From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
President of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria Reverend Amos Kiri has said true Christians are called to love and pray for their enemies, including insurgents, saying it is the only way to change them.
Dr Kiri asserted this during the closing ceremony of the 58th HEKAN Annual National Convention, 2024 held in Kaduna yesterday.
Dr. Kiri stressed that as a church, Jesus never taught Christians to hate their enemies at any point in time but that they should love them, saying if there will be that kind of message that will lead people to love one another, the pulpit and gospel ministers must be used to preach and to tell the world that Jesus Christ came to this earth out of love.
The HEKAN President added that “The gospel of Jesus Christ is a contrarian gospel because it does not agree with our flesh. The Bible for instance says we must pray for our enemies, bless those who curse us and even those who persecute us.
“But our flesh says we should curse those who curse us. Curse them so much that they will not again dare to curse. The Scriptures say we should not take revenge.
The power of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ lies in that very contrarian nature. The gospel speaks to that which we do not want to accept.”
Rev.Kiri opined that the Gospel of love is very important now that the country is bedevilling with some security challenges and economic hardship., note that the Church also have its share of predicaments.
According to him the person he took over from was kidnapped along with other clergy of which one died, that was around 2016.
“Recently we have also suffered with over fifty of our members kidnapped even though some escaped but we have lost one instantly when he was shot dead and one when they were released and on their way, one died.
“ Some have suffered injuries, and it has affected them with trauma.
“We appeal to the federal government to live up to its responsibility. We can see that Mr President is doing his best but more needs to be done.
“The security of men and women needs to be secured if we must overcome this monster. We plead with them to put aside competition and work together in other to save this country from what we are facing.”
