Boko Haram: Sign Of End Time?

The continuous bombing of lifes and properties in many parts of the country, particularly the Northern region, has brought to the fore the security concerns that can no longer be ignored. Many people have opined that the spate of insecurity must be addressed urgently if the nation will remain one entity.

There had been series of suggestions by concerned Nigerians on how to tackle the security threats. While some suggested that the members of an Islamic Sec, Boko Haram, which had claimed responsibility for most of the bombings and their financiers be fished out and brought to book, others advised that effort should be made to get to the remote cause of the Islamic insurgence so as to arrive at a lasting solution to the challenge.

Many on the other hand have suggested that a national conference be conveyed for people from different parts of Nigeria to come together to discuss and agree on how to restructure the country. Others especially christians want an end to unprovoked, senseless, wasting of innocent lies and properties.

The leader of Faith Crusade Ministries, Rukpokwu Port Harcourt Evangelist Patrick Ajie Bigman made contributions on how Nigerians, particularly Christians, should react to the security challenges facing them and the nation.

Pastor Bigman told The Tide in an interview that the emergence of Boko Haram and its attendent destructive activities are signs of end time. “I’m not surprise about what is happening. The Bible tells us that when the end time is approaching there will be a lot of sings. For me this Boko Haram thing is alarming Christians to be alert because anything can happen.

“The bible predicted such crisis when it stated, that nations shall rise against nations, children against parents, and vice versa”.

He advised Christians to buckle up and draw closer to God, as God alone has an answer to the problem.

He said, “what is happening is quite challenging to Christendom but I will advise everybody to draw closer to God. Christians should be prepared and be praying that God should do something”.

He enjoined Nigerians to always pray for President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the country, that God should give them the wisdom to know how to handle Boko Haram and other challenges facing the country.

Going by the number of Churches in Nigeria and the number of Pastors that are supposedly praying for the country, one would have thought that the dastardly attack of Boko Haram on Christians especially in the Churches would be unheard of. What actually is the problem? Is it that Christians are not praying enough or that God has deserted his people as some persons alleged?

The man of God had this to say, “The people are praying but sometimes it is like we are still sleeping. Sometimes people also don’t understand time. We pray but what is going on is a kind of opposition to the Church. These are the works of the enemy, opposing the Church. But one thing I know is that even though you hurt a true child of God, God will give him double of what he lost. I believe that if any Christians is serious with his faith, he will not be afraid of death”.

The man of God who is also a gospel artist observed that the root of most societal ills in the country is lack of proper upbringing and parental care. He enjoined parents to pay more attention to their Children and instill in them the fear of God, proper morals and ethical values.

“Our children now see corruption and evil as ways of life. That has to change if we want our nation to move forward,” he emphasized.

On the recent contradictory rating of Nigeria as one of the most religious country and also one of the most corrupt countries in the world by International Organisation which had made many to question the positive effects of the religiosity on the citizens, Pastor Bigman said, “Pastors know what they are preaching, but I will encourage them to emphasis more on holiness and tell the people the danger of risking one’s life to sin”.

“One problem we have is that some of the Church leaders who come in contact with those in authority paint the gospel. They preach the way it will suit the leaders instead of preaching to them about their sins and soul”, he continued.

He believes that if religious leaders should preach the undiluted gospel not minding who is aggrieved, they will make a great difference in the lifes of the people, adding that Pastors should de-emphasis prosperity preaching and talk more on holiness and righteousness.

“Prosperity is good, I’m not aginst it, but the Bible says, seek first the kingdom of God and every other thing should be added unto you. How can a pastor tell me you can attract a member to the church y telling him he will prosper. How can somebody prosper when there is no life.”

Sometimes, some Pastors have been criticized of living worldly, flamboyant life style, even when many members of their churches through whose sweat and labour they flourish live in penury.

He man of God had this explanation to give, “it is not wrong for a Pastor to leave a good life. But any Pastor that is spiritually inclined, whose relationship with God is intact, who studies his Bible, will know the level to go. If a Pastor is driving seven cars, living in affluence while his members are suffering, such Pastor should re-examine his relationship with God.

He appealed to pastors to live exemplary life worthy of emulation and not allow what they do become sin to others.

He futher admonished “Your relationship God is what maters most. If a Pastor is living a flamboyant life and his followers are suffering then he is not a good father. All men of God shoud try and see that whatever they do will not be a sin to others”.

On the issue of conveyance of a sovereign national conference being canvassed by some people. Pastor Ajre coutioned Nigerias not to be hasty in taking such impontent decision. He maintained that what Nigeria needs is prayers. “Nigerias should pay for President Goodluck for he is facing a lot of oppositions. We should pray that God should use him to accomplish His purpose for the country. God loves this country so much, but the enemy and his agents are trying to do all they can to destroy the country. We should not allow it happen”

He commended members of the National Assembly for passing a bill against same sex marriage, contending that the foreign countries and individuals supporting gay marriage are agents of the devil which must be resisted by all.

Calista Ezeaku