Apostle Dr. Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe, the La Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, has called on Christians to eschew tribalism and discrimination.
Speaking recently at the Alajo District Central assembly of the church on the theme, “Restoring the Biblical Identity of the Church Through Love to Possess the Nations” – Genesis 12: 1-4; Exodus 19:3-6; and Isaiah 42: 6, Apostle Dr. Nuekpe explained that the church emanated from the Jews through one man called Abraham who became light through whom God used to reach out to the world.
He explained that the Jews had a special mandate to be God’s “treasured possession,” “priestly kingdom,” and “holy nation” but they failed in that regard by allowing themselves to be adulterated.
“God expects anyone that joins the church to be a bearer of light through the love of Christ with a common goal and vision,” he said, adding, “There should not be room for tribal differences or discrimination in the church due to its peculiar and holy nature. This way, no crooked person can lead.”
To fully understand the identity of a group, he said, one should study their history, core mandate, vision, and mission, saying, “Until members understand the Vision 2023 agenda, what it seeks to achieve and their mandate, they cannot achieve their target.”
Apostle Dr. Dieudonne Nuekpe, therefore, admonished Christians to eschew any element of discrimination in the church where individuals only identify themselves with members of their ethnic groups in the church.
“We must not allow the cultural values and practices of the world to affect the church and the good values in Christ,” he stressed.
Reading further from 1 Peter 2: 9; Psalm 67: 1-7, he called on Christians to demonstrate the love of Christ to all persons to draw more people to Christ.
“Christians are to spread the sweet fragrance and aroma of Christ in order to affect the world positively. Let us reflect on the message of love we preach to the world,” he added
He called on members of the church to relate well with their neighbours in their communities, stressing that “until we change our attitude and behaviour towards one another, we can never possess the nations.”
Concluding his sermon, Apostle Dr. Dieudonne Nuekpe said that the church is a new community that has to reflect the beauty of Christ and that there should be harmony in the church of God.
Report by Gina Akua Padi.