BY TONY OKAFOR
The Nigerian church, once the hope and solace for the downtrodden, has transformed into a monster of exploitation.
Vulnerable members are preyed upon by their supposed spiritual guardians, who amass wealth and live in opulence while their flock struggles to make ends meet.
This reality is exemplified by the church’s relentless pursuit of wealth and material possessions.
Tithes, levies, and other forms of financial extraction have become the norm, with church leaders using coercive tactics to squeeze the last naira from their members.
Cases of demolition of existing edifices to build new ones, only to task the poor with funding the project, is a cruel example of the church’s insatiable appetite for materialism.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo recently pointed out the irony of the church’s actions. “Where is the morality in the church?” he asked.
The answer is simple: the church has lost its way.
The church that Saints Peter, Paul, and others suffered to establish was not a church of wealth and power.
It was a community of believers who shared their resources, cared for the poor, and preached the message of love and redemption.
The church that the colonial masters brought to Nigeria was not a vehicle for exploitation; it was an institution that provided education, healthcare, and social services to the people, almost free of charge.
In contrast, today’s church in Nigeria is a symbol of greed, corruption, and oppression.
Many have even lost their wives to their so-called spiritual heads.
It is time for the church to rediscover its purpose and return to its roots.
The church must prioritize the needs of its members over material possessions, ensure transparency in its financial dealings, and return to its core values of compassion, empathy, and service to the poor.
Until the church takes these steps, it will remain a modern sin, a blight on the conscience of the people.
