Opinion
By Valentine Obienyem
LET me forewarn readers that the primary reason I write is to teach, so that people may learn from me just as I learn from others whose write-ups I read.
Whenever the issue arises about how Pentecostalism strives to undermine Christianity, its defenders often resort to false claims, such as alleging that the Pope permits gay marriage or allows gays to become priests, what are clearly beyond the powers of the Pope to grant. One wonders where they get such misinformation. These individuals cling to fake news and ignore the Church’s clear refutations. It seems they yearn for the Catholic Church to falter, using that as a justification for the impunities rampant in Pentecostalism – after all, all churches are the same!
Granted that the Catholic Church experienced its dark ages – an unfortunate chapter in its history – this period, while marked by human failings, should be understood within the broader context of its evolution. Though founded by Christ, the Church has always been led by fallible men, and its history inevitably mirrors the complexities and challenges of the epochs in which it has existed. The struggles, conflicts, and mistakes of its leaders often reflected the socio-political and cultural forces of their times, just as the Church’s capacity for renewal and reform has evolved in response to those very trials. It is a testimony to the enduring nature of the Church that despite these setbacks, it continues to uphold its divine mission, shaped and refined by centuries of human experience.
But in many Pentecostal churches, we are dealing with deliberate falsehoods and deceptions. There is a commercial focus on tithes, offerings, and “seed sowing,” often tied to promises of miraculous wealth or blessings. Some even adopt “pay-to-pray” schemes, charging fees for blessings or deliverance. Fake miracles are common, with individuals being paid to stage healings or unverified claims of curing incurable diseases being made. Doctrines like “instant riches” or “heavenly ATM withdrawals” also flourish. How many families have been destroyed by false claims of parents being the cause of their children’s struggles?
Theatrical displays abound, including dramatic exorcisms where “demons” are commanded to speak and act out. Unusual practices such as spraying insecticides or forcing congregants to eat grass in the name of deliverance are also prevalent. A particularly absurd instance involved a pastor in Warri, Jeremiah, who staged a fight with a supposed “native Haba priest” from Agulu, my hometown. Upon his return, the so-called priest admitted he had been paid to act out the spectacle.
Some leaders even promote dangerous rituals, such as drinking petrol, with disastrous consequences for the physical and spiritual well-being of their followers. Recently, retired and suspended bishops started their own churches, illustrating a growing trend where every family might soon establish its own. Of course, I have seen a family where the father and his sons are all bishops. Such behaviour undoubtedly supports a scheme to undermine Christianity by the devil. Can those who act in this way truly say they believe in God?
These same individuals often create AI-generated absurdities about the Catholic Church, such as depicting the Pope conversing with the devil. It must be understood that the Pope does not possess the authority to alter biblically explicit truths or the apostolic traditions of the Church, such as affirming only male and female genders, rejecting female priesthood, and upholding the real presence in the Eucharist.
Ironically, their fixation on the Pope underscores their acknowledgment of the Church’s authority. It shows that there is still someone they recognise as responsible. This reinforces the reality of the Catholic hierarchy, which remains a bulwark against chaos and individual excesses. By contrast, Pentecostalism often operates on personal whims, where anyone can do as they please. For instance, a bishop recently ordained his wife as a bishop, and many have even ordained their sons.
These excesses differ from the weaknesses of the flesh that cause some priests to fail in keeping their celibacy vows, which some people overdramatize without considering the thousands who faithfully uphold them. It all brings to mind St. Augustine of Hippo’s view on concupiscence, or the disordered desire of the flesh. But come to think of it, some married pastors pursue women just as those who break their celibacy vows do, even if they are allowed to marry. For Augustine, this struggle between the will and the flesh highlights the need for divine grace to overcome these inclinations.
Rather than face the devil that has infiltrated the Church through pentecostalism, they are fixated on the Catholic Church. The reasoning of some critics is bewildering. For example, against the fact that Christ founded the church, they claim that Constantine, who became emperor centuries after the Church’s founding, established Catholicism. When you ask them about the Popes who existed before Constantine and whom they presided over, they begin to speak in tongues.
I have seen one of them who surprisingly profess love for St. Polycarp while denying his Catholic identity, despite his being one of the first eight Doctors of the Church and a strong advocate of the real presence in the Eucharist. When reminded that St. Ignatius of Antioch used the term “Catholic Church” as early as 107 AD – before Polycarp – they dismiss it as false history.
Finally, I have also witnessed the antics of those who attended the seminary, using it as a justification for considering themselves the Socrates of Church matters. What self-deception! Attending the seminary does not make one a member of the Magisterium. One must be cautious not to overestimate their knowledge of the Church when it is clearly shallow, superficial, and influenced by selective bias.
A.I
Jan. 23, 2025
Tags: Valentine Obienyem
