The cleric said “We don’t celebrate Christmas. It actually came from idolatrous background. That is why you don’t hear us sing what they call Christmas carol, Never! We always say it is the December retreat. We are only gathering together because it is the holiday period and love the lord more, and rededicate ourselves more.
“When you find anybody coming in, or any leader, trying to introduce the idolatry of mystery Babylon, that they call Christmas and you want to bring all the Christmas carol saying that is the day that Jesus was born, and you don’t find that in the Acts of the Apostles or in the early church, then you don’t find that in the church either. If you don’t know that before, now you know.”
He warned that any of the church’s leaders that tried to introduce the “idolatry of Christmas” into any section of the church would be sanctioned, while also encouraging other believers in Christ to jettison the celebration as part of their sacrifice to perfection.
Kumuyi said the duty of the church was to make people more like Jesus Christ and not join in worldly celebrations.
“We are not trying to make the church turn like the world. We want it to be like Jesus Christ, and more like the Apostles. If you don’t have that mind with us, then you have permission to go to other places,” he added.
But the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, in his reaction to Kumuyi’s proclamation, said, “I don’t know what he means by saying the practice of celebrating Christmas is wrong.
“Is he saying that Christ wasn’t born? That he didn’t come to die for us? Does he not celebrate his own birthday? Do Kumuyi’s pastors not celebrate him? It is not everything I react to; some people just seek attention. If Kumuyi is a Christian, then he must believe in Christ.
“The celebration of Christmas didn’t just start today; it is too public an event for anyone to say that they don’t know what it is about. “If Kumuyi is condemning the commercialisation of Christmas, I can understand that. Christ came to redeem us from our lost state; this was actualised through his coming, his birth; that is why we celebrate Christmas. It is the fulfilment of God’s promise.”
“I saw him on the television a few days ago. He was in Akwa Ibom State and was the chief preacher during their Christmas celebration event. Kumuyi is just saying what he feels; he is not making any doctrinal statement.”
The spokesperson for the Christian Association of Nigeria, Oshodi chapter, Lagos State, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, said that Christmas was worth celebrating.
Otoibhi told one our correspondents in a telephone interview that the origin of Christmas was not as important as its essence.
He said, “The origin of Christmas, as we know it, could be traced to Roman Emperor, Constantine. Christmas was a day for celebrating the Sun God. However, because Constantine was a Christian, the day was changed to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
“The tradition has continued to date and since the aim of Christmas is to celebrate Jesus since there is nothing bad in honouring Jesus. Also, the worship of the Sun God was done in Rome and not everywhere in the world, so it is not part of our history.
“We mark Christmas with the singing of songs as a day, which has now been consecrated.”
Well what can I say? Please share your thoughts below
The truth is bitter and obviously what the people don't wanna hear
ReplyDeleteWhat truth maggi? Please pple ignore Kumuyi, do any of you remember the 3 wise men from d east who came to celebrate the birth of Jesus and d gifts they brought, also how king hero's reacted to the news that a new king has been born? Even after king herod told the wise men not to visit the new king? But still they went behind him to visit and knelt down to worship the new king. Sometimes I wonder if some of these pastor are taliban Christians or are they trying to woo more vulnerable customers to their church? Pastors should focus on how to tackle bad governance in Nigeria and stop misleading some christians with their preachings
DeleteI think the question you should quickly answer is when or in what specific date was Jesus born? If it wasn't December 25th then why celebrating his birthday on this day?
Delete@ mercy you can choose any date to celebrate your birthday, it's just a celebration
Delete@ anon 8.57am, it's wise men not 3 wise men. D fact dat dey came with 3 gifts doesn't make dem 3, dey could be less or more...
DeleteAlthough i am not writing to support Kumuyi because Babylon the great-The world empire of false religion including Kumuyi church will be destroyed.The celebration of christmas is ungodly,not biblical and was celebrated by idol worshipers and so should not be celebrated by true christians.(note true christians)December 25th was the actual day the Romans celebrate their sun god but was introduced into the church simply because the Roman emperor Constantine wanted to bring those idol worshipers into the church and replace it with the date Jesus was born.From Genesis to Revelation the bible did not tell us point blank the actual day or month Jesus was born rather the only information we got about the birth of christ was when the angel told the shepherd in the bush that Jesus had been born and according to Jewish calender the shepherd does not take their flock to the bush during December because of cold and so Jesus could not have been born in December if shepherds does not take their sheep to the bush during december(simple Logic)If we must go by assumption,one might say just assume that he could be born say August(not sure).Another important point is that Jesus did not celebrate his birth day and non of worshipers of God in the past did rather those that celebrated their birth day during bible time was idol worshipers :Pheroah and Herod .and something bad happened that day.The day pheroah did his celebration his chief baker and cup bearer was killed while John the baptizer was killed the day Herod did his.What Jesus celebrated was his death and asked true christians to do the same no wonder the bible says the day of ones death is important than the day of his birth.
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DeleteWhen Pastor Kumuyi stated his ministry, he told his members not to use or buy television and radio etc, that all are sin, but later he preaches through radio and
television and now his members can buy them. I will be very happy and GOD himself will be happy if the Ataoja of Oshogbo can cancel Osun Oshogbo festival and change the date to celebration of birth of Jesus Christ. For GOD sake, can he show a sign of sin in celebrating Christmas if not praising HIS name. If all the Clubs, hotels, beer parlors can be converted to church will he not be happy?
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ReplyDeleteMy God is not the originator of Christmas so therefore I don't celebrate christmas
ReplyDeletelove is often an abuse word' I Disagree i think 'touch not my anointed' is more abused In Nigeria today;
ReplyDeleteevery pastor that makes a mistake hides under that saying causing people to keep quiet from saying the truth;
love your neighbour will never be an abused word; because love conquers all
Hmmm#no comments
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ReplyDeleteWhat will Kumuyi say if his son takes part in the Olympic Games? And by the way, where is William Kumuyi in the Bible?! Where is Deeper Life Bible Church in the Bible?! I pity these condemned men like Kumuyi who turn the Bible on its head. They have led many people astray. God will not spare them on the last day. I joyfully celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.
I don’t see anything wrong in what he said afterall there is no word like Christmas In the bible and also jesus never said we should celebrate his birthday don’t forget that december25th was not when jesus was born it was formed by some people like that but meanwhile there is easter in the bible so people shouldn’t argue blindly
ReplyDeleteI have listened to all the comments and i have some questions for those who are against and for. We should try to underemphasis doctrines because doctrines will not take us to heaven. Will those celebrating xmas make heaven or not? celebrating xmas i believe is not one of the requirements to make heaven neither is not celebrating it. So, we should concentrate on what will make us make heaven and not trivial things like celebrating xmas.We should endevaour to ensure that we obey the bible and not doctrines. Conflicting doctrines are too many in the Christendom. I remember vividly at a time when Deeper Life doctrine kicked against watching of TV, wearing of Lace Materials.
ReplyDeleteOga anonymous it is Not "listen to coMment" but read comment
DeleteMy friend de doctrine of de Bible are God fonder mental truth,I want to believe wat u wanted to say was dogma and not doctrine.
DeleteLet me ask all u dis question. Wen exactly is de Sabbath,is it Saturday or Sunday? Do I hear u say Saturday. Y den do people worship on Sunday? Friends b mindful of de coming of d Lord and don't get yourself involve in an unnecessary argument,weather u went to retreat during December or not de truth still remain,that u are doing wat u are doing b'cos d baby Jesus. If u do not go to retreat don't condemned those who went,and if u went to retreat don't condemned those who do go. Serving de Lord is a spiritual thing,that can only be done by faith and not by observing some rite. I've a lot to say to u guys but d time is not on my side. I will leav u with dis, the time shall come,dis is d our wen de true worshippers will worship de father in spirit and in truth, do hear that,he didn't say they will serve but worship,do u know what it mean to worship. Think about it.
DeleteSo Far say I never Worship Idol I Don't Care
ReplyDeleteEnough of the judging already...........Christmas is celebrated by Christians to mark the birth of Christ , just like Easter is to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ. None of these were clearly stated in the Bible, but that doesn't make it wrong........if your doctrine doesn't subscribe to the celebration of any of these ( may be including birthdays and similar occasions)doesn't give u the right to condemn those that do. Besides a lot of people believe that everything their pastor says is correct. Even when it is obviously wrong( in one word "idolatry").........quit judging, condemning, discriminating of other doctrines just because yours is slightly or totally different........that is what is unscriptural.
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