Traditions doesn't make us believers, faith does

 Should we wear footwear into C&S church?

😂 

This question got me laughing all day when I saw it.

I think proving the traditions of our father wouldn't put us at edge in this present age. 

I'm a seraph, a proud one at that, and my church HOpe-Assembly Epe-Lagos wear footwear.

Now back to our subject matter: wearing of footwear? As you have rightly pointed out, wearing of footwear has no significance to salvation or to answering of prayers. Moses was requested to remove his footwear rightly in Exodus3. However, when they were to eat the Passover (Jesus), they were to wear their footwear (Exodus12).

Exodus 12:11 (KJV)  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

Moreso, apart from Exodus3, no where was it mentioned that Moses removed his footwear. Infact he was on thesame mount twice to receive the Ten Commandments, he didn't remove his footwear (if he did, he would have mentioned it).

Exodus 19:3 (KJV)  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

Exodus 34:1-2 (KJV)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.

In these other places, Moses didn't remove his footwear. And if we want to argue that, it wasn't specifically mentioned then Numbers 9 clears it.

In Numbers 9, they ate the Passover in the wilderness of thesame mountain. And some who couldn’t eat it due to their rites, Moses went to the lord for clarification. He went to the lord (some suggest that he went up the mount)

Numbers 9:5-9 (KJV)  And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

They stand still...

Now looking at the rites of eating the passover: girdle, footwear etc...  You can see a correlation with what Paul wrote to the Ephesian church.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Again, the Armour even though suggestive, mentioned footwear, so just as we would use the girdle mentioned there to emphasis that our girdle are biblical (though we need not proof all these because the kingdom of God is not food or clothings), so the footwear shouldn't be left out. 

Thesame foot wear brings our memory to the eating of the Passover.

Now back to Joshua case in Joshua5.

Joshua saw Jesus who is the commander of God's army. I believe that Jesus came as a soldier and Isaiah 59 describe Jesus' uniform as a soldier.

Isaiah 59:16-17 (KJV)  And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Jesus came to save the people when Joshua had almost lost hope. But why would Joshua remove his footwear.

Joshua 1:3 (KJV)  Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

Yes, Jesus told him that where he was was holy, but most importantly, Jesus brought a message. Jesus requested him to remove the footwear as a reminder to His covenant with Joshua. That was an eye opener for Joshua who had forgotten his covenant.

We can’t throw away the message which is the major reason for Jesus coming to him. We can’t say that because Zachariah became dumb, then anyone that doubt would be dumb. Rather we are to dwell on the message of hope and answered prayer: “your prayer has been answered”. The same way, we can’t dwell on Moses removing his footwear and lose the message of his calling to save his people.

If we want to bring in all of these, then those who carry Apoti Eri (Ark of Covenant) would say that God instructed Moses. 

Before you come and flog me here, read my expository well. Yes, both Joshua and Moses removed their footwear but once, and they had experience with God more than once. 

Jesus showed up to many people who didn't remove their footwear. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah etc didn't remove their footwear. So let's not make an issue out of no issue.

If some of us choose to wear footwear, don't castigate us. It doesn't make us less a son of Moses orimolade. Traditions doesn't make us believers, faith makes us believers. And that faith is in Jesus Christ, not Moses orimolade.

Baba Moses orimolade was an Apostle to us, just as Keneth Hagin, EW Kenyon, and other God's general were. We must reverend them, but don't idolize them. They are God's worth servant to us. Peter was called to the Jews and Paul called to the Gentiles. Paul plants, Apollos waters.

So let's not begin an unnecessary fight, abuse etc here. Pentecostal doesn't fight on mode of worship, yet they are all PFN. They all reverend PA Joseph Babalola and Benson Idahosa, yet their mode of worship ain't entirely thesame. But they all have same root.

We are all from thesame root: Moses Orimolade. We need not fight but celebrate one another. After all, for those who want the ipinle; we have a church for them. And for those who want the Pentecoatal C&S, there's also a church for them.

The more, the merrier.

Let’s proclaim the gospel.

I work with the Catholic Church, and I can say authoritatively that almost every thing that we claim to be our doctrine were copied from them. So why cry more than the bereaved?

Romans 14:17 (KJV)  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Colossians 2:6-10, 16-23 (KJV)  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Remi Ohunayo

Senior Pastor Hope Of Life International Assembly