Fr. Richard OMOLADE

Jesus established his Church on the foundation of Peter’s faith and the Catholic Church has maintained an unbroken succession to the Prince of the Apostles. This is not to say it has been smooth sailing. There were moments of dissension that arose from difference in beliefs about the human and divine nature of Jesus. Even when there were heretical opinions, largely, the Church survived until the Reformation when further split occurred, and the rest as they say is history.

Today, we have more than two thousand groups of Christians also known as denominations.  These Christian groups continue to exist in opposition to the desire of Jesus that “They may all be one.” (John 17:21)  These Churches have carried on sometimes spreading the Goodnews, sometimes fighting among themselves. Instead of going to Muslims and the animists to convert them, many Churches continue to poach members from one another by emphasizing perceived shortcomings in these Churches. After many decades of Christian unity efforts, there is no light yet at the end of the tunnel that these Christian groups will be one. This is indeed a real shame.

Today we have some major groups influencing the life of Christians, these are Catholics, Protestants and Pentecostals. There are obvious differences among them and some clear points of departure arising from practices and doctrines. For a long time, each bloc remained faithful to their ideals, but there is a blurring of lines today and the Catholic Church seems to be more at the receiving end.  Probably in an attempt to blend, or to curb the loss of members to new day Churches such as the Pentecostals, many priests have formed the habit of tending toward Pentecostalism, especially in their mode of preaching and certain practices such as Prosperity gospel. The erstwhile discipline of the Catholic Church is being put aside to assuage the pains of some Catholics who feel that the Church has not adapted to modern life as much as they would have loved.

Today, some Catholics appreciate only the firebrand pastors, mistaking their antics as proofs of the presence of the Holy Spirit. While there are gifted pastors, their increasing shift of pastors ditching the gentle preaching approach to embrace the emotional, hyperactive preaching of many Pentecostals that has brough them to fame and prosperity. It is this practice that has given rise to what is today referred to as “PentoCatholic”, that is, “a phenomenon of Catholic priests who now exhibit practices or ministries that are influenced by the Pentecostal moment, often in ways that are seen as problematic by some within the Catholic Church.”

Indeed, it is a worrisome development. Catholic priests have been ordained for the ministry of Church and this Church has clear tradition and practices backed up by many years, yet suddenly these time-honoured traditions are jettisoned, and shady, amoebic practices are embraced and utilized often to the delight of the unsuspecting people of God.

Priests are instruments of God and must be careful to discern the will of God, respond to it and be themselves transformed in the process so that they can elicit transformation in the life of their parishioners. This is possible and many priests have experienced this in their ministry.  But if we are not rooted in God, our ministry will remain superficial and there will be no significant transformation in the life of our people. No wonder many seek other alternatives. Many people have great needs that they want satisfied at all costs and by whatever means. Priest of God the Most-high must not reckon themselves powerful in themselves. Our power is from God and should be used according to God’s dictates. When we lose sight of this reality, we are likely to become manufacturers of signs and wonders and turn every worship into entertainment or spectacles of performances meant to boost our ego more than honour God. We are losing it, and we must arrest this decline as soon as possible. Copying what the Pentecostals are doing is akin to “were la fi nwo were” It is to show that adherents are bereft of genuine and workable ideas and must resort to what others have devised. Yet, true leadership, administrative or pastoral means one is able to discern the needs of the people and come up with solution best suited for them. Trying to build your house just like those of others is a ploy design to frustrate you when the odds become stacked against you. Catholic trajectory and Pentecostal leanings are different. Our repertoire of instruments are almost inexhaustible, what with the number of sacraments at our disposal, the rich body of interpretation of the Word of God we have inherited from the apostles and their successor to the powerful social apostolates changing life and transforming societies. Why would anyone be content with just deliverance and sermons, when the world is there to be conquered? If you desire the incredulous, pastors will conjure up the incredible, but ask yourself, is this the essence of my faith? If not, go back to Christ and his Church, the One, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.