Apostle Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, President, Voice Of His Word Ministries, and Convener, Apostolic Round Table (ART), in this Open Letter to Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye, the General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, titled, ‘Of Witchcraft And Idolatry; Be Warned!’ writes on what he terms the controversial prayers of the elder cleric, which have recently dominated public discussion, social media and Christian gatherings. It makes an interesting reading for God’s ministers, Bible scholars and all Christians.
Dear Sir,
Apostasy begins with the perverse drive in man to push beyond the bounds of what has been revealed by God as the basis for His way of life- John W. Ritenbaugh.
Conscious of our human tendencies towards spiritual ineptitude and consequently canal adventurism; God warned us through his servant Apostle John in Revelation 22:19; “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Man, all men were created to fulfill God’s purpose. To that central purpose of God in Christ all persons of faith must gravitate as individuals and groups (denominations). We aren’t expected to craft a purpose for ourselves as individuals or groups in the name of Christianity, rather we are to find His purpose for our lives and Ministries and live to fulfill them.
Our background as Africans makes the aforementioned warnings a watch out for, we can’t deny the impact of syncretism in our songs of praises and worships these days, eulogy fitting for our ancestral deities are found in songs we sing to God Almighty. Theology of music is of essence as we grow choirs and worshipers in our churches today. The ministry of Levites, Minstrels and Psalmists must be rediscovered by men and women, boys and girls whose songs are inspired by the spirit and letters of the scriptures to give life.
Syncretism, the blending of practices from paganism into mainstream Christianity is not limited to our songs, even our prayers have taken battle structure in patterns not found in the Bible; particularly in the Gospels and the Epistles. The consciousness of Satan and his operations far outweigh that of God and his ways. Making many believers to live as if we are at the mercy of our enemies.
Only the revelation of God shows how He will be worshipped, and he will not be served in imitation of other god’s.
God’s ways, we must never forget, can’t be “improved” by human sincerity!
Talking of imitation, it is the pattern that appeals to our creative gullibility as humans. The tendency to be someone else is the evil attraction derailing many away from the path of life and of the kingdom but of God’s purpose we must constantly remind ourselves and stick to! Even the Master was drawn by his disciples who would prefer that his ministry be patterned after that of John the Baptist.
Luke 11:1 KJV And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Sir, even the Lord’s pattern of prayer was despised by his own Disciples who observing his prayers concluded that John the Baptist model was better and was recommended for adoption by the Master.
The Master however stuck to God’s purpose to reveal the pattern prayers will from then henceforth take.
Sir, a depraved church can’t save a lost nation, Nigeria is lost! Most unfortunately however is the depravity of her saviours, who have gone wayward without knowing it.
A common rhetorical question in our society today is how did we get here? That question you may need to ask concerning yourself and the church under your oversight.
Where is the RCCG and I in the purpose of God for which Christ became a sacrificial Lamb for our sins and his life given in exchange for ours.
Sir, few years ago, you shared with the world how you saw in a revelation that handful of the multitude thronging to you at the Redemption Camp made it to heaven, is this revelation cast in iron, that its fulfillment is inevitable or it is a warning of a coming drift that can be averted? Your revelation made such great an impact on me and has become a reminder of the need for self-examination from time to time. It is from it that the inspiration and courage is drawn to admonish you and call your attention to WITCHCRAFT and IDOLATRY practices and their influence on Christians and Christianity today which we might have been subsumed to unknowingly.
The flesh is the doorway to witchcraft operations and equally a ready altar of idolatrous practices. What do I mean?
The capacity of our flesh to be drawn to evil and sustain and promote same was revealed in the book of Galatians 5: 19 – 26: “Now the work of the flesh are manifest”! Listed as works, our flesh can work are hatred, strife, jealousy, anger, self-ambition or self-seeking, dissensions, envy, sorcery which is also WITCHCRAFT, without forgetting to include on the list IDOLATRY and anything similar.
The life of the flesh is contrast with the life in the spirit and fruits of the spirit life are also listed; life from which our songs, prayers must be drawn; after which our life must be patterned is love. How much of God’s love do our songs communicate? How much of it is loaded into our prayers? Aren’t we self-seeking in our songs and prayers?
The trend of unscriptural prayers across churches in Africa is worrisome, not just to Bible believing Kingdom minded and Christ centered Christians, but by the understanding of the word of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are worried about the trend that streamed out of the Nigerian church “in the name of prayer revival that are gratifying to the flesh but are grieving the Spirit; if we still have Him”.
Concerning the works of the flesh, we were told in advance that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. The church in Nigeria is obviously under this judgement, with so much in common with nations roundabout us, priding ourselves in exploits done through things we have bought with money in our obedience to Mammon! Folly is what it is when the poorest nation on earth is housing the richest churches and arguably the 1st 10 richest Pastors in the world. The rat race to outdo one another and the ungodly results gotten in the process are yardsticks for success in life and ministry. This evil has become the motivation for our prayers.
This may be difficult to accept but witchcraft is the practice in many places in the name of prayers.
All due respect sir, you are a father figure, not just in the church in Nigeria but to this generation. Your influence and to what it is deployed is therefore of interest to God and his kingdom. Your pattern of prayer lately should worry anyone who sincerely knows the Lord and understands God’s pattern.
Sometimes not too long ago, you were seen in a video that has gone viral praying for a gathering. I want to assume that all other members of the family of God, that is denominations will bow to them. I need not tell you sir, that the wall of denominations is collapsing; that of course includes the wall of RCCG. God is moving the church to where it started from; the upper room in a house.
Before the most recent prayers, you have prayed for members of RCCG that their family, friends and colleagues will not be able to eat without them. I wasn’t surprised though, because the level of canal adventurism in that prayer is better than many places where friends, families and colleagues that Jesus died for and left us behind to save through a life of love and preaching of the gospel of the kingdom are daily killed by fire.
Your latest prayers Sir, is my concern; “I decree in the name that is above every other name; Christians from every other denomination will bow before you”! It was followed as usual with the thunderous echo of Amen!!!!!
Amen of course means so be it, or thus saith the Lord. It is therefore important that we look into the Bible to establish that this prayer qualifies for what we can declare as Amen! Thus says the Lord and so shall it be.
The name above all names in which you prayed sir, is the name of Jesus and I will like to call your attention to how the one in whose name you made your request to the Father handled a similar prayer while he was here on earth.
In Matthew 20: 20-28. A Mrs. Zebedee, moved with mother’s love had approached Jesus in company of his two sons; James and John worshiping him and desiring for her two sons what you “filially” and not “agapely” desire for all your children under the umbrella of RCCG.
What wilt thou, the Lord asked her.
Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right and the other on the left in thy kingdom.
The Lord answered; Madam, unfortunately, it has been given to them for whom it is prepared by my father!
The request was not granted, but the news of the prayer divided the disciples just like the news of your prayers which by this pattern the Lord may not answer is dividing the body of Christ.
For when the 10 heard it, Easy English Version says they were angry, International Standard Version says they were furious and King James says they were moved with indignation.
Self-seeking was listed as a work of the flesh, a self-seeking prayer as seen in the Zebedees, activated anger in the other 10 Disciples, they were furious!
The master was smart at saving his disciples from witchcraft operations. He called them to himself and taught them how to have such a place of honour with God!
“You know that the Prince of the Gentiles exercises dominion over them and they that are great exercise authority but in this kingdom it shall not be so. Whosoever will be great among you let him be your Minister! The word minister is the Greek word ‘diakonos’, a steward, particularly of the least steward of the house.
Sir, what you desire like Mrs Zebedee for your children in RCCG can only be gotten in the humility of stewardship to the body of Christ.
