DEVELOPMENT OF TRUE HUMAN PERSONALITY

DEVELOPMENT OF TRUE HUMAN PERSONALITY
Man is created and he is creative in nature. Naturally, he is explorative and developmental. Life is situational and situations act as aid to development. Man is incomplete when incapacitated to act. Action brings out what man stands for and its worth, therefore, aids man’s development either progressively or regressively. We all crave to be great in life, but, its realization is subject to extra human effort put in place. Recognition is a major thing that we all long for, yet its denial is ridiculous and denigrating. An all round and embracing development is what help growth. A desire which all long for, an object which seems very cheap to acquire, yet, illusory and difficult to get, that is development. When acquired, it is a thing of joy and delight. But on the contrary, it is regretful and sad indeed, quite disappointing. This is why all hands must be on deck in order to develop and re-order or restructure man and his society.
Man’s innovative skills help in dual forms. It is used for both development and regression. What helps this to be actualized is the knowledge. An ability to know what is right and wrong. The acceptance of which activate our being. Its dearth devaluates and deactivates our being. Hence, it is of necessity to study and prove all things right.
Knowledge is paramount in self realization and actualization. This translates to growth and development. Therefore, in a society or community where knowledge is not allowed to grow or in dearth that community remains primitive and elemental. The social environment, the attitude of the community and the process for transmitting knowledge across space and among generations will affect the depth of the national intellect which in turn defines the subsequent fortunes of society.
But surprisingly, most people take up the wrong weapon for their struggle. Instead of knowledge, they choose money as their weapon. A choice which is highly defective and not goal oriented. What a pity! Yes money is good but money cannot buy intellect as such instead of craving for it, knowledge should be sought for. When knowledge is acquired money will come through the application of your knowledge; this most people don’t know. It is in line with this, that we need to overcome our economic weakness by using weapons that are economically, socially, academically and religiously potent, strong and viable.
In furthering this, it will be pertinent, for us to look at the key words personality and true. True in this regards therefore, means in accordance or agreement with fact and personality means qualities that make up a person’s character. With these words defined now, can we really say we are on track?
Self evaluation will best give credence to the question. Are roles defined or lumped up together? By definition of roles I mean separating and delegating functions to the needed authority and given power for its actualization. What is therefore the role of the pastor? How does the role of the pastor differ from that of the head elder and church members? If truly, we want the church to develop, how should the church fare?
Have the officers any role? Wait a minute! What about the members? It will be pertinent to talk on the roles of both the pastor and the head elder. The pastor in the history of the church is a tent maker. That is to say, he is mobile and not fixed but always going from place to place planting churches. He scarcely was seen as an administrative or head of the church, read Acts and adjudges for yourself the role of Paul, Peter and others then. They were not seen running the day to day affairs of the church; rather, their knowledge was sought in sensitive and critical issues. In the church organogram, they were leaders, but the administrative leader of the church were the elders, see Acts. Despite, their field work, when and where their need and presence were sought, they dispense justice, fairness and equity in everything.
Before going further, let’s look at the role of the minister in terms of God’s work. Today, it takes so long before an effort is organized. The missing link is what one finds difficult to ascertain. In churches today, the work of evangelizing is more of voluntary lay workers responsibility. While as the ministers who are paid for this job are involved in travelling from one place to the other and struggling and scrambling for one post or the other. Instead of thinking of how to go out, their thought will be focus on their offices and what they need to put in there so as to make it appear befitting to their status. You see them hovering over churches and thinking of beautification and decoration of churches. Mind you, this is not the doctrine of God but man. The scripture is explicit enough to unveil the roles of the forerunners. Was this how they went about the business?
As far as church management is concerned, the pastor is a freelancer whose spiritual knowledge needs to be conspicuously obvious, so as to adjudicate rightly without fear or favour. But is that what we find in our churches today? Are the pastors not the arbiter deciding for God and taking over the position of the Holy Spirit? Do they even know that people are under their spiritual tutelage and are watching out for their administrative competence? Where is the problem coming from? The head elder is the custodian of the church. The church administrative and judicial power lies solely with the elders. The elders are supposed to be the custodian of the word but is that the system that holds today?
There is an upturn of everything, the pastors instead of going to the field and allowing the elders to oversee the church , they rather stay put in the church hovering over its members thinking of how to beautify the church, how to decorate the altar and possible areas where money would come from. This is against ethical development of the profession. During Peter and Paul’s days, they were always seen going about preaching the word of God from one place to another building tent after which an elder will be given the responsibility to develop and nurture the people. On the other hand, is it the same today or have things changed?
The minister is suppose to be hardly seen or heard of except on critical and very difficult issues which need his attention. He plays mainly an advisory role. The officers on their own are subject to the dictate of the head elder that coordinates the day to day activities of the church. The instructions received are in return transfer to the members via the officers. This is the supposed flow of information from top to bottom and downward to upward.
In this respect, John Dewey’s states “unless there is buying there is no selling, just as there is no learning without teaching.” In fact, all hands must be on deck if our effort will be worthwhile. If we must move forward, what should we do? Do we abscond ourselves from duties? Do we assume an overriding power? What then, do we do? As noted by Whitehead, “the essence of all true education is a habitual vision of greatness.” Achievement of this, anchors primarily on mutual relationship based on the fact that readiness is a prerequisite to learning and preparedness of the child goes a long way in enhancing his academic, social, moral and religious pursuit.
The members on their part, must first of all recognize the essence of their being in the church, for it is only when this is known to them, that the best can be seen. Religion is not just for you to go to church alone but a total revolution of the self. By revolution, I mean total and dynamic transformation of the individual in acts and display of talents which translate into self discipline.
Many things are wanted but not all things are needed as not everything can be provided. But for a functional administrative work, the needed materials ought to be made available. This institution being a value given one is in dearth of lots of things which delimits to a large extent its productive usefulness. The need for a total reordering of our ways is of paramount importance. Yes, our background needs to be changed; so as to have a good and convivial relationship. Roles should be specified and people should not be gagged. The Holy Spirit should be allowed to function and self should go to extinct. As a matter of urgency, minister should wake up to their responsibilities.
Today we hear of un-entered areas; instead of the minister to go and carry out their work, they proudly request for volunteer workers. Other than doing this job, you see them jostling for position and dictating areas of their choice. In time past, every area was meant for the minister. But today, they are looking for the best houses and the best cars to ride. No wonder the act of financial impropriety is heard of in the church. Because of the way these supposed men of God squander money, the house of God which originally was designated for prayer has turned to robbers den. Imagine where a pastor that is expected to be out preaching and visiting members and praying for and with them is the one who is directly in charge of all financial responsibilities in the church. Every project that needs to be done, he hijacks and execute at the expense of his ministerial calling. The situation is so disgusting that one at times is forced to ask whether these ministers so to say are called. Though some of them exhibit these traits but some of them are free of it. Here the parable of the wheat and tares is applicable; those that are called you see their devotion to the duty and service they sworn to carry out.
As it stands now, something need to be done urgently in this regards so as to activate the deactivated links in areas where it was and in places of non-existent invent or establish. To really achieve success in this endeavour, all hands must be on deck and it has to be in cyclic order. Both the management that is the ( ministers and the elders) and members should as a matter of urgency and necessity come to terms as to push upward and forward the work of God.
In addition, the importance of the members in this regard cannot be overemphasized. The centre point or focus of attraction and attention is the members. Minus the members, the minister will not be there at all. His salary is from the tithes paid. The position and voice of the members must be heard. Minister’s arrogance should be suspended. The minister should know that the members have the ultimate right with the help of God to reject or accept his being in an area. Their complacent attitude to work should cease. They should know and respect their calling, instead of managing the purse of the church; they should learn to manage the affairs of the members. In the apostolic era, the apostles were able to work in one accord because none of them superimposed themselves over others. They prayed and their prayers were heard. Beloved, there is the need for us to trace our steps back to God our maker and redeemer so that it will be well with us. If as a matter of fact this is real, then, everything that will facilitate and translate to reality God’s precepts, commands and promises in our lives should be the primary base of our life.
The job of management is multifaceted as such needs the meaningful contribution and participation of all and sundry. If we must progress, jobs must be distributed and people must be willing to play out their role. A convivial environment must be the base for its actualization. Since development is what we crave for, we must be prepare to entertain suggestions and criticisms where and when necessary. Our stereotypical approach to issues should be curbed. Obsolete ideas that are controversial and digressional should be discarded and new and innovative ones that are in consonance with thus say the Lord should be welcomed. It is this new arrival that will give credence to the needed development.
In order to get things right, we must also allow the people in seat of authority to operate under the confines of their power without undue interference. Once an assignment is given, power to effect such should as well be delegated. Where an assignment is given and power withheld such duty will be perfunctorily performed. Therefore, as people aiming at the very best, we must learn to allow people do what is right to them at the right time. That is not to say that people should do anything of their intent and making but that things should be done in the right way at all times. In consonance to the word, must they speak and not of self, for self is destructive. Therefore, it must be to the law and the testimony of God else nothing is said.
Everybody wants recognition this is an obvious fact, as such, the thought and idea of people should be looked into, even if it is not workable there are ways of discarding them without being offensive to the inventor. In situation where it is dropped and rudely abandoned, the psyche of such an individual or group will emotionally, psychologically, socially and morally be affected and this invariably has a telling effect on the recipients who happen to be the members. To guard against this, we must have listening ears, calm spirit, team work and commitment to humanity. In that wise, self must totally be done away with and the Holy Spirit must be allow to take its due position. We must not dictate to others nor act in an unruly manner. The realization of the fact that cooperative existence is a product of understanding based on guiding principles would help achieve our desired goal and harness our relationship.
In conclusion, there cannot be true human development when there is no cooperative effort borne out of understanding. Abraham heard the voice of God he abandoned his personal schedule and acceded to thus say the LORD. The ministerial calling is not for people who could not get job that resolve to do it so as to get what to eat. Rather, it is meant for those who have that innate ability and God’s calling. Once the job is accepted, any area that you are sent to, it should be gladly accepted. Ministers should not live in opulence; instead they should emulate Jesus Christ so as to be able to live by example to their adherents. Ministers should not be pleasure seeker. They should partake in the suffering of Jesus so that when He comes will reward them. The pains and suffering of the moment are ephemeral, at Christ second coming, it will be over. Let this be the guiding principle so that the House of God will be a place where people will go to and find Him. As it stands now, except something is drastically and urgently done, the situation is appalling. Jesus is coming again, this time with a reward to give according to all. Will yours be for good or evil?