An international research released not too long ago classified Nigeria as the most religious nation in the world. This report is no doubt anchored on the unprecedented growth of churches in Nigeria . The research couldn't have been wrong. Churches have become commonplace in Nigeria . There is hardly any street devoid of religious organizations with some having up to 20 and even more in some cases. Yet, this growth has not been all encompassing.

It seems to have been restricted to the new generation churches at the expense of older ones namely: The Apostolic Church, Baptist Church , Anglican Church and those in the Catholic fold whom most Nigerians were acquainted with before and after independence, even up to the 1970s.

“People want to go to churches where they can see result,” he acknowledged, adding that the old generation church would pray and believe that miracle is on the way but are less bothered about it when it eventually comes to pass. “But we Pentecostals believe in instant miracles.”

In a street where you would find ten churches, only two or less are likely to be among the old generation. So many factors could nave accounted for this development. According to Rev. Ade Adegunwa, Minister-In Charge, Ebenezer Baptist Church , Lagos , human beings are social animals, who want to have a taste of what is on the other side. Besides, he believes there are certain things the old generation churches have not being doing. For example, they have not being emphasising on the activities of the Holy Spirit and miracles," he said.

The minister added that the old generation churches approach most of the things they do in a definite format, things like liturgy. "But that does not mean the Spirit of God is not in some of these churches. But nobody can manipulate the Spirit of God," he emphasised.

Nevertheless, Adegunwa believes some of the things the new generation churches do are founded on emotions. "They appeal to the emotions of people. The real teachings are not there." He is confident that some of them are genuine with the Spirit of God in motion. So the old churches have their advantages and disadvantages, same with the new generation

churches. "But I want to say it is God that knows those really worshiping him." He said that worshipping in the old generation churches was neither indicative of the presence of God nor congregating among the new generation indicative of the presence of God. Besides, he argued that the trend does not indicate the disappearance of the Spirit of God from the old generation churches. "God looks inside the heart of man and He appreciates sincerity.

Nobody can manipulate God," he stressed. Besides sincerity of purpose, the minister argued that the Spirit of God subjects unscriptural activities either in the old generation churches or the new ones to empirical examination. "Anything Jesus Christ would not approve of either in the old or new generation churches are not acceptable," he said. He was referring to some methods employed in some of the churches, particularly the new generation churches.

The pastor, he disclosed, is usually not the founder in some of these old generation churches. "He is not the alpha and omega there. He is subject to the founding fathers' rules and regulations." This fact, he argued, cannot be said of the new generation churches. "Leaders of some of these churches springing up are the founders. They are the prophets, the pastors and the apostles, so they use any method to get money.

He disclosed that the finance system in Ebenezer Baptist Church is separated from the pastor's responsibility. "Even if you move the people to give in appreciation of God, the money is not coming to you. But some of these new churches impoverish their members to enrich themselves under the guise of performing miracles.

“People dress very provocatively, especially the women who are mostly seen in men trousers but in the old generation churches, there is still some amount of decorum and the fear of God. So the church is not really doing well in this area..

We are not saying they are not sincere, but there are so many things going on today that God does not approve of. So we are not outside the method of Jesus Christ”, he Advised adding hat Jesus would not deceive anybody to accept Him. He is not going to force anybody. Hs miracles are clear. When He performs miracles, you know this is a miracle. He does not consult with any medium, but today so many things are going on, people hide under other powers to operate.

To him, the development is not strange ion view of Jesus pronouncements that many will come to Him on the judgment day claming to have cast out demons and prophesied in His name, but He will tell them to go away from me you workers of iniquity”. But this is not to say he detest miracles. “God has been performing miracle in my ministry” Adegunwa claims adding that it would however be out of place to go outside the scriptures. He believes that church ought to be creating standards since Jesus described the Church as the light of the world”.

“Today, instead of the Church creating standards for the society, it is the other way round. The world is fast coming into the church and the church is fast going into the world. He alluded to the dressing patterns in some pf the new generation churches. “People dress very provocatively, especially the women who are mostly seen in men trousers but in the old generation churches, there is still some amount of decorum and the fear of God. So the church is not really doing well in this area, he stated. The minister revealed that today, some of churches harbour secret cults member. But he advised: “let the church be the church and let the world be the world. Let the church influence the world instead of the world influence the church.”

Rev. Joe Ibor, vicar-in-charge, St. Christopher Military church, Ikeja does not believe the old generation churches are losing members to the new and somehow flamboyant churches. Rather, he is of the view that people are embracing the new generation churches in view of the promises they make, adding that many of the devotee withdraw when they discover that hey are just empty promises design to amass followership. Beside, he believes this is the generation that runs after signs and wonders, “sop they allow the churches to manipulate their intelligence,” contends the vicar.

He attribute the desire to worship at the new generation churches to the youths; “The youth these days are more agile. They want to jump up and dance to pop music, so the old generation churches are also introducing praise and worship programmes so as not to limit their prayers to the book. Even the Catholics have gone Charismatic. They now make use of drums in the praise and worship,” he stated.

"..worshipping in the old generation churches was neither indicative of the presence of God nor congregating among the new generation indicative of the presence of God. ...The trend does not indicate the disappearance of the Spirit of God from the old generation churches.

Pastor Peters, of All Success Ministry International, would rather attribute the success of the new generation churches to the activities of the Holy Ghost. As he puts it, those in the old churches don't give room for the operation of the Holy Ghost.” Miracles he pointed out, is another attraction, arguing hat even though miracles do take place in the old Churches, the difference between the two is what he described as delayed and instant miracles.

“People want to go to churches where they can see result,” he acknowledged, adding that the old generation church would pray and believe that miracle is on the way but are less bothered about it when it eventually comes to pass. “But we Pentecostals believe in instant miracles.”

Beside, they also employ a great deal of music in worship. This, in the words of Peters, has been a major attraction in addition to aggressive evangelism often carried out on television.

Culled from The Independent

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