PENTECOSTALISM TODAY: HOW MEN PLAY GOD

Victor Akinwale IBIYEMI 

We were warned by St. Paul about Pentecostalism and its perversion of true faith. In his second Letter to Timothy, chapter 4, verses 3 and 4, Paul says: “For the time is coming when people will no longer endure sound doctrine, but in their eagerness to hear what is new they will accumulate for themselves teachers after their own liking. And they will abandon the truths to hear myths.” 

Is this not happening already? Is the world not tired of sound doctrines? Are “powerful” men and women not fighting themselves, trying to abolish, change and modify sound doctrines? Are we not always thirsty for new things, new ways, and new innovations; even when they harm us and destroy the earth? Do we not run after pastors who say what we want to hear and not what God wants to say – pastors who are entertainers, motivational speakers, rhymes masters and savage lords? Christians are now abandoning the truth of the Gospel to hear and spread conspiracy theories. Pastors have become deciphers of conspiracy theories, neglecting the truths of the Gospel to a defiant generation.   

Pentecostalism is the lure of the new age. By Pentecostalism, I refer to a new and defective movement in Christianity that places emphasis on peripheral-religiosity, spiritualism, emotionalism and syncretism. Pentecostalism is a mixture of many things. The movement is marked by an overwhelming emphasis on externalities such as speaking in tongues, healing, prophesying, deliverance, visions, dreams and revelatory interpretations. While these religious experiences are not the problem in themselves, the deceits and emotionalism displayed in many ministries deny them the authenticity of such gifts of the Holy Spirit. There is so much misinterpretation, trickery and falsehood on its hype of miracles, healing and the use of spiritual gifts. 

Pentecostalism is thriving in our times. The reasons are obvious; a faulty understanding of religion, the desire for false freedom, the hunger for modern-day innovations, and dissentions from hallowed authorities, the dictatorship of relativism, the enthronement of individualism, the craze for emotionalism, distaste for truth, an increasing demand for falsehood, an overwhelming gullibility of contemporary, folks and many more.  

More so, the soul of Pentecostalism is solidly resting on the reformists’ heresy of: Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura and Sola Gratia. At the very foundation of Pentecostalism is the deception that members especially leaders, know and speak the mind of God. As such, God is being subjected to human whims, caprices and plots. Individual’s feelings about God and religious experiences become dogmas for the congregation who is at the mercy of the pastor’s ministration. In Pentecostalism, God is at the mercy of man. God becomes a tool or an instrument in the hands of his creatures. 

Much of what is professed in Pentecostalism are subjective inclinations, personal idiosyncrasies and individual judgements. The centeredness on the “religious individual” and his/her interpretation of religious experiences disqualifies Pentecostalism as an authentic religion. That is why there is so much confusion in the Christian faith today; so much chaos in the body of Christ. We claim to serve the same God yet we do not speak with the same voice. God has been domesticated and men (or their stomachs) have become “gods” (Philippians 3:18-19). 

Since there are no unified doctrines or any deposit of faith to refer to, men play God through Pentecostalism. The Holy Book which should be a guide, path and light has been mauled, violated, desecrated and continually misinterpreted. Since there is no history, theology, liturgy or sacred traditions to fall upon, “Pentecostal pastors” are continuously inventing their own truths in agreement with modern trends, vogue and civilisations. Unlike true religion, (where the Truth remains forever) their “own truths” are conditional, situational, contemporary and expiring. 

The lust for Pentecostalism is the thirst for unguided innovations which is the bane of humanity. Unfortunately, youths are the most freaked. Oh! Where is happening? Where is it bobbling now? What church is in vogue? Where is the pastor freaky freaky? Shamefully, this is what religion has been reduced to. The effects of this perversion are always here with us. 

So, what are we to do in these challenging times? St. Paul instructs us again, “Be always prudent, put up with suffering, give yourself to your work of preaching the Gospel, fulfil your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). 

Dear Christian, Dear Catholic, Dear Youth, KNOW YOUR FAITH! Remain in your Church. Be prudent, ask questions, think-through the sermons/lectures of your pastors and the instructions he/she dishes out. Don’t just swallow them. I am not saying you should become a doubter or a bitter critic of your pastor. No! But submit what he/she tells you to critical reasoning. Rather than celebrating externalities, serve God from the depth of your being. Be spiritual! Be Christian in all you do. 

Finally, be like Christ- He is the perfect example- “let us fix our eyes only on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2). 

God bless you. 

YOUTHS AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST

Some youths got so concerned on Sunday- the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. This concern was also shared in their priests’ homily that morning. What is this concern? Catholic Youths are avoiding the Holy Eucharist or should I say they have ditched the Holy Eucharist. On Sundays, take a look at the queue of those coming forward for Holy Communion. The statistics is always the same; majority are above 40 years old, children between 7-15 years old and then you have a sprinkling of youths here and there. What is the problem?

As true Catholics we know there is only one problem. It is sin! What kind of sin though? They said to me (and of course I know) if we want to be honest there is only one terrible sin that plagues contemporary youths- fornication (in all its ramifications- masturbation, pornography and others). It is actually something we must talk about. Shy as we may be or unimportant as some may think, we need to collectively confront this sin and look at it “eyeball to eyeball.” More than this, we must talk about our attitude to the Eucharist, our sins for abandoning the Eucharist and how to come back to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

We are living in an “adulterous” generation. We are soaked in obscenities. We are submerged in immoralities. Sexual immoralities are celebrated everywhere. Immoral sexual behaviours and activities make “most liked” headlines. Sexually-stimulating personalities and stories are noisily celebrated and searched. On bill boards, televisions, cinemas, advertisements, music and of course the internet- it is all about sex and sex-provoking materials. It is so sad that simple advertisements for toothpastes and bathing soaps are also sexualized. The most appalling of all is our confused comedians who lack contents but only display gross foolery in sexualizing and demeaning women in their godforsaken skits. But guess what? We watch them, laugh at their irritating and ridiculous videos, clap for them and then shortly turn around crying that women are being raped, shamed and humiliated- how beautiful is our hypocrisy!

Dear youths, we all live in this salacious generation and we are tempted alike. We know our society is sexually volatile and immorally combustive. But have we lost our virtues of self-control, self-restraint and self-discipline? Many of us have thrown caution into the wind; listening to false mantras and polluting our consciousness with weak standards. I know wisdom is very rare these days but we should never be found where insanity thrives. We cannot continue living like this- wasting our youth and destroying the future.

The profuse voluptuous fantasies, sexual escapades and anomalies are the reasons why marriage is becoming a “shameful” institution. When you have had tons and loads of sexual encounters, “exes” and partners, do you think all of a sudden you will be faithful to the one who probably caught you in-between? You have done despicable things for sex and you think all will be well eventually? You need to think! You need to stop destroying your body, it is the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). You need to respect your body or else that body will fail you in the future.

Fornication is fornication, it is not fun! Stop hiding behind your fingers. Once you ignore your self-control button, you have already clicked the self-destruct button. Calm down, build a strong relationship outside sexual activities. Premarital sex is a sin! Don’t be deceived by the world. What is wrong is wrong and can never be right! Fight yourself! Fight your sexual urges! Fight your immoral appetites! Even animals have some restraints! We can do better.

I am deeply disturbed by the amount of youths who have succumbed to this “depraved way of life.” Where is the future? When youths are too weak to shape the future. Where is the future of sane morality? When youths endorse, clap and praise thieves, Instagram big boys and naked Instagram girls. Where is the future for life? When aborted babies are more than the ones delivered. Where is the future of modesty? When all we see nowadays are rags looking like clothes. Where is the future of hard work, honesty and sincerity? When yahoo lords, scammers, money launders and ritualists are the mentors to youths. Where is the future of leadership? When politics is all about godfatherism, plots, lies and endless stealing.

Dear youths, return to Jesus Christ in Holy Eucharist. Live modest lives (Stop lying to yourself). Resist temptations and keep yourself sane. Avoid pornography; lead yourself not into temptation, be delivered from all evil. No one is perfect, we must struggle. When we sin, we must run to the sacrament of Penance- confession. Forget the shame or confidentiality, no priest is ready to see your face or tag you with any sin (Is he righteous himself? Are we not all sinners?). No priest is ready to divulge what you have confessed- there is what is called confessional secrecy which is binding on all priests. If you are not comfortable with this priest, go to that priest. There are abundant priests who are ready to reconcile us back to God. They sit at the confessional just for this singular purpose. Remember, no sin is bigger than God.

Dear youths, prepare yourself for the Holy Mass. Don’t jump into it. Don’t catch it on the way. Be at the beginning and do not leave before the end. Do not sleep during the Holy Mass, participate actively. Begin your preparations from Saturday evening. Come to confession, wash yourself clean, serve at Mass (Choir, Lector, Warden e.t.c). Make sure you receive Jesus Christ at every Mass. He will keep you away from sin. He will give you strength to resist temptations. He will grant you a peaceful and joyful life. Do not be grounded by despondency or obstinacy (sin against the Holy Spirit). At the confessional, our Lord Jesus is waiting for you to lavishly pour His mercy on you. Will you embrace Him or keep running away from Him?

BOYS WILL BE BOYS? THE PLIGHT OF THE BOY CHILD

 On the 16th of May, 2020, the whole world was silent. Everyone forgot the International Boy’s Day. It is not the first time the world is forgetting the boy child; the world has always forgotten him.

Every year, Mothers’ day is celebrated every Sunday for about two months particularly in Nigeria. Fathers’ day is celebrated once or twice too and of course loudly. The girl child celebration comes in many shades, we cannot even name it all.Boys are always forgotten.

Yet, we complain everyday of the increasing atrocities, crimes, scandals, rapes, kidnappings, killings, robberies, cultism perpetuated largely by boys.
Before now, we would think of these crimes perpetuated by boys within the age range of 28-39 and falsely conclude that they are useless men who lacked morality and home training.

However, in recent times, we have seen the younger generations taking over the scenes of these atrocities. We see 12 years old boys sign up as cultists, we see cultism in our secondary schools, we see 10 years old boys raping younger and even older girls. We see boys of 16 – 25 years, doing things that were unthinkable in the past.

Anytime a band of yahoo-yahoo boys are rounded up, I am always interested in their age brackets. Sadly, they are always between the ages of 16 and 35, with the majority of them being 16-25.

More terrible things are happening right in our homes. Days ago, a true-life story was posted on our Church’s WhatsApp Group of a woman whose home had just been shattered by her own children. I was destabilized. What happened? To keep it short and simple…
During this coronavirus-lockdown, the 54 year old woman’s son of 17 years old impregnated his two sisters of 15 and 13 years old. The woman is a Christian and a widow.

Last week, I saw the “boys will be boys” tags on Twitter and Instagram, I really didn’t bother to follow all the tweets or posts because I know already what the phrase connotes.

In the past, the “boys will be boys” phrase was used to explain a boy’s natural tendency to be adventurous, hyper-active, and do risky activities which potentially resulted in hurting themselves (Urban Dictionary).

However, nowadays, thanks to some Feminists, the phrase is used as an attempt to imply that sexual assaults and related crimes are normal activities to boys. Unfortunately, many have keyed into this latter understanding.

The ‘boys will be boys’ appellation has now bred, and is still breeding male children who hardly strive to be responsible men in future. Hence, when there is an inexcusably morally depraved action, we excuse them because society has made us believe its okay. We say that cheating in marriage is part of the male chromosome. We say rape was because the girl didn’t dress decently.

Boys can beat their wives and girlfriends and it’s fine. We have “unknowingly” endorsed boys to be profligate, to keep late nights, to lord it over their wives, to be unaccountable for their actions, to be exempted from house chores and home keeping, to be exempted from cooking and kitchen chores, to be great eaters, to be dirty and to be mischievous.

We have taught them to be emotionless, never to cry (boys don’t cry), to repress emotions, to bear unnecessary burdens, to be hideous, to be supermen, to like football, to play games, to be “manly”, never to be effeminate, to be assertive, to always have their ways, never to be virgins, to grab whatever they like, to be macho-muscled men, to flaunt their muscle, to prove their worth at every instance, to show themselves, but also, and sadly, to be mentally sick and psychologically unstable.

Parents and guardians, the simple truth is that most of our boys are sick. They are lost, invisible and forgotten. Many boys are sexually abused every day right from their infanthood. Many boys are being abused psychologically every day by friends and peers. Many boys are exploited everyday by family and strangers.

I heard the story of a guy who has satiriasis. He narrated his ordeal to one of his female friends about the impossibility of not having sex in a day. He anchored this insatiable lust to the ugly experiences he had with their house maid right from when he was four years old and how from that time onwards, he hated himself. The only thing that gives him relief is more sex.

I heard the story of another boy who was sexually abused by his step mom. What about the story the 6 year old boy who accompanies his step father to beer parlours, where he would have to listen to the many tales of the man’s many sexual escapades with prostitutes, amidst heavy drinking and thick puffs of smoke? The poor boy soon copied his step Dad’s habits.

Abused boys grow up to become abusers, and this is largely manifesting in our society today. Majority of the rapists, cheaters, cultists, robbers, kidnappers, wife-beaters, angry dads, and irresponsible fathers wrecking homes and families are victims of abuse.

They were abused psychologically, sexually, emotionally, financially or otherwise. Many more who are currently being abused are also prepping to become potential abusers. Hence, we continue an endless vicious circle of abusers.

Dear Parents and Guardians, each boy is important and in this race of life, nobody should be left behind. The International Boys’ Day is a clarion call to pay attention to our boys. It is a call to train every boy to become a man of honour and integrity, able to contribute vital way to his family, his community, his nation and to make the world a better place for boys and girls everywhere (See HERE for further information).

The Global and Regional Coordinators for World Day of The Boy Child has offered some professional suggestions as part of our collective efforts to help our boys:
1.    Re-write the narrative on strength and masculinity by equating strength with vulnerability.
2.    Facilitate and moderate Global and National Town Halls which serve as venues for boys and adolescent males to engage in a “straight-no chaser dialogue” to express to key stakeholders what they need and want to safely and successfully navigate the arduous journey from boyhood to manhood.
3.    Identify and support existing initiatives which have a successful track record of addressing and helping to eradicate the
(A)academic underperformance of boys and adolescent males and their mischaracterization as being “unteachable”, “intellectually challenged”, and “behaviour problems”;
(B) rising incidence of depression and suicide among boys and adolescent males;
(C) recruitment and utilization of boys and adolescent males as child soldiers;
(D) underlying causes of poverty which lead to boys and adolescent males working full-time to support their families and not attending school;
(E) literacy gap for boys and adolescent males;
(F) lack of legitimate real-life options; and
(G) lack of positive male role models (see www.bmanadvocacy.org)

We need to save the boy Child so as to save our world. We have to focus on boys and their wellbeing. This includes the things they need in order to be happy, healthy and valued in their families and communities.
Unless we rise up in every home to save them, we will continue to suffer the pains and afflictions boys can unleash on the world. God bless all our boys!
© Rev. Fr. ‘Wale Victor IBIYEMI, June, 2020.

DON’T MARRY A WRONG PERSON!

The Pains of marrying the wrong person is worse than your present fear of not getting married. Marriage is not a competition. Take your time, fall in love, nurse your ambitions, groom your relationship, because forever is too long to be unhappy. Always remember that it is better to wait long than to marry the wrong person.

 

Yesterday (May 10, 2020), I stumbled on a wedding picture on WhatsApp. The Bride was crying on the shoulders of the groom, trust me, it wasn’t tears of joy. On the picture rested the words I quoted above- I was captivated by the truth hidden in those words. I have decided to write down few things I have said to some youths at different times.

I love marriages, I love people getting married, I love the funfair, the music, the loud laughs- both real and fake, the hugs, the aso-ebi and of course, the food. Sadly, all these are not so important. The only important thing on your wedding day is whether you and your spouse truly understand what you are doing?

My Dear Youths! Marriage is not by force! Don’t kill yourself! Let me state some facts. Marriage is not an achievement! So, there is no need for competition! Marriage is not a degree or an award given to the best students who have successfully completed some training. Don’t get it wrong, marriage is one of the most beautiful things in the universe but it is not an achievement. The moment you say I do to the wrong person, your life deteriorates! Your wretchedness will begin and it will persist to your death. Who is a wrong person? A wrong person is a wrong person!

We live in a world where pressures compel us more than reasoning. We live in a society where external forces coerce us to do what the inner voice rejects. We live in a society where fear, gossip, imitation and appearance blind us from truth, reason, common sense, wisdom and reality. The pains of marrying the wrong person is worse than the present fear of mockery, age and gossip. Have you asked yourself when their gossips will end? Even if you die from domestic violence in a marriage, people will still gossip and blame you. So, don’t start what you can’t continue.

In life, marriage is a bus-stop. If you like, be an accomplished doctor, a prolific lawyer, a successful tycoon, a vibrant pastor, whatever you are, everything ends at home- in your marriage. After a long, beautiful, engaging, stressful and successful day at work, you close from your office or wherever and you have no home to return to…. How sad will it be? You will neither have someone to share the stories of your day with nor your burdens. No one to make you laugh, to ease your stress, to comfort, console, appraise and applaud you for your success... why work then?

Marriage has become an embarrassment in our time. Nevertheless, such embarrassment does not deny the truth that marriage is a beautiful thing! Don’t allow the horrible stories you see and hear every day deter you or dampen your spirit. Yes! Many people are suffering in their marriages. Their homes have become a lifelong prison. Instead of enjoying it, many are enduring it. Plenty punches here and there, many name-calling, suspicion, distrust, steady cheating, stinginess and wickedness mixed together, perpetual anger, envy, jealousy and all of those things.

Truly, the lifelong union between two peoples has its ups and downs. But when you marry your best friend- your ups and downs will be minimal. DON’T MARRY A STRANGER! Marry your friend! Many marriages these days are between strangers, that is why they don’t last. Who is a stranger? A man or woman you do not know. Many of you in relationships now don’t even know your partners! It is all a circle of liars, a relationship of thieves! Who is your friend? Your friend is the person you know so well; someone who is open to you, who is ready to be known, you know what he/she likes, you know his/her deepest feelings, you know his/her connections, you know his/her strengths and weaknesses. A friend is someone you know from his/her depths and he/she is not ashamed that you know so much about him/her. A stranger is always hiding; he has passwords for all his phones, his computer, his door, his car, his bank accounts, his mouth and his heart… there is password for everything and you don’t know it.

No sane person jumps into marriage. You should not even jump at it. You must begin from the scratch, don’t jump any ladder, gradually grow friendship and then it becomes marriage. The scratch is friendship. Don’t begin a relationship without friendship, it will end it tears!

Please use your brain in any friendship or relationship. Love doesn’t blind you, stupidity does. Any one who pretends as a friend to exploit you cannot love you. Anyone who uses you for gains cannot marry you. Anyone who doesn’t want you to grow because of his/her myopic views and shattered ideas about life cannot be your spouse- you will remain stunted forever.

Anyone who is not happy that you are happy is a witch/wizard- such person cannot be your lover because you will stay unhappy forever. Anyone who does not think about your growth and advancement (in your career or vocation) in life is not your friend- he/she has no foresight- you will die in integral poverty. If you and your supposed friend do not always have a melting point- walk away or else your roof will soon catch fire. If your supposed friend is threatened by your achievements and successes, run away else you will die suddenly. If your supposed friend ever raises his/her hands on you to beat you… if you remain there! Then I don’t know what to say to you. You are not yet married, you are already a punching bag, when you eventually get married, you would have successfully enrolled into the school for wrestling…if you don’t win, your lover will win you. I think I should stop here!

We have many battered homes already, tell yourself, I will not make this mistake! Commit this special journey into the hands of God always. Say, “my marriage will not be a slaughter house, it shall be a blessing and we will make the world a beautiful place.” It is better to wait long than marry wrongly.

God bless you.