Faith Conversations (by the Nigeria Prayer Group)
First and foremost, let me express my deep sadness that we have to hold this kind of conversation at all. It is a clear indication of the failed state of our nation: Government is not fulfilling its primary role of keeping the lives of citizens safe and secure. Our sincere condolences to all those who have been affected by this evil, which is expressly against God’s law in Exodus 21: 16: those who are still in captivity; those who have been “freed” but continue to live daily with the horrible memories of their ordeal; the families and communities dealing with the terrible trauma and guilt resulting from the death of a loved one (especially if it occurred because ransom was not paid); the difficult financial situation being faced as a result of raising the money for the payment of ransom; the inability to cope with what has happened to the “freed” relations (for those who spent years in captivity, the person who comes back is no longer like the one who left); etc. It is difficult to fully comprehend the various dimensions of brokenness and trauma that so many people are currently experiencing. We call on God who alone can heal this kind of dis-ease.
This is not an easy conversation to engage in. Taking an a priori position which says: “I refuse to engage in any negotiation with abductors or succumb to their demand for ransom” might appear cold, heartless and plain unrealistic. People are bound to retort with: “Wait until you’re face to face with the situation, then we’ll see whether you will maintain your stand.” And truly, how many of us can look our loved ones straight in the eyes and tell them: If you ever get kidnapped, I won’t be paying ransom to get you freed; or, if I were the one kidnapped, please don’t run around looking to pay ransom for me? This is definitely heart-wrenching. But then, is it not necessary, indeed, required, that we take a principled, biblical position on this matter which many have been left to deal as best as they could? Let us at least try to determine what the Bible teaches, even if we acknowledge our weakness to execute it.
Basically, I will be reflecting on two questions: first, how did we get here? – “here” being a situation in which Christians are running helter-skelter, raising ransom money in order to get kidnapped or abducted family members and friends freed. Secondly, what can we do now? Or is it already too late to seek to reverse the situation?
How did we get here?
Several expressions are rushing through my mind: You reap what you sow; You sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind; As you lay your bed, so you will lie on it. What I will be seeking to demonstrate is the fact that the ideas we have espoused and propagated about God and the Christian faith may have been responsible for bringing us to where we are today.
What are some of those ideas?
A wrong theology of suffering and death: The teaching in many of our churches today is that God is most of all interested in our “well-being”, and specifically, that we be kept alive at all costs. Most of our teachers have not prepared us for suffering, whether justly or unjustly, even though it is one of the key teachings of the Bible. Emphasis has been placed more on topics like Abundant Life; Overcoming; Dominion; and the like – all of which we have construed in very literal terms, not so much as spiritual constructs. We forget that most of the people who taught those principles in the Bible suffered greatly. Need we remind ourselves of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Apostle Paul and the other disciples? Some of our assemblies sought to introduce Psalm 118: 17 as a declaration we should make after saying the Grace and Surely: “I shall not die but live to declare the works of the Lord.” Can we imagine the early disciples reciting that after each of their meetings? We Africans have a morbid fear of death which prevents us from daring, from taking risks – but that is a conversation for another day.
Wrapping the Gospel in a toga of social acceptability: Gone are the days when being a Christian wasn’t so fashionable. We used to be called SU, and it was pretty obvious – we stood out by our dressing, the positions we took on issues, the activities we participated in, etc. Sure, some of those positions needed to be re-thought, and thank God that’s happening now in some cases. However, some of us have adopted a stance that states: “because we’re Christians doesn’t mean we can’t do such-and-such.” And so, we’ve gone the way of the world, and are no longer distinguishable as “people of the WAY” (Acts 9: 2). Some even curse their enemies right inside the church, in clear disobedience to the teaching of Jesus to bless and not curse. James 3: 10 asks poignantly: Do good and bad water flow from the same spring?
Unbridled display of opulence: This follows from the preceding point. We’re rich, and we must display it. Even if all around us reeks of poverty, illiteracy and all kinds of serious deprivations, we refuse to deliberately choose simplicity. Our heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills; we are princesses and princes, seated in heavenly places with the Lord Jesus Christ – and the world had better know it!
There are several other issues we could consider: Leaders of the Church not speaking out clearly on issues or giving direction as to what the Christian stand on matters should be (do we even have a Christian Think-Tank?); some of our leaders are compromised and therefore cannot really speak out. My point is that the kind of bread-and-butter faith we have espoused has determined the kind of response we have given to the challenges which have confronted us. It is not the faith of Joseph, of Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, or of the New Testament believers who forsook everything to follow Jesus, whose invitation was clear: “If anyone desires to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16: 24-25) Self-denial, not self-preservation, is the Christian way.
What can we do now?
Hardly does a week go by without 2 Chronicles 7: 14 being quoted in one Christian gathering or the other: “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” This is a time for fervent prayer – a prayer of repentance and for revival.
Take our cue from the Bible: What did the early Christians do in times of persecution and suffering? They cried out to God – and left it to God to deliver or not (James was killed; Peter was delivered from prison). It was the same in the Old Testament. There is a mentality we must develop – that of the three Hebrew children: We will not bow to evil – whether God chooses to deliver or not.
Is paying ransom bowing to evil or participating in it?
I believe it is. Hebrews 5: 11 says: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; but rather, expose them.” People always advance the argument: You can think that way because you’re not the one involved; when it touches you, then you’ll know it’s not easy. Like the man who said he was against paying ransom until he got abducted. But in all truth, what does paying ransom do, if not to further empower the kidnappers? Kidnapping for ransom has become one of Nigeria’s most lucrative businesses. In several instances, the victim is still killed even after ransom has been paid, or they make more and more demands.
The Church could take some practical steps:
- Let the Church come out boldly to make known its Biblical position, while also strongly denouncing the attacks on churches, schools, communities and individuals (not only Christians); then,
- Offer to partner with Government to fight crime in the society (e.g. set up a research team and think-tank to make proposals; engage with communities on self-protection / defense mechanisms)
- Establish a Christian Safety and Security Fund for the foregoing research and community engagement efforts, and to support vulnerable communities as may be needed.
In conclusion, let me say that our God has been answering many prayers and delivering people miraculously from the den of kidnappers. Some of us must have heard stories about kidnappers suddenly releasing a victim because they “sensed” something unusual about them. We give God all the glory for such deliverances. Let me adapt Romans 8:19 as I end: Our nation is waiting earnestly for the manifestation of the children of God. Light shines brightest in the thickest darkness. The darkness in the land now is at its densest. Will we arise and shine our light in this overwhelming darkness? May God help us.
Remi Sonaiya
Lagos, August 2024
- Remi Sonaiya is a member of The Nigeria Prayer Group, a Professor of French & Linguistics (rtd) and the 2015 Presidential candidate of the KOWA Party
