Lesson #4 – A man of God is still a man; if he acts like God 7 million times a year, and acts like a man 7 times a year, thou shall not crucify him.

The phrase “man of God” (popularly referred to as M.O.G in our day) appears 73 times in the King James Version of the Bible, with just 2 occurrences in the New Testament. M.O.G seems to have different meaning in different quarters. In some Christian gatherings, M.O.G refers to the Pastors and church leaders while in other circles, it is used to eulogize anyone who is fervent in the service of God. As at the time I became born again over two decades ago, M.O.G was widely used to describe brethren that appear to be holy in deeds, without visible “spot or blemish”. Many believed this definition without knowing they did; which is why it was common to hear things like – “That brother did that wrong thing, yet he calls himself a man of God” or “No one can convince me that he is a man of God after that wrong he did”. Interestingly, many believers rate themselves and others, not based on the Spirit of God dwelling in them, but on the number of exceptions (or wrongdoings) in their lives. This “exception-based” rating is one of the devil’s traps to stop believers from manifesting the life of God.

Back then, I heard so much about this mode of rating believers to the point that I became a backslider from the faith. One day, I counted about 2 attitudes in my life that I felt were consistently wrong, and I concluded that this “man of God thing” did not seem to work for me. The next day, I stopped every effort towards being a Christian and attempted to return to my old ways. I was restored in the faith after some years but that “exception-based rating” still had a strong hold in my heart. It manifested strongly when we were to commence operations in Christ Lifeline. I recall one of the reasons I gave God to prove I wasn’t fit for the job was that I was not perfect in my deeds. If I didn’t overcome that mindset, Christ Lifeline would have remained a dream at best because as I write this piece, I still travail daily to measure up to the standard of Christ in my lifestyle.

However, Romans 6:14 says “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This means sin should not control you. When we rate our fellow believers based on a sin we find in them or when we decide we are not good enough to do God’s work because of a shortcoming we haven’t dealt with in our lives, then we let sin have dominion over us. Beloved, God sees differently. He sees you just the way he sees Christ (1 John 4:17) and He knows that as you continue to work with Him, you will eventually look exactly the way He wants you to. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is one of the two places M.O.G appears in the New Testament and it reminds us that a man of God is still a man striving towards perfection. It reads – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” The scriptures are meant to help the man of God to be perfect! A man of God still faces temptations and challenges like all other believers do. We are men of like passion.

Refusing to act on God’s instructions because of “sin consciousness” has never worked. I saw a picture on Facebook of a woman who became a skeleton because she was waiting for the perfect man and I believe that picture also applies to ministry. When we in Christ Lifeline stepped out in faith and focused on doing God’s work and fulfilling His will despite our imperfect state, we got so busy walking in the Spirit that we rarely had the time to even think of gratifying the desires of the flesh. We were unconsciously obeying Galatians 5:16. The devil must know how this works that is why he keeps pointing fingers (and using other believers to point fingers) at our wrongdoings.

I am not attempting to encourage the M.O.G to continue in sin by writing this. God forbid! I believe we know better – that those who are born of God do not make a practice of sin. In fact, if you feel encouraged to continue in sin by this write-up, then it may be a clear indication that you are not born again. I’m only trying to implore you not to join the devil in his ministry of accusing the brethren.  As leaders, let’s stop crucifying ourselves because of wrongdoings. Let’s stop the exception based rating of believers. See the God in men even as you support them to live wholesome lives. And “if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

– Tope S. Aladenusi