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THE CASE FOR CHRIST
- OPEN LETTER TO MR. OYEYEMI

s a regular reader of Nigeriaworld.com I have come to appreciate the political comments of Remi Oyeyemi, but his article “Christendom: A house built on quicksand” was surprising. The replies of Sam Arowolaju and Steve Nwabuzor were appropriate and I thought the issue would end. However, Mr. Oyeyemi has decided to pick a fight with God with his article “Tyranny of Christianity: of fanatics and fools”.

This article is not about defending Christianity or defending God, he (God) is more than capable of defending Himself, King Nebuchadnezzar and Saul of Tarsus can attest to that. It is my prayer that God will meet with you as well someday.

I really do not expect Mr. Oyeyemi to understand spiritual things, but I’ll try to explain some point he made out of ignorance and I pray that the Holy Spirit will touch Mr. Oyeyemi’s heart as he reads this article.

When God made the world (not sure if Mr. Oyeyemi believe this or not), he made man (the Hebrew word for man is “shah” and woman is “Ish-shah” – translated womb-man) in His image and gave us free “will”. With our free will we can decide to do the will of God by submitting to His will (allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us) or reject Him (just like Mr. Oyeyemi is doing). Since creation God as always demanded righteousness from His creation but we humans have failed woefully because of our human nature and of course the enemy “Satan”. There is NO human being that is perfect, the only perfect person that walked on earth is Jesus Christ (He was 100% Human and 100% God), the giants of faith like Abraham, David, King Solomon, Peter, Paul etc are all imperfect people who made several mistakes but they have one thing in common, which I will share with Mr. Oyeyemi. Missionaries (I have many of them as friends) are not perfect, they have prejudices just like you and I, I like what a car sticker said, and “Christians aren’t perfect just forgiven”.

Mr. Oyeyemi, God does not judge humans by the façade we put up to show people, he judges by the motivation. God also has some attributes that when we violate them we reap the consequences of disobedience. Attributes, Like Holiness, Righteousness, etc, while He could be a lamb, He could also be a Lion when necessary. You have to understand that God created humans for His pleasure.

While I don’t want to give reasons for God, understanding his attributes helps us understand why the Canaanites, Amalekites, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed after many attempts to have them repent from their wicked ways. If you care to study the scripture you will find that anyone or group of people who repented when confronted with their sins were spared (e.g. the people of Nineveh). The difference between King Saul and King David is in their motivation and character, when both were confronted with their evil deed, one made excuses and asked Prophet Samuel to please accompany him, so the people can think God is still with him, while the King David would always repent and ask for forgiveness. When one studies the Bible, you’ll be amazed at how many years the “Canaanites or Amalekites” were given to repent from their wicked ways. Mr. Oyeyemi, God is more concerned about our motivation (Christians or non Christians) that is why everyone’s work will be tested by fire to see what will stand.

Let me talk a little about Missionaries and slave trade, as I said earlier no one except Christ is perfect, just like some American Christians today believe God is conservative and Republican (I do agree with their moral views but not their social views) and are being used by politicians, some missionaries allowed the government of their days to use them in achieving political ends while they preach the gospel of Christ, while such acts are shameful they do not represent Christianity. I’m a friend to a missionary (White American) who has spent 21 years of his life (and family) in propagating the gospel of Christ in Nigeria while you and I are living in America.

The Old testament (OT) is generally regarded as a period without “Grace”, the law that govern people was more like what “Judaism” is today “an eye for an eye”, I will encourage anyone interested on OT laws to study the book of Leviticus in the Bible. In the OT day’s blood has to be shed for sins to be forgiven, which explains the various sacrifices and brutalities exhibited. However, perfection cant be found in all the various animals being sacrificed, there must be the defeat of the enemy, who is also the prince of the world. The New Testament (NT) is God’s way of giving man (“shah” and “ish- shah”) a better alternative to the OT laws, and a fulfillment of God’s promise to man. John 3: 16 “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life”. Instead of sacrificing animals, we can plead the blood of Christ shed once and for all, instead of seeking revenge we now have “Grace” which is why an “Armed Robber” crucified with Christ is in heaven today because he believed at the last minute. I pray that you will believe as well very soon.

On why Jesus drove out those who are buying and selling in the temple? (This is only my suggestion). On a recent trip to Nigeria (this summer), those of us who arrived at the airport (JFK) decided to take numbers, so that when the airline agents come things will run smoothly, everyone agreed with the exception of a gentleman. When the airline agents arrived, they commended us for the effort, but this man decided to make a fuss by standing in front without a number, at this point, I lost my cool and started to yell at this guy (like many others), I’m an itinerant minister, dressed in jeans and I risk being seen by someone that I have ministered at their church (other ministers dressed in their robes stayed back). After, we checked in three people came up to me (saw me at the counter) introduced themselves as members of such churches that I have spoken at. As human beings we are created to hate what is evil and should react (either immediately or wait until our anger subsides).

My dear Mr. Oyeyemi, Christ did not discriminate, infact, he spoke with a Samaritan woman (which was a taboo in his days), ate with a tax collector (another taboo in His days) and associated with both the rich (Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea) and poor. People who have personal agenda (or just ignorant - Hosea 4: 6a) discriminate, I have heard theologians say blacks are inferior, or are a cursed generation, if you have heard the same thing let me refer you to Dr. K.C. Price’s fantastic work in answering such theological jargons. Also, it might interest you to know that Christ in His ministry never had problem with anyone other than theologians (no offense to theologians – I do have them as friends, and one of my books was endorsed by a respected theologian). Following Christ is more than a religion; it is a call to live a life totally surrendered to do the will of God. I have been privileged to study the Bible and I still do (I continue to find amazing things daily), not once I’ve I found anything contradictory. Sometimes a portion lives a hole, but with careful study one will always find the missing puzzle, which in my opinion is another proof of the authenticity of the Bible (for instance Revelation 2: 14, fill a puzzle in Numbers 24 and 25). I am Yoruba, and I do not question God on why He choose the Israelites as His people, because a clay does not ask the potter why it was made, however, I can tell you that with the death of Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentiles before God, we are all now a royal priesthood before Him. Being a covenant God, He will fulfill His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

A study of the OT (either major or minor prophets) reveal amazing stuffs, prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel etc predicted with accuracy the life and death of Christ which was thousands of years ahead of their time.

Slavery has been around before colonization and it continues to be around, we might be calling it different names. While I won’t excuse wayward missionaries, we need to condemn our culture that enslave a whole family and actually require a whole family to be perpetual slaves to kings “A boba ku”. Today, employers both in Nigeria and America require their staff to work hours that do not commensurate with their pay (in America, resident doctors fought back, who is fighting back for the many bankers in Nigeria – who don’t even know their kids because of the hours they work), employers in Nigeria today are not “missionaries”.

Apostle Paul, said it best “of all men we are miserable if what we believe is not true”, Sir the psalmist said “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good”. Let me recommend the books of Lee Strobel (“the case for Christ” – one of his books), Lee is a journalist who was an unrepentant atheist, he set out to discredit Christianity and Christ, but is now the best advocate of Christ and Christianity.

Do not put your life on the path of destruction because of the behaviors of people who claim Christianity, or perhaps the shortcoming of even genuine Christians. Heaven and hell (not yet in business) are real places; one of the lies of the devil is to make us believe that those places don’t exist. Apostle Paul said “To live is Christ, to die is gain” Christians are ready to die anytime because we have the assurance of were we are going, however, we are promised long life and that is an inheritance of a true believer.

I do not intend for my letter to me condemning in any sense, if it does, I apologize. I believe God is giving you the opportunity through this mail (like He gave to the Amalekites, Canaanites etc) to make amends and repent before judgment.

I pray that you will make the right choice.