Kwashi urges Christians to imbibe Christ’s culture, focus on eternity

The Diocesan Bishop of Jos, Most Rev Dr. Benjamin Kwashi, has enjoined Christians to be different from people of the world and resist everything that will make them to compromise their stand. He said from time immemorial, every race had always promoted its culture, but when Jesus came, He did not align with any culture. Rather, He indicated that He came to lead the entire world to God.

He said: “Jesus Christ came to lead a countercultural movement through the Cross, to set a new culture that is useful, and one that has value now and in eternity; a culture that does not recognise tribe or race.”

The Bishop, who is also the Secretary of Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), explained that man’s quest for power and influence is of temporal value, while the culture of the Cross and eternity is the way of a true child of God.

The struggle for position and power, according to him, is a natural human feeling, but anything that has no eternal value is eternally useless.

The cleric said there is no other way to God except through the Cross of Jesus Christ. He admonished Christians to focus on eternity and follow Christ’s culture, which has eternal value.

He lamented that it had become an acceptable culture in the world to oppress women and children, for leaders to oppress their people and be wasteful with financial resources available to them, for the poor to be neglected and tribes to wage war against one another. He said this is because the world is evil. He observed that there is need for God’s children to rise up against cultures that are against God and stand for what is right and just.

“Christians are not here to acquire wealth, status and power. Rather, we are here to bring people to God through Jesus Christ; to change the environment to become a place where Jesus is Lord and Lord over all,” he said.

He explained that Jesus’ countercultural movement demands that a Christian be a slave of Christ, a servant of God and one who is willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel and for humanity.

Kwashi, who recalled that missionaries who came to Nigeria, including local missionaries, sacrificed their lives, so that others might live, said believers have been called to serve the purpose of God’s Kingdom with all they have. He said an individual’s faith in Christ is nothing, if it is not useful to the other person.

He explained that Christ’s death brought salvation to all mankind, with no discrimination.

“This is the time hope and faith should rise and love increase against wickedness, evil, tribalism, injustice and corruption,” he said.