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George Bennard, 1913 wrote the song that still stand today as a reference to
what should define our attitude in responsibility to our communities and
people. The dearest and best of us was slain for the benefit of us all.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain;

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

This song reverberates in the soul of the wise afresh as the temptations of
the present age draw our attention to lust and filthy lucre of life and all it can
provide. It is a song prepared to always keep us  
committed to a life of sacrifice in the midst of plenty, a life ready to give at
the expense of self, a life devoted to see that life becomes better for
everyone. That was the whole essence of the cross, and He that was nailed
on it. The dearest and best of mankind made to taste the worst of mankind
cruelty even when He could resist! But He agreed to the terms, so as to
exchange the shame for a glory that is eternal.

Galatians 6: 14 says “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I
to the world”.

That old wise song has been changed for immediate gratification that
indulges in self-perpetuation, self-glorification and self-evident existentiality.
What we have today as oracles of God or as emblems of His reach to
humanity are mostly a sham and a distortion of the original. We now have
men who have exchanged the souls for the penny of fame and relevance, and
all chalartanic escapades are reasoned as entitlements and fringe benefits of
the lies. Some have the demeanor of the most humble humanity but behind
in their soul is the love for fallacy and perversion of cross. These are the ones
that have gotten most people confused, but are really the ones to be scared
of the most.

The Old rugged cross is no longer what they alluded to anymore; it is too
long and risky to wait to exchange the shame of that cross for a glory to be
revealed. So the song has changed to “A new rugged cross” where all they
needed and wanted is provided via the cross they preached. They have no
one to sacrifice for anymore, the price has been paid once for all, so they
claim, so in their casuistry rationalization of the truth they feed on the
unsuspecting masses of the poor, the rich rogues, the casual simpletons,
and the those who revel in their lies because they derive some benefits too.

We now have majority of Pastors, Preachers and Bishops (or whatever name
or title preferred) ravaging our cities and towns with the message of
righteousness when they are glaringly unrighteous. They prowl our
communities with the message of selflessness when they are outlandishly
selfish. They speak of contentment when they are lavish in their pursuit and
use of gain. They smoke our corners in different names under the guise of the
gospel of redemption all in the soulish desire to win a rat race with
competitors. Who is fooling who?

The majority of these people can easily be defined by their ostentatious
showiness in public glare. You cannot mistake them for the original except
you are a fake yourself or a product of their style, or a protégé of their lust.
The worst of them are those who disguise in simple dresses but have every
other evident of building an earthly kingdom that will pass away. They speak
simple but father hirelings. They appear simple but protect every liar in public
domain. They go in and out quietly but with the noise of errors attending them
everywhere they go. They speak miracles, invoke God (when He is far away)
and prophesy promises of victories and breakthroughs, yet only those who
have them are members of the caucus.

How can a ministry built on Jesus Christ build institutions that would be a
blessing to communities turn around to charge the poor neighborhoods
exorbitant prices for such services? They build schools that it will take
stealing from public purses to attend, yet never questioned anyone how they
came about the funds. They take tithes and offerings that are bigger than the
life of the giver (donor) yet nobody questions anybody. Will it be wrong to ask
these hirelings if they really believe truthfully that 10% of their members can
afford their schools, hospitals, or eateries etc? Will it be wrong to ask them if
the amount of money that accrues to them on daily is commiserate with what
God will give as their pay package?

Not even Jesus Christ will allow such retinues of people follow them wherever
they go. It is a depiction of a larger than life posture of these scurrilous
vainglorious seekers in the name of Pastors. They are super-humans, so
their followers depict them, so they respond to such stature too. If they really
hate it and frown at it, can’t it be stooped? By their fruits you will know them,
not by their message or dressing.

The ominous Lordship of sole ownership overtakes the brotherhood of
sanctified gospel delivery, where the word of the G.O or the Senior Pastor is
law. Holy Spirit in the lives of elders is shut down at points of decision-
making. Gifts in diversities are neglected because ambition has become the
driving force behind most of this so-called house of God. Truth must be told;
God does not have a house! Not anywhere closes to what you call one in
your sanctuary.

Quote me on this anywhere; if Nigeria will be better in the days and years to
come, the life of lies and deceit by those who claim to be frontrunners of the
Church in Nigeria must stop first. They are the biggest fraud in Nigeria! Their
political involvement is much more than PDP, CAN and CPC put together.
They get involved in government policies from the scratch to when it is
gazetted. Behind the scenes that are made known to most of us, they
sponsor candidates for elections and renounce those that can turn around to
work against their gaudy interest in the interest of public good. Tell me, if a
man does not have a conscience how can he have a heart? Revamp the
Church in Nigeria, and the nation will begin to grow stronger by the day.

Back to the song;

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world.
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Ten He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain.

Call me not a destroyer but a builder of the ancient ruins. I do not call for
poverty but for a lifestyle of sacrifice and common good of all.


I can be reached at nigardgroup@yahoo.com  
RELIGION: The New Rugged “Cross”
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-Editor, African Examiner
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By Olumide Goodness Adeyinka
Wednesday,  April 04,  2012
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