INCONGRUENT SACERDOTAL SELFIE

It is often said that silence is the best answer for a fool, but the context is, more often than not, misrepresented. Some may want to allude to Xenocrates' (396-314BC) saying: "I've often regretted my speech, never my silence." Again, the context is completely misconstrued. In the context of contemporary Nigeria, silence is, without equivocation, criminal. Pearl S Burke captured it all when he said "When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail."

I've had a go, several times in the past, at the Church Establishment in Nigeria, and I offer no apologies for doing so once again. Before anyone accuses me of being anti-Church, take care to note that my tirade is not directed at the Church per se, but its hierarchy. The simple fact that I am a Christian does not preclude me from venting my frustration at the Church in Nigeria. We are where we are due to, in large part, the reticence of the Church. It is, sadly, a matter of fact that the Church is complacent because it is complicit. It is clear to most Nigerians that most so-called Pastors, Reverends, Priests (which I have referred to as MOGs in the past, and I will again from now on) have forgone the very essence of their calling. 

Altruism has been substituted with money as the cornerstone of Christianity. MOGs have elevated sublunary considerations above spiritual concerns. Valiant representation of the core beliefs of Christianity has been relegated and the pursuit of wealth and influence has now taken centre stage. Truth is now at a premium while deceit and hypocrisy have pride of place in their hearts. Prosperity is now the sermon topic of choice; little wonder many a Christian now chases after it with vigour and reckless abandon. How many MOGs question the sources of their donors' incomes when stupendous amounts of money are donated to the Church? How is it possible for a Prison Officer on just over N120,000 per month to donate N60m to the Redeemed Church and no questions asked? Cases like that abound and it is eating away at the very core of Christianity. Politicians rob us till Kingdom come and MOGs encourage them by their complicity till eternity. Where do desperate and weary souls turn if not to the Church and God? More verses relating to tithe giving are now more important than those concerned with salvation and love for others. If only they could take a moral and intellectual selfie! It would be an incongruent sacerdotal selfie without a shadow of a doubt. They try to deflect criticisms by resorting to quoting 'touch ye not my anointed', forgetting that it refers to the truly anointed. Many MOGs don't even try to hide their disdain for the poor souls under their charge; if you're poor it's your fault. To paraphrase our dear 'First Lady' Patience Jonathan: "Diaris God o o o!"

The so-called CAN President is, to me, a waste of space. Christianity is for all of humanity, not just for Christians. How could a man in his position posit that most of the Boko Haram abductees are Christians? Isn't Christianity about love, equality and justice for all? Shouldn't such a divisive and potentially explosive statement be condemned by other MOGs? No. Silence again. Henri Frederic Amiel said it all: "Truth is not only violated by falsehood, it may equally be outraged by silence." 

In any society, whether secular or not, spiritual leaders leap to the defence of the downtrodden and face up to the powers-that-be. Failure to do that engenders and encourages malversations by the cormorants parading themselves as politicians. As Plato concisely put it: "The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."

In the end, whether they pull their weight or not, Nigerians shall collectively, sing at the top of our voices: Laus Deo.