Thread by @iAmJeshurun

1. Hello, and welcome to Episode 50 of #AskPastorYinka, a series of exegetical discourses through which we aim to provide biblical answers to some of life's vexing questions. THANK YOU for joining us again today!
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2. A very big THANK YOU to everyone who has been a part of the #AskPastorYinka series for the last 49 episodes. It's been awesome coming with you on this journey of discovery and changing lives one tweet at a time.
Let's do more!
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3. Our conversation last week on #AskPastorYinka was on if God truly gives His children "miracle money".
We were able to establish that while miracles are indeed real, God does not give people money - what He gives is the power to get wealth!

https://twitter.com/iAmJeshurun/status/1433500030552481797?s=20

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4. In short, while miracles are very real, miracle money is NOT real!
You can read up the entire discourse here:

https://twitter.com/iAmJeshurun/status/1433493079756099587?s=20

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5. Psa 119:130 (MSG) Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.
May the Lord break open His Word unto us as we study together today, and may He make the light of His wisdom shine out upon our hearts, in the name of Jesus!
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6. Here's our first question today: IS IT A SIN TO WATCH BBNAIJA?
I do recollect that we have treated a question like this previously, but for the sake of emphasis and as a reminder, I will share what I believe is the biblical stand on it again today.
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7. As I have often said, the will of God concerning any matter can be easily deduced from the Holy Scriptures, as long as you are truly searching for the truth and not looking for a way to justify what you already decided to do.
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8. Obviously, there was no Big Brother Naija in Bible times, so it is not "written" whether it is sinful to watch it or not.
However, any true seeker of the will of God will find God's stand on this (and other such things) emblazoned on the pages of the Bible.
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9. Let me caveat this answer by saying that I AM SPEAKING ONLY TO BELIEVERS who accept the Bible as the final authority over their lives. Okay?
So, let no "free-thinker" take unnecessary umbrage over a message directed by a Christian to fellow Christians!
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10. You couldn't have been in Nigeria over the last few weeks without having something or other about BBNaija thrust into your space or consciousness. It tops Twitter trends every day. All of social media is awash with it. So, what's it all about?
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11. BBNaija is a programme designed to "entertain" its audience through vicarious sexual thrills and satisfying their voyeuristic tendencies with a casual approach to nudity, tawdry displays of sensuality, and meaningless sexual encounters.
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12. The show sensationalizes immorality and validates depravity. It normalizes appalling levels of debauchery, lewdness and lasciviousness by encouraging the participants to "create content" through the most sordid displays of lechery they can come up with.
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13. Not only is it morally offensive, it creates NO VALUE whatsoever to society. Instead, by turning some of the most morally bankrupt members of society into overnight "celebrities", it "proves" the lie that you can "blow" without adding value to humanity.
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14. The show simply has no single redeeming feature!
It neither elevates the MIND nor strengthens the SPIRIT, but rather erodes good spiritual and moral sense while further debasing the soul!
Now, the Bible has something to say about that...
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15. Gal 6:8 (AMP) For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
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16. Do not forget that what you allow through the gateways of your mind (your ears and eyes) is what will end up ruling your life!
How can you then consume a steady diet of moral depravity on your screen and expect to live a clean and productive life?
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17. That's why the Bible gave us this TV Guide:
Php 4:8 (MSG) ...you'll do best by filling your minds...on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
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18. Does BBNaija meet the criteria above?
Please!
God's standard on such forms of "entertainment" is clear then - a Christian should NOT watch such, neither should we participate in such nonsensical celebrations of degeneracy!
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19. The Word of God is always our surest guide in life.
Albeit, I have found the following words penned centuries ago by Susanna Wesley (mother of John and Charles Wesley) useful as a simple, yet profound rule of thumb in judging such matters...
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20. "Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things...
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21. ...in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."
I think this makes it very clear.
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22. But to take it a step further, instead of asking if it is a sin or not, why not focus on what kind of fruit it will produce in your life and whether ingesting such content will help you to know God better and become a better Christian and human being?
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23. In the walk of faith, babes in Christ (the immature) are the ones who focus so much on sin (1Jn 2:12); and as long as something is not "written" as a sin, they feel they can do it and get away with it.
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24. But the mature (those growing in the knowledge of Christ) focus on "knowing Him who is from the beginning" (1Jn 2:14). Their aim is "to know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Php 3:10)
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25. And irrespective of our present state in the walk of faith, God's expectation is that we aspire to this level of maturity!
We are not of this world, and we should not conform to this world, its culture and its practices!
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26. Rom 13:13-14 (TPT) We must live honorably, surrounded by the light of this new day, not in the darkness of drunkenness and debauchery, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not being argumentative or jealous of others...
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27. ...Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires.
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28. Rom 12:2 (MSG) Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out...
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29. ...Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
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30. Here's our next question: I LOVE MY CHURCH, BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THEIR DOCTRINAL STANCES ON SOME ISSUES. CAN I SPEARHEAD A MOVE TO CHALLENGE AND CORRECT THE LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES?
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31. To be sure we're on the same page, I'm going to answer this question under the assumption that these doctrinal issues you mentioned are more stylistic (wearing jewellery, head covering, etc.) than fundamental (redemption, the deity of Christ, etc.)
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32. Hebrews 6:1-2 gives us a list of fundamental doctrinal issues that form the backbone of Christianity:
- repentance from dead works
- faith toward God
- the doctrine of baptisms
- laying on of hands
- resurrection of the dead
- eternal judgment.
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33. These (Heb 6:1-2) are the basic building blocks of Christianity - that is "the doctrine of Christ", and any true CHURCH of the Living God must believe in these things, adhere to them faithfully and preach them. There can be no compromising these fundamentals.
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34. But, if what we are looking at here are more of stylistic differences, matters of individual preferences or personal interpretations of some parts of the Bible, then let's talk about those.
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35. The first thing you need to understand here is that, in all reality, it is highly unlikely that you will ever agree with everything your pastor says or that your church commands, and that’s very okay.
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36. So, what should you do about the parts that you don't agree with?
As long as that is the body of Believers where you are planted by God, He expects you to align with those other things AS LONG AS THEY ARE BIBLICAL - that is maturity!
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37. Married people who are sincere will tell you that they don't always agree with their spouse on everything, but they learn to stand their ground over the major things (values) and to let the small things slide (e.g. where to press the toothpaste).
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38. In your local assembly, it is not your job to judge or criticize a particular doctrine that you don’t agree with! Neither is it within the ambit of your position as a Believer to lead a revolt of like-minded members - that is REBELLION!
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39. 1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.
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40. This will not sound "woke", but challenging your spiritual leadership over doctrines and practices in the church is not biblical - that is God's responsibility!
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41. Heb 13:17 (NLT) Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
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42. So, if you are in a church and you find that you do not agree with some of its doctrines, instead of causing division in the body, respectfully seek an audience with the leadership of the church to be properly educated on the WHAT and the WHY.
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43. After this, if you are still not convinced, and you cannot align with the position and opinion of the leader(s), please leave!
Don’t speak against the church!
Don’t form little caucuses to gossip about your leader(s).
Don’t become a referee in the church!
Go!
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44. Go and find a church whose doctrinal stance suits you 100%.
And if you cannot find one, then go and found (establish) one!
It is not given to you, sir, to be an adjudicator or arbiter of doctrines in the Body of Christ!
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45. Pro 6:16 There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.
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46. Don't allow your desire for adherence to a pet doctrinal stand to put you in God's crosshairs.
The Church is NOT a democracy, where everyone has a voice and every vote counts - it is a theocracy!
Let's be guided, please!
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47. And this is where we will wrap up today's episode of #AskPastorYinka. I hope it has been good value for your time, and that you have learnt something that will make your life and your Christian walk better!
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48. If there's anything said here that you don't quite agree with or would like more light on, just reply to the relevant tweet or send me a DM @iAmJeshurun, and I will be glad to oblige you.
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49. Do you have a question on any subject to which you would like to get a rigorously researched, exegetically sound, and doctrinally balanced biblical answer? Simply send a DM to @iamjeshurun or post it anonymously through the top link at linktr.ee/adeyinkaadeleke.
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50. Until I come your way on another episode of #AskPastorYinka, keep growing in GRACE and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Shalom!
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