Easter shocker: Jesus did not die to save the world – Prof Abioje

Professor of Christian theology in University of Ilorin, Pius
Oyeniran Abioje, has dismissed the agelong Biblical claim that
Jesus Christ died to save the world.

Mr Ernest Okorie and others of St Dominic Church Young
Christian Workers performed the Passion of Jesus as
Christians all over the world mark Good Friday the day 
Jesus Christ was crucified yesterday. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye Speaking while delivering the 167th Inaugural Lecture of  the university, entitled, ‘Christian Prophets and Other Prophets in Nigeria’, the professor said Jesus Christ was killed by haters of truth.

Abioje, who noted that critical prophets should anticipate
opposition and conspiracy from unexpected quarters, said:

“The conspiracy that killed Jesus Christ came from the
 millieu of the chief priest and the political elite.

“Regrettably,the interpretations by many Christians is that 
God wanted Jesus to die so as to save the world. Yet the world continues to persecute innocent critical prophets.

“Why cannot Christians emphasise that Jesus was killed
 by haters of truth,the religio-political powers that be,particularly since the world is still seeking redemption?

“Nigerians should learn to see critical prophets as friends
 of the society,and pardon them whenever they happen to err,since no human being is infallible.”

The professor asked the people in positions of authority to
learn to see critical prophets as partners in progress 
towards human edification,not as adversaries.

The university don also admonished: “Divinatory/esoteric
prophets should avoid fraudulence.” They should see their
divinatory knowledge as divine endowment to be used
altruistically and not for exploitation.

“People who consult esoteric prophets should be discerning
and not gullible. “ They should avoid frequent recourse to
divinatory prophecy to avoid mediumistic psychosis”
Abioje also urged Nigerians to strive to become critical
prophets to speak against evil on behalf of God and try 
to live holy lives.

He however advised: “Academic p rogrammes generally should include introduction to critical prophecy,which
 makes a person to be committed to advocacy in godly
 words and actions,even as medical doctors,engineers,architects,lawyers and so on and
not only as clergy men and women, Virtues for which
 critical prophets strive is unarguably the key to individual
 and social progress,even when truth can be very bitter.”