Saints & Stains
The last decade has witnessed the pulling down of statues worldwide, from Rhodesmustfall to other fallist movements, and that is rightly so. I understand that this action is essential to rewrite the wrong of the past and reveal the truth rather than the concocted lies we have come to accept as truth and history. Truth and reconciliation are relevant if only we reckon with the past with sincerity and honesty. I realized that if I have to pull down statutes that church and religion have built in my head about specific individuals in the Bible, I have to tear my Bible or throw it away.
Nearly two decades ago, I realized that particular individuals had become the idols of our faith while others have become the very thing we hate to become. We would pray in the name of the God of polygamist (Abraham) and a liar (Isaac )and a 419 like Jacob but never pray in the name of a businessman(Laban), Harlot(Rehab), and betrayal (Judas) because we have determined in our mind which one is worthy of emulation and which one of them is not.
The day I learned that David was a womanizer to the point that when he was sick, they had to go and bring him a young virgin(Abishag) to help him recuperate. When he could not be "warm," they knew he was about to transition to glory. Church taught me that David was a man after God's heart, but they failed to mention his struggles, and when they did, it was in passing. As I read through my Bible over the years, I learned that there was no saint without stain.
Although all saints have stains yet, the Bible seems to always seek to demonize women and valorize men as taught through the years. Not surprisingly, religion has been structured that way from time immemorial. We know the woman caught in adultery more than we hear about the man she committed it with. Rehab is only a harlot but never a good woman who considers her entire household when negotiating with the spy. It is also one of the reasons the daughters of Zeholophad had to contend with the man who wrote the "history of God" (Moses) about equality, and he resisted them until God himself told him these women were right.
More so, I tell people that the pulpit can be more ignorant than the pews. That a man hears directly from God does not mean that he hears everything from God. Sometimes, his biases can relegate God's word to the background. It is one of the reasons why theologians still debate some of Moses's laws in the Pentateuch. Some suggested that Moses inscribe some of his prejudices into the Bible. One woman of God told her children to emulate me in everything but never on the issue of marriage. Yet, I have never been married, had a broken engagement, or any of those "stories" we like to use as stains on people or demonize them. Over ten years ago, I read a book titled "10 lies the church tells women" by J lee Grady. That book, among others, affirmed my conviction that the hierarchy that the church has created among the sexes was inconsistent with the intent of God. Even commonsense can tell us.
I write all of these to say that the church has built its theology in a way that empowers the strong and victimizes the weak. And before you come to me with the church is different from individual or the usual rhetoric of the body of Christ is on the attack, keep in mind that if Jesus looks at what we called the body of Christ today, he would be shocked. Jesus did not create a choir, usher, crowd control, meet and greet committee, or even the deacon board. Most of these units were created in the process of the evolution of the early church. The appointment of deacons became necessary because the Apostle wanted to dedicate more time to the word and not the serving of bread. About Nigeria, I can confidently say the theology of the church needs reforms because the church and religion of various forms have disciple the citizens more than any founding philosophy or ideology of the Nigerian state. So I take it seriously when I say the church. I grew up in church all my life.
The church needs to fix its theology. Any theology that suggests man can be perfect while walking through this broken world system sets up people for disappointment. Any gospel that posits that the pulpit is greater than the pew is not true to the leadership principle of Christ. Abuse of the gospel is any gospel that sends people to hell for every flimsy thing, including wearing lipsticks, appetite, dressing, or a lifestyle that does not harm any. Any gospel that insists that people become a robot and disconnected from reality betrays the purpose of the gospel. Any gospel that tells you to endure abuse, manipulation, and violence because you are the "ambassadors of Christ" is a sham.
For almost a decade now, what has kept me glued to God despite my frailties is learning to remind myself that God is not just the God of my good side but that he loves the worst of me. Seeing the sinners through the lens of Christ and the saint through their stain made me comfortable with my inadequacy. Finally, I am learning to master this rule for myself;
1. Sunday, church, and common sense can co-habit together.
2. Reason and faith are compatible
3. The pulpit is not greater than the pew
4. Choose your sanity, safety, and security above any church doctrine or theology.
5. Even if you are flawed, you are loved EVEN IF CHURCH, COMMUNITY, AND FAMILY REJECT you.
6. Equality, equity, and Justice are one of the languages of God too.
SELAH!
Posted on Facebook on April 9, 2022
