Founder
of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor WF Kumuyi is currently at the receiving end
of harsh criticisms by angry Nigerians for calling Christmas celebration
idolatory.
The
‘holiness’ preacher in his sermon on Saturday at the just concluded 2013
National December Retreat of the church said, “We are only gathering together
because it is the holiday period and love the lord more, and rededicate
ourselves more.
“When
you find anybody coming in, or any leader, trying to introduce the idolatry of
mystery Babylon, that they call Christmas and you want to bring all the
Christmas carol saying that is the day that Jesus was born, and you don’t find
that in the Acts of the Apostles or in the early church, then you don’t find
that in the church either. If you don’t know that before, now you know”, he
stated.
However,
reacting to Kumuyi’s statement, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic
Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, said, “I don’t know what he means
by saying the practice of celebrating Christmas is wrong.
“Is
he saying that Christ wasn’t born? That he didn’t come to die for us? Does he
not celebrate his own birthday? Do Kumuyi’s pastors not celebrate him? It is
not everything I react to; some people just seek attention. If Kumuyi is a
Christian, then he must believe in Christ.
“The
celebration of Christmas didn’t just start today; it is too public an event for
anyone to say that they don’t know what it is about.
“If
Kumuyi is condemning the commercialisation of Christmas, I can understand that.
Christ came to redeem us from our lost state; this was actualised through his
coming, his birth; that is why we celebrate Christmas. It is the fulfilment of
God’s promise.
“I
saw him on the television a few days ago. He was in Akwa Ibom State and was the
chief preacher during their Christmas celebration event. Kumuyi is just saying
what he feels; he is not making any doctrinal statement”.
In
his own reaction, spokesperson for the Christian Association of Nigeria, Oshodi
chapter, Lagos State, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, said that Christmas was worth
celebrating.
According
to Otoibhi, the origin of Christmas was not as important as its essence.
He
said, “The origin of Christmas, as we know it, could be traced to Roman
Emperor, Constantine. Christmas was a day for celebrating the Sun God. However,
because Constantine was a Christian, the day was changed to commemorate the
birth of Jesus Christ.
“The
tradition has continued to date and the aim of Christmas is to celebrate Jesus,
since there is nothing bad in honouring Jesus. Also, the worship of the Sun God
was done in Rome and not everywhere in the world, so it is not part of our
history.
“We
mark Christmas with the singing of songs as a day, which has now been
consecrated”.
He is very true no where Word of God or Holy spirit inspired in Bible to celebrate christmas
ReplyDeleteChurch lost its goal and glorified santa than heavenly father
ReplyDeleteChristmas trees gifts lights became famous than word of god. Jesus said us to deliver the world but we are busy with idol worship all christians learned is saying Alleluiah no power of god in their lives
Kumuyi you are radical preacher i love you and honor your words speaking boldly
ReplyDelete