OPEN LETTER TO CAN PRESIDENT ORITSEJAFOR (2)

As I said, in the first part of this letter, Mr President, your plans for the Christian Association of Nigeria upon which we base these letters, came from your response to Segun Otokiti as published in his recent article in the Nigerian Compass. This revolves around what you described as “three major areas…apart from other things” which are: “uniting the body much more”; “the religious crisis that continues in the North” and; being “light and salt of the earth”. It is on this Three-Point-Plus Agenda I wish to engage with you.

According to the report, you said, “the first one is in the area of uniting the body much more. My predecessor tried his best and I would always appreciate him, but I think we can do better and I believe we will do better. We will find more ways and new ways to unite the body and make it stronger.”

Without doubt this is perhaps the most important area of your commission. Unity is very close to the heart of God. The Lord Jesus heart’s cry, if we have ears to hear, is that we be one. In the last chapter of the Book of John, the Lord Jesus prayed a prayer that clearly reveals his heart on this issue. Mr President, please let’s read these few verses together: “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are…Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:11, 20-23).

You will notice, sir, that the phrase “be one” was used four times in these verses. You might also recall that this was the Lord’s last prayer, a kind of “last wish”, the type which most cultures across all climes is never treated with levity. But the Church has so far reacted to this prayer as if it doesn’t concern us. It is as if it was just a conversation between the father and the son of which we have no part. We are busy building personal or group empires; protecting our turfs to ward off all intruders. The result, as one man of God, graphically described it, is many are committing adultery with the Lord Jesus’ bride! Therefore, to work towards the unity of the Church, must be seen as an imperative for any leader who would please the one who owns the church, the only one who has the right to call it “my church”, as he did in Matthew 16:18 - Jesus Christ.

Ironically, although the assignment is clear as crystal, the strategy doesn’t seem so. And in the case of the association that you have just assumed leadership of, it might even seem daunting. But with God all things are possible and we do wish you the very best as you confront the challenge. In addition to wishing you well, however, perhaps a few pointers can help.

The first point, we wish to draw your attention to is so basic that it can be seen as simplistic. Have you noticed, sir, how preachers from across the various artificial enemy-created divides use their pulpits to denigrate and condemn one another? Have you noticed how we seem to have perfected the art of pulling down denominations and wings of the church other than our own? Have you noticed how we have become so arrogant about the efficacy and correctness of our individual teachings that we dismiss everything else as ineffective and flowing from ignorance or error? Significantly this practice flows, like the anointing, directly from the top. Can it be addressed from the top – so it can flow than the line?

It must be pointed out that in many cases, our criticisms of our brethren flow from ignorance of the “whys” and “hows” of what we condemn; some on our experiences of years back, even when denominations and groups have since moved on! It is my opinion that forums need to be created for the express purpose of fostering understanding of practices within individual wings of the church. Just one example will do and it is this: Is it possible, for instance, to hold a National Conference on Christian Prosperity? Does God want Christians to prosper? Is prosperity the same as materialism? Such honest debates across the divides will at least ensure that we understand where each wing of the church stands, and even if we remain in disagreement, it would be based on knowledge. There are several other such contentious issues. I do not mind saying here that these are some of the areas whereKINGDOMPeople, the magazine we are about to resuscitate, plans to be active. But, how much more effective would it be were CAN were to take them on!

We also think there’s need to take a look at the structural composition of CAN. It is widely accepted that the stronger the parts, the stronger the whole. Interestingly, your unit of CAN known as Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN/PFN) betrays a level of weakness that was exploited to drag the last electioneering process. Over time, it has become clear that the CPFN seem to feel more comfortable with some other groups within CAN than with PFN and have tended to use their votes to make the point. That needs to be addressed. CPFN feels comfortable elsewhere, why doesn’t your executive encourage them to realign? That way you’ll have two strong bodies contributing to the unity of the whole. Otherwise, you’ll need to confront whatever it is that led to the birth of CPFN in the first place. This is fundamental. In the same way whatever group within CAN requires realignment, or feels the need to create new groups, should be allowed to do so, based on certain criteria. The need to bring those who are currently outside the fold should be addressed as early as possible. (CONTINUES)