Format : Paperback
Pages: 50
Publisher : Loveworld Publishing 1998
ISBN : 978-34658-4-8
5th Edition 2007
The Pastor of Christ Embassy International Churches, Chris Oyakhilome, has written this easy to read 50 page book on the "Rights" or the privileges that there are to being a born again Christian. The book is divided into four simple chapters that elaborate on the rights of the believer in Christ. He focuses on the three rights or priveleges that every Christian has i.e. the 'Right to Choose', the 'Right to Live' and the 'Right to Rule'!
Pastor Chris says that every believer has the right to choose what they want in life. He picks on biblical stories such as the blind man called Bartimaeus (The Book of Mark 10v51) who called out to Jesus in a crowd. Jesus stopped to pay attention to the man and then asked the man " What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus at that point was giving the man a choice! In the story the man chose to see again. Instantly the man was no longer blind ! Pastor Chris even talks about the right to choose who you want to marry. If a man goes up to a woman and tells her - "God said i should marry you", the woman should know that she has to exercise her right in Christ to either reject or accept the man ! It's up to her.
Every believer has the right to live. He says that if a born again Christian has fallen seriously ill, they should not die of that illness because they have the right to live. This is different for someone who is not a born again Christian. The right or the privilege to live is reserved for the born again Christian. Whether the born again Christian lives or dies, depends on whether they know their rights and have exercised them. He quotes 2Timothy 1v10 where the bible says that Jesus abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel.
Every believer has the right to rule. He quotes Revelation 1v 5-6 where the bible declares that every one in Christ has been made a 'King' and a 'Priest'. Pastor Chris explains that Kings rule and reign. Whatever a King says, happens. He quotes Ecclesiates 8v4 where the bible says that the words of a King have power. Therefore our words carry power and weight. Whatever we say comes to pass.
Pastor Chris says that many believers are not aware of their rights in christ and so they never exercise them. That is why they are not living the glorious lives that Jesus Christ came to die for them to live.
'Your Rights in Christ' is a book that you want to read over and over so that that awareness of your rights in Christ becomes so strong. Before long you will find yourself exercising them and seeing tremendous results in your life. This is a definitely recommended read.
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ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, I think Pastor Chris is confused. When he says Jesus died for us, I wonder where Jesus ever said that. I know Paul made such wild declarations. I have read the Bible but I have never come across any part in which Jesus claimed that he would die to conquer death for his followers.
ReplyDeleteWhile we are at it, how does Pastor Chris define the process of getting born again?
The idea that kings rule by Divine Right, as alluded to in your review is debunked by First Samuel 8:10-17. Who are supposed to be ruled by the believers of Pastor Chris' ilk? This quest for temporal power is strange if were bear in mind that Jesus said blessed are the poor for they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Equally strange is the notion that “The right or the privilege to live is reserved for the born again Christian.” What about the billions who were put on this planet by God and who do not subscribe to Pastor Chris’ brand of theology, by what authority are they denied the right or privilege to live? Does it mean that they all deserve the grizzly fate of the Amalekites?
Pastor Chris' claims have a sulphurous smell of bigotry that could easily verge on the genocidal. Let us not forget that Pastor Chris is a Nigerian Pentecostal whose country of origin is notorious for pastors who force members to pay fees for exorcism and anyone who fails is condemned to death by emollition.
I sure would like to exchange correspondences with him because I find his claims deeply disturbing and devoid of scriptural merit.
Thanks for your comments. They are strong views but I am honoured to be involved in this discussion with you.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Just to clarify a few things: In the bible Jesus is recorded as saying that he came that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10v10). He also made the declaration "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14v6)
Re-looking at the following statement : “The right or the privilege to live is reserved for the born again Christian.” I will reclarify that by saying that the life spoken of here is the life of God (eternal life).
John 3v16-17 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son to condemn the world but to save the world through him."
Therefore, if you are born again, you have the right to eternal life - the life of God.
The question about being "born again" In John 3v 1-15, you find Jesus explaining the meaning of being born again to one of the Phariseic religious leaders of the day called Nicodemus. He (Nicodemus) too, could not understand the concept of being born again. He (Nicodemus) said "How can a man be born when he is old?" That’s a good question!!
Jesus goes on to explain that when we are born of our mother and father (i.e. Mr and Mrs Masere or Mr and Mrs Mubvakure), that means being born of the flesh. Meaning your mum and dad got together and then you and I arrived. However, there is a second birth that Jesus spoke of - which is to be born of God. How is that possible?
John 1v12 - 13 explains this "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husbands will, but born of God”
Therefore, by your faith or belief you are born again (Romans 10v9-10). God’s Spirit comes to reside in you – you experience God’s life – You are born of God. This is a second birth or a ‘new birth’. It is something that happens to our Spirit. After we have believed there is no change on the outside. We still have the same physical body. However on the inside we are a new creation, different from the old person. 2Corinthians 5v17 says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
In reference to Kings ruling. I will take (copy) the statement in the comment above “if were bear in mind that Jesus said blessed are the poor for they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven”
Surely if one “Inherits a Kingdom”, it means that in some form or another they inherit the rulership or dominion over that territory. They are taking control of situations and not living a defeated life – the right to rule ?.
Ms Mabvakure, I have a lot of respect for you, the very reason I track your blog. Be that as it may, I disagree with everything you have said with regard to born-again Christianism and all the related comments.
ReplyDeleteFor starters, the right to life is not something that is the unique preserve of born-again Christians. It is a universal right. Anyone who denies that has the onus to explicitly state reasons for accepting otherwise. Quoting some spurious Biblical verses will not suffice. Those who profess to be born-again Christians make up a tiny dot of the human population. Why would a tiny and very impertinent group condemn billions of people to perish bereft of God's protection? What kind of arrogant theology is that?
I asked you earlier and I will do so again; what fate awaits those who do not care about Pastor Chris' dispensationalist brand of Christianity? The 1 billion Moslems, the 1 billion Catholics, the 1 billion Hindus, the 1.5 billion atheist and Buddhist Chinese, not to mention animists and practitioners of small and unheralded theologies all over the world; are they all going to meet the fate of the Amalekites?
You bring up Nicodemus' question, which I suspected you would. Jesus could have told Nicodemus: "Don't worry good ole boy Nick. In a few weeks I am going to get nailed to tree, die, get buried and rise from the dead. After that all you need to do is accept that I am your lord and saviour. Viola, just like that, you will be born again!" Did Jesus say that to Nicodemus? That is part of the Pauline gospel – unless Jesus died and was raised from the dead, our faith is in vain - but Jesus never ever said any such thing.
Of course, Jesus answered Nicodemus but self-proclaimed born-again run away from Jesus' answer faster than the Devil runs away from Holy Water. Since I was brought up as a Catholic right from childhood, I know what Jesus said regarding the process of being born again. I presume you are well versed in the scriptures, too, and I will let you have the honour of telling me what Jesus said to Nicodemus. How about it?
Born-again Christians need to remember that they do not have a monopoly over God. As matter of fact, the Christianity theology is relatively new - the new kid on the block. It makes a lot of noise like the proverbial puppy that gets spooked by rustling leaves and barks at shadows of moving clouds.
Anyway, I have some essays that I wrote eight years ago that address your points. I will post them here or, if you prefer it, I could email them to you this weekend. In the meantime, take a look at my blog entry on the historicity of Jesus.
Let me say this, we might be at variance on the issue of Middle Eastern theologies but my respect for you is not diminished at all. If you are in touch with Christianist Pastor Chris let him know there is an Africanist who thinks Pastor Chris is confused and needs to be straightened out.
Thanks Johnathan. Will respond to your comment tommorow. Great stuff for discussion !
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