Since my very little age, Ive been hearing preachers say that Orthodox Churches including Anglican and Methodist are dead churches and yet, I became born again and received the Holy Ghost in the so called dead Church. My question became, who killed the Church? Who made it dead? The Church is marching on... What God recognises is the presence of His people and not the presence of a denomination. So many people calling Anglican, Methodist and the likes dead Churches are simply calling all the Christians in that family dead Christians which in my own opinion is a biased and myopic judgment. Church does not exist without people, it is people that are the Church and not denomination. Denominations are like extended families with one father who is not dead. Therefore, denominations must not be the priority of our focus, the father should be where we all look up to. Only the denominations that gives no room for members to look up to Jesus are dead and such denominations are to be considered as a religion differing from Christianity and not Christianity in itself. It is time we extend hands of fellowship to fellow Christians irrespective of denomination. Many of this denominations were instituted by men and the difference is either the mode of baptism, not who we believe. Since we believe in one God, lets therefore not be a partner to denominational backlash and name calling. The people youre calling dead are waxing stronger and greater revivals are being wrought! Before, it was said Anglican Christians doesnt have the Holy Spirit because they dont speak in tongues and today are they not speaking in other tongues like every other Christians? They said Anglican pastors are just practicing religion and there are no records of the move of God but today God is using many Anglicans and Methodist Pastors and Evangelists so mightily in the local church and beyonod their denominations. They said Orthodox Churches are not Youth oriented and there was really exodus of many Young people out of the Orthodox churches but really God has been faithful and many youth ministries are allowed to operate within the Anglican traditions. Now we must note, styles may differ, man made doctrines may differ and mode of congregational worship may differ but dont see your denomination as the best or the only living church because as long as the bible remains the sole guide, the Church remains a body of Christ. For example, Ill talk about the Anglican Churches that I know so well because Ive not being to many other Orthodox churches. Ive been to various Pentecostal churches and I have worked with many of them, many pentecostals are also working in the YAC ministry, my encounter with them has always proven to me that Anglican church is also Pentecostal, I see nothing wrong with Pentecostals because they do just exactly what we do in Anglican churches. There are number of Methodists in YAC who told me that they have seen no difference in the Anglican Church. I can comfortably say that Anglicans are Methodists are well as Methodists are Anglicans and these churches are Pentecostal, Charismatic and Evangelical! We all chose different names but in reality we are just Christians. That is why I dont usually say to people who are not Anglicans I am Anglican, except that they demand to know the denomination that I belong to I simply say I am a Christian. I can recall sometimes in 2013 when some team of minister went with me to various secondary schools as we organised School Crusades (thanks to Bro. Chidi who did most of the planning), we came to Rock Foundation School in G.R.A, the security officer their did not want us to come in and he expressed his dislike immediately and he said youre simply not welcome here, I wont allow you guys to come here and that spreading Anglicanism, I understood his sentiments and I replied him with a smile Sir, were here to spread Christianity. We preach Christ and not denomination. I am not Anglican, I am a Christian working in the Anglican church. He was speechless and thereafter we were allowed to operate in the school. After the ministration, the school management pleaded with us to accept a token of appreciation from them. You see, Christ must be preached and promoted more than denomination is promoted. That can only happen when you stop disregarding other Churches simply because they are not doing like you. In conclusion, Jesus said that love is the principle thing. Church unity does not mean every Church becoming a one physical entity, it means every Christian accepting others the way they are and also believing in the ministry!
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 07:38:15 +0000
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