By Emmanuel Udom
Last week, one of my many good friends, who is running a pentecostal church here in Lagos, Nigeria invited me to come over to his church for a crusade.
Let me confess that for years, my friend have been praying, wishing and trying to persuade me to become a born-again Christian. Whatever this means. He knows me too well, since we are childhood friend.
Though, I attend church service most times, my friend knows that I am first and foremost a mystic and belong to two fraternal organizations.
Away from directing attention to myself. The crusade had the theme: spiritual security. I am not anti-Christ, not against Christianity as a religion. But, I do know from personal experience, that religion evolved from spirituality.
Again, I am deviating here. As far as my friend is concerned, as born-again Christians, the whole business of spiritual security is reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, a hundred or more times.
It is good to read the Bible and recite the verses a thousand times. But, in my humble views, spiritual security goes beyond reading the Bible again and again.
I may be wrong and therefore stand to be corrected. It has something to do with having a direct, one-on-one relationship with our creator.
It is about walking the talk. It is about putting into practice the commandments, not merely trying to show-off through outward appearances, how holy and sinless we are.
Nobody is perfect. Everyday, we are striving towards perfection in our thoughts, words and deeds. So, if we have a direct communication with our creator, we will be guided aright. We will be protected.
Security, whether physical or spiritual is all about safety. Therefore, if we have a direct link with our creator, without going through a middle person, called pastor, imam or master, we will be uplifted spiritually regardless of our religion.
I am not trying to condemn churches, pastors, imams or masters. Far from it. There are situations, where we need to consult these religious or spiritual leaders for counseling.
But, you must know that the journey to self mastership is a do-it-yourself process. No one, not even your pastor, imam or master has the magic formula for your life.
Reading the Bible or any holy book for that matter hundred times a day is only one percent. Putting into practice is 99 percent.
And when you, as a Christian begins to become the doer of the word, you will note that you will strive daily to be honest, kind, transparent, accountable, sincere, humble and trustworthy in your dealing with yourself, family, and the rest of people around you.
With your striving to imbibe these noble, universal virtues, you will naturally be guided and protected. Peace on earth.