"Now, if reports from the National Assembly elections held two Saturdays ago are anything to go by, it does seem that the elections derived its relative credibility from the system and a handful of the helmsmen. It seemed as if wherever there were systemic lapses, Nigerians, including many who claim to be Christians exploited the system to the advantage of their principals. In other words, they abandoned the kingdom culture and conformed to the political culture of winning at all costs."
I remember that day, Saturday June 24, 2008, as if it were yesterday. Three hundred men drawn from across the kingdom, united in their love for God, hungry for a change in their nation and determined to be instruments of that change, came together. Together they praised and worshipped God; together they soaked in the anointed teaching of the man of God. Together they received impartation and the prophetic marching order to unite across all dividing lines, constantly sharpen one another and thus become God’s threshing instrument in His project of cleansing Nigeria for His end-time use. Venue was the International Conference Hall of Etiebet’s Place in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
It was to be a four-hour meeting. It lasted a bit longer essentially because secular venues as usual do not recognize the importance of integrity, or at least most of their staffers don’t! The result was we started late. But did that deter the men? No way. These were men led of the Holy Spirit to abandon any personal agenda to operate with his own. These were men fully persuaded that being a man is a matter of choice and have made their choice irreversibly.
Christian Men’s Network Nigeria was the host of the event, Luncheon with the President. That President was Rev Dr Chris Tunde Joda, who founded and the Nigerian arm of the then foremost international men’s ministry and takes time of his busy apostolic assignment to meet with the men regularly. On that occasion, he ministered on the topic, “The Culture of Kingdom Manhood.”
I found myself recalling some of the things he said at that event, as I reflected on the on-going general elections, with particular reference to those areas where the generally acceptable process was marred by incidences of the negative kind! It got me wondering yet again where are the kingdom men in our nation?
Permit me to recall some of the key nuggets of that ministration, as reported in this column then. Culture, he began “is the trait that identifies you, the instinct inbred in you”, he began. “People are identified by their culture. That is why the Nigerian, wherever he may be would rather eat with his fingers than with any man-made contrivance. That is why the Chinese cherishes his chopstick. Culture cannot be destroyed; it can only be developed. But a man’s real culture derives from his original heritage! Genesis 1:26 is clear about that! God made man in his image and after his likeness. So a man’s real culture derives from his heavenly heritage.”
But how does that translate to the way he lives during his earthly sojourn? Dr Joda likens that to the Phillip’s request in chapter 14 of the book of John. “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us (verse 8). To which the Lord answered “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (verse 9)”. So if man derives his heritage and therefore his culture from God, he only has to look to Jesus whom the bible described as the express image of the Father (see Hebrews 1:30) as his model. That then is the rationale for the truth that manhood and Christ-likeness are synonymous, which Christian Men’s Network has proclaimed for over 25 years.
Therefore the culture of Christian manhood takes its root, stem, leaves and fruits from the character of Christ Jesus. The interesting thing continues Dr Joda, is that that Culture became inbred in every man when he meets Jesus. “When you meet Jesus, you acquire a new gene; a different DNA from what you had before you were saved”
Like Jesus, you are supposed to lose all fears; become courageous; able to resist temptation and reject compromise. Jesus was love personified; he was the epitome of humility; he radiated kindness; he was consistent and never did anything without seeking the counsel and direction of the Father through prayer. He was faithful to the very end. Those are the components of the Christian man’s culture; without which he though he remains a male, will never become a man.
Dr Joda was characteristically blunt: If we are going to change our nation, he told his audience, “it will not be because we carry a Bible, no matter its size. It will be because we have imbibed the culture of Christian manhood. The culture of the world is sub-standard; it is weak, cowardly. You must resist the temptation to conform to the culture of the world. It doesn’t matter who else is conforming, you must STAND FIRM. And let me say this. All of this is not just that we can become better sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. It is not just about becoming wealthy and influential and taking leadership positions in our country. Those are very important things, but none is more important than that you make heaven. So get your priority right; that is a major part of the culture of Christian manhood.”
Now, if reports from the National Assembly elections held two Saturdays ago are anything to go by, it does seem that the elections derived its relative credibility from the system and a handful of the helmsmen. It seemed as if wherever there were systemic lapses, Nigerians, including many who claim to be Christians exploited the system to the advantage of their principals. In other words, they abandoned the kingdom culture and conformed to the political culture of winning at all costs.
If you are a Christian and reading this, I urge you to please play your part in what remains of the elections with an eye on your real culture, and your eternity. Those men, who attended that luncheon three years ago, left the venue rededicated to living their lives as God’s men. Many signed on to join this evolving men’s movement. What about you? My dear brother-in-the Lord, are you living your culture? Think about it! Our nation needs real men, Christ-like men; men who know the truth and do the truth; men who go out courageously daily - doubting nothing, compromising nothing.
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