Discrimination: The Greatest Bane Of The Christendom In Nigeria.
There are many challenges militating against the smooth running, development and growth of Christianity in Nigeria. Among them are poverty, government interference, fake pastors, and false doctrines.
Among these myriads of problems, discrimination is the greatest or the most worrisome. Permit me to share some stories with you here, with a view to buttressing my claim.
Story #1
I visited one of my professional colleagues at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, in Lagos Island, some years ago. Before I got to his office that afternoon, he had gone out for lunch, so I had to wait.
While waiting patiently for him, in front of his office, I noticed a young Hausa mobile cobbler walked into the same TBS premises where I was and headed straight to the small mosque located there. After performing the formal washing of hands and feet required of Muslims, he went inside the mosque to pray.
Do you know what attracted me to the Hausa shoe shiner’s visit to the mosque? He told me in Hausa language that he lived at the Idi-araba area of Surulere, more than 40 kilometers from TBS, and that he usually came to TBS to amend and polish shoes for people who worked and visited there.
Continued the Hausa guy: “Whenever I am going about my shoe-polishing business, in any town that I may find myself, and I hear the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer), I would stop by and look for a nearby mosque and walk in there to pray. It doesn’t matter who owns the mosque or what language the people who worship there speak, as long as it is a place that Allah is worshipped.”
This attitude of Muslims is not common among Christians in Nigeria. In other words, Christians in Nigeria, unlike their Muslim counterparts, find it difficult and uncomfortable to worship in Churches other than theirs, even when they are certain that such churches also worship the same Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The few occasions that you can find Christians of different denominations in Nigeria coming together to worship to are during special events like Requiem Mass, crusades and wedding.
Story # 2 – Pentecostal Christians vs. Catholic Christians/Jehovah Witnesses
Most Christians of the Pentecostal fold in Nigeria have so many reservations against Jehovah Witnesses and the Catholic Church. For example, they feel that Jehovah Witnesses and Catholics are not born again and do not do true worship of God.
In short, Most Pentecostal Christians in Nigeria see themselves as superior Christians, compared to their Jehovah Witnesses and Catholic counterparts. This has been causing some form of bad blood and unnecessary rivalry between these two groups of Christians.
Because of this form of discrimination and foolish rivalry, it is very difficult to see or find Christians of the Pentecostal fold worshiping in the Catholic Church or Jehovah Witnesses assembly, even when they find themselves at a place where the only worship centre is a Catholic church or Jehovah Witnesses Kingdom Hall.
Story #3 – Other Pentecostal Churches vs. The Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN
One of the most popular Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and in the entire world is the Nigerian-based Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN. It was founded and headed by the humble and unassuming Prophet T.B. Joshua.
Something funny happens between SCOAN and most other Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. Can you guess what that funny thing is? I’ll tell you, in case you don’t have an idea.
Here’s the funny thing!
Most pastors of other Pentecostal churches in Nigeria see T.B. Joshua and SCOAN as a fake prophet and his church, SCOAN, a fake one, while they are the only true men and women of God.
Some of them even behave as if they are holier that Jesus Christ Himself. How they arrived at this false conclusion, I cannot say!
Because of this bias and unfounded fact, most of those so-called ‘brothers-and-sisters-of-Jesus-Christ’ have sternly warned members of their church never to step their feet into SCOAN, let alone having anything to do with it or its founder and overseer, Prophet T.B. Joshua.
Interestingly, NONE OF THEM, I repeat, NONE OF THEM, without mincing words and without fear of contradiction, can match T.B. Joshua’s achievements, both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. Is it in the area of prophecy, healing, miracles, humility, compassion, or generosity? Where?
Interestingly, again, some of those other Pentecostal pastors who criticized T.B. Joshua in the past had had to go to him secretly and sometimes as a last resort for one help or the other. Just like a dog that goes back to its vomit. And many more would still go to him for help.
What a world!
This sometimes forces me to ask: If T.B. Joshua who they call a fake prophet of a fake church can do all of those beautiful things we watch on Emmanuel Television, what have they who are the ‘true men and women of God done?’ I would like to know.
Just a few days ago, I saw, on social medial, bags of Christmas rice that one of the Nigerian-based Pentecostal churches that criticize T.B. Joshua and SCOAN, has prepared to sell to its members. Meanwhile, T.B. and his Emmanuel TeeVee partners give out trailer-loads of rice every now and then FREE -OF-CHARGE to the needy and the less privileged members of our society.
That’s just by the way, sha!
The point I want to make with this entire story is that discrimination is fast destroying the Christendom in Nigeria.
The earlier all the churches in Nigeria unite and understand that there’s no church in heaven and that all ‘true churches’ worship the same Jesus Christ, the better for all of them.
Discrimination: The Greatest Bane Of The Christendom In Nigeria. Those who have ears let them hear!
