Pastor Tony Spell’s Violation of Stay-at-Home Order: Christianity is About Bringing Glory to God – By Godwin Airuoyuwa

Posted by admin American Politics, Articles, Columnists, Godwin O. Airuoyuwa, Headlines, NNP Columnists, Religion Friday, May 1st, 2020

By Godwin Airuoyuwa | Greater Toronto Area | May 1, 2020 | Christians do a lot of things in Christ’s name that do not glorify the Father in heaven! The scripture says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16). In a time of crisis, like the coronavirus pandemic we are going through right now, believers in Christ should be in the forefront, rendering all help they can. While some are doing just that, and not publicizing it, others are choosing to use the opportunity to notoriously advertise themselves.

Until now, many people, including myself, did not know Pastor Tony Spell of the Life Tabernacle Church in Louisiana, USA. He is today in the news for the wrong reasons; right now, he has an ankle bracelet placed by the police, and an outstanding fine of twenty five thousand dollars. His offence; he insisted on having his church services with all the parishioners in the church, in violation of the stay-at-home, and social distancing order by the State. He also allegedly put someone’s life in danger, when he carelessly drove a vehicle toward the individual. When the Pastor ought to be organizing his followers to assist all who are in need, either in their health or in their finances, as a result of the pandemic, he is organizing them to jam the police phone lines with calls. Because of this action, the police are unable to receive calls of citizens who urgently need their services.

Does the Pastor really think that the world will believe that he is being persecuted for worshipping God? After all, the stay-at-home order is to all citizens of the state, and it was made to save lives. His reason for not holding on-line services, like many other churches are doing, is that he is unable to lay his hands on the parishioners. This is no good reason; if he cannot lay his hands, he can pray! The God, who blesses through his hands, can also bless through his prayers.

Or does he think that the people are blessed by his power? Scientists and doctors say clustering together, like in a church service, help to spread the virus; this is a fact. In fact, one of his parishioners is dead from the virus, and his church lawyer is hospitalized for the disease. It is ridiculous to hear the pastor dispute the Coroner’s determination that the parishioner died from the virus, when he is not a doctor. Brethren, the light shining through Pastor Tony Spell right now is not from Christ, because it is not revealing any good deeds; it is certainly not the kind of light that brings glory to the Father in heaven. Unfortunately, many of his followers are not seeing this truth.

Engr. Godwin Airuoyuwa is the author of the book Practical Christianity: Living Like the New Creature You Have become (2019). Copies could be purchased from Amazon or the publisher Shidaanikei Publishers @ [email protected].

wp_posts