Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Deputy Governor Bayelsa State has identified dilution of the word of God, prosperity and preaching of miracle gospel by men of God as new challenges facing the practice of Christianity in Nigeria.
He made the remark while playing host to the General Overseer of the General Church of New Jerusalem in United State of America, Right Rev.Peter Buss in Government House Yenagoa.
He said christians are increasingly losing grip over interpreting the Bible due to dilution of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Bayelsa Deputy Governor made the remarks in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi observed that most Christians have departed from winning souls and making disciples for Christ and have become materialistic.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo noted that the church today is no longer making impact in the society due to promotion of materialism and miracles as against preaching morality and salvation of souls.
He expressed concern over the influence of the Internet and social media on the body of Christ, stressing that leadership of the Church has a huge responsibility to focus messages to dwell on salvation of souls of the old religion that will 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.
He charged christians, particularly the clergy, to follow the esistle of Apostle Paul and urged them not to place more emphasis on miracles and prophecies at the expense of the gospel of salvation.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo thanked Rt. Rev Peter Buss for the visit and prayed that the activities of the revered Man of God in Bayelsa would lift the General Church of New Jerusalem and also 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, RT. Rev Peter Buss inform that he is in Bayelsa in company of his team to organize seminars and elevate 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, hinted 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 written by Right Rev Peter Buss to the Deputy Governor.
