SeanT21:

What denomination are U?? Everyone takes it in my church.

Believe me SeanT21, in my church(Pentecostal) not everyone does. To qualify, you must have passed so many "tests" of "holiness".

Why all these rules? Jesus did not set any conditions after all. In fact, I believe the disciples were still sinners when they ate the passover with Jesus. So why are our Pastors being so Holier than thou?

And he took bread, and brake it, and gave thanks and gave unto them saying: “This is my body which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me”.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying” this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:19-20

The passage quoted above is the bedrock of what we Christians call Holy Communion.  Jesus kept it simple and solemn, and It is for remembrance only.
That being the case, how come all the rules, regulations and red tape that has been introduced into this simple act? For example:

Don’t eat Holy Communion if you are not baptized by immersion

Don’t eat if you don’t have the Holy Spirit/speak in toungues

Don’t eat if you are divorced, or separated from your spouse

Don’t eat if you still fall into temptation from time to time

Don’t eat if you’re not legally married to your spouse

Don’t eat if you are the second wife in your home e.t.c, e.t.c

At the end of the day, about 98% of the congregation has already been eliminated. Seeing that Jesus never asked all these conditions of his disciples, are Pastors doing right by forcing man-made rules on the congregation?
Is Christendom doing it the way Jesus laid down?

Your thoughts please

" And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God" Rev 4:5

Ok. Here's where I get confused.

I 've always been taught that God has only one spirit, which is the Holy Spirit and that God the Father=God the Son=God the Holy Spirit.

What then are these Seven Spirits of God?

Is Holy Spirit one of the Seven Spirits? or are they all equal to one another?

If God the Father=God the Holy Spirit, does it mean there are like seven sub-units of the Holy Spirit?

How does this stack up against the doctrine of the Trinity?

I've believed in Hell, Eternal damnation, e.t.c since infancy(just as you do). I've had nightmares, terror attacks, soul torment, e.t.c all over this subject of Lake of Fire and tormenting demons.

However, as Biblical translations become more refined, and as I grow older and conduct more research, a startling revelation hit me

What if there is no Hell after all?

What if Hell(as we know it) is not a Biblical fact, but just Man made fiction to keep us(ignorants) in line?

Visit www.what-the-hell-is-hell.com and www.tentmaker.org, then come back and tell me what you think.

Peace

Reading thru the posts on this thread, one thing comes across clearly
many of you are busy shooting the messenger while totally ignoring the message.

Love him or hate him, you would agree that Pastor Bakare makes a lot of sense. What he said are things we all see happening every day around us. Manipulations , brainwashing, hypnotism, e.t.c all in the name of God.
We cannot openly condemn these because it has been drilled into us from infancy(by Men of God) that it is "ungodly, unchristianly and an unforgivable sin" to criticise Men of God.

So, the "man of God" can fornicate all he likes, rip off church members, even commit murder, yet he goes scot free because we are all afraid as we don't want to incur the "wrath of God" by protesting this cheating by a human being just like us.

sure, Bakare has his faults(who doesn't), but at least he has the guts to criticise openly what he sees as wrong.
Come to think of it, is it really right to sell handkerchiefs, oil,e.tc to people in christiandom? for prosperity's sake? We all read our Bibles and we know this is not right. In what way is it different from the mallam who gives his clients tirah for protection/prosperity? or the babalawo who gives charms for the same purpose? eh?

Why criticise Oyedepo et al?
well, who else is Bakare supposed to criticise?
He worked with these people, knows them inside out so methinks he knows what he's saying, added to which he too is a heavyweight in Christendom, so he's in a position to take them headon.

The trouble with us is, we don't pause to analyse issues. Instead, we rush into our defensive trenches and start gunning down all "enemies" of our beloved "Men of God".
Inasmuch as we feel free to criticise Goverment, Politicians, even our own parents, why must we balk at criticising Men of God if they do wrong?


In any case, the people in question all have Right of Reply don't they?

Y'all have been very interesting so far, and needless to say, the heat generated by this (mis)story has been of monumental proportions.
However, answer me these:

Women Ministers who live in America, London e.t.c dresses in trousers, skirtsuits etc 24/7. Does that make them less of a Godly person?

If Pastor Bimbo were to go to hell because she wears trousers(ha ha), then those other women ministers that wears trousers all over the world too would go to hell -right? surely there can't be double standards applied?


Is it only in Naija that a Christian woman commits sin by wearing trousers? If the same woman travels out of Nigeria to US for instance, then it suddenly is alright for her to wear trousers and "God" would understand abi?


If Pastor Bimbo were to live in London and wears trousers, would she then be allowed to "enter" heaven?

Do Jewish women not wear trousers? and mini skirts? and hot pants? e.t.c ? wake up people!!

Who says Trousers is the exclusive preserve of Men anyway? and where does the Bible mention trousers?

If women are condemned to Hell for wearing trousers, then all Scotsmen (who traditionally wears skirts called skittles) would go to hell as well; all men from Delta state in Nigeria as well as Igbo men would surely go to hell because their traditional attire incorporates the female wrapper, 

The point Im making is this: As educated people, there's nothing wrong in applying logic and reason to issues(religious issues included). Indeed, the Bible encourages us to "search all things" so that we can hold that which is true.

Did Prophet Obadare die? No

Was he in a Coma? Yes

Did he see "Visions"?  Maybe

Does his Visions translate to fact?  Definitely not! Its his own opinion.

Is there any way of verifying this "visions"? No

See? so why should we lose our cool over outrageous claims like these?

All of u guys wondering why the AGF has not been sacked shd consider the following:

1. Why has the Justice Uwais committee report not been implemented or even adopted by this govt despite public outcry for its implementation?

2. Why are both Houses footdragging over the Constitution review especially as pertains to the Electoral Act, when we are so close to an Election year(2011)?

3. Why is Maurice Iwu still in office till now?

The truth of the matter is both men (Iwu and Oandoakaa) are critical factors in yaradua(and PDP)'s political permutations come 2011.
And so, short of gunning them down, or kidnapping them, I don't see this government removing them from office. Politics is about survival, and yaradua needs to survive at all cost.
In fact, people are already calling for him to contest for a 2nd term!

@ Topic,
Its indeed a sorry state of affairs in this country. Though I believe soludo was ill-advised to contest, the way and manner the PDP went about his selection was wrong. For Soludo himself to be grandstanding and carrying on the way he has been doing is also very wrong. Its just simple logic that his political "seniors" will try to teach him some Politics 101.
That being said, I do not support kidnapping, No. I think the size of that ransome was just to make a statement, or force Soludo into a tight corner i.e be damned if you do, be damned if you dont.
It would be interesting to see how PDP and the "annointed one" wriggles out of this.

A topic,
Even if he contest and wins again(I pray not), the mere fact their larger than life image is being dismantled all over the place gives cause for cheer. Now we know their cheating and perfidy just will not stand any true democratic test. Big up for the Judiciary!