NO TRUTH CAN BE BUILT ON DISOBEDIENCE.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Weekday of Lent (3)
Psalm. 95: 1-2, 6-9 (R. 7d-8a)
Gospel. Luke 11: 14-23
TOPIC FOR REFLECTION
WHY DO CHRISTIANS ENJOY ATTACKING ONE ANOTHER?
In our world today, it's no more surprising seeing the following existing among Christians.
1. Pastors preaching against one another.
2. Churches condemning themselves.
3. Members of the church killing one another for the church's position
4. Wealthy Pastors and church members intimidate and suppress the poor and less privileged in the church
5. Pastors trying to outshine other pastors not in winning souls for God, but in the display of staged miracles, material wealth, a physical edifice, etc.
The question I kept asking myself is, what are we fighting for?
Salvation or personal selfish satisfaction?
Jesus said that every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and the house will fall against itself.
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? (Culled from today's Gospel.)
Christians fight one another over membership, money, pleasure, power, and position.
In the first place, why should there be separation or rather division in the body of Christ?
The whole world is becoming more churchy, while the churches are becoming more worldly. I guess, it is the more reason we have corruption increasing on daily basis in the churches.
My dear, in summary, the root of division in Christendom is majorly based on DISAGREEMENT that leads to DISOBEDIENT.
Imagine Martin Luther who is known as the father of Protestantism in the 16th century, he was a Catholic, an Augustinian monk who left the church because of the misunderstanding he had with the then Church's authority on some of the doctrinal issues. Though his argument was valid, leaving the church was not the best option.
Maybe he forgot that the church is not owned by an individual, but owned universally whose head is Christ Jesus.
Now, imagine his disagreement with the Church made him a founder of Protestantism.
His actions pulled crowed out of the Catholic Church.
The question I will leave with us is this, can anyone change his or her parents who are not behaving well for another?
So, if all Christians continue to attack one another and still claim to be winning souls for the kingdom of God, should there be the expression of aggression?
If we continue this way, how can the prayer of Jesus in St. John 17:21 which says that all may be one become manifested?
Jesus prayed for the unity of all Christians, yet our attitudes as Christians to one another do not encourage us to be united.
I guess it may be one of the reasons our prayers as Christians are no longer effective. Recall the first sentence of Jesus; how can a kingdom that is against each other stand firm?
Satan is manipulating virtually all Christians, and for more reason, our voices are not the same.
The love of money, power, and possession has eaten deep into Christendom, and it is as if the church of God is useless.
It is this division that made the Body of Christ suffer rejection and dejection.
Today, among all Christians, there is a lack of Love and Unity; yet, we have the presence of slandering, backbiting, gossiping, character assassination, character defamation, and promotion of partisan political parties, all because of money, power, possession, etc. among the body of Christ.
Meanwhile, the summary of the characteristics of the Christians who divide the body of Christ is found in today's first reading. Please take time to read it.
Christendom is very weak because of the division existing among us Christians.
Let us remember that any of us who out of selfish interest starts a church of his own, is not only leading himself astray but also leading others astray.
Remember that NO TRUTH CAN NOT BE BUILT ON DISOBEDIENCE.
We all, no matter how far it may be, shall give an account of our lives and how we manage people that come in contact with us
My dear, we could continue to list a series of reasons Christian division is deeply rooted. However, the only way out for Christian unity is to first and foremost allow love to flow, never do things for selfish interest, and to promote one another in the ministry.
Finally, we all should seek first the kingdom of God, and not for earthly pleasure, power, and possession.
Peace ✌️ be with you.
Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.
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