Our reporter
Dr. Abel Damina, a renowned Nigerian pastor and theologian has challenged conventional perceptions of religious devotion, stating unequivocally that attending church and participating in religious activities does not equate to loving God.
In a thought-provoking sermon, Dr. Damina stated that true love for God is not demonstrated by the frequency of one’s church attendance or the fervour of their prayers. “When we talk about loving God, we are not talking about you sleeping in church day and night talking about your problems. That’s not loving God,” he declared, addressing common misconceptions among congregants.
Criticizing the notion that extended prayer sessions, such as “tarry nights,” signify love for God, Dr. Damina pointed out that these prayers are often self-centered.
“Some people, because they prayed tarry night, they think it’s loving God, meanwhile, all the tarry night prayer is for themselves. That’s not love,” he asserted.
Dr. Damina also aim at those who believe their punctuality, offerings, and enthusiastic worship guarantee divine blessings.
“Some say, the way I go to church on time, the way I give offering and dance, even God cannot but bless me. You are a joker,” he remarked, emphasizing the flawed understanding of the Bible and the nature of God’s love.
He stressed that attending church and participating in Bible study benefits the individual rather than God. “You are not doing God a favour to come to church and attend Bible study. You are helping your life,” he explained.
Addressing the misconception that service to God earns automatic blessings, Dr. Damina stated, “Somebody says, ‘Dr. Damina, the way I serve God, even God cannot but bless me.’ I say that’s why you won’t be blessed because when all of your services are quantified, it will be nothing in the face of God’s quality of love.”
Damina urged believers to re-examine their understanding of love for God, highlighting that boasting about one’s devotion indicates a fundamental misunderstanding.
“When a man brags about how he loves God, it is because he has not understood the context and the confines within which love is defined,” he said, encouraging a deeper, more introspective approach to faith.
