Gospel ministers must preach the undiluted word of God to get the results of the Bible’s days, Bishop of Ogori Magongo Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev Festus Davies, has stated.
He spoke at the 60th anniversary of St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church Aguda, Lagos.
Davies lamented that prosperity has become the main feature of the gospel, saying it is a misnomer that has made the church lose respect.
According to him: “The challenges the church is facing today is that the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries stood for the undiluted word of God but the present generation of churches we have diluted the word of God to the extent that everybody is now preaching what he/she likes.
“Everybody says what suits them and not what Christ stood for. Healing and prosperity in the Bible are good but that cannot be our major emphases.
‘’Once they get the gospel right, there is healing, deliverance, and breakthrough, but Christ first.’’
He went on: ‘’So, the gospel first and all other material things will be added to you and not the other way round. How can you talk about healing when Christ has not been preached?
‘’Where do you get the healing from? And until we go back to the old time religion before we can get ourselves right.”
He noted that the body of Christ had lost its respect simply because preachers tell politicians what they want to hear instead of charging them.
He said: “The government don’t respect the church again it is because preachers tell politicians what they want to hear and after that money is given in exchange. It is not the true gospel that Christ died for.”
He urged members of St. Bartholomew to emulate virtues of the founding fathers who had laboured tirelessly to bring the church to its current status.
The Bishop, who was also the guest speaker, reminded the church of the role St. Bartholomew played in evangelising the heathens.
While encouraging the congregation not to rest on their oars, the cleric said they should make preaching of the gospel their watchword.
He charged the youths to shun laziness and remain focused in life.
The Diocesan Bishop, Lagos Mainland, Rt. Rev. Akinpelu Johnson, called on members of the church to continue in the good works they are known for.
He said: “People know of St. Barth’s Aguda and remember that Bartholomew was one of the disciples of Jesus, who went as far as India to preach the gospel.
‘’What we know of St. Barth’s is that they preach the gospel and evangelise.’’
While praying for them, the cleric admonished them to complete the new church building before the church turns 70.
The church also used the occasion to give awards to some deserving members for their selfless services.
The awardees included the longest serving Vicar and Archdeacon of the church, Ven. Ben Nwanekwu, Papa T. N. Njoku and people’s warden, Sir Henry U. Oranusi, among others.
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