The crisis between Ibilla and Oju disallowed people to attend church services at their various denominations. Thank God the curfew was relaxed and people were happy to return to church to worship after a week or two.
Let me use this edition to talk about the categories of worshippers and try to poke my nose into what God may be thinking as we lift up our hands in worship. Christ the owner of the church said we should allow the wheat and the tares to grow together and so who am I to consider some unfit to attend church service after the crisis. But let me re-echo what Christ said about how far we may know those who are really HIS–by their fruits we may know–Christ said that when we love one another, then the world will know that we are truly HIS follower. At another part the Bible said; don’t claim to love God that you did not see when you hate your brother that you are seeing.
The service is composed of those that were actively part of the crisis with guns, some that set fire on their neighbour’s properties, some that were happy about certain destructions, some that wished that certain people are killed, some that took side, some that may be privy to the heinous act, some that are innocent of the whole thing, some that are victims of the crisis, some that their actions would have averted the fracas but prefer to be indifferent and some that are not bother how everything turned out. All these sets of people were praying that the curfew be relaxed, so that they can go to church to worship God.
I could imagine some seated in the pew with hands raised high singing praises to the Lord but with vengeful hearts full of hatred. In their thoughts, darkness does reside with intensity that you can catch with your hand. Their hearts cold, lacking love and filled with deadly hypocrisy. Their selfishness and clannish sentiment so bold and hard to ignore. Their prayers, a hollow sound, for in their hearts, sin of unforgiveness and violence abound.
Chawowo, dey dere dey play with God that sees the heart and knows the mind. Continue to play pranks with God and worship with evil hearts–your body go tell you in due time.
In part 2, I will suggest what the preachers will emphasis now in Igede land. For God to look down on us again–we need godly sorrow and confession more than the regular pattern. Christ said, even if you have one billion naira to offer or a special song to render and you remember that you offended a brother, leave it at the altar and go and reconcile before you come again to continue the worship.
Watch out for THE SUNDAY AFTER THE CRISIS IN IGEDELAND–part 2.
Comments