By Valentine Obienyem
Fr. Chigozie Jidere in his sermon at the Sacred Heart Chaplaincy on Sunday said that Holy Spirit is beyond a force. He spoke as a Catholic priest well-versed in the scriptures, surpassing any self-proclaimed pastor. As he spoke, my thoughts immediately drifted to a Christian sect known as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
If learning the Bible, memorizing it, and quoting it at every moment were the sole indicators of Christianity, Jehovah’s Witnesses might be considered the foremost Christians. However, like other heretic Christian groups, some of their beliefs echo past heresies, collections of all the heresies the Church has faced in the past, mainly from its clergy, which have been thoroughly debated and the true teachings upheld.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity. They may quote thousands of biblical passages to prove it, but usually out of context. In most cases, they even change the words of the Bible to prove their heresies. An example of this is in John 1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (a god in their own Bible).
If any member of the Witness community feels injured, he should hold Fr. Jidere responsible for inspiring this through his sermon. You can compare both of us as historians compare Martin Luther and Erasmus. Erasmus was said to have laid the egg which Luther hatched, as Jidere laid the one I am hatching.
Considering the nuisance of heretics, Fr. Jidere forcefully declared that the Holy Spirit is beyond a force or power but actually the third person of the Holy Trinity. This was well articulated in the Nicene Creed, supported by biblical exegesis, countless theological writings by the fathers of the Church, and systematic theologians. He said this because today is Pentecost, the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.
Pentecost, which Fr. Jidere rated alongside the feasts of Tabernacles and Passover, is another feast that defines the place of Mary in Christology. She was with the disciples during Pentecost, highlighting her special place at all times. The ancient Jewish feast of Passover was celebrated fifty days after Passover, just as the Pentecost of the New Testament is celebrated fifty days after Easter.
Fr. Jidere delved into what Pentecost is, what it portends, and what it requires of us as Christians – allowing the plenitude of the fruits of the Holy Spirit to manifest in our lives. Reminding us of our old Catechist, he mentioned in Igbo the seven fruits of the Holy Spirit. He also took the opportunity to explain the concept of “glossolalia” – speaking in tongues, by differentiating three types of tongues:
- The type witnessed today, whereby the Apostles spoke in different tongues and were understood.
- Speaking in tongues in communal prayers that often need to be interpreted. Because of its peculiar nature, this is where we have many ecclesiastical 419ners who practice and speak gibberish as if inspired by God.
- Praying in tongues.
Regarding the abuse of speaking in tongues, Fr. Jidere emphatically said that it does not detract from its theological and biblical authenticity, resting his explanation on the fact that “abuses do not negate use.” The fact that speaking in tongues is abused does not render it nugatory.
