An old sermon by Apostle Joshua Selman has reappeared online and is currently trending in response to the recent dispute about Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo’s newly disclosed tattoo.
The film has prompted new discussions in Nigeria regarding tattoos, wisdom, and Christian leadership.
The resurrected video has Apostle Joshua Selman, the founder of Eternity Network International (ENI) and the Koinonia ministry, responding to issues about tattoos and Christian living.
The video received further attention after Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, the founder of David Christian Centre (DCC), revealed a tattoo of John 3:16 on his arm.
In his talk, Apostle Selman clarified that tattoos applied before a person is born again have no spiritual effects.
However, Jesus cautioned believers against obtaining tattoos after salvation. He believes that the issue is wisdom rather than sin.
He stated that some activities may be legal but inadvisable, particularly for those called to ministry or leadership.
Apostle Selman emphasised that visible modifications, such as tattoos, can undermine a believer’s credibility when preaching, praying, or ministering to others.
He emphasised that people’s perceptions are important, especially when dealing with weaker Christians who may struggle with faith.
To make his point, he cited the biblical parable of the ten bridesmaids, emphasising how even seemingly pure people can suffer the consequences of poor decisions.
The pastor urged Christians to focus on inner development rather than external demonstrations, cautioning against following foreign trends.
Read his words below:
“A gentleman sent me a text and asked what I think about tattoos. I said if you had it before you were born again, there is nothing that can be done. But if by the time you’re born again and you still want to do all these things, you see, all things are lawful but not all things are expedient.
In the kingdom, it’s not always about sinfulness and righteousness; sometimes it’s about foolishness and wisdom. There were 10 virgins. They were all virgins, yet they still suffered because five were foolish and five were wise.
If I draw something on my head now and I want to preach, and I say it’s my life, it’s not your business, please don’t feel bad—just touch on it and then we pray. Will you believe if I’m praying for you? Let’s not say these things don’t matter, or else we keep making fools of ourselves.
If someone did it in the past and the person has come to the fold, there is nothing we can do. We believers should be careful. Respectfully speaking, some of these things we copy from the West. I’m not condemning, but the West needs God’s mercy. God is shifting people to correct things there.
The generation of people who have risen right now is a generation that doesn’t respect God. Just because they’re technologically advanced doesn’t mean they’re spiritually advanced. Don’t trade your heritage of spirituality…”
The sermon’s rebirth corresponds with criticism directed against Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo after he unveiled a tattoo of John 3:16.
While some Christians pointed to scriptural cautions against body tattoos, others backed the pastor, seeing the tattoo as a creative form of evangelisation.
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