ROCK MUSIC AND THE ROCK OF AGES

I walked into the City of David parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos, for the very first time and was surprised to hear the choir playing the theme song from the blockbuster movie, Mission Impossible III. Don’t get me wrong; the choir was excellent. But you start to wonder if you are not actually at a pop-concert as opposed to a church.
Newspring Church in Anderson, South Carolina (USA) even upped the ante. It was reported in the news that they started a church-service with the song Brick House by the Commodores. Part of the lyrics of the song goes like this: “The clothes she wears, the sexy ways, make an old man wish for younger days. She knows she’s built and knows how to please. Sure enough to knock a man to his knees.” How in heaven’s name can anyone think such a song is appropriate in a church of all places? But then churches are no longer what they are supposed to be.
According to The Telegraph, Pastor Sunday Adelaja of Embassy of God, Kiev, Ukraine encourages his congregants to “shake their booty and praise the Lord.” Reporting on one of his services, the newspaper observes that: “As ‘Pastor Sunday’ prepared to make a grand entrance, the choir-girls shook their pompoms, the disco lights started to flash and a fanfare sounded. The lights cut out, and Mr. Adelaja emerged from a shroud of dry ice. Children holding flags of the world wafted round him and the choir bellowed ‘Sanctus!’”
What exactly is happening here? Is it a worship service or a rock concert? Is Christ the bright and morning star or is the pastor the superstar? I daresay some churches have gone astray.

Babylonian songs

In the single-minded pursuit of size and numerical growth, new-generation churches have re-configured the church-service into a show-business where men come to be entertained on Sundays for the “gate-fee” of an offering. The thinking is that by spiritualising popular music, the church becomes more attractive to unbelievers.
The danger in this approach is that the modern church becomes increasingly worldly. The playing of secular music in churches does not facilitate the conversion of the lost. Indeed, music is never used in scripture as a means of reaching the lost. Instead, music is primarily used as a means of reaching God, because the Lord inhabits the praises of his people. (Psalm 22: 3). However, God is not likely to be reached through “urban contemporary gospel.” Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).
God’s mechanism for reaching the lost is through preaching. Jesus directs his disciples to: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). He does not say we should go into the world and organize beautiful concerts. But while the gospel may no longer be preached in many churches, we certainly strive to play good popular music that is very attractive to the people.
House on the Rock, Lagos takes great pride in organising a musical extravaganza every year called “The Experience.” According to their own public relations department, the concert is “the largest musical concert in Africa with attendance of over a quarter million;” featuring some of the biggest names in music internationally, including Don Moen, Ron Kenoly and Kirk Franklin. “Give Jesus a wiper.”

Christian pop and rap

Is it appropriate to recast popular secular songs into Christian ones by changing the lyrics? I don’t think so. Worldly music is inappropriate for conversion into “gospel” music. Jesus says: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6). James asks rhetorically: “Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3:12).
There is a spirit who holds the copyright to every song we sing. Changing the lyrics does not change the copyright. This means a worldly song cannot be converted into a godly song. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego refused to bow down to a god worshiped “in symphony with all kinds of music.” (Daniel 3:14-18).
Rock music, for example, is naturally wild; designed to stimulate the flesh. This makes it inappropriate for worship. Indeed, the rock of the rock-star is not the Rock of Ages. Moses says: “Their rock is not like our Rock.” (Deuteronomy 32:31).
Rap music is basically vulgar and fleshly. At its most fundamental, it is characterised by foul language, and videos glorifying pimps and “bitches.” These types of music cannot be converted into spiritual music because of what Jesus calls the “good fruit” princi-ple: “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17-18). Rap music puts emphasis on the drums. Spiritual songs, on the other hand, emphasise the melody as opposed to the beat. (Psalm 33:2; Isaiah 51:3). Indeed, the bible makes no mention anywhere of drums.

New songs

Christian songs should be “new songs;” not re-worked popular songs. The psalmist says: “He has put a new song in my mouth- praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:3). He enjoins believers repeatedly to: “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.” (Psalm 149:1). “Sing to Him a new song; play skilfully with a shout of joy.” (Psalm 33:3).
If church music app-eals to the world then it must be unacceptable to God. Jesus says: “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16: 15). The world is not interested in music that genuinely glorifies the Lord. Therefore, so-called Christian artists like Amy Grant and DC Talk end up laundering their lyrics in order to give it “cross-over” appeal.
After the children of Israel were carried into captivity, the Babylonians requested them to sing for sport. But they refused to sing the Lord’s song in a strange land. (Psalm 137: 4). Observe that it is the Lord’s song and not the world’s song. It is not even Israel’s song. Christian songs are supposed to be unto the Lord and not unto men. The Psalmist says we are to sing praises “to the Lord.” (Psalm 9:11). Christian music should glorify God, as opposed to entertain men.

Saturday night fever

We pastors play church a lot. We have gifted musicians who are singularly unspiritual. We hire them for a fee. As long as they play good music, they are acceptable in the beloved. Our church-musicians play in discos on Saturday night and in church on Sunday morning. We are particular about how well they play and not too fastidious about their anointing.
But God is not impressed and he would not be mocked. He says: “Away with your hymns of praise- they are mere noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. I want to see a mighty flood of justice- a torrent of doing good.” (Amos 5:23-24).

By Femi Aribisala

BEFORE RELIGION DERAILS NIGERIA

It is sad to see Nigeria going up in flames. Very disheartening to see how religion is destroying Nigeria. My question is, can one live a moral life with religion? If yes, why the ongoing chaos around the world in name of religion? If no, why bother with it. In my opinion morality has nothing to do with religion. In the civilized world today the peace they enjoy comes from law and order as against the religion that we embrace in the developing world.
These days its embarrassing that when you meet people after few lines of introduction, the next question that pops up usually is 'where do you worship?' Woe unto you if you do not give good answer to this question. You are turned to devil instantly with a serious warning of calamities that would befall you unless you chose one. At worst you will be bundled to a 'man of God' for deliverance. Is God that wicked and mean?
What has religion done for Nigeria? Well, some will say if not for religion there would have been Armageddon in Nigeria. I disagree with that; religion breeds hatred, pitched neighbours against each.
Religion has caused us many pains than good. You can trace the genesis of Nigeria/Biafra war, countless of mayhems in Jos and other Northern part of Nigeria to religion. Is it not time for us to revalue our inclination to this cult (religion)? Is it not time for us to stop hiding under the veil of religion to commit heinous crime? Is it not time we embrace the honest truth that religion brings sorrow than peace to our land.
All religions are evil; they never offer the world their promises (Peace). Let us imagine a Nigeria without 'I'm a Christian, Muslim, Sango and Amadi-oha worshiper. A Nigeria with no religion segregation, there will be great peace in the land. Religion does not bring the morality we hoped for. Most conflicts in world today are caused by religion in the name of soul winning. It creates division among people even within the Muslims and Christian communities. I subscribe to the quote of Thomas Paine "My Country is my World, my religion is to do good" Let us embrace this mantra and make Nigeria great. Let us see Nigeria as our world and let doing good to our fellow Nigerians be our religion. Let us stop killing one another in the name of God that is based on imported ideologies.
My greatest fear is that we are busy passing these crazy ideologies to our young minds. How do we justify showing kids horror movie or enticing them with sexual gratification at early age. But these are what both the Christians and Muslims do, covertly or overtly. At very early age, Christians will start terrorizing young minds with horror picture of hell fire while their Muslim counterparts are also busy promising young minds virgin. But in real world these events are most like to cause uproar and at best classified 18 and above. Where is the morality? We should allow the young minds to flourish with no fear rather than compelling them to embrace these crazy ideologies. Let us do away with religion all together, being Christian, Muslim or whatever, and practice godliness and live as good neighbours. We can attain this without attaching any sentiment to any prophet or deity.
Religion is a man made event, which was concocted out of greed based on mind control (stopping us from being free). Government all the world love this. It sedates people with false hope. Let us see ourselves as Nigeria and not as Christians and Muslims, and build a great nation and make a better place to be proud of. Let us channel this energy for the development of Nigeria. Let us become Nigeria Development Fanatics. We should not allow this monster (religion) to derail Nigeria and destroy us. It is never late to rescue our beloved country from the clutches of this monster. Let me rephrase Gandhi here "Be The Change You Want To See In Nigeria.

By Chika Odunze

WHITHER NIGERIA'S SECULARISM?

Section 10 of our 1999 constitution clearly prohibits Federal and state governments from adopting any state religion. Section 38 further guarantees every citizen the freedom of religion. If a recent news report is anything to go by, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba is unaware of the latter constitutional provision that guarantees every Nigerian freedom of religion.
He is reported to have suspended some staff of Taraba Government house for not attending compulsory prayers. When did it become the business of government to enforce religious prayers or rituals on the citizenry? Even Danbaba’s reverend predecessor knew better than such misguided religious zealotry that infringes on constitutional rights of Nigerians.
This is the same warped mindset that informed the atrocious expulsion of 4000 law abiding citizens from the Dar-ul Islam commune in Niger state for the grievous offence - according to state police commissioner Mike Zuokuomour as reported in Daily Trust of 16th Aug’ 2009 - of “violating the preaching act of Niger state as their mode of worship contradicted that of the state”. I had no idea it is the business of a supposedly secular government to dictate how people should worship.
It used to be the Sharia Northern states that flagrantly violated our supposedly secular constitution. But since the complicit Federal government was unable to put its foot down and decisively deal with the Sharia menace, the unsavoury practice of government intrusion in religion has spread down South.
 I understand Governor Ikedi Ohakim has transformed Imo government house into some sort of church. In Enugu under the erstwhile Nnamani administration a political dichotomy emerged between Catholic and other Christians.
Donald Duke the ex-Cross River governor organized Christmas carnivals with state funds. He even declared public holiday for the whole month of December in celebration of Christmas. At the time I could not help but wonder at such crass idiocy, as not even the Sharia governors of the core North have declared public holiday for the fasting month of Ramadan.
 The sad irony of it all is that the pretentious religiosity of our leaders does not translate to good governance. On the contrary they have collectively ruined this potentially great nation. Ex-President OBJ reportedly emerged from prison a born-again Christian but his 8-year maladministration was rife with highhanded vindictiveness, fraud, ineptitude and atrocities in Odi & Zaki Biam.
 The “evil genius” whose religious fervor motivated him to smuggle Nigeria into OIC, elevated corruption to new heights and unrepentantly truncated our best attempt at democracy setting the nation in a tumultuous tailspin from which we are yet to recover.
While Abacha was siphoning the nation’s coffers to Swiss banks, he attended mosque regularly and would be pictured by our news media in the front row of Muslim prayer-ground during Islamic Eid festivities. What more, his sexual debauchery with Indian prostitutes cost him his life.
Ahmed Sani Yerima, the ex-Zamfara governor was probably the worst example of religious hypocrisy in our so-called leaders. He started Sharia agitation in the current dispensation and amputated Jangebe’s hand for stealing a goat, but Sani himself was later indicted by EFCC for fleecing Zamfara…which the former EFCC boss decried as “direct stealing.”
 Up here in the core North, state governments build and maintain mosques, pay Islamic clerics, pay for pilgrimage to Mecca, operate numerous Arabic colleges whose sole purpose is to perpetuate the mental enslavement of our people to the violently intolerant, spiritually bankrupt Arab hate cult; as well as run a network of Sharia courts which unfortunately are recognized by our seriously defective, contradictory and ambivalent constitution.
 Contradictory and ambivalent because the same constitution that proclaims secularism in Section 10, also provides for state and federal (FCT) government Sharia courts in sections 244 & 247. A secular government has no business running Sharia or other religious courts. Sharia arbitration between consenting Muslims should be out-of-court settlement, not part of secular government-run judiciary.
This is particularly so as Sharia with its male Muslim bias and cruel barbaric punishments is inconsistent with constitutional provisions on gender equality, religious non-discrimination and prohibition of inhuman punishment.
Then there is the unsavory Judicial divide in the country – Common law in the South, Penal code in the North – ostensibly because of religious differences. After almost 50 years of independence, if we are truly one nation, it’s about time we abrogate the Judicial divide and replace it with a secular National Judiciary based on the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Nigeria is signatory, rather than on any bogus alien pseudo-religion that is at odds with modernity.
In a country like ours divided by two mutually antagonistic intolerant alien creeds (Islam, Christianity), secularism is essential to promote the unity required for nationhood. Government involvement in the propagation of these antagonistic alien religions accentuates our religious divide and encourages the bigotry that sometimes erupts in religious violence.
 It is no surprise therefore that the Islamic North where government is heavily involved in religion frequently erupts in violence. The Boko Haram insurrection for an Islamic state has its root in the invidious agitation for Sharia by Northern leaders who should know better than whip up religious sentiments in a multi-religious nation like Naija.
Although today’s northern leaders commonly eulogize the late Northern Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, they refuse to learn from his example of de-emphasizing religion in governance in order to promote inclusive equality and unity of all northerners regardless of creed. Politically, the late Sardauna was more powerful than any governor today yet he never imposed the retrogressive limb-amputating, stoning-to-death, misogynistic Sharia, northern Islamists now clamour for.
 Throughout the country government funds are spent brainwashing our children in public schools with the bogus alien dogmas (Christianity & Islam) that demonize and disparage our indigenous African heritage as “pagan”, “heathen”, “idolatry”, “Kafir”; while teaching them to glorify alien races (Jews & Arabs).
With such widespread mis-education that breeds inferiority complex (albeit subconscious), it is no surprise we Africans are developmentally stunted. Meaningful development isn’t just about providing roads, uninterrupted electricity supply or pipe-borne water. It is also about the right cultural orientation that enables us to realize our full potential for greatness as a nation.
This is why a country like Saudi Arabia with all the modern amenities oil money can buy, is not considered developed. They can never hope to become a technological giant like Japan, Germany, USA or South Korea. So long as they prefer to waste their petrodollars trying to prove there is science in the Quran, instead of promoting the civil liberties and intellectual freedom that are indispensable for scientific & technological advancement.
 But then technological advancement isn’t their priority…that’s what we infidels are for. For them it is much more important to go to Al-Jannah (Islamic heaven) and screw virgins, which is what their entire society is structured for. As the largest Black nation with a lot of promise, whom other Africans on the continent and in diaspora should look up to, we cannot afford such ludicrous wet dreams of heavenly sex as our guiding national ethos.
Of the three major races (Caucasians, Mongoloids, Negroids), only we Negroids are yet to produce a developed nation. And it is not unconnected with our cultural subservience to other races. Even countries like Ghana, Namibia, Botswana which are often touted as Africa’s shining stars, are less than mediocre by world standards. Granted that these African nations are much better than a dysfunctional failed nation like Nigeria, but they are still a far cry from where we Black Africans should be given our abundant natural resources.
At independence in 1957, Ghana was better off than South Korea in all major economic indices - GDP, income per capita, literacy rate etc. But today South Korea is a technological giant having leapt from third world to first world, while Ghana even though much richer in natural resources (Gold, Bauxite, Manganese, Cocoa), remains in the mediocre African third world.
As for my Arab wannabe compatriots up here in the North who are completely bereft of what it means to be proudly African; if we are to copy any people, it should not be the religiously intolerant Arabs who are averse to democracy and despite their oil wealth are technologically backward. Arabs have nothing positive to offer we Africans.
It’s the technologically advanced Japanese we should emulate. They retain the essence of their indigenous culture, and with only 120 million people have emerged the world’s second largest economy despite lacking mineral resources and arable land, and being regularly assaulted by natural disasters – earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis.
With its numerous shrines and ancestral deities, the Japanese Shinto religion is quite similar to traditional African spirituality; thereby debunking the misleading canard popular here in Black Africa that we have to abandon our indigenous culture, and mindlessly ape Arabs and Jews in other to “progress”.
On the contrary our cultural roots are indispensable for achieving greatness as a nation. A tree without roots to derive nourishment from the soil cannot grow well. Our future will remain bleak until we proudly embrace our African heritage.

By SR