THE OBSOLETE THEOLOGY (Ezekiel 18: 1-3)

THE OBSOLETE THEOLOGY (Ezekiel 18: 1-3)

God asked Prophet Ezekiel a strange question:

“What do you folks mean by this proverb: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, the children’s teeth are set on edge?’ Why do you folks use this proverb?”

 

The irony is, this proverb had existed for decades and centuries. I imagine it started during the times of Moses: maybe it was even adopted from Egypt. So, from generation to generation, the proverb was passed down. People believed it! What it means basically is, children reap the punishments of the evil seeds sown by their fathers.

And as human nature is, the people would have loads of testimonies to prove the proverb is sound!

 

“Joram killed people and seized their lands: after he died, Ahiziah killed Joram’s sons and seized their lands too!”

“Dothan deceived people’s daughters, promising them marriage, slept with them and dumped them: when his own daughters grew up, other men did same to them!”

We call it “The Law of Karma”.

 

We will always have reasons and testimonies to believe these proverbs are true.

 

So, from Moses to Joshua to the Judges, the proverb was known in Israel.

From Saul to David to Solomon, to Rehoboam, the proverb was known in Israel.

To the division of the Kingdom, to the captivity in Babylon, the proverb was known in Israel.

Now, on this fateful day, God told Prophet Ezekiel: “As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to use this proverb in Israel!”

Woah!

God retired the proverb!

It became obsolete!

It is not useful anymore!

 

Sometimes I wonder, why did God retire it? Why did He decide this proverb is useless now?

I look at this in relation to the belief system, teachings and doctrines in our Churches today. We have some beliefs, teachings and theology that are OBSOLETE. The irony is, God has retired them, but a lot of Church folks are still holding unto them.

In some cases, we see Men of God who teach certain doctrines for decades suddenly come out to admit they were wrong. They got to the point where they realized what they taught has been retired by God.

 

A Pastor in Nigeria once taught that the television is ‘Devil’s Box”. He warned his Church members not to watch it. But years later, he changed his opinion about it: he realized it was OBSOLETE.

What do you guys mean by this teaching, “Our Church members are not allowed to watch TV: it’s the Devil’s Box”? As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to teach this in the Church!

 

 

Someone greeted me at a Christmas party a few years ago. He looked very familiar, I just couldn’t place the face. Then he laughed: I recognized him immediately! He used to have a full beard, but he had shaved it off- that was why I couldn’t recognize him earlier.

I asked him why he shaved.

“I was asked to preach in Church today and in my Church, you’re not allowed to preach with beards!”

His Church has a teaching that is OBSOLETE!

What do you guys mean by this teaching, “Pastors are not allowed to preach with beards”? As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to teach this in the Church!

 

Very recently, Pastor Creflo Dollar came out to admit he was wrong on his teachings on tithing. He had taught it, he had written books about it for decades. One day, he realized that teaching is obsolete.

Pastor Benny Hinn had also come out to change his submissions on some issues before.

 

It is one thing for God to let us know a doctrine, a teaching or a belief is obsolete; it’s another thing for us to accept it and CHANGE. Many times we find it very difficult to accept change because we are concerned about OPTICS: what will people say?

 

We have held on to a position for so long: we are even known for it. It has become our identity! Imagine God telling a White Garment Church: “What do you guys mean by this white garment you’re wearing? As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to wear it again!” How would that be accepted, when the White Garment is the identity?

Imagine God telling YOU a doctrine you hold steadfastly to is OBSOLETE? How willing will you be to accept and change?

 

I used to be an advocate of “A man who prays with his head covered dishonors his head, a woman who prays with her head uncovered dishonors her head” (1st Corinthians 11:4-5). I would walk up to any man who is in church with a cap or hat to ask him to take it off, ask the women who had no headgear to wear one! I was very zealous, but also very ignorant.

Until one day God made me realize my folly. I was on campus, going to the architecture studio to work. I had my face cap on as I walked down. And the Holy Spirit asked me to pray! I just started praying in the Spirit as I walked down to the studio. I got there and I continued praying for the next 30 minutes. When I was done, I started working. Then the Holy Spirit asked me: “Do you think I heard your prayers? Do you think I will answer them?”

“Yes! I believe you always hear me when I pray!”

But your head was covered! You wore a hat all the while you were praying!”

 

I got the message.

And I changed my theology.

 

There are too many of such theologies and mindsets in our Churches today that need to be done away with. They are OBSOLETE: holding unto them is like trying to operate in a digital world with an analog mindset. It just won’t work!

I believe God has been telling us: “What do you guys mean by this teaching?…. As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to teach this in the Church!”

We are just not listening attentively enough.

 

I’m aware it’s difficult to accept some changes. Even Jesus accepted it’s a tough ask. He said, “No man after tasting old wine straightaway accepts the new wine: he will say THE OLD IS BETTER” (Luke 5:39).

May God open our ears and eyes and understanding well enough to receive instructions.

And drop these OBSOLETE THEOLOGIES…

 

Shalom,

Haruna Daniels

THE OBSOLETE THEOLOGY

(Ezekiel 18: 1-3)

 

God asked Prophet Ezekiel a strange question:

“What do you folks mean by this proverb: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, the children’s teeth are set on edge?’ Why do you folks use this proverb?”

 

The irony is, this proverb had existed for decades and centuries. I imagine it started during the times of Moses: maybe it was even adopted from Egypt. So, from generation to generation, the proverb was passed down. People believed it! What it means basically is, children reap the punishments of the evil seeds sown by their fathers.

And as human nature is, the people would have loads of testimonies to prove the proverb is sound!

 

“Joram killed people and seized their lands: after he died, Ahiziah killed Joram’s sons and seized their lands too!”

“Dothan deceived people’s daughters, promising them marriage, slept with them and dumped them: when his own daughters grew up, other men did same to them!”

We call it “The Law of Karma”.

 

We will always have reasons and testimonies to believe these proverbs are true.

 

So, from Moses to Joshua to the Judges, the proverb was known in Israel.

From Saul to David to Solomon, to Rehoboam, the proverb was known in Israel.

To the division of the Kingdom, to the captivity in Babylon, the proverb was known in Israel.

Now, on this fateful day, God told Prophet Ezekiel: “As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to use this proverb in Israel!”

Woah!

God retired the proverb!

It became obsolete!

It is not useful anymore!

 

Sometimes I wonder, why did God retire it? Why did He decide this proverb is useless now?

I look at this in relation to the belief system, teachings and doctrines in our Churches today. We have some beliefs, teachings and theology that are OBSOLETE. The irony is, God has retired them, but a lot of Church folks are still holding unto them.

In some cases, we see Men of God who teach certain doctrines for decades suddenly come out to admit they were wrong. They got to the point where they realized what they taught has been retired by God.

 

A Pastor in Nigeria once taught that the television is ‘Devil’s Box”. He warned his Church members not to watch it. But years later, he changed his opinion about it: he realized it was OBSOLETE.

What do you guys mean by this teaching, “Our Church members are not allowed to watch TV: it’s the Devil’s Box”? As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to teach this in the Church!

 

 

Someone greeted me at a Christmas party a few years ago. He looked very familiar, I just couldn’t place the face. Then he laughed: I recognized him immediately! He used to have a full beard, but he had shaved it off- that was why I couldn’t recognize him earlier.

I asked him why he shaved.

“I was asked to preach in Church today and in my Church, you’re not allowed to preach with beards!”

His Church has a teaching that is OBSOLETE!

What do you guys mean by this teaching, “Pastors are not allowed to preach with beards”? As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to teach this in the Church!

 

Very recently, Pastor Creflo Dollar came out to admit he was wrong on his teachings on tithing. He had taught it, he had written books about it for decades. One day, he realized that teaching is obsolete.

Pastor Benny Hinn had also come out to change his submissions on some issues before.

 

It is one thing for God to let us know a doctrine, a teaching or a belief is obsolete; it’s another thing for us to accept it and CHANGE. Many times we find it very difficult to accept change because we are concerned about OPTICS: what will people say?

 

We have held on to a position for so long: we are even known for it. It has become our identity! Imagine God telling a White Garment Church: “What do you guys mean by this white garment you’re wearing? As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to wear it again!” How would that be accepted, when the White Garment is the identity?

Imagine God telling YOU a doctrine you hold steadfastly to is OBSOLETE? How willing will you be to accept and change?

 

I used to be an advocate of “A man who prays with his head covered dishonors his head, a woman who prays with her head uncovered dishonors her head” (1st Corinthians 11:4-5). I would walk up to any man who is in church with a cap or hat to ask him to take it off, ask the women who had no headgear to wear one! I was very zealous, but also very ignorant.

Until one day God made me realize my folly. I was on campus, going to the architecture studio to work. I had my face cap on as I walked down. And the Holy Spirit asked me to pray! I just started praying in the Spirit as I walked down to the studio. I got there and I continued praying for the next 30 minutes. When I was done, I started working. Then the Holy Spirit asked me: “Do you think I heard your prayers? Do you think I will answer them?”

“Yes! I believe you always hear me when I pray!”

But your head was covered! You wore a hat all the while you were praying!”

 

I got the message.

And I changed my theology.

 

There are too many of such theologies and mindsets in our Churches today that need to be done away with. They are OBSOLETE: holding unto them is like trying to operate in a digital world with an analog mindset. It just won’t work!

I believe God has been telling us: “What do you guys mean by this teaching?…. As I live, you shall not have occasion anymore to teach this in the Church!”

We are just not listening attentively enough.

 

I’m aware it’s difficult to accept some changes. Even Jesus accepted it’s a tough ask. He said, “No man after tasting old wine straightaway accepts the new wine: he will say THE OLD IS BETTER” (Luke 5:39).

May God open our ears and eyes and understanding well enough to receive instructions.

And drop these OBSOLETE THEOLOGIES…

 

Shalom,

Haruna Daniels