Legendary Nigerian gospel actor and the president of Mount Zion Faith Ministries International – a Christian Film & Drama organisation – Mike Bamiloye has voiced out his own opinion on the invitation of comedians to church meetings and events.
The veteran actor Bamiloye took to his Facebook to share his thought on the viral issue that is once discussed by another gospel singer Kenny K’Ore. He further said that he decided to share his own opinion after receiving a message on Whatsapp on this issue.
Read what he wrote below:
As per COMEDY in Church Meetings and Events!!
I want to address Christians – ALL denominations – this morning without prejudice!
For a long while I have questioned the inclusion of COMEDY in Church events. What do I question? The fact that the comedians brought in are allowed to make jokes of scriptures, the Blood of Jesus, speaking in tongues, the throne of grace etc.’ AND WE SIT THERE LAUGHING!
What are we laughing at? What is funny? Mocking God and Christ and the Holy Spirit and the Word is funny????
We hear of other religions where they are obsessed with protecting the image of their Leader and we gleefully allow people to MOCK our Leader JESUS CHRIST and the Holy Spirit and thereby indirectly MOCKING GOD!!! They look at us with disdain because we are BAD AMBASSADORS of our faith!
Lukewarmness and cynicism has crept slowly into the life of Christians. We pull ourselves down publicly, abuse leaders of the gospel will glee, mock certain commandments of God. YET when we run into trouble who do we call upon???
Bible has already stated that towards the end times there will be mockers of the gospel and preachers doing wrong. WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BE ONE OF THEM???
We come into Facebook and spew out curses and abuses – mock the commandments especially when it comes to forgiveness issues and honour of parents etc and we go to church and lift up hands and voices to WHO??? HE who we MOCK with DISOBEDIENCE? We quickly mouth monotonous words – God is in control! Amen! It is well! Praise God etc but do we HONOUR HIM with our words and actions??? We are humans and not perfect but SHOULD WE MOCK THE CORE COMPONENTS OF OUR FAITH???
I was thinking of all these since Friday when a comedian was allowed in the stage at the EXPERIENCE to use a scripture in the Old Testament as foundation for his jokes! I LAUGHED also but later felt badly convicted and I said I will speak out – then this morning I received the message below in my whatsapp and I said ‘somebody feels the same way I do’. It is long but worth reading –
FROM ANONYMOUS ……
I was brought up under very rigid church atmosphere, to humor during a sermon was almost Like a sin,,
Then came “knowledge” we felt we had been too religious, somewhat and somehow, we threw away the baby with the bath water..
We introduced fun into services, From dance steps to many other things,
“to the pure all things are pure,” we must have quoted.
What we failed to see is the side effects of entertainment:
– Lightness
– Looseness
– Loquaciousness
– The spirit of lasciviousness prevailed .
Then the latest miasma…
COMEDY
Sad enough, recently I found myself laugh at one of such instances, and quickly I Checked myself ” are you losing your mind,” I asked myself.
Comical jokes and ridiculous jokes poked at scripturally awed activities!!!!!!
– Jokes about casting out demons (when fewer believers actually cast out Demons)
– Mockery about tongues (called a communication with the Father )
– Gifts of the spirit used as comedy and to generate hilarity (whereas fewer believers walk in the gifts)
– Ministry of angels used as comical relief
– Judgment seat of Christ made to look like theatre too.
– Most vitally, preachers of the gospels in humor mannequin for laughs and fun.
The list goes on.
What exactly is happening???
The Yorubas say “it’s a bastard who uses his left hand to describe his fathers house”
We mustn’t be so behaved.
We should know the importance of the above activities, things Christ purchased (made available) with His blood, found only in His spirit.
They can’t be used for drama and comedy to laugh and jeer or cheer!!!
IT MUST STOP!
1 Timothy 3:15 KJV
[15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
A fellow told me: “laughter is medicine for the soul”
I said, “the laughter needed, Is it referring to laughing from a joke, or joy in the Holy Ghost?
There is joy in the Holy Ghost.
Jesus demonstrated it, the church in Acts, Paul and the apostles taught it and they weren’t referring to making a mockery of spiritual things .
Nothing wrong in humor but keep away things of the faith and verity.
Like paul admonished –
Ephesians 5:4 KJV
[4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Let’s have the consecration of the old timers and behave ourselves in the house!
If your church members are carnal, no need feeding their carnality, feed them spiritual realities
Those of us here who believe these jesters and comedians are desecrating the altar of God should rise and oppose this when they are brought to your church.
Go meet the leadership in office and express your mind. Once we don’t create an atmosphere of seriousness and worship, what right do we have to expect the manifestation of God’s glory in our midst?
Jesters and mockers can go to wedding receptions and wherever.
Yet if you mock or despise holy things, you can still come under God’s judgment.
They joke about the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, choruses etc. When they are in trouble and need the blood or the Name, how can it work for them?
So there it is: what is the stance you will take??? Join the revelers or stand against MOCKERY in the name of COMEDY in Church activities and events???
I have said my own!
Laila St. Matthew-Daniel
#IStandAgainstReligiousComedyInChurch
#HonourAndRespectForChrist