Have you heard of the anti-christ?

It was George Bush. No. Obama.

Or is it Trump?

Uuuhm, It was Pope John Paul, naaah, Benedict fits much better. Hey, what about Francis? Eheeeh, you got it.

The life of an average Nigerian Christian is one filled with perpetual fear and suspicion.

1. Fear of marine kingdom
2. Fear of ogboni, ekanka and amok
3. Fear of Witches and wizards
4. Native doctors and traditionalist
5. Demons and vampires that walk the night
6. Evil manipulation that tied that lady's wombs
7. What about that uncle that destroyed your destiny spiritually.
8. Oh, your mother inlaw that quite possibly eats your children in the womb
9. What about those charms buried in the village? Ancestral curses? Padlocks without keys lying carelessly about? Or, that sacrifice lying on a crossroad?

A Christian sees a threat everywhere.
A life that constantly finds new fears to adopt that I'm forced to pity such a life.

A Christian believes he or she serves an all powerful God that can do anything, but doesn't hesitate to jump at the slightest sight of even the least convoluted sights.

A hilarious irony that beggers reason

An incessant paranoia utilized by the men of God to keep the people perpetually in their grasp.

If you lose the fear of demons or witches or mamiwater, of what use is that man of God that calls down fire and brimstone?

If your life is not ruled by fear of everything, of what use is that pastor that promises you divine protection once he lays his hands on you?

I have never seen a people so ruled by fear, suspicion and unhealthy paranoia like I have noticed in the lives of Nigerian Christians.

They are like:

johnydon22:
Have you heard of the anti-christ?

It was George Bush. No. Obama.

Or is it Trump?

Uuuhm, It was Pope John Paul, naaah, Benedict fits much better. Hey, what about Francis? Eheeeh, you got it.

The life of an average Nigerian Christian is one filled with perpetual fear and suspicion.

1. Fear of marine kingdom
2. Fear of ogboni, ekanka and amok
3. Fear of Witches and wizards
4. Native doctors and traditionalist
5. Demons and vampires that walk the night
6. Evil manipulation that tied that lady's wombs
7. What about that uncle that destroyed your destiny spiritually.
8. Oh, your mother inlaw that quite possibly eats your children in the womb
9. What about those charms buried in the village? Ancestral curses? Padlocks without keys lying carelessly about? Or, that sacrifice lying on a crossroad?

A Christian sees a threat everywhere.
A life that constantly finds new fears to adopt that I'm forced to pity such a life.

A Christian believes he or she serves an all powerful God that can do anything, but doesn't hesitate to jump at the slightest sight of even the least convoluted sights.

A hilarious irony that beggers reason

An incessant paranoia utilized by the men of God to keep the people perpetually in their grasp.

If you lose the fear of demons or witches or mamiwater, of what use is that man of God that calls down fire and brimstone?

If your life is not ruled by fear of everything, of what use is that pastor that promises you divine protection once he lays his hands on you?

I have never seen a people so rules by fear, suspicion and unhealthy paranoia like I have noticed in the lives of Nigerian Christians.

Hello.

It is true that many Christians in Nigeria - and all over the world, in fact - are as you just described. That is to be expected of the last era of the Church, that is, the Laodicean Church. Many of us care very little for what the Bible says, with few indeed bothering to read the Bible and much fewer applying themselves to any real kind of Bible teaching. It is a tragedy, but it is not at all representative of biblical Christianity.

There is much to fear for anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ, God Who became Man to suffer and die for our sins and rise from the dead for our justification. But you have to believe that something is a threat, especially one that you can do nothing about, in order to fear it, so if, for example, you don't think that there are dangerous aggressive tigers out in a south-east Asian forest, you could go backpacking through it and still get killed in spite of your lack of belief. But for someone who believes that such threats exist, they would make adequate preparations to face them.

For the Christian who is learning the Bible and following the Truth in it, the Second Death, which is the true threat to life, is already addressed in their faith in the Lord Jesus. Then, the more he understands the Bible, the less he is concerned about wicked spirits, that is, rebel angels, and wicked human beings, although these are also real threats. Such a believer would know that he has the greatest protection anyone could have: an absolute one in Jesus Christ. He would know that pain and trouble in this life is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his love for the One Who paid such a terrible Price to rescue him from something so terrible as the Second Death. It would not matter what or who the mediator of such pain and suffering is. It would only matter that it is allowed by the One Who protects him, and therefore must be for his own highest good.

But without faith in the Lord Jesus and a subsequent commitment to following the Bible's teachings, one is vulnerable to all manners of madness. Without faith in the Lord Jesus in particular, one is pretty much doomed, no matter how untroubled their life in this world is. Everyone does suffer in this life, after all, even if some have considerably less suffering than others, and the Lake of Fire awaits all unbelievers.

Ihedinobi3:



It is true that many Christians in Nigeria - and all over the world, in fact - are as you just described.

There is much to fear for anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ, God Who became Man to suffer and die for our sins and rise from the dead for our justification.

You admit Christians fear in the first para then quickly jump to the fear of unbelievers?

What a nice whatabout!

budaatum:

You admit Christians fear in the first para then quickly jump to the fear of unbelievers?

What a nice whatabout!

Let me say it another way then:

Many of the things that spiritually immature Christians fear are real, but they ought not to be feared by those who believe in Jesus Christ, since they are under His Protection. However, those who do not believe are at risk of some of those things and of the Second Death, which itself is infinitely worse than them. So, they would be right to be afraid, if they were.

budaatum:
They are like:

True

CAPSLOCKED:
A CHRISTIAN, BY DEFINITION, IS THE PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN GOD, DEVIL, TALKING ANIMALS, SHAPE SHIFTING, WITCHES, VILLAGE PEOPLE, GHOSTS, WALKING DEAD PEOPLE, LIGHTNING AS A HANDY WEAPON, JUJU, DEAD PEOPLE CLUBBING IN THE MORTUARY, AND TRILLIONS OF OTHER SUPERSTITIONS.

NO OTHER PERSON IN THE WORLD IS INSANE ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THE THINGS THAT A CHRISTIAN BELIEVES.

See who is talking.

Ihedinobi3:

Let me say it another way then:

Many of the things that spiritually immature Christians fear are real, but they ought not to be feared by those who believe in Jesus Christ, since they are under His Protection. However, those who do not believe are at risk of some of those things and of the Second Death, which itself is infinitely worse than them. So, they would be right to be afraid, if they were.

Thank you Ihe.

OLAADEGBU:


See who is talking.

Lol. That's basically untrue

johnydon22:
Have you heard of the anti-christ?

It was George Bush. No. Obama.

Or is it Trump?

Uuuhm, It was Pope John Paul, naaah, Benedict fits much better. Hey, what about Francis? Eheeeh, you got it.

The life of an average Nigerian Christian is one filled with perpetual fear and suspicion.

1. Fear of marine kingdom
2. Fear of ogboni, ekanka and amok
3. Fear of Witches and wizards
4. Native doctors and traditionalist
5. Demons and vampires that walk the night
6. Evil manipulation that tied that lady's wombs
7. What about that uncle that destroyed your destiny spiritually.
8. Oh, your mother inlaw that quite possibly eats your children in the womb
9. What about those charms buried in the village? Ancestral curses? Padlocks without keys lying carelessly about? Or, that sacrifice lying on a crossroad?

A Christian sees a threat everywhere.
A life that constantly finds new fears to adopt that I'm forced to pity such a life.

A Christian believes he or she serves an all powerful God that can do anything, but doesn't hesitate to jump at the slightest sight of even the least convoluted sights.

A hilarious irony that beggers reason

An incessant paranoia utilized by the men of God to keep the people perpetually in their grasp.

If you lose the fear of demons or witches or mamiwater, of what use is that man of God that calls down fire and brimstone?

If your life is not ruled by fear of everything, of what use is that pastor that promises you divine protection once he lays his hands on you?

I have never seen a people so rules by fear, suspicion and unhealthy paranoia like I have noticed in the lives of Nigerian Christians.

It is so debilitating and paralyzing to some of them that they don't even seek for real solutions to their problems instead they fall into the hands of charlatans disguised as holy men selling the snake oil called faith.

LordReed:


It is so debilitating and paralyzing to some of them that they don't even seek for real solutions to their problems instead they fall into the hands of charlatans disguised as holy men selling the snake oil called faith.

I am very disturbed about it. I feel a great swell of pity for the poor souls.

The reason they are like that is because they do not know what is inside the Bible. If they had only a basic understanding of Scriptures, just the most basic understanding, they will not be paranoid. The least of them would be a mighty warrior

If you aren't paranoid' your spiritual eyes aren't open

1Sharon:
If you aren't paranoid' your spiritual eyes aren't open

I'd then dare say that spiritual blindness is rather liberating.

Spiritually open eyes is more so a cage of paranoia bars

The paranoia of a church that refused to follow the instructions of the perfect Master.

johnydon22:


I'd then dare say that spiritual blindness is rather liberating.

Spiritually open eyes is more so a cage of paranoia bars

Then you aren't a true Christian. A true Christian is "woke"

The kingdom suffereth violence and blah blah

We wrestle not with the flesh

Wickedness in high places

This world belongs to the devil

Powers and principalities

1Sharon:


Then you aren't a true Christian. A true Christian is "woke"

The kingdom suffereth violence and blah blah

We wrestle not with the flesh

Wickedness in high places

This world belongs to the devil

Powers and principalities

But they love flying private with the devil's planes and in the devil's airspace.

johnydon22:


I am very disturbed about it. I feel a great swell of pity for the poor souls.

My brother no be small thing, a real pity.

1Sharon:


Then you aren't a true Christian. A true Christian is "woke"

The kingdom suffereth violence and blah blah

We wrestle not with the flesh

Wickedness in high places

This world belongs to the devil

Powers and principalities

A true Christian is ruled by fear.

Got it.

I can't be one.

LordReed:


But they love flying private with the devil's planes and in the devil's airspace.

For the "propagation" of the gospel

johnydon22:
A true Christian is ruled by fear.

Not true. Least not in the case of those who understand scripture. They could walk even in the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil.

And before you pick on "shadow", its metaphorical speak, not literal shadow.

I think the error in this discuss is in thinking Christianity and Christians are the same thing when they obviously aren't.

Christians practise Christianity. But its an error to assume they could perfectly practise it when all the evidence shows how drastically we fail on the most fundamental tenet of Christianity which is "Love thy neighbours and your enemies even more".

I'm trusting you atheists to therefore do what you do best and consider the evidence instead of blaming Christianity for the paranoia of some Christians because there are many who would claim the opposite, that Christianity cured them of paranoia.

budaatum:
I think the error in this discuss is in thinking Christianity and Christians are the same thing when they obviously aren't.

Christians practise Christianity. But its an error to assume they could perfectly practise it when all the evidence shows how drastically we fail on the most fundamental tenet of Christianity which is "Love thy neighbours and your enemies even more".

I'm trusting you atheists to therefore do what you do best and consider the evidence before instead of blaming Christianity for the paranoia of some Christians because there are many who would claim the opposite, that Christianity cured them of paranoia.

very true sir

1 John 4:7-8 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

johnydon22:


Lol. That's basically untrue

Bolster your faith — even if you have none! Watch “The Atheist Delusion:” www.AtheistMovie.com

It is Christians who created the fear.. There is none such in the old testament.. God was both responsible for both good and evil.... Singularity of a dual concept, Christianity believes in two different God's, one responsible for good.. The other for evil...

johnydon22:
Have you heard of the anti-christ?

It was George Bush. No. Obama.

Or is it Trump?

Uuuhm, It was Pope John Paul, naaah, Benedict fits much better. Hey, what about Francis? Eheeeh, you got it.

The life of an average Nigerian Christian is one filled with perpetual fear and suspicion.

1. Fear of marine kingdom
2. Fear of ogboni, ekanka and amok
3. Fear of Witches and wizards
4. Native doctors and traditionalist
5. Demons and vampires that walk the night
6. Evil manipulation that tied that lady's wombs
7. What about that uncle that destroyed your destiny spiritually.
8. Oh, your mother inlaw that quite possibly eats your children in the womb
9. What about those charms buried in the village? Ancestral curses? Padlocks without keys lying carelessly about? Or, that sacrifice lying on a crossroad?

A Christian sees a threat everywhere.
A life that constantly finds new fears to adopt that I'm forced to pity such a life.

A Christian believes he or she serves an all powerful God that can do anything, but doesn't hesitate to jump at the slightest sight of even the least convoluted sights.

A hilarious irony that beggers reason

An incessant paranoia utilized by the men of God to keep the people perpetually in their grasp.

If you lose the fear of demons or witches or mamiwater, of what use is that man of God that calls down fire and brimstone?

If your life is not ruled by fear of everything, of what use is that pastor that promises you divine protection once he lays his hands on you?

I have never seen a people so rules by fear, suspicion and unhealthy paranoia like I have noticed in the lives of Nigerian Christians.

sweeping generalisation sir; how many of them (in your state, to start with) do you know?

fear of the unknown has really blinded the religious folks, they can't even ask questions about their beliefs for fear of losing their 'faith'.

sonmvayina:
It is Christians who created the fear.. There is none such in the old testament.. God was both responsible for both good and evil.... Singularity of a dual concept, Christianity believes in two different God's, one responsible for good.. The other for evil...

Can you elaborate?

Scholar8200:
sweeping generalisation sir; how many of them (in your state, to start with) do you know?

Let him generalise jo. Too many nigerian Christians are like that.

1Sharon:


Can you elaborate?

Christians revere both God and Satan.. It is a dualism.. But the old testament presents God as both responsible for good and evil.. Isaiah 45 :7 , lamentations 3:38...
The Satan in Judaism only acts with the expressed permission from God... He must bend to the will of God , never a dual opposite of God or even independent of God... The first time he was introduced in the Bible, he was introduced as "a son of God"... He was always part of God and has no Kingdom or will outside the will of God.. There is no where that relationship changed till you get to the new testament.. Which is just a Roman creation in other to sell Jesus to the gullible masses..

Edybleketara:
fear of the unknown has really blinded the religious folks, they can't even ask questions about their beliefs for fear of losing their 'faith'.

Christ said, "Seek. For only then can you know". Yet, some believe without seeking.