By Fr. Valentine
Achuo, cmf,Tel: 75 55 04 20
![Rev. Fr. Valentine Achuo Rev. Fr. Valentine Achuo]()
Christ himself founded the Church we are in today. He
remains and will continue to remain the model of all Christians. Jesus gave
instructions and made promises to his Apostles on the days leading up to the
Ascension. One of the promises was that He will send the Holy Spirit otherwise
called the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost was to be the advocate, the consoler, and
teacher and was to lead the Apostle to the complete Truth. We are just from the
wake of celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day. The days
leading up to Pentecost were filled with Revivals by some groups in our
Churches. During these revivals, we must have heard a lot of people not only
chanting the “Holy Ghost fire” to their utmost strength, but some even go as
far as dancing it.
As we read from Act 2:3, the Holy Ghost was
symbolically represented as fire when Scriptures says: “Divided tongues AS OF
FIRE, appeared among them,(the Apostles) and a tongue rested on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
languages, as the spirit gave them ability. (Act 2:3-4)
Today this symbolism of the Holy Ghost as fire has
been misused and many Christians now consider the Holy Ghost to be “fire” .This
improper application of “fire” to the name of the Holy Ghost has led to
Christians employing the Holy Ghost to seek revenge and this is tantamount to
abuse and misconception of God the Holy Spirit’s work in human History.
I have noticed that the majority of the modern
Pentecostals and some Catholics seem to have presented the Holy Ghost according
to his symbol of fire and aberration .I have gone through Church documents and
down through memory lane to see when this expression was declared a doctrine of
the church, or any time in the Church when this expression was permitted in
Catholic gatherings, but not seen any.
I have also tried to read through the New Testament to
find out whether Jesus, who is our role model, ever thought us that the Holy
Spirit that the Father promised us will be burning or destroying our enemies,
but not found any. This is therefore a
cause for concern especially as this usage is growing in our times.
I have therefore concluded that the use of “Holy Ghost
Fire” in our Catholic gatherings today is an importation from modern Pentecostal
churches. And if this conclusion is true, then it is rather unfortunate since
our model is Christ who gave us the essentials in which the Church (Catholic
church) which he founded himself should exist in the world .The Pentecostals
should; as most are already doing, copy from the Catholic Church formed by
Christ not the Catholics copying from Pentecostals especially those things that
are not biblically and theologically founded like the expression “Holy Ghost
Fire”.
The use of “Holy Ghost
fire!”
Of recent, it has become a custom for some people to
call Holy Ghost fire as an aberration. People shout Holy Ghost fire on people
and places that seem to give them some problems. People call on “Holy Ghost Fire” over what
they eat and drink ,over animals and birds that cross their way .People call on “ Holy Ghost Fire” as they travel,
gather; even in market places. People
invoke the “Holy Ghost Fire” over their building and homes as sign of
protection. In their prayers some send others “Holy Ghost fire” to people they
think have committed any sin or people they think are planning anything against
them, to burn them to ashes.
The fire of the Holy Ghost is usually sent to burn
demon to ashes by those who imagine the physical fire, burning devil to ashes
in hell fire. People today even send Holy Ghost fire across towns and countries
to burn to ashes all who are not wishing them well in their business or who are
on their way to getting what their life dreams are.
In his book Holy Ghost fire! What is it? Rev. Fr.
Simeon Nwobi explains “The name of the devil and its activities seem to take
the centre stage in most gatherings of the Children of God in recent time so
much so that it is binding and loosing that is needed in every prayer session.
Prayers are summarised with shout of Holy Ghost Fire!” It appears as though,” through
Christ our Lord” at the end of our prayers is not adequate enough.
In recent times, praises are concluded most often with
the shout of “Holy Ghost fire!” What is
disturbing is the strength with which some people shout the “Holy Ghost fire!”
as though the devil is physically present. People muster every strength and
energy to shout “Holy Ghost fire” and always with every amount of hostility one
can think of, as though the war against the devil is in the flesh and blood.
The question one must ask is: “Is the fire of the Holy Ghost actually “fire
against”? “(Fr. Simeon Nwobic, cmf, P.10).
Today people call down “Holy Ghost fire” on rats,
birds and other animals because they suspect that their enemies may have
transformed to such animals or birds. So they call down on Holy Ghost fire, to
destroy such enemies.
From the above use of “Holy Ghost fire” we can see
that some people perceive the Holy Ghost as an instrument of destruction. The
Holy Ghost is now seen as “a thing” not a person. Calling down the Holy Ghost
to fire even animals and birds is an insult to God because the Holy Ghost is a
person, Third Person of the Trinity, not a thing or instrument. That is why
some Bishops have not only frowned at this insult given to God, but have gone
as far as banning the use of “Holy Ghost fire” in their dioceses.
Reading from Fr. Simeon Nwobi’s book, on November 25,
2001 there was an article in The Leader Newspaper by Fr. Onwundi with the title
“Nothing live Holy Ghost fire”! in which it said that: “It is the wish of the
chief shepherd of this Catholic diocese of Aba, Rt. Rev. Dr. V. V. Ezeonyia, C.S.S.P and as agreed during the diocesan
Synod to let our Catholic faithful know that any invitation of Holy Ghost fire
during prayers in Catholic gatherings in the diocese is uncatholic, unbiblical
and unchristian ,and so not allowed.”
Any Catholic group that persistently insists on the
wrong doctrines even after corrections are made, then threads on a precipice of
heresy, the result of which may attract sanctions”. In the same Newsletter, The
Leader, on Sunday, November 9, 2003, p.9, Fr. Simeon continued, “henceforth,
the shouting of “Holy Ghost fire” among church sodalities in any public or
private prayer occasion has come to an end in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara
(Nigeria).
This development is sequel to the directives given by
the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Victor Adibe Chikwe (of late), Catholic Bishop of the
Diocese to the Clergy in their meeting held recently at the diocesan Chancery
office, Ahiara. The Bishop’s argument
was that: “even though the Holy Spirit is always symbolised with fire , the
improper application of “fire” to his name in seeking vengeance, tantamount to abuse and misconception of God the
Holy Sprit’s work in human history.”
The Bishop maintains that: “The fire of holy ghost” is
an illuminating fire of sanctification, understanding, steadfastness,
purification and the fire that brings out the noble and sacred revival in the
human person. His Lordship elucidated that the fire of the Holy Ghost is
remarkable in his power to change darkness of unbelief and fear to the
resplendent light of faith that assures his children of their liberty from the
evil one’s stronghold.
The Bishop therefore cautioned the Presbyterium on the
dangerous scriptural and doctrinal fall out in referring to that fire as the
“fire against” that can occasion the death of human beings. Finally the Bishop
cautioned the Clergy, religious and the faithful never to chant the aberrations
of “Holy Ghost Fire” in any of their future payers in either Public or
private”.
The above directives from two Catholic Bishops is a
cause for concern for me and all other Catholic Christians to reflect on the role and the place of the Third
Person of the Trinity as it concerns its symbol of fire.
Who are those who shout
“Holy ghost Fire?”
Personal experience has shown that those who shout
“Holy Ghost Fire” are those who claim self righteousness and see others as
sinners. This kind of people believe that they are righteous and regard others
with contempt. These people behave like the Pharisee in the Gospel of
Lk.18:9-14 who felt he was righteous, and the tax collector was a sinner. Since
for these people, others are sinners, there is therefore the need for them to
be destroyed; a reason why they rain down “Holy Ghost Fire” on others.
But such people forget that “we have all sinned and
fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Psalmist puts it this way:
“If you O Lord should mark our guilt, who will survive.” (Ps. 129:3). It
therefore means that if the Holy Ghost was out to fire people who we regard as
sinners, none of us could have been alive today.
Another group of people who rain down “Holy Ghost
Fire” on others are those who feel highly insecure. This kind of people always
think that something or some people are pursuing them. They see any
misfortunate or unfortunate situation in their lives as coming from someone or
something. Even when they fall sick, they attribute it to their enemy. These
kinds of people see more of evil in their lives than goodness. They spend most
of their time casting and binding Satan instead of praising and thanking God.
Such people seem to see the devil everywhere hence
there is need to burn them to ashes at every given time. That may be the reason
why wherever people who think as such gather, they are quick in raining “Holy
ghost fire” on others from the top of their voices. They shout it, they dance
it and they sing it with every strength they can muster.
Jesus our model
Jesus Christ is our model. We are called Christians
today because we are trying to follow Christ. Before ascending into Heaven
Jesus laid down the kind of life we must live if we want to inherit the kingdom
of God. It will be good to examine Jesus’ life and see if He, in any situation
called down the Holy Ghost to fire anybody. Jesus did not at any time in his
ministry state that he came to kill, burn or destroy demons or anyone with
fire. Through His authority, he casts out demons and they obey him.
Those who rain down “Holy Ghost fire” on others are
those who are following the “Old Law” which Jesus had changed. An example of
the laws that Jesus changed is found in Deuteronomy 19:21 which says: “show no
pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth to tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
This law means that if someone does something wrong to you, you should pay it
back exactly as he has done to you.
When Jesus came he overturned this law and gave a new
commandment. “You have learned how it was said: an eye for an eye, a tooth for
a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer, but if anyone strikes you
on the right cheek, turn the other also …” (Mt.5:38-42).
Jesus even went further to tell us how we should
behave with our enemies when he said: “You have head that it was said; you
shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say to you love your
enemies and pray for those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, pray for
those who abuse you. Do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke
6:27-31).
For those who call down "Holy Ghost fire" on
those they think are sinners, Jesus never condemned any sinner throughout his
public ministry. Jesus never destroyed even demons. He simply casts them out
from those who were possessed and sent them to their proper places (Mk 5:1-13).
Even in Matthew 16:22-23, when Jesus discovered the"Satan" in Peter trying to disrupt God's plan, Jesus simply told
Peter, "Get behind me, Satan." He never called down Holy Ghost fire
to destroy Peter or even the Satan in Peter.
In the Old Testament, just as revenge and retaliation
were allowed in many cases, sinners were also punished. An example can be seen
in the book of Leviticus 20:10 where anyone caught committing adultery was
killed. That is why the woman caught in the very act of adultery in John 8:1-11
was to be stoned to death following this old law. Jesus intervened and told the
people that we no longer follow the Old, but the New Law. The New Law is that
the woman be forgiven and given another chance.
Jesus did just that and when all those who were about
to stone the woman realised that they too have sinned and fallen short of the
Glory of God, they left one by one. This shows that if people who like to call
down the Holy Ghost Fire on those they think are sinners, come to realise that
they too have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, they will stop
committing this heresy.
I have talked with some people who rain down Holy
Ghost Fire on others to find out where they get this from and all of them go
back to some few Old Testament chapters where fire is symbolically and
figuratively used to justify. Sometimes in these chapters, fire could be
burning but it does not consume. Whatever the case, it is not stated in the
scriptures that Jesus, our model, ever employed the Holy Ghost to destroy or
consume His enemies. He even forgave those who nailed him to the cross.
One important text in the scriptures that shows that
those calling down Holy Ghost fire on others are committing a great sin is Luke
9:54-55. The People of Samaria refused to welcome Jesus and his followers into
their town when they were on their way to Jerusalem. The apostles, James and
John, thought they must think and act for Jesus when they implored Jesus to
give them permission to call for a divine assistance by calling down fire on
the town that had refused to welcome them. They wanted to declare war by
destroying the town with fire from above. "Seeing this, James and John,
his disciples said, Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to
reduce them to ashes?" Jesus did not only stop them, but rebuked them, and
they went on to another village. (Luke 9:54-55).
After reading this passage it is important to ask
whether calling down Holy Ghost fire to consume and destroy at every opportunity
is in line with Jesus' teaching. Christ
was full of mercy and compassion. In the above incident he simply changed
direction from those who blocked their route to Jerusalem through Samaria
avoiding the insinuations of his disciples about taking revenge by calling down
fire from above to consume them. Where therefore is this heresy of Holy Ghost
fire? It is an insult to God to use His name in this negative sense. Calling
Holy Ghost fire on others is committing sin against the First Commandment.
Users of "Holy Ghost fire" must know that
the Holy Ghost is the fire of God's love. It is a fire that purifies His
people. It is a fire that sanctifies His people from the corruption of sin. It
is a fire that testifies that we have become co-heirs with Christ. It is a sign
of ownership that God has placed on his people. It is a fire that renews the
Church, the people of God. It is that love of God that has been poured into our
hearts. (Roms. 5:5). The Spirit is the New Law, the force that leads mankind to
do good from within the heart. The Spirit is the source of unity; He pulls down
all barriers and wherever He blows it destroys sin.
It is important to understand that the fire of the
Holy Ghost is not a fire against. The Holy Ghost fire is a fire that brings out
the best in everyone who invites Him. That is why in her wisdom the Church
always invites the Holy Ghost in everyone of her gathering in this way:"Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in
them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created
and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God who by the light of the Holy
Spirit didst instruct the hearts of the faithful. Grant us that by the same
spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Amen.
Conclusion
The prophet Hosea cried out foul and aloud that:"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6).Truly
some of our Christians are "dying today" because of lack of
knowledge. Some Catholic Christians have left the Church for some mushroom
churches because they do not know the Catholic doctrine. We need some emotions
to worship God, but we should never allow our emotions to control us.
In our churches today, some Christians have allowed
their emotion to take over their reason. This has led to fanaticism. Pastors should never relent in teaching our
Christians what the Catholic Church teaches and to correct them when they go
astray. It is important to understand what God's plan is. It is also important
to ask God to do what is within His plan in our own day. Calling on the Holy
Ghost to devour and burn to ashes our enemies is contrary to God's will and
plan. It is a pagan practice. God is a loving father who wants all to be saved.
Our role model is Jesus and the incident when Jesus and his disciples were on
their way to Jerusalem through Samaria and the Samaritans refused them entry
into their land should inspire us.
Learning to handle issues in the light of Christian
love will save us from acting like pagans in our prayers. We seek to take
revenge on our perceived enemies and that is one of the reasons why people are
quick invoking "Holy Ghost fire" against their enemies and those who
have offended them. The Lord teaches us not to be in a haste in condemning people to death even when
we see the human reason to do so. God's way of judgment is not ours. Yes,
vengeance is mine, says the Lord. Paul reminded the Roman Church in these
words, "Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it
is written, 'I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,' says
the Lord," (Rom. 12:19).
Finally, some of our Christians have become fanatical
and continue shouting Holy Ghost fire even when they have been corrected; even
by constituted authorities like priests. They still hold on to this practice
and sometimes they even think that priests do not like them. Some even go as far as saying that the priest
in question does not know. Higher Church authorities should reflect more on
this and put an end to it otherwise we shall be threading the ground of heresy
in our Church today. The end
Fr. Valentine Achuo is a Claretian Missionary working as Parish Priest in St.
Dominic's Parish, Munyenge, Diocese of Buea