THE MOST ABUSED AND MISUSED PHRASES PART 1

On the African soil we have so many ways in which people conduct funerals. It is also evident that some countries outside Africa have a unique way in which they conduct funerals. In recent years I have observed that some African countries are slowly conforming to the western culture of handling funerals. Nevertheless, there is one phrase that I keep hearing and seeing from people in Africa and from those in the other parts of the world when people lose a loved one. Sometimes I wonder why someone would make such a statement. Maybe its failure to understand what death really is.

Before I can state this most abused phrase during these emotional moments, let me try and unpack the meaning and definition of death. Death is the separation of the soul from the body. One example I can give to support this definition is the death of Christ. Remember when Jesus was dying? The Bible says in John 19:30 that “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” So you notice that Jesus died and gave up his spirit. In other words, his body was separated from his spirit when he died. I could site many other passages but that verse should do for now. Not only is death separation of the soul from the body but it is also separation of man from God. Remember when Adam sinned against God? He was at that time separated from God. Sin separated him from God.

The other thing I must mention before stating one of the most tortured phrases is the destiny of those who have died. It is clear from the Scriptures that when people die without having repented of their sins in faith towards Christ then their destination is hell. Hell is the place where they will spend eternity. A good example for this is the story of Lazarus and the Rich man. I am sure you know that story well. Lazarus ends up in Abraham’s bosom while the rich man ends up in the place of torment, a picture of hell. Why will such people end up in hell? Because they are Adam’s descendants and Adam, remember, died (was separated from God) because of sin.  And in the story of Lazarus and the rich man we have a good picture of someone who is separated from God. Each one of us is Adam’s descendant and we are destined to die and go to hell if we are not saved through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

So here is my question now. If what I have said above is true and makes sense then why do people say, “May his soul rest in eternal peace,” during a funeral, when they do not even know whether that person was saved? This is abusing the phrase. In fact it is torturing the phrase. How can someone who lived in sin, cursed God and denied the Lord Jesus Christ even to his death ever rest in eternal peace? How? For all I know as the Bible says is that, “There is no rest, says the LORD, for the wicked” Isaiah 48:22. Could this be an African phrase or something from the western culture or Europe? Or is it just some people trying to be kind?

Wolves in Sheep's clothing

He told me there was a wolf in the building but I couldn't see it. Now that my eyes have been opened I've seen the beast.

I went into that 500 million dollar building every week and wondered how a wolf could be found in such a place; projectors beaming to walls, flat screen TV’s everywhere, loud contemporary gospel music, a ten member choir dressed in blue and one vocalist leading them. It was amazing. I told myself this was the place to be. This only comes second to the best of Cinemas. I wondered where the wolf sat because everyone should be able to notice the flesh tearing animal but alas everyone was in frenzy, others screaming on top of their voices while others fell to the ground. “Could the wolf be the one causing this?”  I thought to myself.

Every time after the service I walked home with a mind full of thoughts. What did my beloved friend Steve mean when he said there is a wolf in that place? I sat on my bed and read through the verse he gave to me. It read, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inward are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit…” (Matt 7:15). I sat back and reasoned to myself. I flipped through other pages of Scripture to see if there was any other passage that talked about such kind of prophets. Instead I found one which talked about the good shepherd. It said that the good Shepherd goes before his sheep and the sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:4). This got me really confused. On one hand there are wolves in sheep’s clothing and on the other there is a shepherd whom the sheep follow. The former actually says you will know them by their fruit. I wondered what fruit this was.

One day, when journalist Banda read the news, I was perplexed as he mentioned that a certain bishop who was accused of defiling 9 girls had committed suicide. Not too long ago I read in another place that a certain Pastor had commanded his congregation to feed on grass. As if not enough I saw another Pastor telling his congregation not to take any medication whenever they fell sick. My heart sunk.  “Surely, the world is coming to an end,” I thought.

“Oh now I see.”  It finally clicked. I couldn't help but weep. I finally realized what Steve meant when he said there was a wolf in our Church. It was the man who stood preaching God’s word and called himself a “man of God.” His life was exactly what I saw from the three Pastors I read about in the media. The Scriptures then all connected together. The false prophets pretend to be God’s shepherd when in actual sense they are not. That is why Jesus calls them wolves. However, the true Shepherds are those who will preach and teach the Bible and lead people to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Their lives are a pattern you would want to imitate. They lead people to Christ by the way they preach and live the gospel. Many who listen to the false teachers and continue to follow them are most likely not Christ’s sheep because if they were, they would hear the voice of the stranger and  run away from him and at the same time they would hear the voice of Jesus as he spoke through his under shepherds and  would follow him. Are you following a wolf or the chief shepherd? 

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE: Will Celebrities go to heaven?

Rather, speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15

When truth is known, passion is usually expressed.  It is a fact that as Christians we have the knowledge of the truth about Jesus Christ. It is the presence of this intimate and relational knowledge that keeps our hearts burning for Jesus. We can’t stop loving him because we know that he first loved us. We have come to know that he loves us and therefore we express this truth by being passionate about his will and glory. This is why Paul says, “for the love of Christ controls us…” 2 Corinth 5:14. There is nothing more comforting than to know that I am living in truth. If there is one thing that is so fearful to live under, it is ignorance about things that are close to your heart. Someone will not join a religion if he is not convinced that it is true. If he does it’s probably for a wrong reason. Why do I say all this? It is the nature of our speech. Sometimes our speech as Christians is ignorant, it lacks love and this can be destructive.

Christiano Ronaldo

Notice the phrase first says, “Speak…” Speech is part of our life. We speak every day. We talk to friends, parents, workmates and many others. So the Bible doesn't ask us to be quiet but encourages us to do what we are expected to do. We must speak.  Secondly, we are told what we should speak. We should speak the truth. Whenever we speak we should speak the truth. Thirdly, the speech must be in love. When we speak truth it should be because we love that person. We want to show how much we love them by telling them the truth. We love them and tell them the truth because we want them to become more like Jesus Christ. However, many times you get the opposite of this.

You will find some Pastors lying to their members because they don’t want to lose their job or because they don’t want to look irresponsible. Some parents lie to their children or vice versa because they don’t want to accept a weakness. This actually has caused more harm than good. Usually the truth eventually comes out and things become sour. There are many of us who haven’t told the truth about heaven to our beloved brothers and sisters. Still some have not told the truth about hell to those close to them. Nevertheless, we know that these realities are real. One day the truth will be revealed. It will be too late. Woe to you who told people that getting to heaven is through good works. You lied because it’s not the truth.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

I love sport, particularly soccer. The game is entertaining no doubt about that. The players have become heroes and celebrities to many. You see people nick naming themselves after the name of the player they like. Clothes, shoes, Billboard adverts and many other things are covered with images of these men and women. Sad to say others have idolized them. However, one thing is very clear. If all these men and women are to die without Christ then hell will be their destiny. This realization really breaks my heart.

Serena Williams

The Bible says, “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”  The neighbour is every other person. Speaking the truth in love therefore means that we tell people like them (celebrities) that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. Yes we should because they are also our neighbours. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). If you love someone, tell them the truth even if it hurts. It will surely hurt someone if you tell them they will perish in hell if they don’t believe in Christ. But that is simple truth. The reason many people will not hear our plea is because the speech is not out

of love. We speak at times as though we are the judge. People notice it and don’t want anything to do with what we say even though it is the truth.  Speak the truth in love. I will be first one to acknowledge that there are times I have spoken that way and I repent. You too can do the same. It would be such a wonderful thing if all Christians can be praying for these men and women. The 2014 world cup is just around the corner. Before the games on the world’s biggest stage begin, someone please get this message out to those players. Tell them I love them as my neighbours and that their life will soon come to an end. However, Jesus stands to save all those who put their faith in him for the forgiveness of sin and assurance of eternal life.

Jackie Chan

So then what’s the answer, will celebrities go to heaven? If they acknowledge their sins, repent by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and God creating a new life in them then yes, they will go to heaven. However, they cannot know about way to heaven if you and I don’t tell them in love that there is forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus.