As the country appears divided over many national, ethnic and religious issues currently plaguing the land, Archbishop David Irefin of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star; a professor of Economics at the Federal University Lokoja in an interview with SALIHU OYIBO is admonishing all Nigerians to embrace love as enshrined in the Everlasting Gospel of Olumba Olumba so that the current travails would disappear.
In the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, love is king. Can you explain the concept?
The Almighty God who created the heavens and earth has only one law. This is the reason Jesus Christ taught His disciples that they should love one another as He loved them. Though many people erroneously believe that there are many commandments and laws but the Holy Spirit has revealed in this last advent the existence of only one commandment which is love in accordance with His word that, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you.” This is despite all flaws and that means we should have regard for other people irrespective of age, gender, colour or social status. Leader Olumba Olumba Obu emphasised that God regards every person in the world as same whether man, woman, white, black, young, old, rich, poor, high or low and that is why He came and gave His life for the whole world. If you have love, you will not indulge in any vice. This is because love does no ill to his neighbour. In fact, love is power and life; it is wisdom of truth. When you have love, you have everything in this world. This is the reason love is core in Olumba’s teachings and practice. It is said in the scriptures that in the last days, all churches would be united. This means that if we have love one towards another, we would be united. Our LORD Jesus Christ did not say we should love only our race or denomination or tribe. He also did not say we should love only those who love us. He said we should not discriminate; we should not hate, that we should also come together as one and live in love. Though different religions have been here for long, what remains of them is to practise love which is the golden rule.
Is that why Olumba Olumba Obu always emphasises love?
Let it be known to all that in this era, all the inhabitants of this world are required to possess love. Let all go and practise love towards one another and He will reveal Himself to us. If you therefore love one another, it means that you love Him and has obeyed His commandments, and He in turn will love you and His Father will love you and He will reveal Himself to you. Thus, people should stop asking where they can find God; just obey Him and love one another as commanded and He will come unto you and you will see Him.
What is the consequence of failure to practise love?
All the troubles and problems in the world result from the absence of love. Do what you wish in the world without love and there would be no progress and peace anywhere. The absence of love is the destruction being currently experienced all over the world. For instance, look at what the absence of love has done in our country. There are chaos, woes and crisis everywhere. Look at insecurity, hunger, poverty, threat of wars, suffering and division everywhere. The absence of love would never allow our political and religious leaders to achieve anything meaningful in Nigeria. The current situation would get worse until we all possess love. This is because God always hands over those who lack love to angels for punishment.
Forgiveness is one of the foundation Everlasting Gospel preaches about. What therefore is forgiveness?
The Holy Spirit says that even if you do not give unto works of the flesh such as adultery, fornication, stealing, witchcraft, hatred, envy and other vices, but you fail to forgive others their sins, you are lost. Though you practise all other gospels and fail to forgive one another, you are lost and the kingdom of God would certainly elude you. Leader Olumba Olumba Obu emphasises it that whatsoever a person does to you, you must forgive. For instance, if a person calls you a thief, murderer or steals from you, kills your relation or a member of your family, you are not to count sin on such a person. You must forgive and forget. Even if somebody commits adultery with your wife, impregnates your daughter, burnt down your house and destroys your property, you are duty bound to forgive and forget. If Nigerians and the entire world want to prosper and live in peace, the short-cut is to forgive one another of all faults. If the political, religious, and traditional leaders can key into forgiveness as a way of life and practise it, then, suffering, insecurity, woes, and lamentation would no longer be experienced anywhere in our country. If you do not forgive others their trespasses, God would retain your own trespasses. Can you now see the reason for our present predicament as a nation? Leader Olumba has consistently maintained that if you are so righteous and practise all the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ but fails to bow to forgiveness, suffering would not only be your portion but, salvation would elude you.
Why is it imperative for people to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness?
Forgiveness is key to salvation and life eternal. If we learn to forgive, we will be filled with light and this light will lead us to practise more righteousness. Darkness will never prevail in the land; all ailments and tribulations would flee from us. Let us humble ourselves and practise forgiveness because this covers all other commandments thereby obtaining justification by grace from God. This is the reason our Lord Jesus Christ, while on the cross said that those who initiated His crucifixion be forgiven by His Father because they never knew what they did. What sin is greater than that committed against Him? Yet, He asked the Father to forgive His accusers. Do not forget that those who crucified Him did not come forward to beg for forgiveness before He said those words. If we can practice forgiveness, it is the duty of God to avenge for us. The entire world is filled with sins but because of our Lord of Jesus Christ, God forgave the entire world. Therefore, all those who now impute sins on others have crucified our Lord Jesus Christ the second time. Such people have rejected life and must be consumed with afflictions and suffering in multiple forms. Humanity must know that we are saved by grace and this grace is obtained by forgiving others. The word ‘forgiveness’ sounds so small but it is the greatest work of God. It means forgetting those things which are behind. That is forgetting all the offences and sins committed against you by others. Once we key into forgiveness all our troubles and problems will be over, peace, joy prospering and life everlasting will be experienced by all. Let it be clear to all that whatever one does to someone, God will do the same in the exact measure to that person.
Finally, His Holiness Olumba OLumba Obu is inviting all creation to be part of His end of time Mega event Titled: The Divine Numbering of the Elects Scheduled to take place at the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star World Headquarters, Calabar in April as it would feature the restoration of the twelve powers of man lost in the Garden of Eden when Adam disobeyed God.
