QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
God's Kingdom Society
QUESTIONS: Are Elijah and Enoch in heaven?
Answer: No. See Genesis 5:22,24; 2 Kings 2:9-11 ; 2 Corinthians 12:1-3 John 3:13, Hebrews 11:5; Deuteronomy 34:4,5
Question: Why does the GKS forbid their sisters from entering the altar?
Answer: Only men are chosen by God to do His work and so can sit on the altar. Exodus 28:1-3; Numbers 18:20-22; alachi 2:5-7
Question. Why do GKS sisters cover their hair during service?
Answer: It is the law of God. Men who wear caps during worship are violating the law. 1 Corinthians 11:4-7
Question.: Does salvation belong to men and women?
Answer: Yes. Galatians 3:26-28; 1 Peter 3:6-7
Question: Those faithful and righteous women where will they go because the second preacher said women will not go to heaven.
Answer: Women are not going to heaven. Even in the GKS only the founding instrument, St. Urhobo is of the heavenly class. The rest of the ministers are of the earthly class. Women who will be saved will be in God’s Kingdom here on earth, not in heaven. – John 5:28,29; Hebrews 11:35; Isaiah 65:23; Matthew 5:5; Luke 12:32; John 10:15; 1 John 3:2
- Question: What are the peculiarities of the GKS as a Christian organisation?
Answer: The GKS has several peculiarities that set her apart from other Churches by the grace of God.
- She preaches faithfully and unadulteratedly the truth of God’s word that will save the people. (Jeremiah 23:28; John 8:32; 1 Timothy 2:3,4; 1 John 2:21; Matthew 24:36,etc). Christians are warned in the Bible against believing in false or corrupt doctrines. (Ephesians 4:14) It is not true that there are three persons in one God. The truth is that God Almighty created Jesus Christ who identified himself “as the beginning of the creation of God.” (Revelation 3:14; John 5:26; 14:28) The Holy Spirit is not a person but the invisible force of God. – -Matthew 3:13-17; 2 Samuel 23:3; Acts 2:1-12.
- The GKS believes that miracles come from God, but does not believe in heart-stealing devices in getting converts such as false promises of miracles, visions, prosperity, etc. – Romans 16:17,18; Psalm 50:20-23; Matthew 24:11-24; Matthew 6:5-8.
- Women are not ordained by God to preach the gospel or to lead men. (Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 6: 12,13; Matthew 10: 1; 1 Corinthians 14: 34,35, 37; 1 Timothy 2: 11-15) When the people of Israel deviated from true worship and allowed women to lead them God Almighty expressed displeasure over their conduct in these words: “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” -Isaiah 3:12
- Rapture is not a doctrine of the Scriptures. Rather heaven is the place of final reward for a select few numbering 144,000, known as apostles, (Revelation 14:1-4; Hebrews 5:4; Luke 12:32) The rest of mankind privileged to enter into life will live in the earth made paradise and will live therein for ever. -Matthew 5:5; 6:9,10; Psalm 37L:9,11,29.
- The GKS commemorates the birth of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the month of October every year. This celebration which she designates as FREEDOM DAY, apart from doing honour to the Son of God, affords us the opportunity to draw the peoples’ attention to the fact that Christ was born in October and not in December. – John 5:23; John 8:31,32.
- The GKS celebrates the Christian Feast of Tabernacles annually in keeping with Biblical injunctions. (Zechariah 14:16-19; John 7:1-4,37-39) The one of last year was held from Sunday December 11 – Sunday December 18, 2005 at Salem City, Warri.
- QUESTION: There is the impression that the GKS thrives in controversy. Is this correct?
ANSWER No. The GKS does not engage in arguments for the fun of it or to attract attention as some say. But we shall be failing in our duty and would in fact be punished by God if we fail to point out erroneous teachings, many of which are regarded as gospel by many people today. Truth must of necessity come into conflict with the works of error. God says: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” – (Isaiah 58:1) Jesus Christ criticised wrong doctrines and was hated and even killed for it. This was also the case with the apostles and prophets before them. – Matthew 15:7-14; 23:13-23; John 18:36-38; Acts 4: 5:28-31
- QUESTION It has been said that only few lawyers will get to heaven but yet a number of lawyers are serving as leaders of Churches. What is your take on this development?
ANSWER: In the first place, no one is going to heaven, except the 144,000 chosen and anointed Christians, a few of whom will be chosen in this age. These are known as the remnant. It was to the apostles Jesus Christ made the promise that he is going to prepare a place for them so that where is there they will be also. The rest of mankind from Abel to this age who will be saved will dwell in the earth made paradise. Hence Jesus Christ said “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
The impression that lawyers are dubious people is not correct. Every profession has its bad eggs. Lawyers are officers in the temple of Justice and so a good lawyer will advice his client appropriately if the case is bad but will not for the sake of money continue to pursue a matter he knows lacks merit. It is the bad eggs within the profession who give it a bad name. But this should not be generalized.
It is by the fear of God men depart from evil. Lawyers serving in whatever capacity play crucial roles in ensuring social justice, peace and harmony. They ensure that the strong do not deprive the weak of their rights. Jesus Christ rebuked some lawyers in his days for not teaching the people to follow the law of God correctly. – Luke 11:46,52
Judges should be God-fearing, courageous and upright, and well grounded in the law and do their duties without respect of persons by the grace of God. There will relative peace and order in the society besides abundant blessings from God. But if the contrary is the case, then confusion, anarchy and jungle justice will result as people take the laws into their own hands. While it cannot be denied that a good number of our law officers are dedicated to the cause of justice, recent developments in the judiciary have given many in Nigeria cause for apprehension. Officers of the law should be conscientious in the discharge of their duties and let probity be their watchword. The reward from God and the good name they will get for so doing are far greater that whatever inducements that may come their way. They should remember that will give account to the Great Judge of all the earth from Whom nothing is hidden. – Exodus 18:20-21; 2 Chronicles 19:6-7; Lev 19:15
- QUESTION: What are “acts of God”?
ANSWER: Most of the calamities that afflict the world today are at the instance of Satan the devil. The term “Acts of God “ as used in law is therefore inconsistent with the Holy Bible. People defame God by believing and teaching that the sufferings, poverty and misfortunes that plague the world, including that caused by the Tsunami, were the handiwork of God Almighty. The Almighty God is not the cause of these calamities only that He allowed them to happen to make mankind to realize their insufficiency and that without Him they are nothing.” God gives sufficient warning before acting and He does not punish indiscriminately by getting the just and innocent ones involved. However God will soon carry out what the Bible calls His strange Act, the destruction of the wicked. It is only those who serve God faithfully and in truth that will be fully protected and delivered at that time by His grace and power. – Genesis 18:23-28; Isaiah 28:20,21; Isaiah 26:20,21; Malachi 3:13-18
- QUESTION : Many of the youths today are angry and they are expressing this anger in various (mostly negative) ways because they feel the economic indices are stacked against them. What is the advice to the youths?
ANSWER: Youths must realise that difficulties abound in the world because of the sin of man but they shall be helped by God to be responsible citizens when they are honest and diligent in their endeavours. “Those who base their hopes on short cuts and lying means will soon find out that they have built their houses on sinking sand which will collapse sooner or later. The Bible says: “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong …” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Youths should not cheat in any shape or form but work hard. St. Paul exhorted: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12.
Those who are aggrieved should respect the rule of law. They should continue to use constitutional means and dialogue to seek redress with implicit faith in God Almighty with Whom nothing is impossible. It is not by resorting to violence, killings and other unlawful acts that they can achieve peace and prosperity for their communities. Scripture enjoins: ‘Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ – Romans 12:17-21. See also Hebrews 12:14.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON POLYGAMY
- Question: It is generally believed, as taught by orthodox Churches that monogamy, is the original law of marriage. But GKS has come out strongly in support of polygamy. What Biblical grounds do you have for this position?
Answer: Polygamy is the practice of marrying more than one wife at a time. The publication you referred to were informed by the arrest by the authorities in Texas, the United States of America of 416 children, on the grounds that they were being subjected to abuses by their polygamous parents. I called for the release of the children since there were no tangible evidence to support the allegation. The authorities were just biased against polygamy because of the general belief that it was an unchristian practice. And I was vindicated when the court ordered their release.
There is no law in the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible that forbids polygamy. The fact that polygamy was practised by notable men in time of old and God Almighty blessed them. We have the examples of Abraham who is described in the Bible as “the Friend of God”, (James, 2: 23) who married Sarah and Hagar (Gen. 16: 3) Even when Hagar attempted to escape from Abraham’s house, God through His angel ordered her to return and submit to Sarah. He said to Hagar -Genesis 16: 5-12. Jacob who had twelve sons through whom the Jewish Nation emerged, married Leah and Rachel and later had their handmaids, Zilpah and Bilhah. (Gen. 29: 21-35; 30: 1-13; 35: 23-26) Gideon was the husband of many wives and he had 70 children. (Judges 8: 30) Elkanah. was .a polygamist, and it was one of his wives, Hannah, that was the mother of Samuel the famous prophet. (1 Samuel I: 1-3, 19.20)
David, “a man after God’s heart”? had many wives, and God was not displeased. (2 Samuel 3: 2-5) It was when he committed adultery with Uriah’s wife that God was angry with him.(2 Samuel 11: 1-12: 23) God told him through Nathan the prophet, “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master’s (Saul’s) house, and THY MASTER’S WIVES into thy bosom…and if that had been too little (not enough), I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things (including wives),”-2 Sam. 12: 7-12.
The point here is, if God did not approve of polygamy, why did He give David his “master’s wives” for inheritance? King Solomon who was a polygamist to the core. He was the husband of 700 wives and 300 concubines. But when, at his old age, he committed idolatry through the influence of some of his wives who were pagans that he incurred the anger of God.-l Kings 11: 1-10.
It would interest the public to know that God Almighty even made a law regulating polygamy as it is written: “If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. – Deuteronomy 21:15-17.
In the New Testament there is no law against polygamy. If there was, it would have been written down since it was the practice among a number of the Jews and gentile converts. Marriage is a matter of individual preference – some may be contented with one, others with more than one, and some may chose not to marry at all. (See Matthew 19:11,12)
- Question: But the Bible says every man should have his own wife and every woman her own husband.
Answer: That is 1 Corinthians 7:2. What St. Paul is saying is that marriage is necessary to avoid fornication. Every man, every woman should be married; he was not talking about the type of marriage. The Bible says, marriage is honorable in all. (Hebrews 13:4) One who bas a wife has the chance of avoiding fornication and the man who has two wives has a double chance of living up to the advice It should also be noted that polygamy is in fact multiple monogamy. It is a repetition of marriage contract, entered individually with each wife, establishing an individual relationship between the man and each of his wives.
A man of St. Paul’s spiritual intelligence could never say “let every man have his own wives” since it was not a rule, and could not be possible that every man could afford to marry more than one wife. The way the apostle put it is the reasonable way to give the advice so as to apply both to monogamists and polygamists alike. Moreover, St. Paul stated categorically that he was not enforcing a law by his statement. He said: “But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment,” (verse 6)
- Question: But God created only one wife for Adam, does that not show that monogamy is the ideal situation?
Answer: No. God created one woman for Adam because He wanted the entire human race to descend from one stock. That was why when Adam sinned, it affected all mankind. – Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12,18
- Question: But Jesus Christ said the twain shall be one flesh.
Answer: The point of the “twain” becoming “one flesh” is not literal but spiritual. It means oneness in purpose or unity. And so, if one and one can be one, there is no reason why one and one and one cannot be one!
- Question: But in the current economic, social setting we live in is polygamy practicable?
Answer: It is practicable for those who have the spiritual, mental, financial and physical ability which polygamy entails. If a man cannot control the wives or take good care of them, then he should not go for it because he will bring reproach to the work of God. That is why Jesus Christ said any form of marriage one chooses to go into, he should have the means to cope with. Considering the economic difficulties many people are going through today, only a few can afford to be polygamous. Those who cannot afford it should remain monogamous. But what we are saying is that no one should say it is a law from God. In the GKS, there are strict regulations in regard to processing of all marriages, including requests for polygamous unions. We must be satisfied that the man has the wherewithal to cope with the challenge. Thus there are only a few polygamists in the Church presently.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SPREAD OF CHURCHES, HELL FIRE, MIRACLES, ANCESTRAL CURSES, ACTS OF GOD, ETC
- Question: So many people are now expressing concern at the number of churches in every city and town in Nigeria, especially in the South. Yet we are not doing better in moral standards. What is happening?
Answer: For the fact that the rate of crime and evil generally has been on the rise inspite of the proliferation of Churches and the leap in the number of church-goers today show that the churches are not all set up to plant righteousness among the people. The churches are therrefore not all set up by God. Jesus Christ said many false prophets shall rise in this age and that they shall deceive many and that their stock in trade will be the doing of miracles. (Matthew 24:11,24) From what we all can see, many of the churches are merely business centres set up to make merchandise of the people under false pretences as stated by St. Peter in 2 Peter 2:1-4. See also Jeremiah 5:27-31. Those who are given to the truth and righteousness of God are very few indeed. It is only the truth that teaches people to do righteousness, and gives salvation and since the churches are not out for the truth, then evil will continue to thrive no matter the number of churches in the country and in the world. – John 8:31,32; 1 Timothy 2:3,4. Because God knows false churches will multiply in this age, that was why he used His servants to warn true worshippers to beware and to test such preachers whether they are truly of God. – Matthew 7:1,16,20-23; 1 John 4:1
- 2. Question: The GKS preaches that there is no fire in hell. But the Bible speaks of hell fire. How will God punish the wicked?
Answer: The word hell is derived from the Hebrew word sheol and the Greek word hades, and it means the grave, pit, tomb or the condition of the dead. Hell is the grave, pit or heart of the earth where every kind of character – good or bad- goes after death. It is not meant for the wicked alone. There is not a word in the account of the creation in Genesis chapter one to show that God prepared a place with fire for the eternal punishment of sinners. If there were such an important place of unquenchable fire where there are “millions and millions of tormented creatures”, as taught by certain churches, it would not have been omitted from the inspired account of the creation.
When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, He told him definitely that if he (Adam) ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, death would be the penalty. (Genesis 2: 16, 17) So when Adam disobeyed the divine commandment the sentence of death was passed on him, and God said: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust (NOT FIRE) shalt thou return.”-Genesis 3: 19.
If there were such a place of fire for the punishment of sinners, Adam through whose disobedience sin entered the world would have gone there. In fact, God would have given an indication to that effect at the time He pronounced His sentence on Adam. What He told Adam was that he (Adam) would die and return to the dust. And St. Paul stated: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. “-Romans 6: 23. Please see also Psalm 16:10; Amos 9:1-4; Jonah 2:1,2. Another Greek word also translated hell in the New Testament of the Bible is Gehenna. It is a word with a historical background used figuratively in the Greek Scriptures. Gehenna is compounded of two Hebrew words, Ge Hinnom-that is, “the valley of Hinnom” or “the valley of the son of Hinnom”. It was a place on the outskirts of Jerusalem in which children were cruelly sacrificed by fire to Molech, the idol of the Ammonites. (2 Kings 23: 10; 2 Chronicles 28: 1-3; 33: 1, 2, 6) The valley of Hinnom became a place for depositing refuse. All sorts of rubbish, dead animals and even corpses of criminals were dumped there. Worms were always around to consume the rotten things and there was fire underneath that kept burning, consuming the rubbish. This place was identified with the destruction of undesirables. It was against the background of this notion that Jesus in Mark 9: 43-48, used the word Gehenna translated hell or hell fire to symbolise the everlasting destruction of the wicked.
The fire therefore is not a literal object but a symbol of the suffering or severe pain-“weeping and gnashing of teeth”-which God would make the wicked taste while alive before they go to perpetual destruction which is also known as the “second death”-that is, the death in which there is no more favour or chance of resurrection. Everlasting destruction is the punishment of the wilfully wicked ones. One does not suffer pain any more once one is dead. – Isaiah. 66: I5, 16; Romans 2:5,6,8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 21: 8; 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9; Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10..
- 3. Question: You preach that miracles has ceased. Does it mean God no longer does miracles for His people in this age?
Answer: God, knowing that the devil mimics every aspect of His work, has made it clear in the scriptures that the test or proof of true discipleship in these last days will not be the performance of miracles but the ability to interpret the scriptures and dispense the truth which if people believe and practice, will lead them to salvation.- 1 John 2: 27; John 8: 31, 32; 1 Timothy 2: 3,4; etc
That was why Jesus Christ warned: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7: 21) He further stated: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7: 22, 23. See also Revelation 13: 11-14; 19: 20) It was for this reason Jesus Christ warned Christians to beware of false prophets who go about peddling or hawking miracles, which they stage-manage to decieve people. He declared: “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.’ – Matthew 24:11,24
St. Paul, knowing the tendency of the Devil and his agents to sail under false colours, claiming to belong to Christ, warned Christians against “false apostles, deceitful workers” who transform “themselves into the apostles of Christ.” He added: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” – 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15
It must be made clear that God, having enthroned His Son Jesus Christ in heaven at this end of the world, is healing His people Himself, in fulfilment of His promise and not through human agents any longer. This is manifest in the declaration through the prophet Malachi: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” (Malachi 4:2) God further promised that in this Kingdom age He will bring unto his people “health and cure” and reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.” (Jeremiah 33:6 See also Isaiah 35: 1-10) While the sick and afflicted in the Church can go to the elders of the true Church for prayers, which God will answer in His time. (James 5: 13-15) credit should not be given to any man as having any special power to heal or do miracles..
It must be emphasized that it is not every ailment among the people of God that will be cured now. That would only be in God’s kingdom. (Isaiah 33: 24) A ready instance is that of St. Paul who three times prayed God to heal him of his sickness but God told him: “My grace is sufficient for thee…”- 2 Corinthians 12: 9
- What of speakings in tongues? One of the Scriptures some religious groups cite as their authority for the teaching that God is still moving people to speak tongues in these last days is Mark 16:17,18. It says: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”
That only 12 men, the apostles, received the anointing spirit of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day is an indisputable fact. This is obvious from the statement: “And St. Peter standing up with the eleven…” (verse 14) It is also worthy to note that no female disciple spoke in tongues, as seen from what some of the eyewitnesses mockingly said of the Apostles “These men are full of new wine.” (Verse 13) It goes without saying that the prophecy of Joel the prophet fulfilled on the day of Pentecost on the apostles of Jesus Christ who were the foundation members of the Anointed Christians who constitute the body-members of Christ. They are called “Daughters of Zion” (Zechariah 9:9); Sons of God (1 John 3:2); Virgins (Revelation14:1-5)
However the gift of speaking in tongues, has ceased because it was not meant to last beyond the early stage of Christianity. It was useful during the establishment of the early Church. After a while it ceased. Said St. Paul: “Whether there be tongues they shall cease” – 1 Corinthians 13:8.
- 5. Question: What are acts of God?
Answer: Natural disarsters are not the acts of God but of satan the devil and the frequency of their occurrence is one of the signs that we are now at the end of the world. People defame God by believing and teaching that the sufferings, poverty and misfortunes that plague the world, including the Tsunami, earthquakes, plane crashes, are the handiwork of God Almighty. But this is not true as these are acts of Satan the devil. The devil makes people believe that God is the cause of their ills and thereby influences them to reproach their Maker. – 2 Corinthians 4:3,4; Ephesians 2:2; Job 1, 2; Job 42:12-17. See also James 5:10,11.
In the book of Matthew chapter 24 verses 3-8 the disciples of Christ asked him the signs of his coming and of the end of the world to which he gave them answers. The principal sign he gave them was that a time would come when “nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” This text fulfilled in World War 1 of 1914-1918 when for the first time the whole world was engulfed in war. From that time the world has been marching into harder and harder times hence Jesus Christ declared in verse 8 “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Also during his earthly ministry our Lord Jesus Christ spoke of these last days as a time of such great and overwhelming calamities that there would be deep anxiety among people at the impending evils. Many of the people would not know what to do to escape. Christ stated: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” – Luke 21: 25,26,28,34-36. St. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, described these last days as “perilous times” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) With these signs staring us in the face the people who want the salvation of God must brace up to identify the truth and practise the righteousness of God so that they may be saved as it is evident that when
God will take action to destroy the devil and all wickedness from the earth is now near. – Luke 21:28-31.
- 6. Question: The issue of ancestral curses – the teaching that problems people have today are due to the burdens they inherited from their forbears has become quite popular. Do you believe in it?
Answer: The doctrine of ancestral curses is a latter day invention by church leaders who want to fleece as much money from their adherents as possible. Instead of teaching people that the evils in the world are at the instance of the devil but that with faith in God, hardwork, good use of the opportunities for self-betterment or improvement God has provided in this age, things will be better by His grace, they are making people to believe the source of their troubles lie with so-called curses from their parents. (isaiah 45:22; 3:9,10) Sometimes people are also the cause of their own misfortune because of the wrong steps they have taken or because of their destruction ways of life. – Lamentations 3:39,40.
The Bible does not teach that the sins committed by one’s grand and great grand parents will be inherited by the children and that they will suffer for such sins. It is when the children continue in the wicked acts of their parents that they will be suffer punishment just as their parents will also suffer for their own sins, according to Exodus 20:5,6. In Ezekiel chapter 18 the Bible says pointedly that the children will not be punished for the sins of their parents, rather, it is the soul that sins that shall die. St. Paul says every man shall bear his own burden. (Galatians 6:4) In Ezekiel the Bible says: “The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” – Ezekiel 14:12-14.
- 7. Question: The GKS is seen as controversial as she insists on purity of doctrines rather than merely telling people to believe in Jesus Christ so as to be saved. Do you agree with this assessment?
Answer: The peculiarity of the GKS lies in the fact that, she is dedicated to the propagation and defence of the truth by the grace of God. This should not be construed to mean that the GKS loves controversy for the sake of it. Some people say we should just preach the gospel of salvation and love but they fail to realise that that the gospel itself must come into conflict with the works of error. The Bible says: “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:28) That was why Jesus Christ rebuked the religious leaders in his days for preaching false doctrines. And he said we should judge righteous judgment. (Matthew 5:1-14; 23:13-39; John 7:24) St. Paul said they preached the Bible with much contention, because of opposition from those who disagreed with the truth he was preaching. (1 Thessalonians 2:2) The Bible says God is nigh to those who serve Him in truth (Psalm 145:18) The truth must be made bare for the people of goodwill to find the right way so as to serve God acceptably and gain true freedom. The GKS, since her inception, has not ceased to declare the truth to mankind for the salvation of their souls. Our Lord Jesus Christ declared: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8: 31,32
- 8. Question: What is your advice on the way forward for the leadership in Nigeria?
Answer: Those in leadership positions should see themselves as having been given historic opportunities by God Almighty to enhance the living standards of the people – in this case Nigerians. God will bless them when they do so diligently and honestly. The Bible says: “…He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” (2 Samuel 23:2,3), “…for the throne is established by righteousness”. – Proverbs 16:12.
All those who consider the poor by putting in place far-reaching welfare programmes for the benefit of the people will be protected and established by Him by His grace. The Psalmist stated: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies…. – Psalm 41:1-3