INTERVIEW: Today’s Church is compromised—Pastor Oladele

 

President, CAC Worldwide, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele

 

In this interview with the Director of Publicity of Christ Apostolic Church, Worldwide, Pastor Ade Alawode, the President of CAC Worldwide, Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele speaks on many interesting issues. EXCERPT !

 

We give God the glory that you presided over the Pastors' Conference this year as the President. Can you expatiate on the theme of this year's Conference?

The Church in the wilderness had a focus, the Ark of Covenant. You will agree with me that today ministry has become like a circus Ministers of God mostly presenting and perpetuating themselves rather than Christ as the owner and head of the Church.

Jesus said, "I will build MY CHURCH". The Church belongs to Him, not you or I. Hence, it is only when we lifted Him up that He will draw all men to myself".

Making Jesus Christ the focus and object of our worship is the only panacea to the charade which the contemporary Church has become.

Hence, it is our desire to explore, in this year's Pastors' conference, what makes a "Christ-centered Church". One where Jesus Christ is Lord. Christ Apostolic Church was founded on this foundation and we intend to go back there.

 

We treated "God in the administration of man" last year. This year it is The Christ Centred Church. What is the outcome expected from the themes we pick every year?

 

It is expected that right in this year's conference every pastor will step down from his self-made throne and bring Jesus Christ to take His rightful place as Lord (Owner) and Saviour of the Church. We are also to go back home and teach the laity this. When Jesus becomes Lord of the Church at Assembly, District, Zonal/DCC, Regional and Global levels, there will be less of self which breeds stress and strife. Then in all things Christ will be glorified.

 

If we read Mathew 24 from the first verse to the end, we see what Jesus Christ says would be signs of His Second coming. Many of these signs are being fulfilled with the events unfolding in our world. Just how close to the end of age are we?

 

No man can tell how close. However, our concern should not be "How close" but "How Prepared" we are. All the signs mentioned in Matthew 24 are already with us so what are we saying? The Bible said it shall be sudden, I believe it. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.  Let us forsake every appearance of sin and like the wise virgins, trim our lamps with oil in them and extra too.

 

In verse 9 of Matthew Chapter 24, we read "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted...and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake". The United Nations and many western nations have adopted rights of men to engage in homosexual relationships and women the right to practice lesbianism. We have read cases of Christian preachers who were charged for criminal offence of disturbing public peace for preaching against homosexuality and other sexual relationship not approved by the Bible. There was one extreme case of the Church of England that was forced to apologise for giving what was considered Biblical view of approved sexual relationships. With the foregoing, how long do you think the Church can hold on with the teachings of Christ on these issues?

 

One of the seven Churches mentioned in the book of Revelation was "The Compromising Church". Revelation 2:12-17

The Church of today has been heavily compromised, especially from the pulpit. There are supposed priests who have been alleged of perpetrating these sinful acts. Hence, they are unable to take a bold stand against sin, like our forebears did. Romans 1:20-32.

Truth is constant no matter how hard man tries to paint, twist or cover. Sin will remain sin till the world ends.

However, even at the face of death I for one will never compromise the truth. Homosexuality, Lesbianism, Same-sex relationships etc. are sinful acts just as lying, malice, adultery, fornication and all forms of godlessness. The Holy Bible tells us that those who practise such acts shall have their place in hell, unless they repent and forsake their evil ways. Galatians 5:19-22.

 

In the past, the scientific world had developed Artificial Intelligence through which they had automated some operations of some manufacturing companies using robots. But recently, they have stepped up their acts by developing social robots (like Sophia), which can interact and hold discussions intelligently with man nearly on any topic. Do you see this development as having any negative impacts on the existence of  man in  the nearest future?

Not at all. God is God, Man is man, while robots are robots. Robots can never take the place of man. Can creature take the place of his creator? If there is an "Artificial" intelligence then it means that there is "Natural" intelligence. In fact, there exists what is called "Supernatural" or Divine intelligence. James 1:5, 17, 3:17.The Holy Bible confirms that all that God did were good, and they remain good anyway. Genesis 1:31 - 2:1-2.

Furthermore, the fact that God rested after completing the work of creation means that God refrained from further creative work. That's a "Divine Full Stop". However, He gave man to be innovative that's why you see from crude oil man can bring refined petroleum and petrochemical products, from trees furniture items, from wool clothes, from rubber tree tyres, from cocoa chocolate. That's how far man can go. Man can claim to "clone" but he cannot "make" another original creature like God. Science is good because it is given by God. However, we must remember that what God does not "reveal", man cannot "discover".

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.Deuteronomy 29:29

 

With the changing scenes that we are witnessing today, many of which seem to be unanticipated by the Bible, how should Christians remain circumspect and steadfast for Christ?

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2