A NEW YEAR AGENDA FOR MEN

As that meeting progressed, such laws like liberalisation of abortion, recognition of same-sex marriage were used as examples. But it could be deduced that regulations and policies that make free and fair elections difficult, if not impossible; a rotational arrangement that throws up such political permutations that leads to the removal of the right of a vice-president to act as president even while his principal is incapacitated, cannot meet this standard. A wholesome, godly agenda for men for the year and beyond must therefore include a consciousness of events in our environment and a readiness to join with others in influencing public policies and related matters

By the time you read this, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua may well have returned home from medical exile in Saudi Arabia. If the media is to be believed, it won't be because he is well enough to resume work as captain of the drifting ship of the state known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It won't be because his presence in person, well or not, has become a matter of life or death for the nation. It would simply be because a certain cabal, claiming to be representing the interest of a certain geo-political region of the country, love the nation too much to let her out of their stranglehold. It would be because we operate a socio-political system based on the basest of instincts: everyone for himself, the devil can take the hindmost.

The events of the recent past have demonstrated very clearly that we are a people governed, not by laws or conventions or principles, but by expediency. We are a people who have forsaken the path of honour, equity and justice and therefore, the God whose quintessence is located in these attributes. Yet it's this same God that we claim to worship.

All of this reminds me of the kernel of one item on the agenda for Christian men, set at the last Men's Breakfast Roundtable, a monthly event of KINGDOM MEN. It developed from a presentation by Chris Azu Aligbe, who some readers might recall, was image maker of Nigeria Airways, our defunct national carrier. Now an aviation and communication consultant, Chris is also a sub-council member of the Catholic Church’s Knights of St Mulumba. He pointed out that all human activities, all interpersonal engagements, all laws and conventions put in place by society, must be built around the dignity of the human person. This is for the simple reason that God made man in his image and after his likeness. For laws, conventions and public policies to be valid and earn our obedience and support, they must be such that honour the God-image in man.

As that meeting progressed, such laws like liberalisation of abortion, recognition of same-sex marriage were used as examples. But it could be deduced that regulations and policies that make free and fair elections difficult, if not impossible; a rotational arrangement that throws up such political permutations that leads to the removal of the right of a vice-president to act as president even while his principal is incapacitated, cannot meet this standard. A wholesome, godly agenda for men for the year and beyond must therefore include a consciousness of events in our environment and a readiness to join with others in influencing public policies and related matters.

Rev Ajibola Oluyede, a lawyer who pastors the Ikeja Centre of Christ Chapel International Churches (where I worship) agreed. A politician of the Tunji Braithwaite wing of the progressive movement himself, he pointed out that, the motivation for putting engagement with public policy issues on a man's agenda must be love; love, as in agape, selfless, unconditional love. Even where the issues involved might not hurt or affect your interest directly, perhaps because of your social or economic status, you still have a duty to the vulnerable segment of society to get involved. As Christian men we are commanded to love one another as Christ loved us, and therefore to be our brother's keeper.

Responding to a contribution by one of the scores of men present, on the need for verbal de-escalation in the engagement process, he said if our involvement is love-driven, it would include love for those we might even consider responsible for, and/or are benefiting from the things we want changed. In that case our methods and language will reflect that love, and so it will reduce the chances of violence.

It goes without saying that this is a call to Christian men to get up from their knees, where they've been bombarding the gates of heaven in prayer, and begin to do some work in addition. As James, the apostle, put it, faith without work is dead. That is what Pastor Tunde Bakare of The Latter Rain Assembly is exemplifying with his vanguard role in the newly founded Save Nigeria Group, which organised a series of rallies recently. More men need to take a cue from Bakare and others like him. The Anambra elections this week and the national elections next year demand no less.

Earlier in her contribution, Mrs Aramide Oikelome, Faith Editor and Senior Correspondent with The Independent Newspapers, who was the feminine voice at the meeting, urged men to determine in the new year, like never before, to take their place at home, from where everything flows. She identified three key places of the real kingdom man at home, as being those of priest, provider and protector.

On priesthood, she described man as the crown of God's creation and perhaps because the woman was taken from the man's rib, women have tended to depend, as it were, on their physical source - men. So, a man is a covering for his woman. And being a covering, your wife, feels more secured, protected and fulfilled when the man is doing the praying, even if she's a prayer warrior herself.

Oikelome, who is also president of Bestspring Children & Youth Development Foundation, a non- governmental, non-denominational organization “committed to healing hurts and restoring hope in children, youths and singles”, said men must realise that as high priest at home, they are the mediator between their family and God. Her words: "You receive direction from God for the family. When you are too busy to pray, read the Bible and fellowship with God, things are bound to go wrong."

Other items which found their way unto "Manhood 2010: A Comprehensive New Year Agenda for the Kingdom Man" are: Be more like Jesus, compassionate and ever willing to give; developing or maintain a lifestyle of giving, no matter how the economy turns and; be certain that God is the centre of all your activities. If as many of us are hungry for change in our lives and our nation, operate this five-point agenda; our nation will begin the journey to restoration.

Men’s Breakfast Roundtable 3, on the theme, “Love in the Kingdom” is slated for Saturday, February 20 at the same venue: CTEM Auditorium, Jeho-Shammah Plaza at the Ogba Bus Terminal, Ogba, Ikeja. Patrick and Iretiola Doyle are one of the two couples on the panel. Won’t you like to hear them speak on love from a kingdom perspective? Let's meet there!