By Kingsley Chukwuka
“I will give you Pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understand”, Northern Christians quotes as they remind Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State, that only God chooses who to preach.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, the National Youth Leader, Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC), Engr. Daniel Kadzai said it is unfortunate that the Governor has contemplated regulating freedom of speech and religion.
Recall that El-rufai last Friday said Kaduna State will work with Interfaith Preaching Regulatory Council to determine those qualified to preach in the State, lamenting that religion has been weaponised to divide and cause hate among Nigerians.
“I want to assure members of this Council that the Kaduna State Government will do everything it can to support you to do your job and help our state, to determine those that are qualified by education and training to preach without causing any problems for our people and our communities,” El-rufai had said.
However, Kadzai said preaching the Christian gospel does not require education and training but by inspiration of the Holly Spirit.
“God inspires preachers of the gospel and those preaching hate certainly did not get their inspiration from the Holly Spirit.
“Christians must obey the command of Jesus Christ which says: go into the world and preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. We believe that our calling and duty is bring the message of the Gospel to a lost and dying world and to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the utter-most parts of the earth”.
He continued: “It is obvious there is an increase in religious intolerance in Nigeria. The spate of killings and violence, being unleashed by some religious extremists on Christians bears witness to this.
“From historical accounts and even present day happenings, however, such persecution has never deterred the faithful from embarking upon the noble mission of propagating the gospel to save sinners. So, regardless of whatever aggression, there would always be people out there on the field preaching the gospel”, Kadzai said.