Apparently making reference to the accumulation of wealth by the former president, Akinola who is ranked among the 100 most famous people in the world, also charged Obasanjo to dedicate the rest of his life to the service of God and his poor neighbours. He said: “This is not an option. You are used to giving orders to people. Now we give you order and decree from this pulpit, that you must dedicate the rest of your life to the service of God and in humble service of your poor neigh-bours. Two, you must seek reconciliation with people you deliberately or inadver-tently antagonised these many years. By the grace of God, you have everything in life.
“What is left for you is to be humble and to shed off everything of that excesses luggage that you have, all those side attractions. Every political expediency.
“All those military adven-turism, all those unholy financial pursuit must go. They must go!.
“You must seek reconci-liation with people you deliberately or inadvertently antagonised these many years. What is left for you is to be humble and to shed off everything of that excess luggage that you have and all those side attractions”.
Wow, that is some real “put up or shut up” language.
Extraordinary. It is a strange and powerful thing that is coming – out of Africa.
It is interesting that the “flavor” of Christianity in the Global South is much more prophetic – in the classical sense of the word. I can actually see +Akinola ranting about the “Fat Cows of Lagos.”
The job of the Prophet was not to tell the future. It was to call people back to their covenant with God. That doesn’t make me very comfortable because I live a rather comfortable life.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
Does anuone know if Obasanjo is an Anglican?
Great exhortation from +Akinola, and – as far as I am concerned* – a correct reading of the historical Jesus.
*See my book-chapter, ‘Cynic Influence on First-Century Judaism and Early Christianity?’.
Only problem: how many of us are going to follow suit?
This is indeed a prophetic utterance, and much welcomed when directed at a former leader of a nation burdened by corruption and enormous disparities of wealth–not unlike Judea and Galilee in Jesus’ day.
Or the U.S., Bob?
The Aidan Way, discipline #5:
5. Simplicity of Lifestyle
We wish to “live simply that others may simply live,” to avoid any sense of judging one another; and God will make different demands of each of us. Our common responsibility is to regularly hold before God (and as appropriate to share with our Soul Friend) our income, our savings, our possessions, conscious that we are stewards, not possessors of these things, and making them available to him as he requires. A simple lifestyle means setting everything in the simple beauty of creation. Our belongings, activities and relationships are ordered in a way that liberates the spirit; we cut out those things that overload or clutter the spirit. We are not seeking a life of denial, for we thoroughly rejoice in the good things God gives us. Our clothes and furniture should reflect God-given features of our personalities. There is a time to feast and celebrate as well as to fast. Our commitment is to openness. We stand against the influence of the god of mammon in our society by our lifestyle, by our hospitality, by our intercession, and by regular and generous giving.
Commentary here
sorry, that was from the community of Aidan and Hilda, U.S.A., also known as http://www.aidantrust.org
or rather I WOULD like it if I could do it right!!! 🙁
🙂
Sounds like truth to power isn’t as singularly conscious about only one subject as some like to presume!
My thoughts EXACTLY, dwstroudmd! 🙂