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Tuesday 24 February 2015

Misconceptions About White Garment Churches

RE: CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST: YOUR EXPERIENCE AND OPINION


 I read the views of Celestials, ex-Celestials and non-Celestials. This topic inspired this write-up.While analyzing their various comments and opinions I saw mostly misconceptions about the church. 

For a start we were members of the Celestial Church of Christ until 1992 when the Lord directed us to pull out and build another spiritual ark known as” Celica Church of Christ “therefore I will analyze specifically on Celestial Church of Christ, Celica Church of Christ, other white garment churches generally as well as a bit on Christ Apostolic Church. 

To begin with the Lord Jesus Christ descended the spiritual ark called Celestial Church of Christ in 1947 through prophet SBJ Oshoffa, it’s predecessors were Cherubim and Seraphim Church through prophet Moses Orimolade and Christ Apostolic church through Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola. The Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the founder of Celica Church of Christ, the Anointed Prophet Adetunji Adeonigbagbe that he raised these prophets for liberation of people from darkness. 

The establishment of the four churches is not a man-made idea but by the divine order of our Lord Jesus Christ.the founders of the 4 denominations were truly commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ to liberate the earth from darkness, they are Anointed Prophets. 


The preceding 3 patriarchs are resting in the bosom of their Lord and are still working in their various churches to this day. That is why there are still signs and wonders when their members call on the God of Orimolade, Ayo Babalola and  SBJ Oshoffa to this day. 


To butress this read Mark 9 vs 1-12,Matt 17 vs 1=13” after 6 days Jesus took Peter, James and John to a high mountain where they were alone. there he was transfigured before them, his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them and there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus, as they were coming down he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until he was raised from the dead.” Therefore the 3 founders are not dead spiritually but still living and working spiritually in their various denominations. 

That is why they are able to appear to prophet Adeonigbagbe and gave him the baton to continue the mandate which our Lord Jesus Christ sent them to do in the world. 

Prophet Adeonigbagbe’mandate can be found in in Isaiah 60 and 61 quoting chapter 61 vs 1’the spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me becos the Lord has anointed, me to preach good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”
Pastor Emmanuel on the left and Pastor Maforikan to the right at Ketu's meeting



TENETS AND DOCTRINES 
The Lord Jesus Christ told the four founders to establish the church based strictly on his spiritual directives so they must obey God rather than men Acts 5 vs 34-39”for if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is from God you will not be able to stop them; you will only find yourself fighting against God; however we boldly say we must obey God rather than men” since the establishment of the churches are divine..


The doctrines he gave each of them was what each followed no matter whose ox was gored and the resultant effect was the large followership which their church organization enjoyed when the great spiritual powers bestowed on them all were recognized by people. 

The Cherubim and Seraphim Church wore shoes on their garment outside the church premises but not within the church premises, the Christ Apostolic church wore different clothes to church and wore shoes in the church while Ayo Babalola most times wore his flowing garment as directed by God, the Celestial Church under Oshoffa wore no shoes on their garments according to God’s spiritual directives likewise Celica Church of Christ the only difference being the blue cross on the left hand side of the Celican garment. 


Another major difference is in the chant of praise, Cherubim- Halleluyah, Iye, CAC- Halleluyah, CCC- Halleluyah, Hosanna, Ebenezer to the four corners of the earth and in Celica-Hosanna, Iyin, Ogo to the four corners of the earth. 

These are God’s directives to the founders which must be obeyed at all times irrespective of people’s opinion. In all altars in Celestial and Celica there is the picture of Jesus Christ, in all our pamphlets his picture is the first because he is the foundation of the churches. 


Logo- in Celestial- there is the cross, the bible and the crown, in Celica- there is the cross, the bible and the eye. The cross stands for belief in Jesus Christ as our saviour, the bible for belief in the efficacy of the words of God which will never change for generations to come, the crown signifies that Jesus is the supreme king over the earth for Celestial and in Celica the eye signifies that the eye of the Lord is everywhere and watching you in all you do. 


I laughed when someone said he was in a Celestial parish in Ibadan and they never mentioned Jesus Christ once. Anyone in Celestial will start his/her prayers as spiritually laid down for Oshoffa by our Lord Jesus Christ like this “ Jehovah, Jesu Kristi, Michael Mimo “ which translates as Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael while in Celica Church of Christ as spiritually laid down “Si Olorun Baba, Si Olorun Omo, Si Olorun emi mimo, translated as To God the father, To God the son, To God the holy spirit. That shows you that these churches believe in the trinity of God. 

Someone said why the use of angels in Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Celestial churches. Holy Michael is the captain of the heavenly angels and the warrior whom the Lord Jesus Christ sends into battle against evil forces. God has given these churches the angels as messengers of joy, blessings, peace, victory etc for them, psalm 8 vs 4-8 ”what is man that you think of him, that you care for him, yet you made him only inferior to yourself and crowned him with glory and honour”. 

It is what God has laid down for these churches and nobody should find fault with it. Who are we to question this? I feel what must be asked is if those leaders and prophets still within the Celestial fold are strictly following the tenets and doctrines laid down by the founder.

I know there are still many shepherds and Celestial parishes who are still following strictly the doctrines as laid down from the inception. There is a notable cleric in Nigeria, the general overseer of one of the“Pentecostal” churches in Nigeria. 
He was criticizing the use of spiritual materials by white garment churches in the 1990s. He however revealed that the Lord told him after he had uttered such a statement that he must tell his congregation to bring some spiritual materials for a special service. That is how the spirit of God works, God can follow different procedures to achieve his goals. As an example in the bible in “Exodus 15 vs 22-25” at the waters of Marah he told Moses to throw a log of wood into the river to heal it, he told Elisha in “2kgs 2 vs 19-22” to make use of salt to heal the water. Our Lord Jesus Christ in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John used different methods.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus Christ is in every Church of God which he truly founded, he just shows himself to people from various angles as you can see in the different ways in which he called prophets and apostles in the bible,Moses,Samuel,Elijah,Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, Matthew, Paul etc
Whichever side he shows you of himself he just wants people to serve him instead of the kingdom of Satan therefore he has made christendom flexible, you serve him where you are at ease, Gospel, Orthodox, Pentecostal or Spiritual church. However it is we as a people who are creating divisions in christendom, “1st Corinthians 1 vs 11-13” saying we are for Peter, for Paul or for Apollo, is Christ divided, did they not proclaim the message and salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ”. 

Were we not all baptised in the blood of Jesus Christ, Christians it is time we unite and fight the kingdom of Satan so that we can be heirs in the kingdom of heaven.The word is near us our Lord Jesus Christ has brought the kingdom of God close to us. 

Attendees at Ketu's meeting. from right MC Oschoffa Pastor Founder's wife, MC Ajose, MC Mary Maforikan, MC Sodehinde at the back etc.
HYMNS
Someone also talked about the hymns of Celestial Church of Christ there is no disputing the fact that white garment churches hymns are divinely sent down. The lyrics and melody of the song gives credence to this fact. Also in the years past,the pioneer orthodox churches (Anglican, Baptist, Catholics) had many songs that were spiritually inspired. It is not like some churches now days who just flow with the tide of the season and compose songs most of which have no spiritual motivation. 
In Cherubim and Seraphim church you have inspired hymns such as “Ipile te jesu fi lele leyin ti baba Aladura so,ki eda mase ro pe o ye kuro nibe, mo duro le kristi Apata,Cherubim e yo, Seraphim e yo, a fi ipile lele lori otito, a fi ipile lele lori ododo, Ija dopin ogun ti tan olugbala jagun molu, orin ayo la o ma ko”, in Celestial Church of Christ you have inspired hymns such as hymn 305,185, 186,in Celica Church of Christ you have inspired hymns such as hymn 88, 11,i57,197,
In the orthodox churches they have songs like 
I) Gbogbo aiye gbe Jesu ga, Angeli e wole fun,emu ade oba re wa 
ii) Ore-ofe sa ni igbekale mi, Jesu kun fun araiye, o ku fun mi pelu 
iii) Se a wa loba awa loba awa loba 
iv) O funmi ni edidi, gbese la ti mo je 


THE BIBLE 
People talk about white garment churches practicing the old testament. I ask does it not contain the word of God.Can it be separated from the bible? It is wrong because the bible will not be complete without the whole 66 books.What people do not know is that the new testament is hidden in the old testament while the old testament is revealed in the new testament.The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ was predicted from the time of Moses,Isaiah,to mention a few.
Check Isaiah chapters 7,9,11,42,49,55 for confirmation. Our Lord Jesus Christ quoted all he said from the old testament. Check Deuteronomy 8 vs 3 and Matthew 4 vs 4 ,7,10 .
Our Lord Jesus Christ only simplified all the difficulties and ambiguous statements from the old testament for us. The ten commandments given by God Almighty to his servant Moses were simplified into two “Love the Lord your God with all your strength, all your soul and all your might, also love your neighbour like yourself” any one that does this wholeheartedly will fulfill the remaining laws of God. Check if all this quotes are not in Deuteronomy chapters 6 vs 1-12, 10 vs 12-22, 11 vs 1-15. Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matt 5 vs 17”do not think i have come to abolish the laws or the prophets; i have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them and look at what our Lord Jesus Christ did in Luke 5 vs 12-14’’ a man with leprosy fell at his feet and said Lord, if u are willing u can make me clean” Jesus healed him and ordered him ‘go and show yourself to the priest and offer sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them”.

THE ALTAR: 
Altars in white garment churches are replicas of what is in heaven, quoting from Hebrews 8 vs 5-6”they serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. That is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle ; see to it that u make everything according to the pattern shown u on the mountain”. The altar in heaven that is the vision shown to the founders and that is what they replicated in their churches. Also let me correct this misconception we (particularly in Celica Church of Christ) do not use animal blood for sanctification. Our Lord Jesus Christ has sanctified his altar and his church with his blood however we do sanctify with water and perfume. It is the spirit of God which lives in the altar so we have to be sanctified in body and mind. Our God, in the white garment churches, is the Lord Jesus Christ who commissioned the churches for the spiritual assignment. That is why the picture of our Lord Jesus Christ in our altars. We simply use water, incense and perfume for sanctification as spiritually laid down for us by our Lord Jesus Christ through the founders. 
BOWING DOWN BEFORE THE ALTAR: 
People have always questioned the reason for bowing down in white garment churches. We bow down in worship for our Lord Jesus Christ and not any idol or image as perceived by people. It is spiritual directive laid down for us by our Lord Jesus Christ through the founders. To buttress this point Revelations 4 vs 1-11 “There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it, in a circle around the throne were 24 other thrones, on which were seated 24 elders dressed in white and wearing crowns of gold on their heads. The 4 living creatures sing songs of glory and honour and thanks to the one seated on the throne who lives forever and ever. 


When they do so the 24 elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They throw their crowns down in front of the throne and say our lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honour and power. For you created all things and by your will they were given existence and life”

LIGHTING CANDLES IN THE ALTAR 
Rev 4 vs 5 “in front of the throne 7 lighted torches were burning, which are the 7 spirits of God”

SPEAKING OF TONGUES: 
Also on speaking of tongues in white garment churches, the spirit enables us to speak the languages of different countries (Aramaic,Hebrew,Latin,Arabic) when in spirit without learning it formally. The citizens of these countries will understand what we say. God has also given us the grace to be able to interpret the spiritual languages into English or our native languages. To butress this, Acts 2 vs 4-6”all of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them, staying in Jerusalem were god fearing Jews from every nation under heaven; when they heard this sound they were surprised because each one heard the apostles speaking in his own language”
SPIRITUAL WORKS: 
Also someone talked about “Ise”, spiritual works, within Celestial and white garment churches. The spiritual churches are different from orthodox, Pentecostal and gospel churches. They use what they are spiritually told to use as directed by the Holy Spirit. The materials range from white candles, perfume, fruits (orange, banana, pineapple, coconut etc), anointing oil, handkerchiefs, incense, soap, bell, water for different purposes (santification,baths,drinking). 
Pastor Emmanuel on the left and Pastor Maforikan to the right hugging at Ketu's meeting

BIBLICAL REFERENCES

1 .People in garment of glory 1saiah 52.1, Rev 3:5, Rev 7:9
2. Holy, Holy, Holy to the Lord of host Rev 4:8, Isa 6:3
3. The Altar and bowing down before the altar Rev1:4, Rev 4:9-10, Matt 5:24
4. Use of incense Rev 5:8 Rev 8:3-4
5. Use of candles Rev 4:5, Exodus 25:37, Zechariah4:2
6. Regular burning of altar light Lev 24:4, Exo 20:21-27
7. Use of palm fronds Rev 7:9, John 12:12-13
8. Use of salt Lev 2:13, 2 Kgs 2:19-22, Matt 5:13
9. Use of water 2 Kgs 5:1-14, John 9:6-11
10. Use of perfume Matt 26:6-13
11. Washing of feet John 13:5-13
12. No alcohol Genesis 9:20-25, Lev 10:9-11
13. No corpse in the church Exo 43:7-9
14. Menstruation and purification of women Lev 15:4-9, Lev 12:2-3,7
15. Positions of angels in the divine call Hebrews 1:5-81. 
16. Celica logo: an Eye Rev 5:6, the Bible Joshua 1:8 , the Cross Luke 14:27
17. Hosanna means save me now but used as exclamation of praise for our Lord Jesus Christ Matt 21:9, Mark 11:9, John 12:13

These are biblical references to back up the activities in most white garment churches as directed by God. However in Celica Church of Christ we do say we do not need to justify our actions to people because we are led by Holy Spirit. We only need to back up our activities with this biblical reference John 14 vs 26 “the holy spirit will come and help you because the father will send the spirit to take my place. The spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you” and also from John 16 vs 13”but when he,the spirit of truth ,comes he will speak only what he hears and he will tell u what is yet to come.It is the holy spirit that directs us on what we do at all times .That is what we stand on.
FULFILLMENT OF MANDATE
The Cherubim and Seraphim Church, the Christ Apostolic Church, and the Celestial Church of Christ descended by divine order to fulfill a mandate on earth. It was failure to fully fulfill that mandate that led to each of them arriving one after the other and that has given rise to the coming of Celica Church of Christ. The founder of Celestial Church of Christ Rev. S.BJ Oshoffa had said it repeatedly that the holy spirit would choose the next pastor. That succession to the seat of the pastor was not by rank or relationship, that the occupier of the seat could be from anywhere within the ranks in the church but papa Oshoffa died in 1985 without anointing or choosing his successor as revealed to him by God.Why he never did remains between him and his God? Let me correct an impression here he did not die from injuries sustained from his accident,he had recovered and had been receiving visitors.Anointed prophets of God have a grace from God,he lets them know when he will call them home.From the bible check from Abraham,Isaac,Jacob,Moses,Joshua,Elijah,Elisha even his beloved like King David and Hezekiah.Afterwards the Celestial Church was thrown into crisis where different factions emerged
As a result of this observation, our Lord Jesus Christ said though Celica Church of Christ will spread to every corner of the earth like it’s predecessors he attached a condition to it. In every town Celica parishes must not exceed 7 e.g Otta-7,Oyo-7,Badagry-7,Offa-7,Chicago-7,Paris-7 etc. This is to ensure proper and coordinated spiritual monitoring of the iriju (pastor’s representatives), elders and worshippers. This is to ensure strict compliance with the tenets and doctrines of the church. The founders were able to curb many excess in their churches when they were alive but after their demise some did not follow the divinely laid down doctrine. This has led to crisis and divisions, in Cherubim and Seraphim you have factions such as Eternal Sacred order, Sacred order,Holy order,Zion,Divine order,Praying band),CAC (Oluseye/Abiara, Udofia, Obadare factions), Celestial (Bada, Owodunni, Mobiyina,Maforikan, Shonekan, Agbaossi factions) however one good thing is that all the factions still acknowledge the founders as the anointed prophets in the various churches. This has led to some unfulfilled spiritual mandate of these three preceeding churches and thus the establishment of Celica Church of Christ. 

SUCCESSION IN CELICA CHURCH OF CHRIST 

The Lord Jesus Christ has chosen and anointed a successor for the founder, Anointed Prophet Emmanuel Adetunji Adeonigbabge in person of Rev Samuel Olujimi Adeonigbagbe on Sunday July 7th 2002. He was chosen not because he is the blood son of the founder but because no incisions or herbs had ever been used on him from birth. He has been dedicated to the Lord right from birth. He is to be addressed as the pastor and supreme head of Celica church of Christ. When he was younger during an anointment exercise in Ketu he had knelt down in front of Papa Oshoffa. Papa Oshoffa joking asked him what position he wanted to be anointed with and he pointed to Supreme Evangelist Abiodun Bada and said his post. Papa Oshoffa laughed, dipped his hand in the anointing oil and placed it on his head. The first and probably the last time during papa’s lifetime in Celestial that a little boy will be so anointed !
BEING CAFEFUL IN OUR UTTERANCES

We should be careful when talking about Anointed Prophets of God, they are God’s mouthpiece. Quoting Numbers 12 vs 1-9 “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses becos of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. This is one of the cursed nations and whom God told told the Isrealites not to intermarry with. 
At once the Lord said to the 3 of them, come out to the tent of meeting, listen to my words: when a prophet of the Lord is among u, I reveal myself to him in visions, I reveal myself in dreams: but this is not true of my servant Moses, he is faithful in all my house, with him I speak in clearly and not in riddles: he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were u not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 
The anger of the Lord burned against them and he left them: when the cloud lifted above the tent, there stood Miriam leprous like snow” The Lord told prophet Hosea “Go take yourself a wife of harlotry, so he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim.” Hosea 1 vs 1-3.
You cannot fathom how God works, Isa 55 vs 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor your ways my ways says the Lord, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than my ways and my thoughts higher than my thoughts”

”MATT 7 VS 1-2 “DO not judge or u too will be judged.for in the same way u judge others,u will be judged and with the same measure u use,it will be measured to u and psalm 105 vs 15”do not touch my anointed ones,do my prophets no harm IT is not for u to judge anyone or cast aspersions on any church as i earlier said.ROMANS 14 VS 12”so then each of us will give an account of himself to God”.”
ON JUDGEMENT DAY PROPHET ORIMOLADE will stand and each baba aladura,apostle,leader and worshipper under cherubim and seraphim will give account of their stewardship whether they followed the tenets and doctrines laid down by Jesus Christ for the founder, Apostle Babalola will stand and each pastor,evangelist,elder and worshipper under Christ Apostolic Church will give account of their stewardship whether they followed the tenets and doctrines laid down by Jesus Christ for the founder, prophet Oshoffa will stand and each evangelist,shepherd,prophet,elder and worshipper under Celestial Church of Christ will give account of their stewardship whether they followed the tenets and doctrines laid down by Jesus Christ for the founder, prophet Adeonigbagbe will stand and each bishop,iriju,apostle,prophet,elder and worshipper under Celica Church of Christ will give account of their stewardship whether they followed the tenets and doctrines laid down by Jesus Christ for the founder, prophet Josiah Akindayomi will stand and pastor Adeboye,each pastor,,elder and worshipper under Redeemed Christian Church of God will give account of their stewardship whether they followed the tenets and doctrines laid down by Jesus Christ for the founder.it will be like that for every church originated from our Lord Jesus Christ. Are u surprised by this revelation.Amos 3:7 whatever the Lord plans to do,he tells his servants the prophets”..
CONCLUSION
DIVISIONS IN CHRISTENDOM
Many people have negative opinions and misconceptions about white garment churches. .It is not their fault but as a result of some negative actions by some people within the fold. You must understand that even among the Lord’s disciples there was a Judas. There are some Judases among the fold and it cuts across Christendom from orthodox, pentecostal, gospel to spiritual churches. Spiritual churches are more pronounced because we have a uniform, our garments of glory.Let us not stain our garments of glory “with palm oil”.It is up to the youths in the spiritual churches, we must begin a massive re-orientation, reformation and revitalization in our various denominations. Let us imbibe the values of the founding fathers, zeal for the Lord, selfless service, love for humanity ,fairness,tolerance,dedication,obedience to God’s directives, discipline,truthfulness and sincerity, honour and most importantly showing the way of salvation which is our Lord Jesus Christ.The kingdom of satan causes divisions, fights, disagreement and misunderstanding. That is its work,it is normal therefore that Satan is waging war against Christendom. Christendom should be united against the kingdom of Satan instead we are having differences. Let us not discriminate, our Lord Jesus Christ is the same so no matter which side he shows u. What he only wants is for us to serve him and he wants to draw people to himself that is why he descended different types of churches .If u don’t worship in one, u will worship in another, just serve the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully. 
John 10 vs. 1-6 “ There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheepfold, I must bring them too: they will listen to my voice and they will become one flock with one shepherd” ( all churches who serve our Lord Jesus Christ truthfully and faithfully).God himself will expose those who are corrupting the good works of great men of God who are truly called,who have not mixed with the occult or polluted their calls.The time is at hand and there will be great surprises across Christendom when secrets are exposed.

Remain blessed in Jesus name.

Hosanna,Hosanna,Hosanna

Via:  Kunlecelica & Nairaland

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