Brother Ijay Blog

There is a video circulating online of a man robbed in typical Orthodox church clergy attire dedicating a building belonging to a native doctor.  Some people have labeled the fellow an Anglican priest. I heard someone refer to him as Ukọchukwu but there’s really no proof that he is an Anglican priest.  For many people, once you are wearing a cassock and not identified as a Reverend Father, you are Ukọchukwu. Now, that’s besides the point. The point here is that even if he is an Anglican Bishop or the Archbishop of Canterbury and in the name of house dedication, claims that a well-known native doctor who specializes in money ritual sacrifices is “doing the work of God in his own way,” he has lost his way.  The priest is literally a lost soul deserving of prayers and evangelism aimed to his soul before the devil destroys him kpata kpata. For context, the fellow in blue attire is a native doctor that markets his trade on social media. I have stumbled on the video recording of some of his sessions on Facebook reels. My immediate concern is not whether a pastor should go to dedicate his hotel which was probably built with the proceeds of his money ritual sacrifices.  That’s the problem for pastors to sort out among themselves; I am not one of them.  However, a responsible pastor understands that he has a duty not just to teach sound doctrine to his followers but equally ensure he doesn’t mislead those committed under him by his actions and inactions. Now to the main issue that is a concern to me. In the course of his prayers, he said something that left me wondering if the fellow in cassock is a christian at all. He said that the native doctor is doing God’s work in his own way. While some people in that rank could be careless enough to say what comes to their mind, you have a duty to guard against being deceived. Many people who listened to him pray will be misled into thinking that they can serve God in their own way.  The truth is that they can’t!  We are not given the liberty to serve God in our own way. It’s either you serve His own way or you are simply on your own. Some 3-5 months ago, a cleric resigned his position to start a polygamous movement. When I read his statements in the media, I wondered how he lost his way too much to be bold about the illusion that God called him to become a priest to polygamists. Glory to God he has retraced his steps (at least from a recent press release). But people like that are a reminder to you and I that while God may have placed pastors over us, we don’t necessarily follow them. We learn from the preachers placed over us, follow God and make the Bible our standard, not the strange revelation of a pastor. You see, God has always had an order right from creation. He told the first couple what to eat and what not to eat or they will die. The serpent came and told them that they can actually eat what they like and nothing will happen. They listened to the fellow and died. When Moses had to build a temple, God told him in clear unambiguous terms how he is supposed to do it and asked him to build according to pattern (Exo 25:50). There is equally no ambiguity regarding how man should be reconciled to God; it’s through faith in Christ Jesus! There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. (Act 4:12 NLT) So, when someone who is supposed to be a pastor opens his mouth and endorses a known native doctor as serving God in his own way, it goes to tell his level of ignorance or a proof that he is not a christian and therefore unfit to lead any Christian community. To my fellow laity, I just want you to know that it’s not true that you can serve God your way. There is nothing like that! You can only serve Him HIS way. Remember the story Jesus told about a certain person who claimed he cast out the devil in God’s name and Jesus told him He didn’t know him? (Matt 7:23) That’s the fate of those who want to serve God their own way. For this reason, I am not interested in serving God my way; I just want to know how He wants us to serve Him and align. So, while the world tries to sell me how to serve God and some pastors even import worldly traditions for serving Him, I remind myself of this instruction:  “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world [No matter who is propagating it], but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” [Romans 12:2 NLT, Emphasis mine] I just don’t want to claim to be serving God and on the judgment seat of Christ I will introduce myself as Brother Ijay with all the works I did for Him or in His name and He will reply to me, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matt. 7:23 NLT) May God help us all in Jesus’ name! You get my point?  Alright, have a super productive day ahead. Have a question? Feel free to shoot me a mail through [email protected] or on WhatsApp: 08063967498 Regards, Brother Ijay