My mentor of blessed memory, Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa said: "If light can't replace darkness, you don't need light." If life can't replace death, you don't need life." I add; what's the essence of claiming to have light and still be overcome by darkness? What is the meaning of professing life, while living under the captivity of death?
It's really an irony, when we talk of the death and resurrection of Christ and even preach it on our pulpits with so much emotion and end up committing suicide; living a life of addiction and lacking the power over sin, disease and demonic forces.
It seems most preaching and teaching today is, but mere theater; the way we live shows we don't believe most of what we say. Most news headlines about the happenings in the church, especially among the clergies say it all.
How can we experience the victory the dead and resurrection of Christ brings, when we are busy looking for excuses for every known moral failure? If it were possible, we would rewrite the Bible to accommodate our addictions. Phrases like these would be added to our new Bible versions.
i) It's normal to profess Christ and still die by taking one's own life
ii) You can profess Christ and still live a life of sin
iii) Its normal to be an addict for life even as a professing Child of God, etc.
In fact, our new Bible version would be more about excitement in Church, busyness in religious activities, rhetoric s of faith without the life of faith.
Thank God, the works were finished since from the foundation of the world, so we can't add to the finished work of Christ or take from it. If we fail to live up to expectation, we shouldn't blame it on God, but on our lust.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:13-15)
If the dead and resurrection of Christ can't give us victory in this life, then most of our talk about the gospel is vain. DrBenard Etta
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