I like staying away from controversial topics
But this one time, I’ll speak…
Recently I saw a Facebook post where someone demanded that Churches in Nigeria should donate their worship centers to the government to use as isolation centers.
I wonder why a lot of Nigerians have a mindset that somewhat holds the Church responsible for the failures of the government. We demand from Churches, what our government should do.
We criticize PASTORS THAT GOD CALLED, and revolt agait them when we should spark a revolution against corruption and injustice from the POLITICIANS THAT WE ELECTED.
See, anyone that wants to help the government at this time will not be donating buildings for isolation centers. There are enough lands and government properties in Nigeria that can be used for that purpose.
Or didn’t Lagos state convert Onikan Stadium to an isolation center, with the help of GTBank? In fact the president has now directed that all stadiums, and other government public facilities, be converted into isolation centers, if need be.
So you see, there are more cogent needs. For instance, each bed in an isolation center needs a ventilator, among many other things.
Just one ventilator would cost between $10,000 to $25,000, depending on the quality. That’s about 3.7 million to 9.2 million Naira per ventilator.
Now, to think that Pastor Adeboye donated 11 ICU beds, fully fitted with ventilators, to 3 states across Nigeria. Imagine how much went into that? Isn’t that a laudable feat?
Dr Paul Enenche also donated medical supplies to the Federal Government! Tell me, what more do people expect?
Why would pastors donate empty buildings to the government instead of focusing on more important needs?
Our hospitals are not well equipped. We need medical equipments and facilities. We don’t need new buildings… We don’t need Church buildings to be donated.
Meanwhile, it’s not the job of pastors to equip government hospitals. It is the job of the government.
It won’t be bad for a Church to assist, like some pastors have done already. But we should rid ourselves of any sense of entitlement from pastors or churches.
We should rather face our elected politicians and demand what we deserve. We cannot hold the Church responsible for the failures of the government.
How come we are not even talking about rich men that have refused to pay pay back Federal government loans. We’re talking of billions upon billions of Naira here!
No, people will rather pick on Pastors. Really, it’s unfair.
Now on the side, do you know that Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Folorunso Alakija, Segun Agbaje, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Herbert Wigwe have donated 1 billion Naira each to the (Nigerian) government to fight this pandemic?
Sir, the government has an abundance of resources. Much more than any church can offer at this time.
I think the Church’s responsibilities in situations like this are to:
- Pray
- Discontinue services to curb the spread of the virus.
- Educate people (especially their members and immediate community) on faith and precautionary measures
- Help THEIR MEMBERS WHO ARE IN NEED
And if they have the financial ability…
- Donate relief materials to hospitals and poor communities
Now, let me also mention that a Pastor has responsibilities towards his members ALONE!
Please read that again and let it sink 👆🏼
You cannot make demands from another person’s pastor. If you have demands, needs, or concerns, go and meet your Pastor.
Every man to his own pastor!
That’s the way it works.
I know for a fact that if you attend a big church with many branches, you may not be able to call your G.O or Senior Pastor directly.
But you should have a leader in the Church who you are directly accountable to. It could be your branch Pastor, Cell leader, Unit leader, House Fellowship coordinator, or whatever name they choose to call it in your church.
You should have a Pastor in the branch that you attend. And in that branch (if it’s big), you should belong to a cell group, house fellowship, unit, etc. That’s what it means to be a member of a Church. It’s not just by attendance or giving offering.
The leader of that sub-group is who you are directly accountable to. He is the one who you should meet when you need help. He/she knows you very well and can take your matter up to the very top of the Church leadership structure.
That is to say, if you just dash in and out of a Church on Sunday, you are not a member of the Church. You are just an attendee. It doesn’t matter how much you give in offering or tithe.
See, one of the hallmarks of Church membership is that you are known and accountable.
You may want to read that again 👆🏼
If you are not known, you cannot be cared for. If you are not accountable, you cannot be accounted for.
If you have not fulfilled your obligations, don’t make demands! But if you have fulfilled your obligations, YOUR Pastor will (or should) care for you.
I know that these days, many charlatans have proliferated the pulpit. That’s why I put “should” in bracket.
But I must mention that many are still doing it right! If you are attending a correct, Christ-centered Church, your pastor will care for you.
Now listen please,
If you attend a Church (big or small), please be known and accountable there.
If you attend a big church where there is no structure for accountability and to acquaint yourself with some sort of sub-level leadership, please leave!
If you are known and accountable, and you are not being cared for, please look for another Church.
But don’t begin to blame the Pastor of any other church for your woes in one church, or worse still, for the woes of the country.
Pastors are not responsible for the country. Politicians are.
Pastors are only responsible for the people that they directly pastor. Please let this truth stick with you, and think twice before calling out any Pastor.
The ones we should collectively call to question are the POLITICIANS WE ELECTED.
If you have any concerns, it should be with your pastor. Leave other people and their pastors alone!
Remember, every shepherd has his sheep!
Shalom.
Rev’d Temilolu A. Aliu
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