elders that she received financial aid from him. Asked further through whom the money was sent, she revealed that it was Sister Chinyere Okoye. On the following day of fellowship, the pastor announced the decision that Sister Chinyere would be exempted from public ministration in church gathering for two months. He also ordered that the money be returned to Bro Joshua Okike. Some members tried to plead for a lessening of the penalty, which was not to be. It was made clear that interaction with Bro Joshua by the Benin brethren had been outlawed due to his destabilizing effect on some congregations in Ebonyi. A mention was also made of how he, with some from Ebonyi, had humiliated Bro Christian Elui at the heated ministers’ meeting in Onicha, Ebonyi State.Postulation that this was not the only time Bro Joshua had sent money to “Sister Iye”, and that he had been sending money through other persons, failed to affect the judgment given by the pastor, which would eventually gain the support of some elders in subsequent meetings. Bro Christian was of the thought that such reasoning was devilish and sentimental, and stated that every matter is treated on its own merit without relating it to another. Although some of the elders still pleaded for mercy to be shown to Sister Chinyere, in view of her relevance for the preparation of the children for the upcoming campmeeting, Bro Monday Igboji observed that the sister they were begging for had not come forward to support the plea. Feelers from the sister showed that she was prepared to serve the punishment, though it was not clear if her resolve was void of resentment.In one of the elders meeting with some members, I mentioned my position of neutrality, being a stranger in their midst, who left Bro Imoni’s group when I noticed an unscriptural teaching there. I affirmed my relationship with the Port Harcourt church, which I have great respect and trust for, because of their stands for the truth of God’s word. I have been noticing remarks which seem to be an indirect reference to my position. An example is the pastor’s last Sunday’s mention of the character of the bat which seems to be neither a bird nor a rat species. None of these things move me. I only wish they would call me out directly to reason out any issue they seem to have against me, so we can save ourselves from the errors of bias and assumptions. There was another point by Bro Solomon, which was echoed by the pastor that the congregation was not having it this tough when certain unnamed persons had not entered into their midst. He reasoned that when they had worse situations, little efforts by the elders were enough to settle them in the past, unlike this one. Bro Christian as well as the pastor stated they were aware that some people had contacted other congregations and reported this internal matter to them. To me, I feel that no one had to seek the aid of a seer to know that I would report the matter to some brothers whom I had league with, as I had done when I noticed the heresies in Bro Imoni’s group. I did not hide this fact from the Benin elders. So they didn't need any supernatural revelation to know that I would do the same thing with them. However, they would not confront me on the matter. But feelers from official sources say mentions are being made about my report to Bro Igbanibo. A question I put to a brother some time ago in a related discussion was, why were they unwilling to relate the matter with the other congregations of the church in Nigeria if they were sure they were in the right? In the first place, Bro Joshua is not a member of the local church in Benin. Any action on him should have come from the national body instead of a local church.One thing that beats my imagination and has become a major concern in my thoughts and prayers for the church is why every message and verse reading in the fellowship should always be adapted or twisted to fit this singular event. New members and those who are unaware of the happenings would be wondering what the bone of contention is when every message is tinged with threats and anger as if there was a quarrel somewhere. If there was any quarrel, the voice of the other party was suppressed or imperceptible. It would leave the impression of a man quarrelling with himself. In all this, the virtue of grace is absent, and in its place we have sheer tyranny, reminiscent of the days of military rule. The apostle, Peter’s advice in the second verse of the fifth chapter of his first letter should be regarded. He said the oversight of the elders should not be “constraint”. The use of control is inherent in their administrative style. I wish to attach letters written to Bro Isaiah by Bro Ogbonnaya Okike about seven years ago, which show trait of control. One wonders why the tone of the messages have remained tensed since then even though the said Sister Chinyere has agreed to suffer the punishment given her by the elders of the church. I begged the pastor last Thursday, before fellowship that we should set this strife aside and have fellowship like before for the sake of the innocent souls, who might be disenchanted by the atmosphere. It upsets me to see a new member come and leave our midst without getting a true picture of the church which Jesus built. Opportunities come and go, yet the armies make no effort of advancement to gain more territories for the great King and His kingdom. There was a similar opportunity for truth to triumph one evening fellowship, when Sister Ngozi Egwu inquired whether there was any other work required of children born in the church for the salvation of their souls, apart from obedience to their parents? The Pastor affirmed the doctrine of Eguadase church that every child born physically into the church is holy, citing 1Cor7:14, which says:“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”There is great effort put up by the leaders and their followers to sustain the doctrines they had been taught from their beginning. Bro Isaiah argues against the possibility for them not have attained the wholesome doctrines after more than twenty years of being together. There is a slogan among them that Eguadase is the balm or medicine to heal the church of God in Nigeria. He says he did not receive his doctrine from men, and he conferred not with flesh and blood. He got the message directly from the Holy Ghost after seeking God in fasting and prayers. Verses of the Holy Bible are used to show that the doctrines they hold from the beginning must be unchanged. Examples of such citations are:Ro 16:17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.(To them, this is talking about the doctrines they have learned from the elders)Ga 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.2Ti 3:10 ¶ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (this is one is a favorite scripture among them. To them, they have fully known Bro Isaiah’s doctrine, manner of life, purpose, etc)They perceive an attack against any of these “foundational doctrines” as rebellion against the government of the church. I remember an indirect reference to some who were trying to destroy the foundation; to which I made some effort to correct during a teaching I delivered by the grace of God on “The Leaven of The Pharisees”. That blessed day, God helped me to prove that the only foundation we have in the church of God is Christ Jesus, the Spirit of the doctrine and testimony of the apostles and the prophets, leaving no room for any other foundation. Praise God! The devil is a liar. He will not let men see the truth. The truth does not move them! They must continue their slogans to sustain the system which they have made!I'm restricted by their rules. No questioning. The elders' word is final. After everyone's contribution on a topic, the elders are to finalize or make the conclusion of the matter. Any views that oppose the views of the appointed elders are considered to be divisive and unacceptable. Recently, the pastor approached the Sunday school preparatory class and instructed that we do not try to explain our teachings like they do in conventional schools, trying to carry everyone along. He says it is the Holy Ghost that teaches everyone. We should not try to convince anyone to accept our teaching. His advice came up during the series of the teaching on Job's trials. The teachings contain some facts that do not agree with their doctrines. This week Tuesday's Bible study was used by him to reinforce his doctrine that Christians are not permitted to suffer Job's kind of trial because Christ has promised that nothing shall by any means hurt us. The quote below is a note I took out of his teaching:"[We are in the New Jerusalem where we will not suffer like the rest of the world]. Most of what we face is temptation, not trials. Ours is different from that of Job. Temptations come from our lusts. Many suffer needless pain and relate it to Job's trial. You are greater than John the baptist, who is greater than Job. Take your authority over problems, don't accept them... Ezekiel 18:1-4,19-24 proves that the decree is changed. You will not die for your father's sins the way Job's children died. But Job did not suffer for his sins. There must be a reason why you suffer any thing. Examine yourself, and don't compare yourself with Job.... There must be trials for believers, not temptations to sin. 1Pe 4:12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. ...Trial is different from temptation, although some use them interchangeably. That of Job is trial, not temptation. It's sinners that receive temptation and chastening. IPe 4: 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1Cor3:10-23 It's those who defile the Temple of God that God destroys. All things are yours to enjoy; even the world. James 1:1-4; Mark 16:15-18; Matt 10:26-33. The very hair of your head is numbered. Why do you compare yourself with Job? The trial of Job will not come to you if you believe in Jesus! The dispensation of Job has changed."There is so much more I would love to write, but I’m sure these few missives will suffice as a guide for prayers and actions for the church of God in Benin. Pray for me also.Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eric Winters
The Burden of My Heart
- May 16, 2014How's the church and the labors for the kingdom there in Port Harcourt. I'm sorry I couldn't call because of lack of credit. I decided this medium could be a better means of communication. I express my heart better in writing than in speaking. And there is so much to talk about. If I'm unable to complete it today, I'll continue tomorrow, by God's grace.My burden is the condition of the Benin ministry. In summary, there's a growing discontent in my spirit from the observations. In the fear of God, I have to pen down the anomalies which is shielded from the probing minds of a visitor or a newcomer to the congregation. I'm trying to harmonize my thoughts under various captions so as to maintain certain degree of logical coherence.Stigmatization of Questioning the SpeakerAt first glance, it might seem to be a harmless practice and a good strategy to maintain certain orderliness and avoid the unruliness observed elsewhere. However, a deeper examination will reveal the setting up of a stumbling block for the sincere inquirer whose differing view is overtly or covertly suppressed by this predominant design to maintain order in the gathering. The sincere inquirer becomes a silent sufferer. Although he is given an option of a private appointment with the speaker, experience will prove the insufficiency of that option where the understanding of the speaker and the inquirer are incommensurate. The sufferer is then left with the other alternative of airing his view in such platform which might be branded as tale bearing or divisive behavior, thereby adding a feeling of guilt to his probing mind whose interrogation has not been attended. He is caught in a catch-22 situation. If he questions the speaker publicly he would seem to be detracting the speech. If he questions him privately, the issue might not be addressed satisfactorily and the whole congregation might be denied the benefit accruing from such an enlightening inquiry. If he discusses the bothering question with a fellow member, his intention might be misjudged as dissenting against leadership.Wrong Interpretations of ScripturesThis makes them adverse to most pioneer doctrines of the church. I appreciate the fact that they have academic inadequacies. This would not have been a major challenge if they are humble about this point and seek assistance from more informed brethren. I also understand that their earlier venture into the truth was fraught with the difficulty of finding the true agents of the truth. With the various groups claiming to be the true church of God, it takes the grace of God to identify the real church, especially when one does not have the right standard for assessment. Hence, the contact they made with Brother Emerson Wilson of the Gospel Trumpeter, Church of God at God's Acres in Newark, Ohio, has had great influence on them. The root variance of this group with rest of the church of God is the “one cleansing teaching”, which contradicts the “two works of grace” backed by Brother D.S. Warner. I found out that however convincingly an explanation of the “two works” may be presented to them, they will always fall back to seventh verse in the first book of John: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”Another Issue isTheir interpretation of this verse is that the blood of Jesus Christ (which they consider to be the word of God) is the cleansing agent that cleanses us whenever we have physical fellowship together in the congregation. This interpretation has been a great bother to my young mind that I lately endeavored to study the whole chapter with the help of God and also with the aid of some Bible Commentaries. To my utmost surprise, I found out that all the while, I have allowed myself to be fooled by a poor interpretation of God’s word brought about by taking the clause “we have fellowship one with another” out of the context of the whole chapter. The grand subject of the fellowship as seen in the third and six verses is God, who is light and in whom is no darkness at all. Whereas, according to verse six, those who claim to have fellowship with Him while still living in sin, are liars; this becomes obvious because, anyone who walks in the light of truth and righteousness, has God as a companion. God walks in the light as well, and He has fellowship with all who do so. This fellowship involves the imparting and the partaking of His divine nature. When this fellowship truly exists between a man and God, the fountain in which flows the all-cleansing blood of Christ Jesus, His beloved son, is certain to keep the man’s soul cleansed from all sins. It is sad that Christians would allow the devil to obscure the truth of this verse with a false interpretation, which does not only lack support from but also conflicts with other verses of the Bible.Another false teaching is the thought that Christ commanded the disciples to take the gospel to only the good men in any city. They claim that if the “goodman of the house” turns down the gospel message, the evangelist should dust his feet against the city; forbidding them from going into the streets and lanes of the city, to bring in the girls, women, beggarly, the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind. The teaching goes with a warning to be mindful of the kind of converts we bring into the church. I almost thought this was actually the Lord’s command, having read something like that in the Bible. However, after a proper search, I discovered that the word “goodman” is actually absent from instructions in Matthew chapter ten and Luke chapters nine and ten.These and many other instances are examples of how men have turned away their ears from the truth, and are being turned unto fables. They place the emphasis on material stability, as if that is the whole reason Christ has established the church. The fruit of the doctrines abounds in the disinterest in the children in the activities of the church. Late coming to church and showing indifference to spirituality is taking an upward trend in the gathering.My family and I, as well as few sincere soul who love the truth, need your love, prayers, care, and spiritual shepherding or overseeing here in Benin.Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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