THE
resurrection of Jesus Christ, being celebrated today, Easter Sunday, is
the miraculous event from which Christianity draws its essence. For
Christians, it is the manifestation of the power of life over death, the
triumph of good over evil, the victory of light over darkness, and the
conquest of love over hatred. At no better time than now does the
message of Easter resonate with Nigeria, a nation in dire need of
redemption.
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus are a lesson on the power of humility, service, self-sacrifice, and true love. He taught a lot of lessons through his parables and miracles, but the greatest lessons he taught are in his own life. He taught his followers that, in love, a man can lay down his life for others. That those who seek to be first must make themselves last and servant of all. And that is what he did when he accepted a humiliating death in order that humanity may live. Nigerians can learn a lot from the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Easter is a celebration of hope and new life. For Nigerian Christians in particular, Easter promises the triumph of good over evil after a long season under the weight and trauma of failed leadership, political banditry, monumental corruption and the resultant economic stagnation, social dislocation, and unprecedented violence and crime. With the event of Easter, Christians are convinced that all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, evil can only dominate for a while, but will eventually crumble and give way to righteousness, truth and peace.
As Nigerians celebrate today, they must not lose sight of the notion of sacrificial love that is central to the life of Jesus Christ.
Authentic religion and genuine worship necessarily involve sacrifice and self-denial. What appears to be popular in Nigeria today, however, is a religion of convenience that glamorizes wealth, pleasure and power and makes little provision for sacrificial love, self-denial and self-abnegation. Mahatma Gandhi had identified this kind of religion (without sacrifice) as one of the seven deadly social sins of our age. Believers in Nigeria must strive to fight this deadly social sin. Citizens must capitalize on the best ideals of Christianity and Islam to transform the country from a land of endemic corruption, greed and graft, led by a succession of manipulators and opportunists, to a corrupt-free one under visionary leaders.
Nigeria’s constitution rightly recognizes that the only way to protect the exercise of citizens’ religious duties is to guarantee the freedom of religion. Nigerians should not lose sight of the fact that Jesus Christ was crucified for proclaiming a message that ran against conventional wisdom. He was politically murdered, contrary to due process, by civil authorities that made the cause of religious bigots their own. This highlights the danger to truth and freedom that can manifest itself when state and religion inordinately cohere.
Easter is an opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation. Nigeria’s stock has drastically fallen in the world on account of rampant corruption and misrule by past and present leaders. Many young Nigerians now lack the courage to dream dreams and pursue high ideals, as their vision has been rendered opaque and their confidence shaken. But Easter is a call to hope, a declaration that there is life beyond Calvary, a reality of eternal possibilities and renewal.
A nation may be awash with corruption and official malfeasance. It may even be tottering on the brink of collapse. But the people need not give in to a death wish. They can dream dreams. Nigeria can rise to new heights and regain her dignity. Nigerians can make Nigeria work for the benefit of everyone. It only takes sacrifice, discipline, determination, focus, commitment, integrity, and visionary, selfless leadership.
Buffeted though by a myriad of woes — a stagnant economy propped up with statistics, a corrupted judiciary, decaying national infrastructure, a manipulative ruling class steeped in corruption, terrorism, an escalation of kidnapping and armed robbery, declining educational and health care delivery, a self-serving political class — redemption is still possible.
As adherents of the two major religions of Christianity and Islam, when Nigerians abandon hypocrisy and, instead, live out the high ideals of the religions, redemption is certain.
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus are a lesson on the power of humility, service, self-sacrifice, and true love. He taught a lot of lessons through his parables and miracles, but the greatest lessons he taught are in his own life. He taught his followers that, in love, a man can lay down his life for others. That those who seek to be first must make themselves last and servant of all. And that is what he did when he accepted a humiliating death in order that humanity may live. Nigerians can learn a lot from the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Easter is a celebration of hope and new life. For Nigerian Christians in particular, Easter promises the triumph of good over evil after a long season under the weight and trauma of failed leadership, political banditry, monumental corruption and the resultant economic stagnation, social dislocation, and unprecedented violence and crime. With the event of Easter, Christians are convinced that all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, evil can only dominate for a while, but will eventually crumble and give way to righteousness, truth and peace.
As Nigerians celebrate today, they must not lose sight of the notion of sacrificial love that is central to the life of Jesus Christ.
Authentic religion and genuine worship necessarily involve sacrifice and self-denial. What appears to be popular in Nigeria today, however, is a religion of convenience that glamorizes wealth, pleasure and power and makes little provision for sacrificial love, self-denial and self-abnegation. Mahatma Gandhi had identified this kind of religion (without sacrifice) as one of the seven deadly social sins of our age. Believers in Nigeria must strive to fight this deadly social sin. Citizens must capitalize on the best ideals of Christianity and Islam to transform the country from a land of endemic corruption, greed and graft, led by a succession of manipulators and opportunists, to a corrupt-free one under visionary leaders.
Nigeria’s constitution rightly recognizes that the only way to protect the exercise of citizens’ religious duties is to guarantee the freedom of religion. Nigerians should not lose sight of the fact that Jesus Christ was crucified for proclaiming a message that ran against conventional wisdom. He was politically murdered, contrary to due process, by civil authorities that made the cause of religious bigots their own. This highlights the danger to truth and freedom that can manifest itself when state and religion inordinately cohere.
Easter is an opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation. Nigeria’s stock has drastically fallen in the world on account of rampant corruption and misrule by past and present leaders. Many young Nigerians now lack the courage to dream dreams and pursue high ideals, as their vision has been rendered opaque and their confidence shaken. But Easter is a call to hope, a declaration that there is life beyond Calvary, a reality of eternal possibilities and renewal.
A nation may be awash with corruption and official malfeasance. It may even be tottering on the brink of collapse. But the people need not give in to a death wish. They can dream dreams. Nigeria can rise to new heights and regain her dignity. Nigerians can make Nigeria work for the benefit of everyone. It only takes sacrifice, discipline, determination, focus, commitment, integrity, and visionary, selfless leadership.
Buffeted though by a myriad of woes — a stagnant economy propped up with statistics, a corrupted judiciary, decaying national infrastructure, a manipulative ruling class steeped in corruption, terrorism, an escalation of kidnapping and armed robbery, declining educational and health care delivery, a self-serving political class — redemption is still possible.
As adherents of the two major religions of Christianity and Islam, when Nigerians abandon hypocrisy and, instead, live out the high ideals of the religions, redemption is certain.
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