2011 – YEAR OF THE CHURCH? (5)

Evang Uma Ukpai... defend youselves!

"That report included a call from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor “on Christians in that part of the country to rise up to defend themselves whenever they come under attack by these mindless fundamentalists, stressing: ‘It really does not make any sense for a peace-loving Christian to watch his family members being slaughtered without doing anything to defend them’”. It also quoted renowned evangelist, Uma Ukpai, as saying, “there will be no end to the religious crisis in the North unless the Christians in the area take it upon themselves to defend their lives and property”... "

It doesn’t rain, it pours! The enemy of our souls has been pouring destruction and death on our brothers and sisters, young and old, in parts of Northern Nigeria. He has found willing tools in an agglomeration of misguided jihadists, empire-minded ethnic champions, and self-serving political warlords who then by force of indoctrination and financial inducement unleash their enforcers upon innocent people. It’s not a new phenomenon; it’s just a new phase of a war that can only become fiercer and costlier in lives and limbs unless decisively dealt with NOW.

If you wondering “why now,” I urge you to read (again) the earlier parts of this serial. I shall only repeat here one of the major planks upon which the serial and my postulations in it rests, namely that: “2011 and the first few years of this Jubilee decade have become of such strategic historical significance, essentially because of the comparative state of readiness of the Church as exemplified by the recent battles and victories already referred to. To put it as we did the last time, this writer is of the conviction that “for the first time in a long, long time, the Church seems willing in these days of the Lord’s power” (see Psalm 110:3).” This particular point is clearly demonstrated by the unequivocal rhetoric and actions of leaders of the church prior to and during the on-going voter registration project and the clear signals being sent to political actors concerning the conduct of the impending elections.

I have already identified the elections, and the need to protect the lives and properties of Christians in the country, particularly, the northern parts, as two major areas where the Church must go beyond the tame, some say lame, tentativeness of the past. I have also posited concerning the elections, that the Church must go beyond mobilizing Christians to register, select, vote and protect (rsvp) their votes.

The Church, I wrote last week, “must offer guidance to its congregation about how to select and vote. This needs to be done at two levels. The first is to encourage people, as individuals and groups to seek the face of God on who to vote for at each level. Our goal ought to be to cause the body of Christ to use the ballot to enforce the will of God; not our individual preferences. This is a critical assignment. The second level is at the level of influencing those who might not be spiritual enough to discern the voice of God and do not trust other vessels. The church must provide a kind of issues platform for such people. For instance, such a platform might include a demonstrable commitment to eradication of illiteracy; a welfare policy that assists the poor and the weak; denunciation of corruption, including public declaration of assets; and commitment to scriptural position on sexuality and sanctity of life. If this takes a Manhattan Declaration type of document, so be it.”

In this connection, I might as well add to the political platform, a commitment to the protection of the religious and property rights of Christians; including the right of churches to own property, all over the country, but especially in the North, where such rights are routinely denied.

Back however to this issue of protection of lives and limbs from the perennial rampage of the enemies of our faith and the role of the Church in it.  As I said last time, as recently as last week, “reports of fresh killing of our brethren in Maiduguri were hitting the airwaves and calls on Christians to “defend yourselves” were already going out..”A Vanguard newspaper report of that particular incident authored by Sam Eyoboka read in part: '... A Deeper Life Christian Church pastor and three of his neighbours were killed by fundamentalists. It was gathered that Michael Medugu, a district pastor in charge of Hausa church, was killed by a gang of four fundamentalists in his pharmaceutical shop while dispensing drugs to customers at about 7.05 p.m., leaving his wife and seven children to mourn him… Megudu had just returned to his shop after the day’s Leadership meeting in his church, where his pastor, Ama Awokoya, incidentally called on Christians to increase their prayers for peace in the region, saying: ‘Must they bring dead bodies to the church before we intensify prayers?’ How prophetic that turned out to be…”

That report included a call from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor “on Christians in that part of the country to rise up to defend themselves whenever they come under attack by these mindless fundamentalists, stressing: ‘It really does not make any sense for a peace-loving Christian to watch his family members being slaughtered without doing anything to defend them’”. It also quoted renowned evangelist, Uma Ukpai, as saying, “there will be no end to the religious crisis in the North unless the Christians in the area take it upon themselves to defend their lives and property”. During the week, Reverend Yuguda Midurvwa, who chairs the Borno State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), also added his voice in agreement.

 

So, a consensus seems to be building that Christians now need to defend themselves. It is a consensus that I subscribe to; but the question is how? By taking up AK 47s and fighting back or even making violent preemptive strikes? No, a thousand times, No! The Bible is so clear about this when it says: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). In other words, the Word is our weapon.

Like every weapon we need to learn to use it, and practice with it, till be become proficient in it. The Church has to arise in this respect in two ways. Those already proficient must see it as a duty to begin to use the word to protect their brethren. More critically and urgently, teachings on the efficacy of the “sword of the Spirit” must now take preeminence in all our churches without jettisoning our love message. (CONCLUDED)