Sometimes prayers go rogue and veer off the path of piety and take a sharp turn into the land of, well, questionable theology.
Nothing ever prepared me for the idea that the popular Yoruba anecdote, ‘Kò sí ìjà ni church s’adura ni kin s’amin’ could have been put forward by the English Philosopher John Locke. But that’s beside the point.
The recent prayer by popular Nigerian Pastor Adeboye, where he implored the heavens for other Christians from different denominations to bow before his congregants is generating loads of heat on social media.
Now, while I’m all for a good prayer session, this one left me scratching my head with the ibo la tun ja si bayi and wondering, “Wait, what?”
Look, I don’t have a problem with the prayer itself. It’s the resounding “Amens!” echoing through the church that truly got my goat. Why? Because this kind of thinking, this desire for dominance disguised as piety, reeks of a fundamental misunderstanding of what Christianity is all about.
Many, unfortunately, see Christianity as a competition, a race to the top where the ultimate prize is not salvation, but superiority over others. This warped perspective fuels the gossip mills in churches, breeds envy and resentment, and ultimately leaves everyone feeling miserable. It’s the antithesis of love – the very foundation of the gospel.
Forget that borderline schizophrenic entertainer Pastor Odumeje who says he is not a ‘Preacher of love’, Christianity, at its core, preaches love, humility, and compassion.
Seriously, why on earth would anyone want others to bow before them? How does that help one inch closer to salvation or overcoming sin? It’s like trying to climb a mountain by pushing everyone else down. Not exactly the most effective strategy, is it?
There are countless prayers out there that should send shivers down the spine of any true Christian. Songs that blare “Jesus is working for only me” are not hymns, they’re odes to ego. We need to wake up and repent from these worldly messages masquerading as spiritual truths.
Now, before you accuse me of picking on Pastor Adeboye, let me be clear: he’s human, and humans err. We all do. But this incident highlights a larger issue – the propensity of some religious leaders to twist religious teachings for personal gain. Discernment is key and we all need wisdom to separate the word of man from the word of God.
This hunger for dominance isn’t about winning souls for Christ, it’s about asserting control and boosting revenue. It’s a sad truth, but often the “love thy neighbour” commandment gets conveniently forgotten in the pursuit of this “dominion strategy.”
Africa’s problem, and arguably the world’s, isn’t religion itself, but the cultural baggage we attach to it. We take beautiful teachings and taint them with our pre-existing societal expectations.
This is why the same religion that fosters prosperity in other parts of the world seems to get stuck in a rut here.
We cling to the archaic notion of bowing to those we perceive as superior, a cultural remnant that has no place in true Christian practice. This, in turn, fuels prayers for the downfall of enemies, a stark contrast to Jesus’ teachings of forgiveness, kindness and love.
The truth is, most of us haven’t even contemplated praying for the well-being of our enemies. It’s simply not part of our cultural or religious narrative. But that’s what Jesus would do, wouldn’t he?
Here’s a harsh reality: compared to Christians in other parts of the world, we, in Africa, still have a long way to go. We’re trapped in a mindset of competition and struggle, hindering collaboration and collective progress.
Until we embrace the truth that there’s enough for everyone, not just a select few, we’ll remain locked in this self-defeating cycle. Reason I posited that Englishman John Locke wouldn’t agree less with the maxim that the church is not a place for petty squabbles. You do the praying, while others do the “amen”.
However, before you’d amen to any self-serving prayer and the desire for dominance, consider humility, love, and the true spirit of the gospel. Pray if you must as a Christian, but be sure you’re not trying to prove others unworthy of God’s benediction and generosity!