A little over a week ago, I woke up
thinking of James Ibori, the former governor of
Delta State in Nigeria who few months ago pleaded guilty to 10 crimes relating to substantive
counts of money laundering, deception and fraud.
He’s
currently serving a 13years jail term in a UK prison. Someone said an “Amen!”
to that, right? The presiding Judge thought Ibori stole more than he was being
charged for. But the man pleaded guilty. Does that mean he said I’m sorry?
Click
here for my
earlier note in pidgin English, first posted on facebook,
reflecting on the possibility of James Ibori’s transformation in prison. I really like
this piece.
I’m
enjoying my reflections or should I say, daydreams, on various issues, including the possibility of a salvation
story in the lips of James Ibori and his gang
some day.
I’m equally wondering if gays and lesbians need to go
straight before
they come to Christ or gain access into our churches.
My heart is stirred as I continue
to observe how graceless we are becoming as Christians. Our near zero tolerance
for people with a broken, dubious past or personality is palpable. Our disdain
for even fellow believers with divergent views on matters we feel passionate about
is very worrisome. Don’t even mention those that totally oppose us… they die by fire.
As harmonious as the
words grace and mercy are, their reality and meaning seem skewed in the minds of many believers today. Mine inclusive. We preach and teach the agape love as our most potent virtue, but the world is desperately longing to experience it.
When Jesus responded to that criminal
hanging on the cross beside Him, “I promise you that today you will be in
Paradise with me.” Who do you think would have been more surprised?
a) The criminal who made the request, (like James Ibori and that gay…)
b) His fellow
crook who mocked, (like other criminals, caught and uncaught felons…)
c) The on-lookers
who heard the conversation (like you and I, church people…) or
d) The devil? (the chief accuser)
I’m forced to revisit this previous
blog- If
a pet becomes a witch, and I’m standing there with a machete in hand, ready
to slaughter this wicked creature (a
witch), that wanted to harm me or my family, (BUT FAILED thanks to Isaiah
54:17); and then the unexpected happens. It cries out with a human voice,
“Please, please forgive me!!!”
Will I still kill it (him or her)?
Several friends who commented on
this issue showed no interest in the life of the witch. In our view, it deserved death. But is this case any different
from that criminal crucified beside Jesus, who probably had numerous murders,
theft and unspoken crimes in his record; yet at the last minute sort for mercy
and found it? How do you address the tension that erupts inside you when what you experience contradicts your beliefs and values?
You see, the unconditional grace
and mercies of God possess enough grit to absorb abuse and that’s why it’s
called AMAZING GRACE!!
Remember that woman caught in the very act (John
8:10-11 ), Peter who denied his Lord thrice (Matthew
26:69-75), Zacchaeus the cheat (Luke 19:2-10) or that prostitute in (Luke
7:37). Not to mention Mary Magdalene. How did their stories end?
Well, you may say only Jesus can
show such mercies and grace. Truth is, if you can’t, then you won’t have it
either, because Jesus says, “Blessed are those who show mercy. They
will be treated mercifully.” (Matthew 5:7)
Oh that gays and lesbians, Boko Haram and Al Qaeda, James Ibori and
his likes in prison or on their way there, may come to Jesus unconditionally!
Oh that our hearts and our churches be open to receive all (not just moneybags
or convicted politicians or business people) that come seeking for the same grace and mercies of God in Christ,
poured out in us.
Even so Lord JESUS!
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 