Bayelsa receives US-based gospel preacher, as Deputy Gov says christianity now more challenged than ever
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo says the practice of Christianity is increasingly becoming more challenging and losing its grip on society in contemporary times due to dilution of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, made the assertion during a courtesy call on him by the General Overseer of the General Church of New Jerusalem, United States of America, Right Rev. Peter Buss, at Government House, Yenagoa, at the weekend.
The Deputy Governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, noted that most Christians today are not only neglecting the Great Commission of making disciples for Christ but also self-seeking
He opined that the contemporary church is fast losing its respect and impact in society as a result of its seeming promotion of materialism and miracles to the detriment of morality and salvation of souls.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed concern over the influence of the Internet and social media on the body of Christ, pointed out that the leadership of the Church had a huge responsibility to ensure that messages from the pulpit were recalibrated to positively affect humanity
According to him, because of the level of enlightenment and conflicting ideas about whom God is, true Christianity appears to be losing grounds than it is gaining.
Advising Christians, particularly the clergy, to emulate Apostle Paul in their Christian race, he urged the Church not to lay more emphasis on miracles and prophecies at the expense of the gospel of salvation.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo who expressed gratitude to Rt. Rev Peter Buss for the visit, prayed that his activities in Bayelsa would bring an uplift not only to the General Church of New Jerusalem but to the entire Christian community in the state.
His words: “Can we say that Christianity is living up to expectation? That is a question, we all as Christians should use in interrogating ourselves. Is Christianity gaining more grounds or losing its grip on society?
“Is the message of Christianity today still the same as the one Christ preached? Is it message of the Cross or message of the Crown? If it is message of the Crown, people will be looking at the glory or gain without looking at the pain.
“People will not want to work through Calvary to get into the Crown of glory. Christianity, for me, is more challenged now than the period of the Apostles.
“It is more challenged now because of the effect of social media, conflicting ideas about who God is and more challenged because of the level of enlightenment and the comfort human beings enjoy now.
“Salvation is neglected on the altar of prosperity and miracles. The message of the Church is now coated with materialism and miracles. Are we trying to materialize God? ” he asked.
Earlier, the General Overseer of the General Church of New Jerusalem, USA, Right Rev Peter Buss, said he and his team were in the state for a number of programmes including a Christian seminar and elevation of the Resident Pastor, Rev Kuroakigha Ebute-Metta to a higher rank.
Rt. Rev. Buss, who was accompanied on the visit by the Regional Pastor in charge of West Africa, Rev. Martin Kofi Ceyamfi of Ghana, explained that the General Church of New Jerusalem was founded on the sound doctrines of the Bible with passion for saving souls.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of copies of different Christian books authored by Right Rev Peter Buss to the Deputy Governor.
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