Beware of Christianity by name, title

Ephesians 5:8-13: “For ye were sometimes in darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. 9: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10: Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

13: But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

Every brand has its unique character and identity that marks it out from others and makes it distinct from the public. Christianity is a brand with its peculiar language and culture.

Excited worshippers during Mgbidi 2022 Lagos Experience held in Lagos<br />

Christians are heaven-conscious at all times and as such preach the gospel to convert as many people as possible and to make them have eternal life in heaven. It is the manifestation of these languages and cultures that the people of Antioch saw in the followers of Jesus Christ and mockingly addressed them as Christ-like people, shortened to Christians.

Acts 11:26, says: “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

The disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ who lived in Antioch, despite coming from different backgrounds, families and ages had so many things in common. They all had agape love for one another, believed in our Lord Jesus Christ and had the mind to preach the gospel to convert people to the kingdom of God. It was because these attributes manifested in their lives just as in Jesus Christ’s while He was physically on earth that made people mock them, saying they are like Jesus Christ.

Profession of Christianity, therefore, is based on the unique qualities exhibited by Christians for others to see and emulate. It is far from bearing Christian names such as Peter, Paul, Emmanuel and the likes.

Holding or occupying positions such as the office of a pastor, evangelist, or bishop, among others does not make one a Christian. There are people who bear bishop as a nickname or even dress like one to attend occasions, yet they have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour nor could they preach the gospel. People in this group, even though they go by Christian names and titles are not Christians and people should be very careful of them.

People in this group with their Christian names and positions in the church still tell lies, commit fornication and adultery, engage in armed robbery, and deny Christ in their character on daily bases. They are not Christians and, therefore, should be avoided until they repent and be transformed.

What makes an individual a Christian is repentance from his/her sinful activities and also his/her love to care and bring back lost and perishing souls to God’s kingdom. There are occasions when armed robbers are paraded and among them are people whose names are Christian, Matthew, John, James and other Christian names being mentioned among them. These robbers are not Christians because a sinner is not a Christian and a Christian is not a sinner. The spirit of God in a Christian would not allow him to commit sins.

In Galatians 5:22-26, the Bible lists the attributes of a Christian as: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. 23: Meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law. 24: And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26: Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Every Christian must manifest these fruits outlined above. The first and most important is love for God and one’s neighbour. When there is love, justice prevails and peace naturally comes. Where there is love for one another there is no killing of innocent persons. There are people who profess peace with mere words, but behind plan to kill their neighbours to inherit their property. In Christianity, there is no lust for another man’s property.

In the lead scripture above, the Bible makes it clear that Christians are children of light who manifest the fruit of the spirit; this makes them stand out in all goodness, righteousness and truthfulness. When an individual is good, righteous and truthful, he will be transparent in all his dealings.

It will be a strange thing for such a person to plan evil against anybody whether a fellow Christian or not. Christians are role models who live their lives according to the standard God through our Lord Jesus Christ has laid down.

Christians live exemplary lifestyles hence they want to pass such virtues to other people and as well prepare both themselves and their converts for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is why Mark 16:15-18 says: “And he said unto them: ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ 16: He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.17: And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.

18: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Christians are obedient to God’s word and are always ready for the rapture of the saints and caring for lost souls. Non-Christians even though, they hold titles such as bishops, reverends, fathers, and clergy may not take time to preach the gospel because they do not care whether people repent or not.

Some years back, some brethren and I visited a man who goes by the title, Reverend, holding a pulpit in a Christian ministry, but he offered us a beer to drink in his house. It is likely that a man, who has cartons of alcoholic drinks in his house and offers them to people, would also partake in the drinking. Anybody who is a Christian, running a heavenly race, does not indulge in alcohol.

Christianity, therefore, is by repentance, acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and living a lifestyle based on the legacy Jesus Christ left for us. The people going by these standards are conscious of heaven and will eventually make it in Jesus’ name.

Testimony Of The Lord’s Doing
Salvation Begets Other Blessings In My Life
My name is Sister Onyinyechi and here is my husband, Okey Martins. I joined the Lord’s Chosen Revival Charismatic Ministries in 2008. Although, before 2008, a Chosen Pastor that lives next to my former place of work had been inviting me to join the ministry, I refused because I was living a sinful life. My lifestyle led to damage to my womb. However, the pastor invited me to attend the Lord’s Chosen crusade held in Anambra State in 2008. Attending the crusade, what I saw and heard touched me for good and I gave my life to Jesus Christ and began to worship with the ministry.

A year later, a suitor came for me. A month into my marriage, I had pains in my stomach that took me to see a medical doctor, who after cross-examining me said my problem was beyond what his hospital could handle as my womb is damaged.

I wanted to call off the marriage, but a sister advised against it, saying that God will take control of the issues. I kept attending crusades and fervently serving God and the marriage held. Faithfully serving God, I attended a crusade at Onitsha and there was a heavy downpour G.O instructed we should enter the rain as it will cleanse us of all ills and also work miracles in our lives. I quickly jumped into it and after that day, my body system changed for good. I developed a cold and my husband bought some drugs, which I took and vomited a few minutes later. Some days after, people began to congratulate me, saying I was getting fatter and that there was a likelihood that I was pregnant. I was shocked and wondered how can someone like me who was not menstruating be pregnant?

I was in doubt, so after three months, I went to see a doctor who checked me and said it was fibroid. I continued fellowshipping and trusting in the Lord to the point that I even travelled to Lagos for one of our Women’s programme, where I had the opportunity to see G.O. a day before the programme. Our G.O. said: “Go, I have blessed you.” I was so happy that after the programme, I travelled back to my station and used the money meant for my antenatal to buy a megaphone to preach the word of God.

On the ninth month, labour pains began and to God’s glory, what the doctor called fibroid became a bouncing baby boy. Praise, the Lord!

God has restored my menstrual circle and blessed my husband and I with three handsome boys and a storey building. I appreciate the Lord for showing me mercy and doing the miraculous in my life.

May His name be glorified forever in Jesus’ name…Amen!