Devil, pastors and churches in Nigeria...can you tell the difference?

The devil and poverty
What is it with Nigerians and the devil? Anything goes wrong and accusing fingers are pointed to the devil. Infact, I am directing this question to the devil, what is it with you and Nigerians? Why the devil is attracted to poor people or poverty? Why the lack of anything has something to do with the devil? This story is so dear to my heart, ‘cos over the weekend, I heard so much from someone dear to my heart about how the devil is dealing with someone that is yet to have a baby. Nigerian girl is pregnant and goes to a crap hospital that has no scanner, hence you have to go to another “backyard scanning centre” to check delivery date and depending on the “backyard scanning centre” you go to, pregnant girl gets about 5 delivery dates, with a variation of 5weeks. Pregnant girl refuses to have the baby induced or a caesarean, ‘cos of the devil and pregnant girl resorts to going from one church to the other, speaking to pastors, of course, as soon as you present a Nigerian pastor with a potential problem, they automatically assume that someone and the devil is to blame. The pastors never provide the name of the accuser, but you are left to fast and pray. Make them give me name of person wey de do me, make I send police go arrest am!

The best part of this is that it has something to do with the fact that she maybe having a boy instead of a girl! I swear, after the conversation, I was tempted to pray for the devil itself, from all these accusations.

We Nigerians are always looking for someone to blame of our woes, there must be a force behind anything and anything that does not work for us. I watch everyday, as loads of Nigerians can not put pen to paper about how to get to where they are going. All they want is to make money, whether they have capital to start a business or even have a business idea is irrelevant. I heard about a final year medical student wanting to immigrate to the UK with no money or a sponsor, looking for a miracle and when he/she is refused visa, it must be the devil’s handiwork.

Religion in Nigerian & corruption
Nigeria is one of the most religious country in the world and even the president, attributes all his failures or successes to the devil or God, whichever suits him. There are thousands of churches everywhere in Lagos, with many homes and spaces converted into some form of church or the other. Sometimes in Lagos, it feels like planning laws don’t exist with the number of church springing up. Residential areas are been bombarded and over run with churches of all sizes and their loud microphones. Even a church with a congregation of 10, must have a microphone!

Sundays and Wednesdays, not to talk of Fridays are filled with congregations, looking for miracles, deliverance etc. Most of them are not in church just to worship God, without wanting something. Yet, the same congregation go back to work on Monday and collect bribes, give bribes and contribute to the corrupt that has now been woven into the fabric of our society. Young married men are all trooping to church on Sundays and on Saturdays; they are with their girlfriends committing adultery. Married woman are doing the same. Young girls are selling their bodies and yet, they are not been told the truth in church. The churches have failed in their responsibility to imbibe morals and uphold the morals of the society and yet, no one can criticise them, if you do, you are called the child of the devil and God will cast you out of his kingdom. You are compared to Saul in the bible. These people forget that the same Jesus went into the temple and rose against all the atrocities of the religious leaders, telling them that the temple has been turned into something else.
The sermons in churches are all about making money, becoming successful, miracles and of course, paying tithes and building funds. The pastors have become rich; they now wear designer suits, travel 1st class, and produce/write hundreds of books in a short space of time and shockingly, now own planes. Where is the modesty of Jesus Christ? Where is wanting to live like Jesus lived, where is the “practice what you preach”?? Church leaders are endorsing thieving government personnel and attending their birthday parties and all the rubbish opening of one centre or the other. I am a Christian and I cringe every time I see Pastor Enoch Adeboye (Redeem church) and other Christian leader attend events or functions of controversial leaders. Our Christian leaders fail to understand how influential their positions are, and what profound impact they can make, if only they choose who they associate with and maybe use their power and influence to send the right messages, instead of associating with these known corrupt leaders and as a result saying to their large congregation that it is ok to be corrupt, it is ok to associate with thieves. I watched Ebenezer Obey (musician turned pastor) attend some Oba’s birthday party, dancing with 3 or 4 of his wives. How can a pastor endorse or deem to endorse polygamy, something that is completely against the doctrine of God. Chris Okotie divorced his wife and now wants to marry another, from the same church! What is wrong with Nigerians? When are we going to stand up to the “Sodom and Gomorra” mentality in our churches? Pastors running over 10,000 congregation churches are also running businesses by the side. Is there anyone that will stand up with me on these issues?

The UK is currently debating taking out religion from the state- One school of thought says that in a multi-cultural society, religion(church) has no part to play in the society. Look at the moral decay of our youths and the raise in teenage pregnancy, divorce, paedophilic activities etc. Religion provides a moral presence in our society that has always been relevant and will continue to be relevant in today’s and future society. However, if religion will continue to have a place in the state, we as citizens must continue to hold all religious leaders and the faiths accountable for whatever they do. If as a Christian in the UK, I will not keep quite, why should I in Nigeria?