3rd June, 2022.

BEFORE YOU EAT THAT FOOD

2 Timothy 2:15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. NLT

While on campus, sometimes in my 100 level, I had a pot of vegetable stew in my cupboard. One night, after returning from a fellowship meeting, there was no light I rushed to the cupboard to eat my vegetable stew. Everywhere was dark but I knew my way around. Also, I didn't bother checking the pot because I kept it in the cupboard. As I took some vegetable stew and landed it in my mouth, I felt something meaty in my mouth. I didn't swallow immediately because I remembered there was no fish, meat or crayfish in the vegetable. I paused the chewing and vomitted what was in my mouth quickly. I knew something was wrong so I reached for a light source. I was curious to know how "meat" got into my pot and the kind of "meat" it was. Alas! I found cockroaches. It was disheartening to know I ate cockroach. My mistake was that I assumed my food was in the condition I left it, I didn't bother to check.

The word of God taught or preached can be likened to food. The house of God is the spiritual "eatery" where spiritual meals are served. The preacher or teacher serves the food. Today, there are other sources or outlets where spiritual food is served. Alot of messages are there on social media for our viewing and listening. People eat from various sources these days and these calls for caution. Before you accept a teaching as true and edifying, please check it well to avoid eating "cockroaches". The "cockroach" of heresy is very much around us in subtle manner. When these heresies are being served, it comes with high sounding words and human philosophy with the people shouting "Rhema" or "Ride on preacher". The unfortunate thing about some preachers and teachers of these errors is that they skillfully mix truth with lies. They start most of their messages on a note of truth, even fundamental bible truths. The moment they get people's attention, they infuse their heretical teachings in the middle and end it on a note of truth. So what we have is lies sandwiched between truths. Very dangerous.

Can you be like the Berean Christians for once? The man who taught them was the most revered apostle. A man with depth of revelation whose teachings formed the core of most New testament doctrine. A bible scholar per excellence, very versed in bible languages ( Greek&Hebrew). He was no pushover among the apostles. He wrote almost half of the new testament. His CV is very intimidating. Till date, I don't know anyone born of a woman who has broken his record and may ever break it yet the Bereans didn't look at his CV to take his teachings hook line and sinker. They searched scriptures to confirm if what this bible scholar taught were true: "And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth"(Acts 17:11 NLT). Today, we're experiencing a reverse. Some believers now believe and take whatever their "Papa" say more than the words of God. As long as it is spoken by their "G.O." or "Bishop", it is the truth. They quickly forget that they're humans susceptible to error. Years down the line, if these preachers discover their errors and recant, their followers who once defended them may be neck-deep in it such that coming out may be a challenge. A popular American preacher renounced the "Prosperity Gospel" he once preached and even asked for forgiveness. Surprisingly, some are still towing that dangerous path. The "Papa", "G.O." or "Bishop" you're defending today may find the truth tomorrow and repent. Please, don't follow men to hell even if they're popular preachers. DON'T BE LOYAL TO ERROR IN THE NAME OF HONOUR. The Christian walk is not built on what a preacher say but on what God said in His word. Beware cult-like following. It is dangerous to be under a man who force his ideas down the throat of people without giving room for questioning. Some churches&preachers are like that. That's a cult Don't eat "cockroach", check before eating.