Most churches today are just centers of dis-empowerment. A lot of religious organizations practice things that dis-empower the human consciousness. Many men of God think it’s a sign of greatness and influence to come to the office in the morning and see a lot of folks queued up to see them. Some of them have to buy cards just to see them; and these are members of their churches.
I personally think it’s downright silly.
Do you know what you’re doing? You are diminishing your members; you are dis-empowering them. A man of God on the pulpit ought to be someone who empowers people.
Jesus came into this world to empower us. He demonstrated this throughout His days on earth. On one occasion, the following happened:
“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him… ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter said, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ Jesus said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
~Matthew 14: 25-29
The above passage in the Scriptures will inspire me for all time. Jesus was walking on the water while Apostle Peter and others were in the boat on a windy night at sea. They were all scared to see Jesus walking on the water, but Peter courageously asked Jesus if he could walk on the water like He was doing. Without any hesitation, Jesus told him to come along. Jesus believed that Peter could walk on the water.
It is interesting to note that Jesus never said to Peter, “Do you know who I am? Do you know I’m the son of God? Do you know I am walking on the water? Do you know I just finished an all-night prayer on the mountain over there; and now you think you can just come and walk on the water like I’m doing?”
No! Jesus didn’t do that. That’s my point. Jesus simply told him to come because Jesus understood the capacity of faith. Jesus understood what faith could do. Jesus understood that if you can believe, all things are possible. In the same manner, I believe that Christians today should not be dis-empowered by religious leaders.
In some churches, the pastor has a special chair that he sits on during church service. And once the service is over, people will make a mad rush for his chair and scramble to sit on it because they’re expecting to get favour from God. Now that’s really silly; it’s dis empowering.
You need to know today that you are a son of the living God. You are a child of God. You are anointed by the Spirit. You carry God right within you; and you are favoured. That way you won’t be a victim of religious charlatanism and manipulations. Because then you can stand tall in your own right as an anointed one; as a servant of God; as holy, as powerful; and make your own mark in time and space.
Amen.