.
In
conclusion, the book of revelation has a message to 7 categories of
Christianity to which every one of us belongs to. The church is not a
place of perfect people. The church is a place of people in pursuit of
the passion of the Christ. In the end, salvation is personal.
The damage has already been done. Not to Ese Walter, or Pastor Biodun
or even the ministry of COZA, but to the Gospel of Christ. This is my
attempt at damage control.
When I read Ese’s story, I felt only
one thing: sympathy for her. This is because her story is one that I have had
first-hand experience with. Unfortunately, Ese’s story is not the exception and
I have personally counselled a few girls who have walked in her shoes. I am not
a member of COZA and
I do not know much about the church; but I am aware that
it as dynamic and vibrant as my own ministry, Christ Embassy.
I have been a member of Christ
Embassy since 2001 in my university days, and a Christ Embassy church staff
between 2005 and 2010. At the moment I am now a member of The Lighthouse
Church, although I am still a follower of Pastor Chris and I always participate
in the Monthly Communion Service because I believe in the message and the
anointing on Pastor Chris’ life. That being said, I will not deny the fact
that there are certain methods in Christ Embassy, perhaps in COZA, and
definitely in every mega-ministry that will disturb the senses. This is one
reason Lighthouse is now my home church, even though
Christ Embassy will always be my root church.
If Ese’s story is true, my heart
goes out to her and I wish I could give her a giant big hug, and cry with her.
From her blog post, It is evident she has risen above all of it and I salute
her courage. If Ese’s story is true, I pray for mercy for Pastor Biodun, and
his family and I pray for grace for the genuine worshippers at COZA whose faith
may falter because of this damage. Scripture has been very clear that in these
last days, even the very elect will be attacked.
My article about this alleged affair
is not to take sides, but to defend the gospel of Christ. You see, salvation is
personal. And God is looking for true worshippers who will worship him in
spirit and in truth. My interpretation of this verse of scripture is that true
worship transcends the “Man of God” or “the ministry”. We have been called into
fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not a man of God or a ministry
of God. Our allegiance should be to the message only.
This has been my balancing strategy
to guide between my passion for God and my reverence for the anointing. You
see, I have utmost respect for any minister whose message causes my spirit to
burn, however, I also have an unction from the Holy One to know that the
Scriptures is have the final say in my life. When I resigned from Christ
Embassy and stopped attending the church, many pastors who I still respect
condemned and castigated my decisions. But I was mature and bold enough to
know that the God who sent me to “brook Cherith” and who sustained me at “brook
Cherith” could also decide to ask me to leave brook Cherith for “Sidon”. My
allegiance is first to the whisper of the Word in my spirit, then the
confirmation of a pastor’s prophecy – in that order. That is what Pastor Chris
has taught me – to receive Rhema. But this is where it gets complicated because
many members of mega-ministry are more invested in the razzmatazz of the
ministry and the man, rather than in the word.
I am a product of Pastor Chris and I
believe in his anointing. Even though I disagree with a many of the methods of
the ministry, I understand like David, that Saul is STILL God’s anointed king,
and even when he is obviously trying to kill me I will still serve him, but I
will serve him from a distance.
For the Ese Walters of the past, our
future can only be protected if we record our history. It is your duty to speak
up because your history can save a young convert’s future.
For the Ese Walters of the future, salvation
is not about being a worker in church or being your pastor’s pet; salvation is
about hungering and thirsting for the Word of God and pressing forward to know
this Word through studying, praying and fellowshiping with the Holy Spirit.
Salvation should be pursued the same way a player pursues fresh pussy.
For the true worshippers in COZA,
Pastor Biodun is still God’s anointed. You can be blessed by him; even if it is
from a distance.
For those who have blind faith in
any man of God or any mega-ministry, you would do well to remember that many
will preach and heal and cast out demons in the name of Christ and will still
be unknown by Christ.
For those who will disdain the
gospel because of this scandal, I believe that God is not wringing his hands in
worry but is sitting back watching how all this will work out for the purpose
of his will. I am living testimony because I finally became a member of Christ
Embassy in 2001 when it was neck deep in controversy. I do not regret my
decision and my faith is rock solid because of the teachings I received in
Christ Embassy.
In conclusion, the book of
revelation has a message to 7 categories of Christianity to which every one of
us belongs to. The church is not a place of perfect people. The church is a
place of people in pursuit of the passion of the Christ. In the end, salvation
is personal.
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