CITIZENS COMPASS – THE Spiritual head of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) , Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa, has condemned the wearing of earrings, plaiting of hair, and use of body tattoos by male members of the Church.
Reverend Oshoffa’s submission was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the CCC Head of Media, Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala.
According to the statement, Pastor EMF noted that CCC is a Bible-believing church, and its members must portray this in everything they do.
“Quoting from 1st Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
“The spiritual head called on all members of CCC Worldwide to shun the things of the world as spelt out in the scriptures in 1st John 2:15–16, which says, ‘Don’t love this evil world or the things in it. If you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
“This is all there is in the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. But none of these comes from the Father. They come from the world,” Ajala stated.
He stressed that the pastor, in specifically addressing the wearing of female adornments by male members of the fold, quoted Deuteronomy 22:5, which says, ‘The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment for all that do so are an abomination unto the LORD, thy God.’
According to Ajala, Pastor EMF said, “Just because society approves of something does not make it right in the eyes of God.
The Bible warns against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28, which says, ‘Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead nor print or tattoo any marks upon you.’
The Pastor added: “The call of God is mysterious, and it comes by God’s supreme will. God has called us all into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ,” says the Bible.
The Almighty calls different people in different ways and for different purposes.”
The CCC does not encourage a man to wear what pertains to a woman, and vice versa.
The church does not encourage its members to pierce their bodies or wear tattoos.
It recognises that the call of God is on all who have been called into this fold, as God has called us all into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ.
“Once again, we wish to reiterate that CCC is a Bible-believing church. Members of the church are devoted and ardent followers of Christ, and our utterances, deeds, and actions must mirror the life of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the one to whom we all bow and tremble at the mention of His name, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa warned all clergy and laity of the church to desist from whipping up unnecessary controversies by making inflammatory statements capable of pitching members against the leadership of the church,” Ajala added.
