Nigeria: It's the Message Not the Messenger

6 February 2016
opinion

Let me start with a personal story. At a point in my life, I ignored the church like many youths in their 20s still do. It's the rebel in us that wants to break away from the sermons and doctrines that we have been force-fed with in childhood and adolescence especially those who have attended mission schools. I opted for squash, Sunday luncheons, social visits, movies or simply to sleep off Saturday night hang overs. It didn't help that I was in a profession that did not see Sunday as a hallowed day. But habits and characters formed in childhood are difficult to completely shake off and the lure of the church became stronger as I grew older.

At age 40, I found that many of my childhood friends had found their way back to the church. I decided to follow suit but on my terms. I looked critically at the various Pentecostal churches. There were many things to be said in their favour especially the deep prayerful life. I couldn't however, relate with the feel-good and flamboyant life-styles of their pastors. It seemed to me on the other hand that the orthodox churches put considerable emphasis on the secular and social aspects of the church. I was in this dilemma when my mother who had been more than joyous that her prodigal son was coming home, said I was looking for a perfect church and that there was nothing like that.

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