THE scriptures tell us that King David, the man after God’s heart, committed murder, and took the wife of the victim of his murder. God sent his prophet to rebuke the King and he effectively delivered God’s message to the King, which led to the full repentance of the King and deliverance of Israel from the problems and challenges of laboring under a cursed King.

The Scripture is also replete with the accounts of men of God like Elijah, Elisha, Moses and the rest of the them who really stood between the Kings and God the Almighty, they stood for the poor, and the rich alike, they counseled, instructed, and directed Kings of the land to rule and lead according to the will and plans of God for His people, the led,and  the vulnerable persons called the governed. The King did not have to invite them before they went to him.

But  that is not the case with our beloved nation Nigeria , where we have three dominant religions; Christianity, Islam, and Heathens or Idol worshipers. A large number of people in the North, as well as South of Nigeria do not know God.

They worship idols and call them gods. Hence we have the gods of the air, land, seas, rivers, sun, moon, harvest, farming, hunting, and so on. They carry their amulets and charms and smell awfully offensive wherever they go and like the gods they serve and worship, they have eyes, but cannot see, ears but cannot hear and nose that cannot smell.

Like their father the Devil, they thrive on lies and deceit in political offices, government offices, company boards, multinational conglomerates, where they continually they cheat and oppress their victims. They operate under the ruler of this world, they are the world, and they have never loved Christ and His message of salvation and righteousness from the beginning and will never do now.

They can hardly stand the fire and evil dismantling prayer powers in the Pentecostal and charismatic churches. They therefore naturally thrive in the churches where the alters have become cold, where they take up titles as Knights, Deacons, Elders, some even make themselves Pastors, Evangelists and the like. They combine Idol worship and church going. Any altar they enter become eventually compromised.

The priest looks at their financial contributions to church projects and concludes that he needs them in his church, and over time Gods alter gradually waxes cold.

They take over the church and by extension the politics of the town and rain perversity on the place. Sexual perversity, adultery, fornications, murders, revelries cultism and kidnapping are in their bags and soon begin to reign among Gods people.

In extreme cases the priest becomes sucked into the evil world of sin. He ends up supporting lesbianism; homosexuality and may himself become one. What if I may ask, can a priest who smokes and drinks himself to stupor offer the flock? Drinking, smoking and womanizing often go together. What can such a man offer this nation?

In a compromised alter, skimpy skirts become acceptable codes for female dressing, moral standards are lowered continuously to meet those of the lost world as if the church of God is in competition with the perishing world. The good and holy church is the light of this world.

It is in the world, but not of the world. This is no longer the case for many Christians in the compromised altar in Nigeria . The pursuit of population increase outside the help of the Holy Spirit has led to acceptance and condoning of evil in the church today. Rather than feed the flock, the flock turns around to judge the shepherd because he has comprised his morals and integrity.

Churches now forget charity and salvation messages to compete with entertainment companies in reality and celebrity shows in the land. Men, drug peddlers, kidnappers, thieves, and liars of all shades employ ‘pastors’ as prayer contractors and even compare who has gifts among men of God! If Elijah called down fire to prove this God, what has happened to our prophets?

Where is that power as of old? Where prophets of God lie and compromise, what becomes the fate of the people? Could that be the reason why at 50 this nation has refused to grow? If God is angry with our leaders who will tell them?

People go into politics or appointments in government to steal and plunder government purse. The priest in the compromised altar knows these men and women very well, but he allows them access to his anointed and sanctified church microphone to address the people when ever the opportunity presents itself.

These polluted souls, shamelessly derive joy in addressing the congregation of their oppressed, downtrodden victims and forsaken fellow citizens as role models! The Preist continues to boast of being connected and powerful. How can corruption stop or abate if the church cannot rise and speak against it among its members?

Continues tomorrow

Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer writes from Lagos.