THE PASTORS HAVE GONE ASTRAY, WHO CAN HELP THEM?

Global pastors have gone astray.


A pastor is seen as a man of God who serves as the head of a Christian institution by showing his followers the right path to follow. 

Although pastors are prone to sin themselves, some have been successful with their evangelical work to remove many from the road of affliction to happiness and success. Through the church, many men have been saved from alcoholism and drug abuse.

Just as the Holy Bible warns that false prophets would arise, in the same way, false pastors are springing up like mushrooms. As a leader of an institution, pastors are respected in society because they are seen as servants of God. But the question is, are pastors doing what God requires from them?

From continent to continent, the story of pastors varies. In Africa, some who preach the word of God are commonly seen roaming and preaching on the streets, buses, and places for passengers. They claim to have visions and messages from God to serve the people. 

But behind the altar, many sleep and enjoy with other people’s wives, carry out secret abortions, and are involved in continuous defrauding and embezzling of money.  

While in Europe and the United States of America, where the grass is greener than that of Africa, pastors continue to abuse children, young boys and girls, and others who have completely gone astray, officiate and bless same-sex marriages. 

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing”. Said Jesus. Many wanted to make a name by prophesying the coming of the end of the world, but nothing happened, and all of them ended up in disgrace.

Who are we going to follow now, when all the pastors are in sin? Is it even worth going to church or the Mosque at all? No religion can claim to be better than another when in the Mosque, the Imam also sits and plans terrorism against innocent people.  

They claim “Allah is great”, yet they don’t allow that great Allah they worship to take his revenge. They kill, pour acid on the faces of women who refuse to marry them, terrorize, and marry underage girls. The gross abuse of Muslims is even more disturbing than the wayward pastors.

Even though the church plays an important role in society by shaping the lives of people, it is not an institution that can save the world. Most of the world's tragic occurrences, apart from natural disasters, are caused by man. 

The polluted heart of man comes out as anger to destroy the world. People should learn to forgive and forget. Repentance is essential.

About greed, which has caused so much unrest, one should remember “What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?” 

Empty-handed, one came from the dust, the same dust one returns empty-handed. Racism, discrimination, claiming superiority over others, and hatred are all enemies that bring havoc to society. 

In fact, men should lean upon the greatest commandment of all time, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL IN SOCIETY

Once alcohol takes control over you, it's hard to break free



Alcohol is now known to be equally dangerous to cocaine and other dangerous drugs that affect the health of the abusers but the fight against it is much relaxed or slow. 

A group of doctors in America believes that before the government loses or wins the campaign against cigarettes, cocaine, and other dangerous drugs, without considering alcohol much, it would have claimed millions of lives.

During my youth, I witnessed the effect of alcohol on some of my teachers during lessons in the classroom. When it’s eating time, we had nothing to talk about but the stinking or stench of alcohol we smelled on a particular teacher. 

I could also remember my mother on many occasions counseling an alcoholic living in our neighborhood. When my mother didn’t see him any longer passing in front of our house to buy the strong, locally prepared drink, she thought he had gotten the message. 

Unknowingly, the man changed his route to avoid my mother seeing him. Eventually, the man succumbed to illness and died. The postmortem revealed that he died from excessive drinking.

In America, medical statistics have it that nearly 14 million over 18 are alcoholics. Another 1.3 million suffer from alcohol dependencies. Overall, almost 8% of adults have problems with alcohol, costing the economy an estimated $100 billion a year in health care costs and loss of productivity. Fatal road accidents worldwide are also related to alcohol.

Indy Mehigan, 17, a transformed alcoholic, once terrorized the streets of Lowestoft, Suffolk, in Britain. According to her, “I was just 12 when I first swigged vodka with my giggling mates in the school toilets. A few years later, I had turned into a violent, drunken youth who thought of nothing but smashing someone’s face."

"Then a friend told me about Positive Futures, a youth project in Lowestoft that helps teenagers with addiction and other problems. With their help, I left the gang and started a college course, and I’m now retaking my GCSEs. 

I’m also doing a course where I can mentor other kids. These days, when I see gangs of youths, I’m the one who crosses the street. But I also feel sorry because they are wrecking their lives.” She said. (Culled from Daily Mirror, Saturday, February 23, 2008, edition)

This is the confession of a young girl who has been in the abyss of alcohol drinking, but now is out of it and piously and consciously stepping out to help others. As a nation, people have to understand the crisis in alcohol abuse for several reasons. 

Drinkers may find it legal, pleasurable, and even beneficial, but at the end of it all, when hooked, let’s us view its disastrous effect on humans and on the roads. Besides the deaths alcohol has caused, it has also contributed to many broken homes, painful divorces, separations, and juvenile crime. .,

Alcohol is not just a closet problem but a full-blown health crisis that is crippling our nation as well as families. Kick it early or don’t go for it at all.

DEATH FOR SALE-THE KILLING INDULGENCE

When one becomes a slave to hard drugs, the result is terrible



Illicit drug consumption, production, and trafficking are on the ascendancy in many parts of the world. The effect of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and hashish is causing concern to society and governments throughout the world. 

The escalated trend in this illicit business has led to an increase in crime and other social ills.

On the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse, June 1994, it is estimated that at least 40 million people throughout the world regularly abuse drugs. 

The disastrous effect of the drug on mankind could be seen in Europe and America more than in Africa. But health magazines report on the gradual abuse of drugs in some parts of Africa today.

On almost every street in Europe, junkies are commonly seen. Especially in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, the effect of drug abuse has transformed able-bodied men into some fearful creatures. Some are gaunt at the edge of death. 

Others have lost their families and properties. Some are insane, leading them to permanent confinement in mental institutions.

Once hooked on drugs, they can't do without them. The more they use it, the more they want it. To satisfy their demand, junkies resort to stealing, committing serious crimes to lay their hands on anything that comes their way to raise money for drugs. 

It is for this reason that worldwide governments are fighting against drugs to bring good health to their citizens. But are they winning? The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, they say.

Despite previous and recent progress in arresting some pushers, the trade is still going on. The drug clan is one of the largest underworld groups, having links and networks all over. 

To fight against or reduce drug trafficking means to eliminate its roots and links. However, this hasn't been an easy task. 

The United States of America, with other world leaders, is trying to solve this social menace. Modern airports have been well equipped with computer detectors backed by sniffing dogs.

All these measures are just to prevent the smuggling of drugs across our borders, but what about what is already in the countries? Here, the press has an important role to play. Drug awareness lessons and campaigns are also possible ways to warn children about drugs. 

In fact, the campaign on drug abuse and its effect on society should be equal to the one on AIDS.