This article is a chapter in a book- ‘Not all Darkness’
written by various students of the Nigeria Fellowship Evangelical Students in
jos zone. However, it has undergone some editing and alteration. I am one of
its authors or contributors and this is my piece. Enjoy!
Few subjects have attracted acute
discussions and interest in the last decade as religion did. There has been
increased involvement, an influx of several interest bodies around the globe to
advance their ideologies. These groups love to identify, speak of and defend
their ideologies with such fervency and vigor. Consequently, there is a
dourness among these groups which has led to a number of fierce and open
confrontations, sometimes leaving cataclysmic results in its trail. We need no
look further than our noses to decipher the alarming statistics of deaths and
misery caused by these religious groups. They are all guilty as charged; all of
them: the wanton mass murder and executions in the Middle East and the
incessant killings in Nigeria particularly in the Northern region. This is coming at a time when religion is
struggling against secularization especially in Europe and North America. The
renowned apologist Ravi Zacharias profoundly defined secularization when
commenting on Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943) co-founder the poetry society of
America.
“Secularization is the process by which
religious ideas, institutions, and interpretations have lost their social significance.
In short, “secularization assumes that this world-the material world-is all we
have.”
This could not be more apt; our
religious inclinations are at the verge of extinction. Ravi’s statement
presupposes that we can only be religious in our rooms and closets.
Christianity
among these other religions apart from suffering external assaults has also
faced internal turbulence. It is not in the lack of resources, or in the lack
of followers; it is its complacency and apathy. Like other religions,
Christianity can be driven by the whims of its most devoted followers; “the
one who plays the piper dictates the tune”. Here is an astounding
statement by Sam Pascoe;
“Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to
Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it
moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an
enterprise; it came to Nigeria and
became a tradition”. (Emphasis mine)
In Africa, particularly in Nigeria,
Christianity boasts of the most followers and I am pretty certain that most of
us are proud. However, we scarcely are anything close to godliness or Christ-like.
Almost all of us gloat about our Christian and religious background as if it
were a trophy for keeps. Our so-called Christian administrators, entrepreneurs,
politicians, musicians, civil servants, and lawyers are just Christians trying
to find their way around. Crime rate is skyrocketing; corruption is a norm spreading
into every little corner, the marriage institution has crumbled due to pressure
from society. The list is limitless. Notably, our congregations are exploding,
with regular activities demonstrating our success. That is all where it ends:
religion.
Building
a godly nation, a generation of godly seeds is not achieved merely by teaching
sanctimony or by extensive self-sacrificing rituals (Colossians 2:20-23). Many other religions out there like Judaism
and Islam are doing a better job at it.
Firstly, a godly generation begins
with a relationship with the all sufficient Christ, and a complete realization
of our ineptitude. This is the difference between our faith and other
religions: Christ not only changes what we do but what we want to do. Show me a
generation that is godly and you will see a society thriving on all fours.
Secondly, there is a major
disconnect between our faith and social life. We are Christians when we need to
be. This is the problem. Our faith has never been in dire need out there in the
trenches of a broken society as it is now. Everything is falling apart like
Christ said it would but one thing shall remain-our faith. People are content
to stay in the ‘four walls’ of church losing significance in a world that is in
need of godly men. The young ones must understand through in-depth biblical
exposition that Christianity is more than religion, our children must
understand the essence of their faith and how it is the very air they breathe.
See how Romans 12:1-2 succinctly put it:
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping
you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work,
and walking around life-and place it before God as an offering…”
The stakes are high and the
process tedious, but the end is worth the trouble. We cannot afford to merely
hope that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. Our clergies, parents,
churches must build a generation which is not merely intellectually informed,
smart but made up of godly individuals. This is only where the future lies; for
they will in turn teach their own children to seek and know the Lord, to love
their spouses, and to be responsible citizens.
FUTHER READING
Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis
Religiosity and the Christian Faith by Reinhold Niebuhr (www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?tittle=519)
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