Posted by By HENRY UMAHI on
The National Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and General Overseer, Calvary Kingdom Church International, Lagos, Bishop Joseph Ojo, said the biggest challenge facing Christendom, especially pentecostal christianity
The National Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and General Overseer, Calvary Kingdom Church International, Lagos, Bishop Joseph Ojo, said the biggest challenge facing Christendom, especially pentecostal christianity, is the invasion of the altar by people who are not called by God. According to him, touts and area pastors have hijacked the pulpit for selfish reasons.
Speaking with Daily Sun, the dynamic and prolific expositor of the word charged churches to endeavour to be more relevant in society by being social change agents as well as contributing to the growth and development of society through social gospel.
Bishop Ojo also threw his weight behind pastors in politics, urging them to go in there and make the difference.
He said: 'If somebody is convinced that God is leading him into politics to sanitize it and to show people how it should be done, let him carry on. It's okay."
Background
I was consecrated a pentecostal and charismatic bishop on November 6, 1993, by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa. I worked with him for 26 years, and four more years after his transition to glory before being led by God to start the Calvary Kingdom Church. I have been the national secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) since February 2001.
Christians and politics
It is very important for Christians including pastors to go into politics. You know, everything in life is by calling. There are those who are called to preach the gospel as well as lead the people. Politics is another form of leadership. If somebody is convinced that God is leading him into politics to sanitize it and to show people how it should be done, let him carry on. It's okay. Personally, I haven't got the calling. But I pray that those who are making genuine efforts to contribute to national growth and development through participation in politics will do well. I have no objection to it.
Challenges facing christendom
The biggest challenges facing christendom, especially Pentecostal Christianity in Nigeria, is the invasion of people who are not called by God. You know, there are people, if I want to use a very loose words, I will call touts, area pastors who have hijacked the pulpit. They are not supposed to be there. They are not representing Christ. They are representing their stomach. They are representing their worldly, mundane desires. That's the truth.
Social gospel
The church should endeavour to be more relevant in the society. The church should contribute to the growth and development of the society. In my church, besides preaching the word, we believe in what I call social gospel. We trust in God for finances to preach the social gospel. We have ministry for the underprivileged, orphanages, old peoples homes and community development programmes. Recently, we sunk a borehole for the community to give them good water. If you preach the gospel to people who have no potable water and you have the wherewithal to reach them but you don't, then you are not preaching the gospel.
Home front and society
Also, we have the mandate to build godly families and marriages. Nowadays, many marriages are falling apart. People are no longer considering the sanctity of marriage, and this is have negative impact on the society. You know, when the individual is not upright and the family base is weak, society will bear the brunt. So, all hands must be on deck to make the homefront better so as to reinvent society for kingdom purposes.