Resist temptation to dilute word of God, Okowa advises clerics

Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state, has asked clerics to resist the temptation to dilute the word of God.

Speaking on Sunday at the consecration of bishops at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Bishop’s Court, Delta, Okowa said clerics must avoid using enticing words to make the gospel appealing.

The governor added that the elevation of the new bishops was an affirmation of God’s anointing upon their lives.

“Preachers must resist the ever-present temptation to resort to enticing words of man’s wisdom in a vain attempt to make the gospel appealing and acceptable to the secular mind,” Okowa said.

“Happenings in our contemporary world and the church are a fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy that the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.

“You must stay true to your calling by preaching the undiluted word of God. Every God-ordained preacher of the gospel is not at liberty to exchange God’s truth for his opinions, traditions or philosophies of men.

“The word of God is supposed to change us, not men changing the word to suit their circumstances.

“Hence, the man of God must be diligent to present himself as approved to God – a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly preaching the truth.”

The ceremony witnessed the ordination of Blessing Enyinda as the Niger Delta archbishop and the consecration of Victor Okporu as bishop of Western Izon diocese and Nneoyi Egbe as Bishop of diocese of Calabar.