BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION: SOME ARE GETTING BY WITHOUT PAYING AND GIVING BRIBES (PART 1) LIE NO 6: In Nigeria, Christians cannot avoid paying and taking bribes, God understands. THE TRUTH: Bribery and corruption is so pervasive in Nigeria that most Christians see no alternative. In fact, many Christians have come to accept it as normal and see nothing wrong with it. Others have accepted it as a peculiarity of surviving in Nigeria, and that God understands. This situation is reinforced by the fact that despite its pervasiveness, bribery and corruption is hardly ever mentioned from most pulpits. We empathise with the dilemma of many Christians who genuinely feel there is no way out. They honestly feel that shunning bribes is tantamount to financial suicide. However God’s standards are clear and unambiguous. He hates bribes and expects us to shun it. God does not expect us to conform; He wants us to stand out. He does not want us to be overcome by the prevalent evil culture of bribery and corruption, but wants us to overcome it. That is why in this Part 1, our major objective is to establish three important points: 1. God hates bribes. 2. God will not change the bible and His standards to accommodate Nigeria’s peculiarities. 3. Some Christians are getting by in their businesses, careers and professions without paying or giving bribes. It is possible. Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. KJV. This should encourage everyone to accept the challenge. There is no doubting the fact that it is a challenge, it is not easy, and the costs are high. But God expects it, and it is possible. We know some who are walking this straight and narrow path. POSER:If habitual giving and taking of bribes will disqualify from making heaven, will you make it? SCRIPTURES: Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. KJV. Ex 23:8 Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you unaware of what you clearly see! A bribe hurts the cause of the person who is right. Living Bible • Prov 17:23 It is wrong to accept a bribe to twist justice. Living Bible • Eccl 7:7 The wise man is turned into a fool by a bribe; it destroys his understanding. Living Bible • 1 Sam 12:3-4 Then Samuel addressed the people again: 3 Now tell me as I stand before the Lord and before his anointed king - whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever defrauded you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe ? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong. 4 No, they replied, you have never defrauded or oppressed us in any way and you have never taken even one single bribe . TLB • Prov 21:27 God loathes the gifts of evil men, especially if they are trying to bribe him! Living Bible • Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. KJV • Rom 12:21 (“These Lies Must Stop Translation”) Dear Nigerian Christian, though bribery and corruption is so pervasive, don’t join in. Shun it. Overcome it. Don’t let it overcome you. • Rom 12:2 Dont copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person Living Bible • Rom 12:2 (“These Lies Must Stop Translation”) Dear Nigerian Christian, don’t copy the behavior and customs of Nigeria, particularly the pervasive culture of bribery and corruption. You cannot really please God until you are different from the average Nigerian by taking a firm stand against bribery and corruption in every form. PRAYER;Heavenly Father, I desire to please you. Help me to overcome this plague of bribery and corruption in Jesus name, Amen. Please continue to follow us on Facebook TheseLiesMustSt op and Twitter @LiesMustStop; share our Posts and invite your friends to Like the Facebook page. E- mail: theseliesmustst op@friendsofgod fellowship.org.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 04:57:48 +0000
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