I have really looked into the method of our religion (Christianity) down here in West Africa most especially Nigeria and the manner at which we worship God and the way we treat each other in the society as regards to church denominations. Over the years the pattern of our worship, the way we segregate amongst ourselves (Christians) even when we profess one body in Christ Jesus even in the house of God, still there are high level of discordant tunes seen amongst members of these different church denominations in the Christendom of late.
The high level of disunity amongst preachers of the gospel( Pastors, Evangelist, the clergy men) in this our present time and also the disunity amongst the members of these churches these Men of God shepherds are really what we need to discuss and also find a way in solving this problem that is destroying the Christendom gradually.
Disclaimer: please all the information, names of churches that will appear in this articles are not to tarnish the images of the church's names and our Christian beliefs rather It's solely to educate and for teaching purposes. I write based on my personal opinions, observations and experience.
Let me use the churches in my country Nigeria to really explain to you my points so you can be able to understand more better and have a clearer picture of my story.
When the white men (foreigner) came to West Africa and brought Christianity to us, I want to believe they had good intentions for doing so and the method at which they taught us what Christianity was all about and the method of worship with the assistance of the holy Bible, is practically and totally different from what we are practicing in this recent time here in Nigeria.
There is this seed of strong hatred and segregations found amongst the heads of churches against one another and this act has really eaten deep to the hearts of men. In a situation where you will hear men of God come out open to castigate each other on radio and television stations without any shame or remorse that they are all working for one course i.e, winning souls for Christ, rather they chose to fight and tarnish each other's reputation and bring shame to the body of Christ. For instance the Saga between late Prophet TB Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations and Reverend Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church some years back. Source
In Nigeria today, It's also very pertinent to say that this has also spread across to the members who attend churches to worship God. In a situation where you will see a member of Lord's Chosen Charismatic Renewal Movement seeing a Roman Catholic worshipper as someone that worships idols because he says his prayers with his holy rosary and calls virgin Mary to intercede for him to Jesus Christ, in a situation where you see a Deeper Life Church member seeing a Lord's Chosen Charismatic Renewal member that wore their church apron given to them as instruction by their General Overseer as their armour and shield against any attack from the enemy as someone that put his trust in his apron rather than God.
When you go to the market where a lot of people sell their goods and render services, you will prefer to buy from your church member instead of buying from someone that is not in the same church with you forgetting that in Christ Jesus we all are one.
When it comes to marriage, it's seems to be a difficult one when you are not of the same church with your spouse. For instance, it's on rare cases to find a Jehovah's Witness member been married outside from his congregation, they prefer to marry from their congregation. This also happens to other denominations where members prefer to marry from the same church.
I have also seen some pentecostal churches and their members moving around the streets and houses trying to preach and even try to convince you to leave your own church and come to their church and start worshipping with them. They go extra mile to tell you that the word of God you have been hearing from your church is a diluted word of God and when you attend their church programs you will hear the living word and undiluted word of God that will transform you more better. They will tell you that sprinkling of holy water is not the doctrine of Christ and if you indulge in that you are tagged as unbeliever but the same Pentecostal will tell their members to come with bottles of water for prayers, deliverance and breakthrough sections and even. I also noticed that Jehovah's witness members does not like to attend another person's church if you invite him/her to come to your church maybe on Sundays church programs or any other programs done in another church.
Let me not bore you with a lot of abnormalities happening in our Christian society most especially in Nigeria. I want to really suggest some few points that will help us to retrace our steps back to the right way of worshipping God and living together as one body in Christ Jesus.
1. We should drop this bitterness in our hearts we nurture for one another most especially to those that does not attend same church with us. Lets embrace peace.
2. Unity is the key to a successful course, according to Bible 1Corinthians: chapter 12 verse 12 the word of God said that the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
3. It's very important to say that we need to go back to the drawing board and find the true teaching of Christ and the way to follow to be a better Christian.
4. We should stop antagonizing and fighting one another and learn to live in love with one another because that's the bases for our Christian life.
5. It's not good to judge nor condemn one another. Christ Jesus never condemned nor judged anybody during his life time on earth, so I implore you to always live your life as a true Christian because that is what we all represent.
6. We should shun every spirit of insensitive amongst the brethren of Christ.
7. We should embrace this type of church without any conditions to it nor any barrier in serving the Lord. A church without walls.
Thank you for reading. 🙏 Rafd9828
Point #5 is totally incorrect! Read the following: Matthew 23:15 “…For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matthew 23:13 “…For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” Matthew 23:27 “…For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:33 "Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.”