Poju Oyemade, the
senior pastor at The Covenant Nation, has called on churches to respect the
government’s call for social distancing, as a means for halting the spread of
the coronavirus disease (COVID19)
He stated that
social distancing is a biblical method for stopping the spread of a virus,
emphasising that the concept is God’s idea.
The convener of The
Platform Nigeria, who held a strictly online service on Sunday, called on other
churches to regulate themselves in order to be ahead in its dealings with the
state.
“God designed us to
protect the honour of His Church through a principle known as self-judgment.
This way we always stay far ahead of the curve when it comes to interaction
with the State,” Oyemade said.
“This principle is
outlined in 1 Corinthians 11:31-32: ‘For if we would judge ourselves, we should
not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we
should not be condemned with the world.’
“This implies that
we protect ourselves from external discipline if we have very strong
self-governing mechanisms. As our country therefore contends with the COVID-19
pandemic, it is important for us to understand that it has no religious
affiliation.”
SOCIAL DISTANCING IS GOD’S IDEA
Oyemade, who pastors
hundreds of thousands of people across the world, said social distancing is
God’s idea as spelt out in the bible to the nation of Israel.
“That explains why
pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Mecca or the Vatican are all being cancelled on the
principle of social distancing, which is actually a Biblical method to stop the
spread of an infectious virus,” he added.
“Social distancing
is nothing new. It was spelt out in the covenant God had with the nation of
Israel. They were to isolate infected people and practice personal hygiene to
stop the spread of any disease among them.
“Leviticus 13: 21,
46, makes it plain: ‘But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no
white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat
dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days…All the days wherein the
plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell
alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.’
“This was the way
Israel walked in divine health. From spiritual principles of staying clear of
bitterness and murmuring in order to keep the spirit healthy, to practical
principles of hygiene through the collective application of wisdom, the nation
was kept in health.
“When an individual
had need of healing after violating the law of God, then the individual faith
of the prophet was required to restore health to the person or group.
Meanwhile, the nation as a whole stayed healthy by the collective application
of wisdom.”
CHURCHES SHOULD SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO
AUTHORITY
He stated that
churches should be subject to authority by following the dictates of God’s
word.
“As children of God
therefore, it is important that we stay ahead of the world in terms of stopping
the spread of COVID-19 through the application of Biblical principles.
“We are also to
subject ourselves to authority since we are the light of the world and the
principle of isolation is biblical. This way we prove in word and deed that we
are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
“The experience of
Church services being intruded upon should not even arise for we should be far
ahead of even the State through the application of the wisdom of God found in
the scriptures. May God see us through this difficult period. And may He
preserve our country.”
Poju Oyemade-led The
Covenant Nation was founded in March 30, 1994, as Covenant Christian Centre.
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