Oh God Forgive Us
We have turned Thanksgiving into a money spinner.
Oh God forgive us.
We have refrained to rebuke the rich, so that big donations will continue to flow.
Oh God forgive us.
We have practised double standards in your church, blinded by gifts.
Oh God forgive us.
The Clergy have divided your people on tribal lines, so as to enjoy better emoluments.
Oh God deliver us.
Getting into the wallets of people, has taken over getting people to heaven.
Oh God forgive us.
As leaders we put square pegs in round holes and round pegs in square holes, because we have been blinded by gifts.
Oh God deliver us.
On some occasions, our votings in the Church, have been through simony.
Oh God forgive us.
We conduct services most times with money making gimmicks with little concern for souls.
Oh God forgive us.
We have made looters, thieves, and adulterers etc, to act arrogantly in your Church, instead of bowing and trembling at your altar.
Oh God forgive us.
Many are in the Church ministry, and seeking higher office for material benefits rather than opportunity for ministry to make eternal difference.
Oh God forgive us.
We have heard of some ministers, who when low in cash, would organise crusades in order to boost their pockets.
Oh God forgive us.
There are pastors that request for gifts as requisites to conduct occasional services.
Oh God forgive us.
Some even organise programs in the Church and pocket the collections, claiming the programs are personal.
Oh God forgive us.
You call your house, a house of prayers for all people, and yet the down and out people feel unwelcome in your Church.
Oh God forgive us.
Some of your people live in abject poverty and we pretend to be unaware while busy building edifices.
Oh God forgive us
We have turned your church to a business centre, where cash flow statistics are more important than the testimonies of changed lives.
Oh God forgive us .
You said your House should not be like the den of robbers, where thieves will be comfortable displaying their loots, yet this has been happening.
Oh God forgive us.
Make the pandemic Corona virus, a lesson for repentance for your Church, and open our hearts.
Oh God have mercy upon us.
Our Churches have been temporarily closed for worship, and our merchantile nuances have stopped.
Oh God have mercy upon us.
If you have used Corona virus to chase us out of your house as you did in the temple.
Oh God have mercy upon us.
In your mercy touch our hearts, that we may speedily return to worship you acceptably, in truth and in spirit.
Oh God, restore us by your mercy.
Incline our hearts to wisdom as you heal humanity of this pandemic.
Oh God, restore us by your mercy.
Oh God forgive our foolish ways, lead us in the way of righteousness and peace; and heal the human race.
God of mercy, God of grace, hear our prayers through the advocacy and the atonement of your son, our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen .
(By Ven. Segun Onafeso)