LISTENING TO IT UNDERSTANDS IT.
. mk
Chairman SCNC Belgium
Melchizedek Kaavi
Melim City(LGA)
Northern Zone Bui
County Southern Cameroon
http://www.scncforsoutherncameroons.net
Web: http://www.scylforfreedom.org
To: "ambasbay@googlegroups.com" <ambasbay@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 4:52 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: [LECUDO-USA] Biya and Churches -A Complicated Matter
------- Forwarded Message -----
From: Anumbondem Joseph Asong <brotheranu@gmail.com>
To: anu.mysunshine@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 9:30 AM
Subject: [LECUDO-USA] Biya and Churches -A Complicated Matter
Dear All,There is no doubt that the recent crackdown on churches by the Biya regime has evoked strong emotive reactions worldwide. Unending questions are being asked and many of them have no answers. While no one can pretend to have all the answers, I believe that a look at certain Bible passages can nourish the discussion. For me, three main questions stand out:1. Is the proliferation of churches in Cameroon and anywhere else necessarily an evil occurrence?2. Are the targeted churches in Cameroon indeed fake?3. Is the Biya regime justified in their actions?Firstly, the proliferation of churches in Cameroon or anywhere else is not necessarily an evil occurrence. We need to understand that a church is not necessarily what we know as denominations. In New Testament times, churches were designated by geographical regions and met in homes. I personally believe that it was not God's intension for us to create denominations but we humans always have a way of going our own way. A true church is simply a group of people who are truly disciples of Jesus Christ. They do not need sophisticated buildings and organizations in order to be a true church. They do not even need to be very large groups! Seen this way, there could even be ten churches in a single neighbourhood and there would be no problems as long as the people are true followers of Jesus Christ and law abiding citizens. We only have problems when crooks with ungodly agendas fill every nook and cranny with false churches. "To the churches in Galatia" Galatians 1:2; "To the church of God in Corinth" 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Corinthians 1:1; "Likewise greet the church that is in their house" Romans 16:5; "The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house." 1 Corinthians 16:19; Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house" Colossians 4:15; "And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house" Philemon 2; "Church of Ephesus, of the Laodiceans…church in Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia…" Revelations 2 & 3. I am deliberately avoiding the use of the term Pentecostal because that is not the key issue here. Besides, most people who use the term do not even know what it means. And for the record, I am not Pentecostal. Just in case someone thinks I am evading something. As I have stated in this noble forum (Brother Nchumbonga) before, I embrace all that is good from all Christian traditions.Secondly, are the targeted churches in Cameroon indeed fake? We cannot generally categorize a group of 100 churches as fake without carefully investigating them one after another. Legality is all together a different matter. Churches need to meet the requirements of the state in order to legally operate there. A true church could be illegal in a certain realm! I personally think that Cameroon's government is too prohibitive in the matter of legalizing churches but that is a discussion for another day. The issue at hand is not entirely legal…it touches on the question of authenticity. Are these churches authentic? The only way to know is to screen these churches in light of the whole counsel of Holy Writ. We obviously do not have time for that but just one passage can throw so much light. Come with me, if you may, to Ephesians 4:11-16:It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.A few deductions from the above passage:1. True churches do have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who are given by Jesus Christ… It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. Whether all of these offices are operational today is a subject for another day. But can they be fake apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers? Certainly! "The spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come from hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." 1 Timothy 1 & 2. Do these targeted churches in Cameroon have authentic or fake leaders? We need to read on to find out.2. Church leaders given by Jesus Christ (and therefore authentic) are there to "prepare God's people for works of service". Any church leader with any other agenda is fake! And my guess is all of us can tell when a leader is occupied with preparing God's people for works of service. So then, are the leaders of the targeted churches in Cameroon solely committed to preparing God's people for works of service?3. Church leaders given by Jesus Christ will have Christocentric (centered around Christ) and Theocentric (centered around God) ministries as opposed to homocentric (centered around man)… so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ… Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Beware of ministries that promote human beings, no matter who they are!! Embrace ministries that promote Christ!!!!4. Authentic ministries establish people in God's Word… Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Teaching and preaching the Bible correctly is of very high priority and one can only teach and preach accurately if one studies diligently. "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who is not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2:15. They are those who preach and teach accurately from God's Word…but there is also every wind of teaching…engineered by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.Finally, is the Biya regime justified in their actions? It seems to me that irrespective of what we think of any government, they have a God given responsibility to protect the citizenry from all forms of harm. "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer…" Romans 13:1-7. This is one of the most difficult passages in the Bible because people find it difficult to believe that God would establish evil governments. It is also hard to comprehend because the passage gives the impression that governments are always doing the right thing of cracking down on evil and upholding good. In our experience, we very often find the very opposite where governments persecute those who do well and support those who perform evil. We do not have time for a full analysis here but I believe that Paul is here stating the ideal…what ought to be…all governments are supposed to serve God's good purposes!!! But like in all areas of life, humans always go their own way. However, even when a government is generally failing to serve God's good purposes (like I personally think the Cameroon government is), they still have a divine mandate and God in His sovereign will can still use them to do what He wills. Now then, was God using the recalcitrant Cameroon government to crack down on the targeted churches? The answer is NO if these targeted churches are AUTHENTIC! Conversely, the answer is YES if the Cameroon government has evaluated these churches one after another and found out that they are FAKE! But all of us know that nothing is that black or white. The debates are bound to continue!!In His Glorious Service,Anu.Joseph Asong AnumbondemBible Teacher:Malawi Grace Bible InstituteLilongwe*******************************************************************************"The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them". (Hosea 14:9b)__._,_.___
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