Solomon Kpande, a Pastor with Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos State, has said that some church doctrines are local cultures brought into the church by pastors and members.
The pastor stated this on his Facebook page while noting that religion in advance countries is practiced differently.
In the post, which came days after the death of popular gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, and which had generated controversy over church doctrines, including staying in abusive marriages, Kpande wrote: “Some of the things we call doctrines, for which we blame the church for, are actually local cultures and traditions brought into the church by members and pastors.
“They have no biblical basis.
“Jesus said that tradition is so powerful that people can use it to make void the word of God, that means to incapacitate the word of God.
“For example l know of cultures that forbid young women that lost their husbands from getting married to other men, such culture will rather that they become concubines or side chic (in todays parlance) to other men including married men, and remain in their late husband’s compound struggling to make ends meet.
“And the members and leaders of churches in such communities accept it.
“So if by any chance as a young lady your husband dies you are condemned to widowhood for the rest of your life except you agree to become someone’s concubine.
“Bible is clear that such persons should go and remarry.
“But who will champion such fight? AS a pastor in such communities both the members of the church, the traditional rulers, the women in the community and the men will fight against you.
“The state and local government legislators and executives will not do anything to change such cultures.
“So our real problem in Nigeria is some of our cultures, traditions, and beliefs.
“Not the principles of the Bible.
“Africans need to check our beliefs, cultures and behaviours and keep improving on them as the world changes rather than look for scapegoats.
“That is why the Islam practiced in UAE made them to develop Dubai, but the one practiced in Northern Nigeria keeps the place backwards, and in some cased subtly support terrorism.
“The Christianity practiced in the western world and the USA led to western civilisation and development, but the one practiced in Nigeria focuses on Killing your enemy because the African gods specialised in killing than saving lives.
“Since the God of the new testament is not quick in striking people dead like sango and Amadioha Nigerian politicians and business people have learnt how to use the name of God to steal government money, or cheat other people and turn around to organise thanksgiving service.
“Even corrupt police and civil servants will still be quoting Bible.
“Sometimes, I fancy the idea of an invisible hand slapping the mouth of all those that lie in the name of God.
“Anyway the problem is not with Christianity or the Bible.
“It is with the christopagan religion or trado-christian religion we practice that has no regard for principles and ethics.
“That is my submission, what is yours?”