Seminar on Interrogating Church Increase and the Upsurge in Immorality in Nigeria: the Bwari Experience
PREAMBLE TO THE STUDY
Although Nigeria, a secular state, is home to millions of Christians, Christianity makes up 56% of the population of Nigeria (Akanbi & Beyers 2017:1). One of the main problems facing Christianity in Nigeria today is the issue of increase of churches. Scholars such as Ugwu (2002), Onyebuagu (2009), Ogbu (2008), and Diara and Onah (2014) acknowledged the increase of churches in the 21st century Nigeria. As observed by the World Council of Churches (WCC 2019): Besides the large mission-founded churches such as the Anglicans, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, etc., Nigeria has a large number of African Instituted, independent, and Pentecostal churches, which are very active in evangelism and church planting in neighbouring countries, in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world. (n.p.) Professing the gospel to all people is an injunction by Jesus Christ (Mt 28:19, Mk 16:15). As observed by Ekpendu (2016): In the early church the task of teaching (disdasko) required that the truth and the duties of the gospel be more deliberately unfolded and applied. Its intent was to apply Christ’s will to the daily life of the community as a word of instruction, of encouragement, and of consolation, to ‘live in Him’ (Col. 2:6; 3:16, Tm 1 6:2, cf. 1 Cor 14: 3; 26). (p. 2) Followers of Jesus Christ are meant to be ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’ (Mt 5:13–16). Christians are expected to live commendable lives for the growth and development of society.
However, according to Onah and Ugwu (2008:70), in Nigeria churches are opened in every part of society but Christian religious worship is not being practiced in its true form. One would expect that the geometrical increase in churches in Nigeria will reflect in the lives of the Nigerian populace but this seems not to be the case. Instead, corruption and other vices have remained unabated in a country where churches are rising on a daily basis. Transparency International (TI) in 2020 released its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of which Nigeria was ranked 149 out of the 180 countries assessed (Odunsi 2021). Sustainable development remains a mirage for Nigeria.
The Church in Nigeria: A Historical Overview
The first Christian mission that reached Nigeria was during the Portuguese dominance of the Atlantic Coast in the 15th and 16th centuries. However, during that period, the Portuguese Catholics gave priority to economic and political activities, as a result of which Christian mission made no headway.1 Following the British Empire’s abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, another serious attempt was made to reintroduce Christianity to Nigeria. The liberated slaves who had already converted became instrumental in evangelizing the indigenous population. The case of Samuel Adjai Crowther, who was the first Nigerian Anglican priest, can be taken as an example. He played a key role in evangelizing in Yorubaland.2 After witnessing the success of Crowther, Anglicans of the Church Missionary Society, Methodists, Baptists, and the Roman Catholics increased efforts to have a strong Christian presence in Nigeria. As Christianity started flourishing in Nigeria, issues of discrimination, marginalization of African elites and disputes over resources etc. started pitting Christians against Christians and many church divisions resulted. The United Native African Church and the African Church (Bethel) broke away from the Anglican Church in 1891 and 1901 respectively. In 1917 the United African Methodist Church seceded from the Methodist Church. Since 1950, Pentecostal churches have become very visible and include the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Deeper Life Bible Church, and the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church. There are also Pentecostal groups like the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International, Youth with a Mission, and Christ for all Nations.
Correlation between Church Increase and Upsurge in Immorality: The Bwari Experience
Many are still surprised that in spite of the overwhelming presence of churches across the country, especially Bwari, is nothing but a city on her knees in morals and good conducts. Even Christian leaders are at loss over the challenge of moral decadence their faith has seemed unable to combat.
A cleric once said that the Church in Nigeria is sick, unwell, unhealthy and in need of critical change and restoration. The needed change and resuscitation, according to the cleric, requires repentance because repentance results in spiritual transformation. Studies continue to show that comparing the churched with the un-churched Nigerians, in a number of categories (cheating, fornication, exaggerating resumes etc), there was little difference in the ethical views and behaviour of the churched and un-churched. Unfortunately, some would say, the body of Christ has suffered the same kind of moral erosion as the worldly brothers and sisters. Somewhere along the path, Christians filed dissolution papers, commitment to the Kingdom has been violated and the Church is now awaiting the final decree of divorce between Christian beliefs and Christian behaviours as seen in moral life and in public behaviour.
Recommendations
- The ministers of God should receive good training from theological schools for proper interpretation of the bible and better dissemination of the gospel.
- Church leaders, priests, prophets, evangelists and ministers should imitate Christ whom they claim to have called them and whose priority is to save souls and not make money out of the gospel.
- The priests, pastors, general overseers, evangelists, prophets and ministers of God should live exemplary lives worthy of emulation. They should shun evil and speak against the moral decadence in the society.
- The government of Nigeria should enforce registration of the churches springing up in their thousands everyday so that it is only the sincere people who will be in ministry.
Summary/conclusion
This paper has discussed the interrogating church increase and the upsurge in immorality in Nigeria. It sees increase of churches as a challenge to Christianity. Despite the numerical growth of churches in Nigeria, immorality is unabated in the country, especially Bwari. The paper highlighted the reasons for the increase of churches in Nigeria. It also recognizes the positive impact church increment has on Nigerian society. It further highlighted the negative effect of proliferation of churches. The word of God has been watered down by the priests or pastors, evangelists and founders of these churches in the quest for money and increased membership. It is on this note that this article argues that in order to preach the gospel as directed by Jesus Christ one should live a holy life worthy of emulation. Pastors and priests should see themselves as representatives of Christ on earth; they should avoid engaging in any immoral actions, which may tarnish the image of the church. Christian leaders, priests or pastors, prophets, evangelists, bishops should know that it is important that their lives and preaching should reflect that of Christ from whom Christianity took her name. Unhealthy competition should be minimized.
References
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