THE CHURCH IN A CONTEMPORARY WORLD (5)

 Is it your own? Building on another man's foundation. 


I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. 3 John 1:9-10


I heard a case recently of a Christian brother A who hijacked a school from another brother B. The brother B had come to him to help him with unused space in his landed property to start a school. The school started and because of the confidence the brother B has in brother A he allowed him to relate with parents and government officials on his behalf for the brother A has requisite knowledge of school having been a teacher himself. Barely two years after this, the brother A had changed all documents relating to the school in his own favour. Brother B was forced to leave the school for him and start something somewhere else. 


We are living in generation where it is even difficult for brethren to do business together. The level of distrust, betrayal and character assassination is unbelievable. 


Many have turned the churches they were appointed to serve into their own. They started with complain of been neglected by the General Overseer even in the presence of members until they succeeded in turning the members of the church against their founder. The rat race to becoming General Overseer has made a lot of Pastors hatching the egg they never lay. 


Years ago, I was preaching in an Annual Convention of a Church in Parakou, the  northern part of République du Bénin. I was making an illustration with the National Pastor of Burkina Faso on the subject of dissension and segregation. Some months later, the General Overseer (residing in République du Bénin) told me that the pastor I used as illustration has hijacked the Burkina Faso's church away from him. What a disaster? How are you expected to build and prosper on that faulty foundation? 


The Diotrephes brothers and sisters are all out there. They started as innocent and humble souls but when tested with and tasted authority they become a monster. They quickly manipulate documents in their favour. 


Here is the conclusion of the whole matter: 


Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool. Jeremiah 17:11


Don't wait until you become a FOOL. 


Peter Abdul-Razaq, OLAYINKA 

Living Grace Christian Missions, Ilara.

WhatsApp (+229)94139130

Mobile no. +2348066540987, +2347084504532

peterrazaq@yahoo.com

Twitter & Instagram: @peterrazaq

Linkedin: Revd. Peter OLAYINKA







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