BUT JESUS WASN'T A CHRISTIAN! (PART 1)

So, in one of those 'me moments' I was deep in thought. My mind was preoccupied with all these issues about doctrines and dogmas, all the rules and regulations and all the 'Dos & Don'ts' . Then I asked myself, was Jesus the founder of Christianity? If no, what was His religion during His earthly ministry? Do you have an idea?

From my findings, here's what I found. Jesus Christ was born of a Jewish mother and raised by Joseph, His earthly father in Galilee, a Jewish part of the world. He regularly worshiped in Jewish communal worship centers called synagogues. The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were filled with instances where He preached from Jewish Scrolls (The Bible) in the synagogues. He celebrated the Jewish festivals. Jesus Christ went on pilgrimage to the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem . Recall when He was missing as a child for three days and was found in the synagogue teaching the elders and priests?

Contrary to the erroneous belief  that Jesus Christ founded Christianity, one of the world's most influential religions, Jesus Christ was never a Christian and never founded Christianity.

Just before you start insinuating, let me state it clearly here that I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the son of God, I believe that He was born of a virgin birth, I believe He died and raised from the death to justify me and I confess Him as my Lord, my Physician and King. In Him I live, I move and have my being.

Long after our Lord and Saviour  went to  heaven, it was recorded in the book of Acts of the Apostles Chapter  11: 26 that the people of Antioch in Syria called the disciples of Jesus, CHRISTIANS.  What does the word Christian mean? It means "LIKE CHRIST"

The people of Antioch saw a unique set of individuals who were different from others. These disciples only reminded them of one man. A unique personality that walked this path doing only good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;... I imagine they exclaimed, Damn! these folks are so like Christ Mehn!!! Friends, this is how Christianity came about and nothing more...

Now, the big question is, with all that is going on in our churches today, can we boldly call ourselves Christians without bringing the person and personality of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ to disrepute? Just in case you do not grasp what am talking about. Let me break it down:

We have a group of selfish and self serving ministers in our churches these days. They want to drive the sleekest car in town, wants to own properties in choice areas in the metropolis, they want to go to the Bahamas for the weekend, all funded from the tithes and offerings of church members. Glory Hallelujah! We're serving a rich God!! But poverty is ravaging the church members and members of their immediate communities. Will members of your community look at you as say, indeed, he/she(s) like Christ?

 You buy your Pastor a designer suits when your neigbour goes to bed with an empty stomach. That widow living across your street is struggling to survive, her four kids are at home because of 'fee drive' , a gift of Ten thousand Naira (N10,000) will make a huge difference in their lives.  That gate-man's children wear rags and often hawk wares with no shoes on their feet. One of your Sunday offering will change their lives forever.  All these and more happen in your neigbourhood, yet you do nothing. But every Sunday, you go to church, pay your tithes, offerings  and you give millions as special donations and seeds. You give your pastor sleek cars as birthday gifts  but your parents are hungry and uncared for in the village. Those seeds are sown on rocky ground. It will yield no fruit no matter how many times your pastor lays hands on you, regardless of the  hours he spends speaking in tongues.

The pastor  can pray all the prayers in the world for you and release all the blessings into your life, but friend, God is not obligated to answer that prayer. He is not a respecter of persons. Read Matthew 25: 32-46. God's method of judgment is different.

In these days that Ministry/'Pastoring' has become very lucrative venture, my admonition is that you be very careful and wise. Keep your eyes open, for the world is filled with fake preachers who care less about your well-being, neither do they care about your relationship with God. All that interest them is that you bring those big offerings and tithes, regardless of the source. Have you stopped to ask yourself these pressing questions? All the robbers, Politicians that launder money, ritual-killers  and all them runs-girls, do they not all belong to a Church? Don't they also brandish themselves Christians? Some of them are even Elders and Patrons. Let no man deceive you by the enticing words of men my friend, God accepts the giver before his gifts! You cannot buy your way to heaven.  God does not need your little pennies and scraps to stay financially afloat. Let your giving become an act of worship not a show. Let the world see you as the Jesus of today, that's what Christianity is about.

This generation has messed the name, 'Christian'. It no longer holds meaning. I mean, why should it, when pastors have been convicted severally for offences ranging from 419 (obtaining by false pretense) Murder, Rape, etc... What we end up doing is that we tell the world That Jesus is a Criminal by our actions, since we've told the world that we are like Him.

Alas my friends, what is this craze about religion? Christianity is an identity and nothing more... Jesus Christ wasn't even a Christian!

 #LegallyBlunt.   @perez_Hatri