Church is not Nigeria’s problem

 

 

“It was Enoch who touched off the great conflict between church and clan in Umuofia which had been gathering since Mr Brown left.

“One of the greatest crimes a man could commit was to unmask Egwugwu in public, or to say or to do anything which might reduce its immortal prestige in the eyes of the uninitiated. And this was what Enoch did.”

~ Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart…

Relationship between the Church and State has been a big issue for centuries. The death of Jesus Christ apart from the spiritual interpretations given to it by the adherents of the faith, the physical side to that development has something to do with religion, power and state. Jews were under colonialism, Rome exercised political control, the introduction of Christ into the mix greatly began to alter the political equation and balance.

Christ was doing the unusual, touching people›s lives in most spectacular ways by his physical works, and alongside he had his unique brand of teaching as well. He pulled crowds to himself. Any crowd puller is an explosive just waiting to detonate. He is a catalyst. He has the ability to disrupt existing equilibrium. So, Christ in the natural world became a threat that even the political institutions got very interested in what he was doing. One of the questions that posed a huge concern was the relationship between the group and the political establishment. It was a big issue that began to affect the larger Roman Empire.

As Christianity grew it became powerful and had a life of its own. The Roman emperors began at a point to tap from the Christian influence to boost legitimacy and to rule. The Roman Empire, the British Empire that came after it and development in America the New World then were not without the influence of the church. Since then, the church and state have remained a recurring topic. Even when it has been agreed that a great nation-state should run on secularism as state policy, this hasn›t been easy to keep even in the highly developed countries. Religion still plays critical roles.

Our country has not been left out of the issue of what role the church should play in national development. Many say it has no role at all. They borrow from the Russians who at a point in their history described it as «opium (sedative) of the masses.» Another group says the church has been playing negative roles, that its activities take away the people›s focus from the daily issues of critical development.

When nations run into hard times, reality can be distorted for so many. This is the case with us in recent times. So much anger and bile is on display everywhere. People are angry and none can say the cause. They just wake up very sad and can›t tell what actually is the issue. The church in the midst of an economic downturn and general state of underdevelopment is doing quite well. The number of members is growing same as erection of churches in every available space. Many therefore are of the view that few individuals are taking advantage of the state of poverty to enrich themselves.

At no time has the church come into more vicious attacks, criticisms and misinterpretations like now. The flamboyant lifestyles of the pastors has, as would be expected, raised posers. The uninitiated are not only picking their guns up, they are releasing very well targeted and dangerous shots. Social media is full of virulent attacks against the church and pastors.

 Few days ago, former Governor of Edo State and now a Senator, Adams Oshiomole, did not only call some churches “business centres” he veered into doctrinal matters when he told a summit in Abuja organized by the House of Representatives that “churches deceive people” when they say can solve challenge of poverty.

“On the issue of poverty, God has nothing to do with it. It is we humans that must work to solve it. If you don’t work, you won’t eat. They are holding down the development of the country,” Oshiomhole said.

The arguments for and against can›t be taken here but we can do a fine summary. Do churches have a role in development? The answer is a big yes. By teaching, they can enhance productivity and then a sense of bonding. They can pursue economic activities anchored around a sense of social justice. The Industrial Renaissance in Europe was triggered from the activities of the church. Schools built by Black churches in America helped the Bllack population to regain some measure of balance after the evil era of slave trade.

Churches should offer advice and act both as agenda setters, societal watchdogs and national conscience. The puritans helped the New America greatly. The church in Nigeria has been doing much in both tangible and intangible ways. Millions have kept their sanity from words coming from the Scripture. There are so many churches and messages on evil and yet the atmosphere is full of evil, now imagine what it could have been without anyone talking to people to change. Truth is the church has been able to climb to the height where it should be. That is the trouble, nothing more.

The Church can work with the government but the same way a lizard can never become a crocodile because both crawl, the church can never become a substitute for the government. Government is the force, the institution around which all physical activities revolve. If a society should carry vision and run, that responsibility lies squarely with the government, not the church. If a society is retrogressive the blame should be laid where it rightly belongs: at the feet of the government, not any other institution.

Nigeria is in trouble today not because churches and their leaders are doing well, it is because we have a rudderless ruling class not aware of what development entails and does not care to know. A ruling class driven by materialism. A ruling class that cherishes power just for power’s sake and is ever ready to undo the state and welfare of the citizens just to acquire power. This is the challenge.

Sometimes many of us have this apprehension for the faith. The faith in truth is under attack in the country. Jihadism is real. But the greatest threat against Christianity in the country comes from those in the top echelon of the faith. They have become too worldly. They are ever eager to share in the tables of idol worshippers. Bishop Matthew Kuka of the Catholic Church was in the gathering where Oshiomole was tearing Christianity with his heretic outburst. He may have kept a smiling face and even shook hands with the heretic.

God can eradicate poverty. Oshiomole is a good example. He was very poor and today owns a town as a private compound. Unwholesome preaching of prosperity isn’t right. Even though it is a component of kingdom prescriptions yet the emphasis should be on discipleship, discipline and right character. Discipleship message shouldn’t be what is taught once in a long while, every message ought to have a component to character reformation. That isn’t the case in most instances, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) should take the blame.

    CAN has become a captive of the ills it should fight. The earlier they wake up the better it will be for them, the faith and the country. The faith harbours many wolves in sheep’s clothing. Many who bear Christian names are not Christians in reality, it is just accidental they were born into Christian families. Christianity may be undone by those who claim they profess the faith.