(1st Timothy 2: 1-3)
Last week, I had an interesting discussion with a Pastor friend. We spoke about the Country, Nigeria and the Politics.
He said, “This APC Government is SATANIC! They have an agenda to ISLAMIZE the Country! They are behind the Christian Genocide in the North!” And he went on and on…
He noticed I was not responding to his rants, so he asked why.
I replied, “Pastor, I am a Christian and the Bible is my Constitution. I read it voraciously and I use it as a guide to my reaction to everything I face in life. I don’t react to issues with EMOTION: my reaction is always, ‘What does SCRIPTURE say about this?”
He asked me to elaborate further.
I asked him, “what is your greatest desire in life?”
He said he wants to be successful in his ministry and be a good husband to his wife and a good father to his children.
I then asked him, “what does SCRIPTURE have to say about achieving that, sir? Any idea?”
He said he prays, fasts, studies Scripture and tries to live a good life.
“So, you don’t have any SCRIPTURE you can mention on how to be successful in life, be a good husband and father? You don’t have an Anchor Scripture to hold on to?”
He didn’t.
So, I showed him one…
“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it! For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers; but the Face of the Lord is against those who do evil”- 1st Peter 3:10-12
Now, I have helped this friend pay his house rent and his children’s school fees a few times before. I have supported his Ministry as much as I can within my capacity. But he is almost always in need.
So, I shared that Scripture in the Book of 1st Peter with him. He responded defensively as expected! “But I don’t speak evil, Harry! I don’t do evil either- what does this scripture have to do with me?”
I just smiled.
I opened another Scripture for him to read:
“Therefore, I exhort FIRST OF ALL that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for ALL men, for Kings and ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…” – 1st Timothy 2:1-3
He read it and laughed! “Harry, are you saying I should pray for this Satanic Muslim/Muslim Government that wants to Islamize my Country?”
I’m not saying anything, Sir. I’m just showing you SCRIPTURE. And experience has shown me your life will always be better when you align with SCRIPTURE…”
“I’m sorry, but I can NEVER wish this Satanic Government well! I will continue to CURSE them until God removes them from Power!”
“Ok, Sir. You should never expect God to change your situation then, Sir. You don’t live your life in disobedience to SCRIPTURE and expect God to bless you. God does NOT bless Disobedience, Sir. You are a Pastor, you must know this. You’re just being unnecessarily emotional here. If you want your life to change for better, do what SCRIPTURE says!”
He kept quiet for a few seconds, digesting what he heard…
Then he said, “I’m sorry, Harry. I just CAN’T!”
Ironically, I’ve had same discussions with several Believers and most of them reacted the way this Pastor reacted. Their opinion, ego and understanding of the situation is bigger than what SCRIPTURE says about it.
It always reminds me of Naaman the Syrian General who didn’t like the recommendation given by Prophet Elisha to get his life back on track.
He was willing to let things continue as they are: he was willing to remain a leper just because he didn’t like the instruction given to turn his situation around.
I believe every human being should love himself enough to want to pay the price to improve his own life, especially if he is a Believer.
But STUBBORNNESS has no religion, unfortunately…
I also had a talk with another Pastor friend. We were having a discussion about Romans Chapter 13:1-2
“Let every soul be subject to the Governing Authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and the Authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the Authority resists the Ordinances of God and those who resist will bring will bring Judgment on themselves”
He said, “Harry, I have a serious problem with THAT Scripture!”
The irony was, he didn’t even realize the GRAVITY of what he said.
You, a Believer (a PASTOR) have a PROBLEM with the Word of God- are you ok? If your Church Member tells you that, what would you say?
I can NEVER get to the point where I will say I have a “PROBLEM” with ANY Scripture!
There’s a level of BROKENNESS you get to as a Believer, you will NEVER have issues with ANY Scripture. You would be too BROKEN to resist, too BROKEN to be stubborn, too BROKEN for your ego to show…
A lot of us Believers are just too EMOTIONAL about the Government and we allow our emotions drive us when we should allow SCRIPTURE drive us. We have substituted SCRIPTURE with EMOTION.
As Believers, SCRIPTURE should be our Constitution: we should be ever willing to do what it tells us to do.
Obeying SCRIPTURE will ALWAYS be to our advantage, disobeying SCRIPTURE will ALWAYS be to our disadvantage.
The choice is ours to make…
Shalom!
Haruna Daniels