A Pastor Says…Don’t Let Others Spell Your “Meekness” As “Weakness”

Those who have read my writings and/or heard me speak know that I am not someone you would call “religious” by any standards. Yet those who are objective acknowledge that I LOVE quoting religious leaders who impress me: like Pastor Tunde Bakare and others.

Why do I love listening to – and quoting – this gentleman, and others like him, so much (despite my attendance in church being close to zero)? Well, it’s because I have found that he is passionately driven to speak truth objectively in doing his work.

He recognizes no sacred cows (and will therefore say what he is “led” by the spirit to say WITHOUT FEAR.

He also does not tolerate mediocrity, will refuse to be intimidated by any person and basically seeks to – in my opinion – be CONTINUALLY sincere in his service to God and humanity.

The above qualities are rare in these parts these days. And it gives people like me great inspiration to know that some Men of God can still REFUSE to be “corrupted” especially in their “character”.

Another reason I so love to hear this man speak is that he challenges his audience to strive to EXCEL as individuals in a manner that glorifies the God they claim they serve. This makes them avoid the more common path followed by many, to become “parasites” who latch on to pathetic excuses to attach themselves to the church in order to “qualify” to get freebies without having to sweat.

For instance, below is an excerpt from a past issue of my newsletter in which I described how he rebuked some of those who called themselves “Prayer Warriors”:

————-Start of Excerpt

I recall hearing Pastor Tunde Bakare preaching a sermon on TV once in which he talked about laziness in the church. He mentioned that some groups such as those called “Prayer Warriors” would claim their prayers were responsible for the achievements being recorded by other members they prayed for. Yet the lives of the individual members of the prayer warrior groups often times showed little to suggest they themselves recorded any worthwhile achievements of their own.

Pastor Bakare asked why they could not do for themselves what they claimed to be doing for others?! I have the answer to that question: They do NOT know how, because they do not have life survival skills, having only acquired learning for school (i.e. academic education), which they do not KNOW how to apply usefully in the real world!

————-End of Excerpt

I Discover Another Preacher With A Message Worth Passing On

So, that’s Tunde Bakare – as I see him.

And I know there are not many as tough as he is. But apparently there are some who also recognise other “weaknesses” in the church body that need to be “talked about” and corrected.

The foregoing is why this (article) got its curious title. You see, I know a lot of people in my part of the world are highly religious, and will often be more willing to consider a line of action favourably if the person who proposes it mentions something relating to “pleasing God” or “making heaven”.

My purpose (as a Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist) is to help all people – religious or otherwise – learn how to achieve their valued goals by being able to continually function at their optimal best.

I therefore consider it important to HIGHLIGHT and bring to the attention of my target audience ANY and EVERY bit of new or information that can help them.

And that is why I am ALWAYS open-minded enough to read publications and watch programmes on various subjects – including those that are religious. As an Extension Service professional I am very aware of the need to fully understand the “psychology” of the people I aim to influence (i.e. their peculiar culture, beliefs, biases etc, and how it influences their actions).

All that I have so far said will (I hope) explain why I chose to feature the message by this other pastor (below):

How It Happened – And What He Said

In February 2009, I was given a publication (The Joseph Company Quarterly Magazine) by someone, in which I scanned an interesting paragraph of a re-published message that made me decide to take out a few minutes to read more.

The message was “preached” by one Pastor Dapo Adeniyi at the Lagos Hilton Hotel, Ikeja on October 14th 2007. And it was titled “Positioning Yourself For Increase”.

Below I have re-produced excerpts for your THOUGHFUL CONTEMPLATION.

(I am hopeful that the obvious meaning in that message will challenge any person who reads it – especially those determined to act very “religious” outwardly – to understand that doing so NEED NOT require them to become weaklings to be pushed around in society):

————-Start of Excerpt

“Unfortunately, we in the church have allowed people on the outside to spell our “meekness” as “weakness”. I consider meekness as we know it to be a great asset in the church. Someone who appears morose and sheepish can get by in church without much problems, but not in the world outside….

…We completely make ourselves difficult to buy if we put forth this kind of appearance. The world is simply impatient with weakness and incompetence, and let me tell you any slightest hint of that. A meek person will therefore need to show forth him/herself as intelligent without being brash.

We must learn to be confident, strong and highly personable or friendly. We need to present ourselves as capable and confident, not arrogant. That is strength. That is beauty. And that is what the world around us will buy”.

————-End of Excerpt