The Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, and Bishop of Awka diocese, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim has cautioned against chasing sinners away from the church for any reason.
He said only God has the prerogative to determine who was his and heaven bound, adding that the church was incomplete without the sinners, THE DAILY VENDOR reports.
Ibezim who spoke during the inauguration of St Barnabas Anglican Church Parish Nimo, however warned christians to be wary of their actions and inactions in the Church to avoid the wrath of God, stressing that the church is not a social club where one behaved anyhow one liked.
He said, “Nobody should be chased away from the church of God for any reason as only God has that prerogative to determine who is His and heaven bound or who is not and hell bound, but not men.
“Our duty is to bring people to God through Jesus Christ. We should not discriminate and pass judgment over actions and inactions of others in our churches, but to pray for them always for God’s mercy and love.
“Our duty is to evangelize and feed the people with the words of God. Our churches should not be seen as social clubs, but a place of worship, a dwelling place for God, so that when people come, they receive healing, salvation and solution to their problems. The church should be a place to receive hope.
‘’There are many unbelievers inside the Churches, nobody would chase anybody away from the Church of Christ, even when the person is a drunk. Let him come to receive salvation in the Church.
“You may see a member of the choir who came to Church from his or her sex mate’s house and yet joined others to sing in the choir, it’s not our right to stop the person from singing to God, but, God Himself who judges on the last day as He would separate the chaff from the grains.
‘’We should be focused on evangelism and spreading the good news of the gospel to enable them repent and embrace God’s mercy in line with the message of salvation. Our Churches are places of worship and not a social club.”
The archbishop appealed to the parishioners to understand their church workers and tolerate them by correcting them with love for the progress and development of their parishes and communities.
He warned Christians to stop discriminating and being judgemental, adding that the duties of Christians is to evangelize in its all ramifications and draw people to God with hope for salvation and nothing else.
Ibezim later announced the elevation of the Vicar of St Paul’s Parish Nimo, Rev. Valentine Chukwujekwu Mbachi, PhD to a Canon in Awka diocese, who he said would soon be collated.
The cleric who later inaugurated two other parishes, St Stephen’s Anglican Church Parish Awka and Our Saviour’s Anglican Church Parish Awka, was assisted by Clerical Synod Secretary, Ven Clement Mgbemena, Administrative Secretary, and Ven Dr Rex Kanu among other priests.
Sir Barr Chris Adimora, Registrar of the Diocese of Awka and Sir Barr Charles Ezeagba, an Associate Prof, the Assistant Registrar performed the legal aspects of the inauguration.
