| The Bible most misquoted
book in the world
By BISI OLALEYE
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
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•Ugwu
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Mr Chimezie Linus Ugwu is the president-general of Alike
Develpoment Union, Imo State. He is a quiet and unassuming
man, who believes in community development.
Ugwu explained to Daily Sun that he would
rather die a Catholic than become born again as preached by
some Nigerians. To him, being born again in Nigeria is fraudulent
and not what is stipulated in the holy writs.
He also added that all military officers and para-military
officers will get to heaven because they are obeying those
in authorities, He spoke on this and many more.
Bible
The Bible is real. It is the best book in the universal. It
is all embracing, virtually everything you want to know is
there. The portion I love most is where it says, "Be
angry but do not sin ..." Another quote that I love is
Psalm 8, where the greatness of God is extolled that even
little children sings about God’s greatness.
Good works
The Bible says faith without good works will lead us to no
where. So, combination of faith and good works matters. For
instance, taking care of one’s brother that is hungry
is part of it and that is why in my village, Alike, an autonomous
community in Imo State, we have decided to improve on community
development.
We started with electricity because we never knew what it
was to have electricity in that community.
And part of it, is our plan to build an Information Technology
centre, library complex and town hall. The essence is to improve
on the lives of the people in the community. When all these
are in place, that is when one can preach to someone why he
should be a good citizen. Helping people who are in need is
part of it too, good works should complement our faith.
Hell
The Bible tells us that at the end of our human existence
and on the day of judgment those who had offended God will
go to hell, while those that are good will go to heaven. To
that extent, hell is real and I also believe that all sinners
will go to hell thereafter. Good people have no business going
to hell.
Accountability
I have tried my best and if I were to meet God today, I will
tell Him that I have tried to be good but if there is anything
short of that, it is the numerous forces that are against
me which I can’t manage.
Though, it is difficult to say that I have done well, I am
trying to do my best. For instance, I used to displease myself
to please others until recently that I decided to stop because
many people don’t appreciate what one has done, except
to try to pull one down.
Born again
What is being born again? Is it the way Nigerians take it,
by saying except you are born again or what? The Bible is
the most misquoted book. As it takes your fancy you quote
it to support your claim.
Born again, to me, means that you have to live a good life
by obeying the Bible and the commandments. And then it is
not attending a pentecostal church that makes one born again.
Besides, some of these things are too personal to people.
Serving God is a personal thing, you don’t go about
carrying a huge cross just like fasting, which is suppose
to be secret.
The Bible preaches humanity and every one will have his reward
here on earth. Had it been that one of the armed robbers who
were crucified with Jesus didn’t condemn Him, it may
have cited in the Nigerian context. Many get born again because
of what they want to get.
People establish churches because the economy is bad. In 1980
when I came to Lagos, everywhere was bubbling in various business
activities. There were few churches, but when the economy
became bad churches took over everywhere.
Once there is nothing to do, they start establishing churches
and asking people to come and become born again. The whole
story is that people are looking for money. In today’s
church, the pastor is the president, his wife is the treasurer,
his children are the directors. Churches are supposed to be
universal and not one-man thing. I want to die as a Catholic,
that is my way of getting closer to God.
Military personnel
Yes, of course, military and customs officers will get to
heaven because they are doing the jobs that they are supposed
to do. Even if it is dirty, somebody must do the job, some
other people will do it when they don’t do it.
Those soldiers that beat Jesus did not commit any offence
because authorities must be obeyed. If they didn’t flog
Jesus, they would have disobeyed the authorities and the Bible
even supports obeying those in government.
Temptation
It come from the mind. If someone is busy, you will not be
tempted. It is only when one is idle, that is when the devil
comes in, but if you are not tempted, you are not human. Dead
people can not be tempted, it is only those of us that are
alive that can be tempted.
Wealth acquisition
Wealth acquisition is not a sin but a means of doing God’s
work, while womanizing is a vice because if a man doesn’t
have money to spend, he won’t womanise.
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