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IRENAEUS, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST (c. 125 – 202 AD)

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By Akin Ojumu Gnosticism was perhaps the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries. Influenced by such philosophers as Plato, Gnosticism is based on two false premises. First, it espouses a dualism regarding spirit and matter. Gnostics assert that matter is inherently evil and spirit is good. As a result of this presupposition, Gnostics believe anything done in the body, even the grossest sin, has no meaning because real life exists in the spirit realm only (Source: Got Questions). Second, Gnostics claim to possess an elevated knowledge, a “higher truth” known only to a certain few. Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis which means “to know.” Gnostics claim to possess a higher knowledge, not from the Bible, but acquired on some mystical higher plane of existence. Gnostics see themselves as a privileged class elevated above everybody else by their higher, deeper knowledge of God (Source: Got Questions). During the second century, the c...
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THE CROSS IS STILL AN OFFENSE

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By Akin Ojumu There are many today who subscribe to the notion that there’s no daylight between Christians and Jews. These are folks who, in their egregiously erroneous understanding of Scripture, see the Jews as Christians best buddies. Very often you hear them assert that “The Jews are our allies while the Arabs are our enemies.” As these two video clips demonstrate, nothing can be further from the truth. Just as it was in the days of Christ and His Disciples, so it is today. The Name of Christ continues to evoke maniacal, raucous, rabid and even aggressive sentiments among the Jews even to this day. In the first clip, a group of Orthodox Jews, both old and young, can be seen spitting at Christian tourists who were carrying the Cross in the Old City of Jerusalem on October 2, 2023. The second clip shows an Israeli man run up to a Catholic Nun and shove her to the ground from behind in an unprovoked attack in Jerusalem. Not content with seeing the poor woman crouch in pain on the cobb...
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ALADDIN & THE GENIE CHRISTIANITY

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By Akin Ojumu Woven into the tapestry of my commentaries on the Christianity faith is a strident emphasis on historical biblical Christianity. Those who have followed me for any appreciable period of time know that this particular subject is a recurring feature in my musings.  But what exactly does it even mean? Well, let me define it for you. In a nutshell, historical biblical Christianity is the Gospel that was taught by the Lord Jesus Christ to His chosen Apostles. In His final instructions to the Apostles, the Lord Jesus commanded them to teach the exact same thing to their own disciples with the help of the Holy Spirit who will bring to their remembrance everything He had taught them in the preceding three years that they had been with Him. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, ba...
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WHAT BECAME OF THE APOSTLES

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By Akin Ojumu Power. Power. Power. Just as it has always been in the history of mankind, the average churchgoer today is obsessed with supernatural power. Possessed, as it were, with the ever-consuming passion for the miraculous, they chase after any charlatan professing to live a naturally supernatural lifestyle.  Being the type to never to let an inordinate desire go to waste, the shysters of the contemporary pulpits fan into flame the lustful longing of their captives by leading them to spend their lives jumping from crusade grounds to prayer lines all in pursuit of miracles, signs, and wonders of the type performed by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ and documented in the Book of Acts. Yet, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard a preacher wound up their biblically uninformed and spiritually undiscerning audience by whetting their appetite with the pie-in-the-sky idea that the authentic Christian life is a daily re-enactment of the Book of Acts, I’d be a multi-million...
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SAINT AUGUSTINE’S CITY OF GOD

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By Akin Ojumu As the theological juggernaut who launched an enduring movement, Martin Luther is the recognized leader of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church, the Protestant Reformation was born. But what if I told you that the theological underpinnings and the doctrinal pillars of the Reformation and Protestantism were actually laid by St. Augustine (c. 354-430), Bishop of Hippo, more than a thousand year prior to Martin Luther? Perhaps the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul, Augustine’s adaptation of classical thought to Christian teaching created a theological system of great power and lasting influence. His numerous written works, the most important of which are Confessions (c. 400) and The City of God (c. 413-426), shaped the practice of biblical exegesis and helped lay the foundation for much of medieval and modern Christian thought. (Source: Encyclopedia Britannica). I...
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PUTTING UP READILY WITH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL (PART V)

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“Pharmacodynamics of a Rightly Divided Word of Truth” By Akin Ojumu Trauma bonding is the term used to describe the intense emotional attachment that forms between a victim of abuse and their abuser over a period of time. Despite the fact that the bond is damaging to their psychological, physical, and financial wellbeing, victims of abuse often develop a strong sense of loyalty towards their abuser. Stockholm syndrome is a specific, extreme form of trauma bond occurring during immediate, life-threatening captivity. Considering the abusive relationship that exists between the vast majority of church folks and the people they look up to as their spiritual leaders, you don’t have to be a licensed clinical psychologist to make a diagnosis of trauma bonding in the clergy-laity relationship dynamics. The fierce loyalty and the impassioned allegiance of many parishioners to their pastors, despite documented history of exploitation, manipulation, and deception on the part of the former, is evi...
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PUTTING UP READILY WITH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL (PART IV)

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“Preaching of the Cross is to them that Perish Foolishness” By Akin Ojumu When it comes to false teachers and their false teachings, the vast majority of people who call themselves Christians are nonchalant. The typical attitude of church folks to the distortion and twisting of Scriptures by preachers that have become pervasive in the Church today is nothing short of cavalier. In the typical laissez-faire fashion, they assume the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” posture. There are several reasons church folks refrain from confronting false teachers and their false teachings. In the previous two installments of this commentary series, we explored one of the reasons church folks readily accept false teachers and shy away from criticizing false teachings. We pointed out that because of the symbiotic relationship that exists between false teachers and those who consume their poison, there is hesitancy on the part of church folks to confront the peddlers of erroneous teachings. Pe...
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BIBLE EXEGESIS WITH MY SON

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By Akin Ojumu So, my son sent me a text message this morning wanting to get a better understanding of a Bible passage. As I began to ponder on how to respond, it dawned on me that a short and glib answer will not suffice. Failure to use this opportunity to provide a robust and fulsome explanation will amount to doctrinal malpractice. Hence, this 1115-word commentary is me sharing my understanding of a Bible text with my son. It is a session in Biblical exegesis with a young man who’s clearly interested in having a good grasp of Scripture. And the text in question is 1 Corinthians 15:33. My Son’s Enquiry Hey Pops, i n 1 Corinthians 15:33, can you give me a little more context. I know Paul was talking about maintaining good friendships that align with the Word. But does that mean anyone who falls short of that should not be considered friends anymore? Should we not try to help them or get them to align with the Word? I just want to get a deeper understanding. My Response to the Enquiry H...
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DONALD “JESUS” TRUMP

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By Akin Ojumu Maya Angelou is credited with the now famous quote, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” What she meant by that is that we should recognize and accept someone’s true character, especially the ones that announce themselves with screaming red flags, rather than make silly excuses for the person’s untenable behavior or wait for them to magically change. How many times does a man have to show us he is possessed by the demonic spirit of the antichrist before we take him at his word? At what point do we let the reality sink in that this man we are sheepishly following has, by his numerous blasphemous utterances and deeds, proven himself to be an enemy of God? To the fawning fans of Donald Trump who call themselves Christians, answering these questions honestly is a bit complicated because of their Trump Denial Syndrome. Until they close their eyes in death and find themselves in the forever burning flames of hell, the supporters of Trump will neve...
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