In Nigeria, religious pretentiousness displayed as true piety, has, to a large degree, replaced true godliness. Book of Isaiah chapter 58, unequivocally denounces religious observations that do not measure up to God’s own standard of righteousness.
The Psalmist calls the attention of those who identify as believers to the fundamentals of true worship and acceptable service unto God. Psalm 24:3 enunciates the parameters of acceptable worship, of the almighty. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully…”
Pentecostalism in Nigeria seems to fit into this description. This charismatic Christian brand has become synonymous with a yearly ritual of prolonged fasting. For several years, religious leaders in the country have annually declared months of fasting and prayers at the onset of every year. These fastings range from 21 days to 100 days, depending on the practising denomination. The over 3 months of fasting of a particular megachurch often dovetails into the Lenten season – as practitioners struggle to keep up with the mantra of invoking God’s blessings for self, church and the nation in the new year. The fastings, usually cloaked in religious piety, often fail to evoke spirituality or produce palpable godliness in the most faithful. This is a no-guess-talk or arm-chair speculation. The facts are there for all to see. The fastings have inadvertently or otherwise, been made to replace or, at best, make up for the shortcomings of the adherents in living by Christ’s uncompromisable requirement that anyone who wants to follow him must deny self and take up his cross – meaning that living godly, requires giving up sinful pleasures and unedifying conveniences. James 1: 26-27 specifies the religion acceptable to God.
Unfortunately, this man-induced practice has baited many to believe that God could be entreated by mere religiosity wrapped in the cloak of piety, and that God could be “bribed “to endow blessings even when the acts and motives are not pure. They make people believe that the best way to attract God’s attention is through superfluous annual arrangements regarded as requisites for answering prayers by the Omniscient God.
For many, it is just a routine that must be observed yearly to maintain loyalty or fulfil their denominational righteousness. Sadly, many enforcers and complaints have deviated from the purity and simplicity of the faith laid down by Jesus Christ and entrenched by his apostles.
As a keen observer of events and a Christian as well, I should honestly agree with some commentators that Nigeria qualifies by now to be named the religious capital of the world. By our deep immersion in religious activities and the ubiquity of religious centres, our nation should have become God’s own country, reflected in our value system and concomitant development through prudent and honest use of resources inspired by godly fear. Nigeria would have attained the enviable status of “the apple of God’s eyes.” It is disheartening to note that the opposite defines Nigeria.
Our case becomes even more complicated when some Muslims add their own prescription to the “holy” month of Ramadan to present Nigeria as a country that is deeply God-reverencing. Lo and behold! Religion in Nigeria is characteristically used to mask the godlessness that pervades the land.
I wonder, seriously speaking, why some states will shut down schools in the name of fasting. What hypocrisy! What regressive thinking! Niger, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi, and one other State. l heard, recently declared holiday for their primary and secondary schools. This, to me, is carrying religion too far! The question is: how does fasting interfere with education? And why were the children – pardon me – of the talk was made to halt schooling while the children of the rich, workers, traders, and self-employed are busy peddling their stocks? Why can’t the governments shut down all the states to give pep to the fasting?
What of Christian Lenten? To declare holidays too, for 40 days? Haaa! What hypocrisy!
By inference, it is apparent that this display of religious piety is more of showmanship than true penitence and godliness in Nigeria. In several countries where religious devotions are not as deeply entrenched as it is in Nigeria, things are moving forward, governments are ruling reasonably well, and citizens are following better.
The question, then, is why Nigeria remains caged in the hole of confusion and underdevelopment. It is because its religion is mostly wrapped in deceit. Repeatedly, we have heard that this land is blessed with milk and honey! But why are those living in the desert more nourished than those inhabiting the land flowing with milk and honey? Is it not time our religious leaders, especially church leaders, ditch pretentious worship and embrace the truth that sets free?
It is time to seek the Lord so he may send the “rain” upon us. The present majority of religious leaders, except a few, who have merchandised the gospel either openly or subtly, need to change course. Otherwise, God’s judgement looms. Conversely, the government can demand taxes from these entrepreneurial religions. As enshrined in the Corporate Affairs Commission, the CAMA law should be invoked while the status of charity to religious organizations should be reviewed.
Some of these organisations are far wealthier than government establishments and private companies. Churches having 3- 4 bombardier aircraft are far richer than a few notable private business organisations in the country.
I read that, during the month, a politician gifted a religious leader a whopping one million US dollars years back and later gifted another 50 million Naira. The translation of that in today’s inflated economy is huge, with no proven far-reaching contribution to national growth and development. More worrisome is that they received these “largesses” without questioning the giver’s source(s) or spiritual status.
Another Pastor, went wild on social media, saying that he and his partners gifted a famous church leader a 1.5 billion Naira car to mark his birthday. And few months later while celebrating his own 50th birthday, one of his ‘spiritual sons’ gifted him a brand-new limousine of equal cost to celebrate. He turned 50 years this last January! Here’s someone with no records of work experience anywhere other than mounting the pulpit to sermonize, and has now joined the league of pastors that parade long exotic cars and perhaps move in convoy, that even some world leaders will shun. And anti-graft agencies dare not query their sources of income because the religious mantra is: “It is the Lord’s doing …” The obvious truth is that the political powers are glove in hand with these religious leaders. While one is perpetrating physical and fiscal exploitation, the other is committing “spiritual” robbery.
Corruption and crime are subtly encouraged by these so-called pastors, if not brazenly.
Imagine an association of mothers of Yahoo operators saying they spend endless time praying for their children to succeed in their enterprise! What a country! In such circumstances, how can we have a functional country? Righteousness exalts. Sin is a reproach. Unless the religious establishment drops the garb of deceit and embraces true piety, weeping and lamentations will continue to torment the nation.
It’s time for religious leaders to repent and lead the nation to genuine repentance.
