The Christian Church and the Quest for Cultural Revival in Nigeria

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Towards bridging ethnic and religious divides in Nigeria: Exegetico-hermeneutical application of Gal.3:26-29

Nation building is the primary target of every nation especially, the developing states. To achieve this goal effectively, the collaborative effort of every citizen is required. It is obvious that Nigeria is a heterogeneous society with multi-ethnic groups and religious affiliations. The peculiarities of each ethnic group and religious ideology as unique as they appear, if properly harnessed and harmonized could foster nation building. Observations have shown that ethnic tensions and religious divides are banes that confront Nigeria’s nation building. It is therefore, the interest of this paper to bridge ethnic and religious tension in Nigeria by stimulating greater self-consciousness of the nation’s unity in diversity using Paul’s religious principle of unity “in Christ” as upheld in Gal.3:26-29. This work adopts exegetico-hermeneutical approach. The paper concludes that to build a formidable nation, principle of unity in diversity should take priority over ethnic and religious divides in Nigeria

The relevance of the church in oppressive situations: The Praxis of Liberation Theology in Africa

In many respects, the situation in Africa now resembles the situation in Latin America under which liberation theology irrupted. A situation under which both human and non human factors (external and internal) reduces the masses of the people to abject poverty and misery. African theologians have been attempting to grapple with these problems and to relate the gospel to the practical issues, whether social and political, cultural and liturgical which confronts them. This is because the Christian faith is not something extrinsic to the afflictions of the oppressed, but it is rather a motivating force which demands that the oppressed must be liberated in order to make room for the realization of the historical translation of the salvific deed of Jesus and the salvific will of God. However, so far, it appears that African theologians have not given enough thought to linking theology closely to the socio-economic and political situations in Africa as it has been done in Latin America. This situation has therefore called for an adequate and clear theology and the development of liberation praxis born out of the living experience of the African people. We therefore believe that the stage is now set when African theologians will help the people to uncover the liberative dimension of their faith and call for a discipleship in praxis as the beginning of theological reflection

The imperative of social engagement for Unizik, Awka: a socioreligious discourse

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Crisis Management in Youth Leadership - an Evaluation of Paul’s teaching in 1 Timothy 4:12

Youths are considered important and cherished in every part of the world. The men, women and youths constitute the lay members of the church with each group contributing its own quota in both the church and the society. However, despite the importance attached to the youths and the fact that there cannot be a happy society without the youths, the Nigerian Christian youths have become victims of neglect and as such are exposed to certain untold predicaments resulting in difficulties in managing the affairs of the youths. This paper examined what youth predicaments are all about, the causes and consequences of these ugly situations. The paper recommended that the youths should not be abandoned, but be directed and educated, according to Paul’s teaching (1Tim.4:12), towards acquiring knowledge necessary to face the challenges in the leadership cadre for the teaming population of the Christian youths in our contemporary Nigerian society

Materialistic Gospel Message in Contemporary Nigerian Churches: A Critique

There is no gainsaying the fact that an important; but also current issue in Christendom that has caught the interest of the general public, and which is urgently calling for scholarly attention in contemporary Nigeria, is the phenomenon of materialistic gospel message that is being peddled by many “men of God” today, designed to defraud and exploit the sick, poor and biblical illiterate Christians. It is therefore pertinent at this stageof Nigerian socio-economic difficulties and its attendant quest for material security, to take a look at this new dimension of African Christianity and the contributing factors induced by some modern pastors to the social and economic upheaval in the society. This study delved into the structural roots of materialistic gospel message in Nigeria and discovered, amongst other things, that most materialistic gospel preachers are driven by the love of money and not love for God, Jesus, the people or the gospel.Their teachings are so toxic and demonic and it is corrupting and   destroying lives. The study also found out that one of the reasons for this false teaching is because the verses and passages of Scriptures are taken out of context and promulgators refused to learn the principles of biblical interpretation such as hermeneutics, exegeses, homiletics and use of Bible resources such as Bible dictionary, encyclopedia, and other Bible references for study. This is coupled with the poor Bible reading habits of some Christians. The study concluded that materialistic gospel message is the worst kind of materialism and deception ever conceived by Satan and his cohorts to lay the foundation of greed and social discontent, and which, perhaps, the society is yet to come to terms

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35): An invitation to priestly fraternity

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Missionary Factor in the Making of a Modern Igbo Nation, 1841-1940: A Historical Discourse

African nationalist historiography tends to portray the Christian missionary activities in black Africa in the light of colonialism and exploitation for their selfish ends. Some have said that the missionary bodies were mere spiritual arms of various European governments in their quest for territorial expansion and enlargement of economic frontiers in sub-Sahara Africa. Plausible as this argument may sound, the present researchers have however, tried to see how missionary activities contributed, wittingly or unwittingly to the development of a modern Igbo nation. The paper have demonstrated that whatever the missionaries had gained in Igboland could never measure up with what the Igbo people benefited from the missionary activities. These include freedom from slavery, freedom from fear and superstition, freedom from diseases and poverty; above all, freedom from ignorance through missionary education which has transformed Igboland from the nineteenth century. It is left to say that with the help of the missionaries the Igbo language was developed and alphabets formulated. The early missionaries committed Igbo language into writing through the publications of religious books. The importance of this in the awakening of tribal consciousness, the provision of vehicle for common expression and the unification of the third largest tribe in West Africa cannot be overestimated. It is for these reasons that the place of the missionaries in the making of a modern Igbo nation deserves not just a passing reference but a discussion of this nature

The Jurisprudence of the Tribunal of Roman Rota as Precedents to the Local Church Tribunals

The Apostolic tribunals especially the tribune of the Roman Rota is charged with the unity of jurisprudence and the responsibility to oversee the proper administration of justice since the doctrine of judicial precedents do not exist within the canonical jurisprudence of the local Churches. As such the local Churches must look to the jurisprudence and praxis of the Roman Curia in supplying for an express prescription of law. In line with the above therefore, this paper has discussed the basic issues of the Roman Rota as it is endowed with the status of judicial precedents considered necessary to serve as a guide and orientation for the interpretation of law in the local Church tribunals

Ethiopianism and Social Ecumenism: Christian Ideologies for Independent Movements and Sustainable National Integration in Nigeria

The question of sustainable development calls for a reflection on how various groups and individuals have contributed in giving Nigerian nation the shape it has today, not only as a multi-ethnic nation rich in both human and natural endowments, but as a sovereign independent state. Such important reflection brings to the fore the ideology known as Ethiopianism, developed towards the end of the nineteenth century within the Church circle but which was a significant instrument in the hands of Nigerian educated Christians for the realization of their political goals and national integration. The significance of this reflection lies in the fact that not so many studies in the recent time have focused on this almost neglected aspect of Nigerian history. This is the gap that this present study has filled. The study advocates that in the present quest for more sustainable development and national integration in Nigeria, attention must not be lost on the contributions that such biblical ideologies can offer in the actualization of this noble cause. Neo-colonialism came and precipitated a social disintegration, leaving the people in the hands of neo-colonial exploiters and their black accomplices. The Churches, in their scandalous disunity, seem not to be able to offer any solution to the ugly situation. However, a united Church, on the principle of social ecumenism, can still be a veritable instrument for sustainable development and unification