True religion and nation building: a biblical perspective

From Egypt to Morocco, Libya to Tunisia, Iraq to Afghanistan, and from Bosnia to Biafra, mankind has watched nations struggle, and has sought to rebuild them. There have been records of revolutions religiously and politically. Some have taken to arms, often branded rebels and at times terrorists. Mankind's record is one of failure. Nigeria is not shielded from this malady. She is a nation of two contraries: classed as a nation with happiest people and yet one of the most corrupt in the world. Efforts have been made and are still being made to rebuild decadent Nigeria. Politically, the civil war of 1967-1970, military coups, and formation of political parties are all efforts to set our nation on the right track. Economically, several borrowing from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the different economic policies like Austerity measure of the Shagari era, Structural Adjustment Program of Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda and the most recent privatization policies are all stakes to wake the sleeping giant. Religiously, the story is not different. Today, Nigeria seems to record the greatest number of sects and religions than her neighbours. Because of the crushing hardship bedeviling our nation, some seem to look up to God for solution. Some have created imaginary God and are living in utopian world. Most so called Men of God seize the opportunity to loot the already wounded flock through prosperity preaching and false promises in the name of prophecies. It is the position of the researcher that authentic guidelines for quality control and nation building are in the pages of the Bible

Divine Sovereignty in the Book of Apocalypse

Isa 40,1 is a straight call to consolation by God. It was a call that enlivened a rather shattered hope following the lengthy years of exile. The author of the book of Apocalypse like the Deutero-Isaiah has a direct message for his audience. The sadness and despair, the devastated hope coupled with the rushing and entangled thoughts over the persecutions are only preludes to the victory by those who would remain faithful until the end. The Christians are in no position to fight any of their enemies. Unlike the Essenes who were given a War Manual, Christians have no role to play in the terminal and determinant war with Satan. The Christian has the choice of renouncing Christ or suffering martyrdom. The author is aware that without strong conviction that Jesus is king, it would be impossible for the believers to endure such suffering. To elicit such immutable conviction, the author like other apocalyptic pushed home his message through graphic images and symbols. He is sure that the Christians will eventually become victorious just as Christ. They only have to remain patient and faithful. Theirs is better classified as joy in the midst of suffering. This paper studies Revelation as a book of consolation and hope that posits God as a Sovereign God. It sets out to explore how the author of Revelation carefully drives home his message. It is consolatory in as much it elicits hope in the life of a rather shattered group because of persecution. It is a book of hope because it convinces all believers that persecution and martyrdom are all temporal challenges. God purposely allowed them to test them. He will eventually prove himself a Sovereign God.Key words: Revelation, Apocalypse, Persecution, Imageries, Victorious, Sovereignty

Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible: an Exegetical Interpretation of 1Tim 3,16

To a man in the street and indeed to all Christian believers, the bible is the word of God. The general translation of 1Tim 3,16 forms the background for this belief. Over the years, people have taken steps to do what they would not have reasonably done if not because they are told that the bible says. One needs to get into the city to be appalled at the number of ecclesial bodies springing up daily, each with followers who are ready to die defending their biblical belief. This paper is intended to waken believers to certain curiosity. It examines the idea of inspiration and the consequent inerrancy from the backdrop of 1Tim 3,16. Appalled at certain evident and hidden contradictions and aporias in the bible, the paper questions the authenticity of inspiration with reference to the bible as a whole. If every part of the bible is inspired, then, can God really be the author of the contradictions? Could it be that He forgets easily as to inspire one thing here and another in the next place? If God is definitively an ens perfectissimum, then who is the author of the noticeable inconsistencies? Again, when 1Tim 3,16 talks of inspiration does it include the New Testament that was not as at then in existence or is it limited to the Old Testament? Taking a giant stride into some of these sacred areas in the plot of this research paper. It seeks to wake researchers from slumber by employing exegetical tools to give a critical interpretation of 1Tim 3,16 with a view to a better understanding of the meaning of the inspiration of the bible. Some part of the paper may sound offensive to fundamentalists but skeptics who may think that this is another epitaph designed to be a bomb shell against the bible may end up disappointed. The paper is  an academic exercise structured for enlightenment with open mindedness

Religious Pluralism in the Bible and the Pastoral Challenges of Credal Walls In Nigeria: An Application of Acts 10:27-28.34

Prior to the advent of what Chinua Achebe calls ‘the white man’s religion’, “igwebuike” was the case. “Ujamaa” was the spirit. There were of course tribal and ethnic issues but not to the level of not seeing each other as brother or sister. In the last Synod of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. D. Isizoh lamented that Africa inherited a divided Christianity. The divide in Christendom is undoubtable as is evidenced in destructive criticisms, attacks, anathemas and new teachings we bring against each other. Beyond Christianity, the story is even worse. The experience often ends in gory stories. It is all about join me or face war. One wonders whether religion is actually what it ought to be. If religion happens to be an agent of division and intolerance, is it necessary for man to still remain religious? Perhaps, the Quran and the Bible share blames in the intolerance because of the ambiguities in their teachings implying incompatibility of different religious beliefs. John 3,17 teaches that Christ is sent for the salvation of the whole world. Yet Acts 4,12 holds that salvation is only in his name. John 14,6 posits Christ as the only way to the Father. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul told them that without Christ they were without hope and without God. At first face therefore, religious pluralism seems at odds with biblical teaching. This paper using exegetical lens captures the possibility of religious pluralism in the bible. The author sees religious intolerance as one of the greatest problems facing Nigeria and the world at large. It follows the thoughts of Fathers of the Vatican II to conclude that biblical teaching about salvation through Christ is not in exclusivity but in inclusivity. It posits tolerance and openness as the solutions to religious intolerance of each other and the consequent gory stories

Beyond Ethnic Bias: An Exegetico-Hermeneutical Study of John 12:20-22

Ethnicism is a problem that is as old as the history of humanity. It is believed by many that God created the world but even at the point of creation, boundaries were set. Different cultural settings, languages and skin colours demonstrate this demarcation. It is because of these noticeable disparities that people talk of migration. Relocation to another city or country outside one’s nativity makes the person a stranger. Thus, from pre-modern Homo Erectus who first migrated from Africa over the Levantine Corridor and Horn of Africa to Eurasia to Homo Antecessor, Neanderthals and till the contemporary times, human beings are yet to see themselves as one. There is always a great divide, racial discrimination, migration laws, and survival of the fittest mentality. Unfortunately, the bible especially the Old Testament does seem to give credence to the reality of this evil. The wars recorded in the bible are all because of ethnic bias. In some New Testament texts, the story is not very different. This paper settles to open the mind of the readers to Jesus’ exemplary attitude. He sees and preaches the brotherhood of all without limitation. The paper after touching the tip of the iceberg on some supportive New Testament texts, uses exegetical tool to argue that Jesus not only did not approve of racism but sees his glory as realized in the salvation of all as children of God. The paper advocates that humanity will be better if we see ourselves as one just as Christ did

Hopefulness in hopelessness: a hermeneutical application of Rom 4:18 to Nigerian situation

Nigeria is best described as a clay-footed giant. She is the most populated nation in Africa. She is advantaged and naturally blessed with rich minerals. Yet, she is a nation of two contraries: classed as a nation with happiest people and yet one of the most corrupt in the world. Politically, the civil war of 1967-1970, military coups, formation of political parties are all efforts to set our nation on the right track. Economically, several borrowing from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the different economic policies like Austerity measure, Structural Adjustment Programme policies are all stakes to wake the sleeping giant. Religiously, the story is not different. Because of the crushing hardship bedeviling our nation, some have created imaginary God and are living in utopian world. Most so called Men of God seize the opportunity to loot the already wounded flock through prosperity preaching and false promises in the name of prophecies. In the maze of these man-made problems, the repercussion is obvious. Man is still the victim. Many get poorer. Demographically, there seem to be more deaths than births in Nigeria today. The living tends to act very wickedly towards others. There is scarcely genuineness in dealings and life. There is no assurance of trust. Nigeria portends the imagery of failed hope. This paper draws from the exegesis of Rom 4:18 to encourage Nigerians to rise in hope and take their destiny in their hands. The paper believes that hope is not lost. Individuals only need authentic understanding of God and a non-risk free challenging of himself to survive rather than empty trust in the government and deceptive religious prophecies

Work as a Perfection of the Human Person: A Philosophico- Theological Contextualization of 2 Thes. 3,10

In the first creation account, Gen 1,28 God mandated man to conquer the earth and subdue. Immediately after the fall in Gen 3, God spells out work as the only way through which man would get his daily bread. It follows therefore, that work remains a conditio sine qua non for man’s survival whether he is at peace with God or no. Hannah Arendt the French philosopher understands work as having a self perfective dimension. Plato in his Republic groups the organization of his political society according to the work every group does. This paper footnotes Paul’s instruction to the Thessalonians to project work as part and parcel of man. It views work as that which perfects man. The researcher believes that without work, the human person can neither be perfected nor can he survive. Thus, the paper documents that work is not just a virtue for survival, it also perfects the human person in as much as it perfects nature. The researcher takes work from the backdrop of its holistic dimension as a term. Distinctions are not made as to the different types or classes of works. The common denominator is that every work perfects the human person. The researcher encourages every person to go back to his drawing board and bend down to work. He believes that God created us without us but cannot help us without us. Using exegetical lens, the paper interprets 2Thes 3,10 from the background of practical experience. It makes a call to all to struggle not just to survive or succeed but to become significant through greater perfections realizable only through hard work

Nigeria: an ethical response

This paper argues that stigmatization of HIV/AIDS patients in Nigeria remains an ethical problem. The HIV and AIDS have remained incurable ailment of which their impacts are of local and global dimensions. Millions of people are the carriers of the HIV/AIDS or actual sufferers. These people face a life threatening situation owing to the complications associated with such medical conditions. Worse still, the HIV/AIDS remains an incurable disease despite its management and/or some palliative measures. In all of these, there is also the problem of stigmatization in the society and even cuts across all boards, even among some caregivers. Against this backdrop, the paper examines the HIV/AIDS, the status of the patients, the stigmatization and the factors leading to the stigmatization, the effects of the stigmatization, and their ethical  implications /response. This study's findings indicate a sphere of secrecy both on the part of the patients, their caregivers and their family relations. The secrecy occurs as a result of the stigmatization – thereby robbing them of their fundamental rights and privileges in the society. This trend has become a recurrent decimal with its ethical implications for the Nigerian society. The research approaches the subject from an ethical perspective. In its data collection and analysis, the work applies a phenomenological framework to the discussion. In the end, the paper makes a number of recommendations aimed at discouraging stigmatization of the HIV/AIDS patients in order to preserve their dignity, rights and privileges in the Nigerian society and elsewhere.Keywords: HIV/AIDS Patients, Stigmatization, Healthcare, Human Dignity, Ethic

Effective Preaching of the word of God: Concrete Considerations

Acts 2,5-6 talks of the crowd that gathered in Jerusalem for the annual Pentecost feast. It describes them as ‘devout men from nations under heaven’. This description could be an exaggeration, but it is a literary way of telling the readers that uncountable number of people went for the feast. The presentation posits species from every continent as present. They did not visit Jerusalem to listen to Peter’s preaching about the resurrected Christ. Their visit was an annual pilgrimage for Jewish agricultural feast called ‘Pentecost’. Undoubtedly, they were not interested in stories about Christ who as at the period was regarded as an insurrectionist, a brigand and a robber who died infamously. Truly, perception of an unusual sound necessitated their gathering together but staying on to listen to Peter talk about an infamous man and the historical conversion of about three thousand (3000) men (Acts 2,41) invites a sober reflection on the method used by Peter to pass on his message. If the early Christians were able to move the world at a time when Information Technology and pedagogical methods were not so much in vogue, then the method they adopted is worth being studied. The contemporary era is witnessing the decadence of mainline Churches – Catholicism, Anglicanism, Methodist, Presbyterianism, Lutheranism etc. On the other hand, Pentecostalism and Easter Transcendental Meditation have attractions on a geometrical increase. Evidently therefore, the problem is not with man’s incredulity or nonacceptance of Christocentric method. The submission of this paper is that the problem lies with our method of presentation. Therefore, this work confines itself in the main to an examination of what used to be the case, a look into the present and a suggestion on the way forward

The Concept of the Servant of God and Isaiah’s Connection: A Politico-Theological Response to Recession

To say that Nigeria is yet to be met with great and good news of feats and development since after independence is not an exaggeration. The true face is that the little the colonial masters did before they handed over is what we have enjoyed. Now most of them have dilapidated. There is no sign of a better future. One wonders what happened to Nigerian Telecommunications. There was a time we have phone boots on the streets. With a coin one can conveniently make calls. Fax machines were available in offices for private and public use. One can even send a telegram. To say that GSM and internet replaced them is an escapist manoeuvre. Think of Lagos Main Land Bridges, Niger Bridge, trains etc. People attribute the cause to corruption. The leaders are singled out as corrupt. But who are the leaders? People tend to limit their searchlight to the president, Senators and governors. Evidently, they are not the managers of parastatals. They are not the law enforcement agencies etc. Yet, the truth is still obvious that a good leader can always push his subjects to a set vision and mission. What Nigeria needs is a servant leader. This paper is structured to examine in the main, the concept of the Servant of God, a servant leader as envisioned by Prophet Isaiah in what is popularly known as the Servant Songs. It is the belief of the researcher that a leader of such calibre is what Nigeria needs even in her recession to move forward