ABUSE OF OFFICE THE OF BISHOP (PART TWO)

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

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

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

                                          ABUSE OF OFFICE THE

                   OF BISHOP (PART TWO)

DIVINE APPOINTMENT AND TRAINING

- - - Every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men

in things pertaining to God - - - and no man takes this honour to

himself, but he who is called by God, as Aaron was - - - (And) study

 to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not

to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, (Heb. 5: 1-4; 2 Tim. 2:15).

INTRODUCTION:

The upsurge of impostors into the office of bishop, no doubt, is the background of the abuse of this hallowed office. Biblically speaking, it is the exclusive right of the Lord to choose who must occupy this lofty position of the Christian priesthood, (Hebrews 5:4). Also, God did not design the office for charlatans, but desires the intellectual and spiritual preparations of those divinely drafted into this Episcopal seat. People lack the grace to perform as bishops when they have no divine mandate to the office, as well as mess-up the system when they are not adequately equipped for the service. Therefore, apart from the call of God, it becomes necessary to cite the words of Joseph Pulitzer which remarks that the only position - - - that a man - - -  can successfully fill by the simple fact of birth is that of an idot.  Rhetorically also, Pulitzer further posits that “every position which anyone may want to occupy demands training, training at home, training in schools and colleges, training by master craftsmen or training through bitter experience” - - -, and the office of bishop is no exception. Having said this, please observe further that:

OFFICE OF BISHOP REQUIRES THE CALL OF GOD.

                A bishop without the call of God is either in office by satan or men. And so, he becomes a round peg in a square hole, and this is the fundamental abuse of the office. The Catholic Church, the Anglican and other orthodox churches do not lay much emphasis on this, but the Pentecostals do. However, in recent times, some Pentecostal groups have developed an attitude of anything goes, in their bid to have their own serve as bishops. By divine arrangement, a bishop is a vicar of Christ, that is, His representative in any arm of the Christian Church. But how can one who is not appointed by God be His representative? No one becomes an ambassador of any country without being appointed by the government of that country. Likewise, no one becomes God’s vicar without being appointed by God. This shows that many bishops today are on their own, and this informs the basic reasons for the noticeable pitfalls in the office of bishop.

                The Catholic Church, the Anglican communion and other Christian groups which claim apostolic succession to the episcopal office should better rediscover that all the original apostles were called by God, the Apostle Peter was called, (Mathew 4:18-20), the Apostle Paul was called alongside with Barnabas, (Acts 13:2), etc. This, therefore, indicates that there is a blind spot where apostolic succession of bishops is emphasized without emphasis on the call of God. Equally those who hold the concept of the call of God to the Christian episcopate should endeavour to keep the flag flying, as this remains God’s unbroken standard for the consecration of bishops. For, if men had co-operated with God, by allowing Him the prerogative of choosing who becomes a bishop in the Christian church, the issue of gay bishopric, cultism, double – dealing, exhibitionism, exploitation, high handedness and other forms of anti-social behavior which at present are common features of the lifestyle of most bishops would have been minimal in the history of Christianity.

OFFICE OF BISHOP REQUIRES

SCHOOL EDUCTION

                Education drives towards the training of the mind and character for effective performance. One’s mind is one’s ability to think, and the character of a person consists of all the qualities they have that make them distinct. Through education a person is taught better ways of doing things, as well as a better way of living. In line with this, we are asked to study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, (2 Timothy 2:15). Here, another commendation goes to the Catholic Church, the Anglican, the Methodist and a few other orthodox churches which have cherished and maintained the principle of good education for the members of the clergy of their denominations, especially the bishops. However, they should as well be reminded that letter kills where the Spirit of God is absent or not allowed to give life to it, (2 Corinthians 3:6). Also the Pentecostal movement of the Christian faith should be made to understand that the erroneous emphasis on the spirit of God which plays down on education calls for questions, as education is God’s design for the enhancement of the performances of people in the church and society, as well as a means of teaching them new ways of doing things in an ever changing world, though not at the expense of the life giving activities of His Spirit.

                No doubt, education enhances one’s performances in life, as the lack of it can be dangerous. In fact, a well trained bishop is always aware of the ethics of his profession and can hardly engage in anything that undermines his reputation. Such educationally polished bishops know from their training that guests and members of their congregations are to be properly taken care of, as well as be encouraged in times of need. They equally know that church work is God’s work that should not be handled as private business or be incorporated to suit family aspirations. This brand of bishops are well equipped theologically for the objective interpretation of the word of God for the spiritual uplift of the people and not for money. By training also they have became aware that they are there to guide the society and government in matters pertaining to life and godiness and not just figure heads who watch things go wrong, where they feel they have nothing to gain.

                But, who is to blame on the issues raised? What are the forces that play-up the anomalies that reduce the glory of the Christian episcopate? Without mincing words, three factors are responsible for the painful pitfalls that militate against the Christian Episcopal functions, and these include; the inadequacy of the curricula contents of some Bible colleges and seminaries, the lack of a central Christian regulatory body to check the excesses of the proprietors of such schools and the non-existence of a recognized central Christian body for ordination and license.

                It is sad to note that most Bible College and seminaries especially those own by the Pentecostal groups have no standard curricula for the students they graduate year after year. These half-baked graduates by dint of long services become the future bishops of their denominations with traces of academic deficiencies, which they feel could be covered with the bishopric appellation. Today also, the consecration of bishops and ordination are based on money and not credibility, and some medicine men and witch doctors take advantage of the whole thing on the bases of cash and carry. Thus, the need for a reputable Pentecostal body to be saddled with the responsibility of the ordination of the clergy, as well as the consecration of bishops. The writer would have recommended the PFN, but it had already been politicized and therefore spiritually weak.

OFFICE OF BISHOP REQUIRES

INTERNSHIP EDUCATION

                Internship Education is that educational arrangement in which a newly qualified school graduate is drafted to serve in an establishment where he further learns from an experienced graduate and practitioner in his profession, as a way of completing his training. This type of training takes place in different fields of human endeavour, like medicine, theology, journalism, law, to mention but a few, though some refer to it as Industrial Training. In fact, internship Education serves good purposes in the training of bishops, especially where probity and accountability are entrenched, but dangerous where corruption is the order of the day. Where the latter is the case, it becomes old fox teaching old tricks, whereby corrupting further the system. Investigation shows that must bishops who now consecrate other bishops for money have been replicating the despicable practice of some senior bishops. The source also reveals that certain bishops that nowadays go with shameless concubines, as well as delight in ostentatious lifestyle reflect the evils of those before them.

                But, this is not the purpose of Internship Education, as it is aimed at transferring the skills, values and virtues of a given experienced practitioner to the younger generation, who in turn would continue to process for the enrichment and sustainability of the profession for a better society ahead. However, the present day crop of prospective bishops jettison this invaluable teaching and learning process, but take pleasure in cutting corners to the episcopel office, and the calamity that goes with this show of arrogance and self-centeredness we all know. How can a bishop who has unlawfully manipulated his way to the ecclesiastical throne really stand out against social ills? How can an arrogant bishop impact humility? And, how can an ego-centric bishop guide the people of God into the habit of selflessness? Yet, we have such morally bankcrupt individuals as bishops, who claim they habour the ideals of the Christian faith. What a contradiction!

                In conclusion, the writer wishes to state that this work is an exercise in the toughest domain of literary work, since it deals with the activities of the occupants of the ecclesiastical authority, which is, God’s highest point of power in the universe. However, the writer also is aware that God has called him to serve in the capacity he now acts, for the good of the church and society, and so, has nothing to fear. Once again, no part of this piece on “Abuse of Office of Bishop” is a castigation against the Pentecostal group, for the writer is as well of the Pentecostal Christianity, but stands out for the truth, no matter whose ox is gored, with the view to achieving sanity in the House of God. Therefore, the writer, by this, wishes equally to rehearse that,  - - - “ the foundation of God stands firm, sealed with this inscription: The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness”, (2 Timothy 2:19) INTENSIFY YOUR PRAYERS FOR BISHOPS.