ABUSE OF OFFICE OF THE BISHOP (Part Three)

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

ABUSE OF OFFICE OF THE BISHOP (Part Three)

PROBLEM OF BISHOP’S WIFE

                                “There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do

                                Evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel, his

                                Wife”, (1Kings 21:25)

INTRODUCTION:

The aphorism, “beside a successful man is a woman” is only tenable when a woman of noble character is in focus,(Proverbs 12:4). This implies that when a woman with the spirit of Jezebel is in charge, evil reigns, even if it is in the church. The Lord always frowns at the leadership of the church whenever the spirit of Jezebel, in whatever guise, is allowed to take control of the fellowship, and this he shows in His rebuke to the church in Thyatira, (Revelation 2:20). No doubt, woman have their roles in the body of Christ, but they should do so within the confines of the scripture, as anything short of this gives the devil the advantage of polluting the ecclesiastical set –up. This makes imperative to always adhere to the biblical principles that generally govern the duties of woman in the church, especially when it pertains to the Episcopal authority, where the bishop’s wife feels she is a stakeholder. In this connection, therefore, the writer affirms that:

OFFICE OF BISHOP DOES NOT REQUIRE INTERFERENCE FROM THE BISHOP’S WIFE

                One interferes in /with a situation or process when one becomes involved in it, although it does not concern one, and this usually brings a damaging effect on a thing or system. The Office of Bishop carries biblical rules and regulations that make for the smooth administration of the Episcopal government of any church. In line with the order, no Christian denomination, in past and recent history consecrates a husband and wife as twin bishops to manage the affairs of the church as parallel leaders, who exercise ecclesiastical authority as equals. What is popular is the consecration of the man and not the woman, and so, the man is the person delegated to do the work and not the woman. However, interference plays –up when the woman erroneously feels she has the same level of authority and function as the husband by mere chance of marriage, and goes ahead to mindlessly stir the husband into believing the message of the spirit of Jezebel. The result is that most policies and decisions of the church nowadays are taken in the bedroom and not at the church council. Experience also shows that in some cases decisions taken at church council meetings are thrown off as a result of the opposition mounted by the bishop’s wife at home, who by her relentless pressure succeeds in making her husband a puppet bishop in a diocese where she subtly reigns as Jezebel, (Revelation 2:20). It is sad to note that most decisions of transfer, promotion, demotion, budget, welfare to mention but a few point to the bishop’s wife and not the bishop.

                But, this is not the plan of God, as the bishop’s wife by divine arrangement is the bishop’s minister, whereas, the bishop is the minister of God. Put differently, the bishop’s wife is his closest special assistant in conjugal maters and devotion. As one who understands the weaknesses and strengths of the husband, she shoulders the responsibility to passionately and ceaselessly pray for the grace he needs to function well in office. In discharging her conjugal duties, she becomes an epitome of love and humility which would affect the lives of the members of their congregation and society positively as a mother, and not the mother of the church, as most bishops’ wives are wrongly addressed. The bishop’s wife is his helper and not his rival, she is his domestic minister and not a co-bishop, she is a mother in the church and not the mother of the church, her office is informed and not formal, through she can as well function in certain official capacity in church work,  but not as a twin bishop,. This, notwithstanding, most bishops’ wives have by their personal volition put aside these basic principles, as they now lift up themselves above the authority of the Holy Spirit in the church, and hitherto have attracted the wrath of God to themselves and the ministries of their husbands, and this has resulted in the deaths of most of them and their accomplices.

OFFICE OF BISHOP HAS NO PLACE FOR FIRST LADY SPIRIT

                The concept of first lady is a political arrangement of the secular world and not that of the church. The adoption of such an idea by some Christian denominations shows the extent the devil has succeeded in pushing them out of the contentment of what God has put in place for the church. To such individuals and groups, it is a status-symbols to be addressed as first lady, instead of being called a sister. They delight in the big-mummy title, instead of being clothed with the humanity and simplicity of Christ. Yet, this crop of persons with clear manifestations of the nature of sin claim they are flag-bearers of the Christian faith. Nevertheless, the ascertain above does not suggest that all who take the appellation of first lady are children of the devil drafted to hell, but just a way of citing the source of the problem.

                The first lady spirit is in place in an Episcopal government where the bishop’s wife is idolized as the links person to the bishop. In view of this, no member of the congregation gets the bless of the bishop unless through her. The bishop’s wife, therefore becomes the brain behind what goes or stops in the church. In other words, she becomes what Jezebel was to Ahab, that is, the stirring force responsible for every decision of the bishop, all in the name of mother of the church. Her display of nudity and exhibitionism becomes a point for new doctrine, just to accommodate her wayward lifestyle, and so, the spirit of God leaves for the empty glory of bishop- mrs. It is obvious that apart from the catholic church which suffers from a more serious problem of clerical celibacy, the Anglican, the Methodist, the Pentecostal and other Christian groups are guilty of the aforementioned. Thus, the need to call most modern bishops’ wives to order, as they have turned the church into the temple of idols for what gratify them.

OFFICE OF BISHOP REQUIRES THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

                The Holy Spirit is the Chief Executive of the church. He is in charge of divine appointments and operations of the church, a position that God never compromises or cedes to anybody. The implication is that whenever human beings usurp the position and functions of the Holy Spirit in the church, unpleasant situations set in, though at the interim things may seem to be working out well, but later would translate into noticeable decay. Suffice to say here that because church operatives do not allow the Holy Spirit to take His proper place in the ecclesiastical vineyard, the work of God continues to suffer undesirable set backs.

                But, if the Holy Spirit is said to be the Chief Executive of the church, and in charge of divine appointments, why then do Christian groups consecrate bishops whose calling are doubtful, as well as allow their wives take upper hand in the administration of the church? Why are such bishops’ wives not called to question when it becomes clear that they are on the wrong path? Why do certain bishops pay lip service to the unbiblical life style of their wives? And why do people still identify with such denominations that have changed the glory and Lordship of God to that of man and idols? These are painful questions that demand the verdict of God’s Word. On this note, the writer remarks that office of Bishop is the office of the Holy Spirit, as well as posits that the bishop is a servant of the Lord drafted to work under the directives and supervision of the Holy Spirit, and that interference(s) from the bishop’s wife is highly prohibited.

                In conclusion, be aware that the series on “Abuse of office of Bishop” had been the writer’s effort in highlighting the biblical principles that go with the Episcopal office, as well as a means of discouraging those despicable practices which charlatans and impostors bring to it. In the series, the part one gives a general spotlight on the subject –matter, whereas, the part two harps on the importance of God’s calling and good education for the prospective bishop. The part three in the line –up which is now before the reader takes care of the conscious or unconscious interference that often come from the bishop’s wife which in turn brings a damaging effect on the system, and also suggests a way out of the problem. By this, therefore, the writer hands –out a piece of advice, urging to reader to assist in the noble task of restoring the lost glory of the Episcopal Institution. DELAY IS DANGEROUS.