Corruption in our society: The way out

updated: Thursday 12-06-2008

Dear Reader,
Definition and Survey: “Corruption” means dishonest, illegal or wicked behaviours, especially by people with authority or power, so acting in return for money or other personal gain (e.g. corrupt officials accepting bribes or offers of money to pervert the course of justice). In particular, those who grasp avariciously and hoard the wealth meant for the masses are described as corrupt people.

There is corruption in both high and low places, both in the public services and in the private sector of this country. Many of the law enforcement officers and other public servants and politicians are involved in one form of corrupt enrichment or the other. The businessmen and women are equally guilty of corrupt practices, while even religious leaders, too, are not exonerated for compromising with evil and accepting offerings from dubious sources. We have never had it so bad! Governments’ efforts in anti-corruption crusades have not helped matters much.

Causes: The widespread corruption in Nigeria is traceable to the increasing wave of covetousness, greed, inordinate ambition, materialism, and the get-rich-quick syndrome of the post-independence era: the love of money is the root of all evil.

Effects: As a result of this apparently intractable social ill in Nigeria today, there are many serious adverse consequences both within Nigeria and overseas. The distribution of our country’s wealth has been rather lopsided: hence many Nigerians are still currently wallowing in abject poverty and suffering in the midst of plenty. Our money is stolen by the leaders and kept in foreign banks (for the enjoyment of the already rich). Our nation’s economy is weak and more and more Nigerians are taking to crime.

What God says: God is very unhappy with the present situation of large scale nationwide corruption in Nigeria. God has never compromised His standards of holiness as demanded of all human beings on earth irrespective of one’s religion. God has declared woe unto all corrupt people, because corruption amounts to wickedness in God’s sight (Psalm 73 :8, 9; Isaiah 1:4, 5; James 5:1-6; Jude 1:9-11). In the days of Noah, the people of the earth became corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. Hence God destroyed the then known world with the great flood, save Noah and his household (Genesis 6 & 7).

Remedy: To all Nigerians, generally, I have this to say: Contentment and honest living can be ours if only we will trust in the abundant but unseen resources of the Almighty God who is always ready and willing to take proper care of all His children who fear Him and do His will alone, not minding the hostile, avaricious, corrupt and rotten environment in which we may find ourselves. The life of Daniel is a shining example of the possibility of this postulation (Read Daniel 6: 1-5).

Daniel was working with those who did not believe in his God nor in His scruples. But nonetheless he worked more efficiently, capably and quite honestly in the fear of the Almighty God. Thus he attracted the attention of the pagan king and earned a place of respect. The jealous officials couldn’t find anything about Daniel’s life to criticize, so they attacked his religion, and eventually destroyed themselves in the process. What a mighty and righteous God of justice that we serve! Therefore, do not join the multitude to do evil. Be bold and resolute to fear and obey God alone; you must take a firm stand to stop giving or accepting bribes henceforth despite the very rotten environment of your working place and the terribly corrupt situation of Nigeria today.

In addition, please note that: (1) The holy Bible insists that you must repent and put away all forms of dishonesty and corrupt practices if you do not want to spend your eternity in hell fire! “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.” (2) Stop believing erroneously that money alone brings happiness. Only God can give true happiness through Christ. Realise that one day riches will all be gone. (3) Be content with what you have or what you are earning, and monitor what you are willing to do to get more money to ensure avoidance of sin. (4) Whatever your job is, do it well, honestly, and with fairness. (5) Love people more than money; and love God’s work more than money. (6) Freely share what you have with other people who need it. (7) Our church leaders must regularly warn the government functionaries about the looming dangers of bribery and corruption. Let everybody support actively the anti-corruption crusade.

Our government should provide adequate social security for all Nigerians. This includes (1) Gainful employment opportunities for all graduates; (2) Provision of better conditions of service for our policemen. They should be better educated, more equipped and properly re­orientated to combat all forms of crime in Nigeria. (3) Our politicians and all top government functionaries should show example of self-discipline, transparent honesty, and accountability in governance. (4) The two Federal Agencies, namely, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which were created for anti-corruption crusade, should be given free hand to operate in order to achieve the intended noble objectives. Conclusion: Finally, you can do all these things successfully only if you will come to Jesus today, as a genuinely penitent sinner. And He will surely forgive you, cleanse you from all your sin, and uphold you from all forms of corrupting influences around you.

For further information, counselling, prayer and other help, please contact me at once, on telephone numbers 02-8100301, 8100248 or 08037878711; write to e-mail:

The Holy Spirit in the church (1)

By Pastor S.S.Jemigbon

The work of the Holy Spirit in the Church - the body of Christ - is first evident in the individuals that make up the body. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians speaks of the Church as a body that has many members, and all these members of that body, being many are one body (I Corinthians 12: 12).

The Greek word “Ecclesia” gives a better explanation of the word Church, meaning “the assembly of the redeemed” or “called out”. The church is therefore made up of the redeemed of God. Who are the redeemed? These are those who are born of both water and the Spirit. “Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3,5).

When a person is regenerated, the person is born anew: He experiences a new birth and he receives the Holy Spirit.“But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, If so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Roman 8:9). Acts 1 :4-5, indicate that every Christian can be baptized with the Holy Spirit as manifested on the day of Pentecost on the disciples (Acts 2:4). The disciples were “filled with the Holy Spirit”.

J. Gregory Mantle makes an explicit exposition of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in his book - “ The Enduement of Power’. He states: ‘It is one thing to have the Spirit and it is quite another to be “filled” with the Spirit’. Suffice it to say that to be filled with the Spirit is more than to be spiritually inclined.

After all, even some unsaved people are spiritually hungry and spiritually inclined. They are reaching out to God perharps, as fully as they have light. You don’t have to be like Apollos. You need to be thoroughly grounded in the ways of the Lord. (Acts 18:26). As a Christian, you are to be “filled with the power, the unction for service. Therefore, you must know this, that you do not live a spirit-filled life until you are filled with the Spirit. It is at this point of infilling that Christians bring out the experience which when they fellowship with one another produce the needed fire in the body of Christ. The infilling of the Holy Spirit of God brings out the real Spirit of worship in the Church of God. According to John in his Gospel, “they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

(To be continued)

Pastor S.S. Jemigbon,
Tel: 01-7741673,
01-4966033,
01-4965264.
E-Mail:
taclawna@hyperia.com