Has the Church failed in its role as the Gatekeeper of Society Morals?

Apostle Obi Trice Emeka

Two years ago, a friend of mine shared a story on Facebook about an incident that happened in a church filled with students from Oko Polytechnic. The priest in charge of the church had announced that the church needed an item estimated to cost around ₦10m, and without delay, two young students sitting in the church rose and donated ₦1.5m each. They were met with applause from everyone, with the priest’s applause being the loudest. He prayed for them with these words: “May what gave them the money they donated produce more of it.” No thought went into asking how two students could donate N1.5m instantaneously

Growing up three decades ago, sermons focused on morals and character. We were taught that stealing in any form is a sin. We learnt that honesty is what Jesus taught and what is right. We were taught not to lie or cheat people, just as our Lord and Saviour Jesus taught, and as the many prophets before Him taught and are coded in the Ten Commandments.

We gladly sang: Kpoo ihe ojoo ihe ojoo,
Kpoo ihe ojoo ihe ojoo,
Kpoo ihe ojoo ihe ojoo,
Akpona ihe ojoo ezi omume

These teachings have deeply influenced me and my philosophy.

The major role the church has played in society for centuries has been that of morals, ensuring that society inculcates the right morals and norms that protect the weak and the poor. Thus, religion, specifically Christianity, is the societal gatekeeper for morals. It screens improper values from society and determines what behaviour is permissible. This role has been successfully fulfilled for years, protecting humanity from debauchery.

In teaching character and morality, the church is fulfilling the mandate entrusted to it by Jesus. The gospel of Christ is of humility and honesty. It is about character. Jesus also spoke fervently against stealing. A cursory study of the gospel would show that which mattered to Jesus; to pick but a few: Matthew 18:4, 20:26-28 spoke on humility alongside Luke 14:11. On honesty, Luke 8: 11-12 and Matthew 5:37

Jesus frowned at stealing and cheating ( Matthew 19:18, Matthew 7:12, Luke 12:15, Mark 10:19. Further teachings in Matthew chapter five, popularly called the Sermon on the Mount, is a testament that Jesus, whom we struggle to emulate, primarily focused his messages on morals and societal values.

When Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, ” To go in therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, son and holy spirit and commanding them to obey all that I have taught you”, Jesus was only restating the eternal need of continuing his teachings on morality.

Unfortunately, the church has abandoned that great commandment in Matthew 28: 19-20, created its message of materialism, and is now projecting it as the gospel of Christ. A quick survey: You will rarely find any church whose sermons focus on instilling these moral values and characters that Jesus taught. The church is now too focused on money and materialism. The church shames the poor for being poor, whilst the church recognises and rewards only those who have money.

But Jesus warned about the lucre pursuit of materialism; Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:15, and Mark 8:36. Many parables in the Good News show Jesus’ disdain for materialism.

The resultant effect is that many young church members have taken the cue and adopted the new message of getting money at all costs to get recognised by the church. This has led to a rise in criminality – kidnapping, 419 scams, corrupt politicians, and more.

Rather than be the gatekeeper it ought to be, the church has successfully projected the perfidious need to acquire wealth at all costs, and true social learning has projected unto the society the new set of values defined by materialism that it now recognises to be the only acceptable value for recognition. The church no longer cares. For money, the church has sold its role as the gatekeeper of societal morality.

Today, drug lords chair fundraising committees, whilst corrupt politicians occupy the front pews.

Statistics show that whilst churches spread in Nigeria, corruption is also high, and criminality is also on the rise. Where, then, is the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22)? Can it be argued that the church is merely establishing a physical presence for materialism and has lost its ability to inculcate the fruit of the spirit on its members?

The effects of the church abandoning its role as society’s moral gatekeeper are staggering. It has created a society where everyone is in a rat race for wealth acquisition, with nothing off-limits in this quest for money. The motto now is “Get rich or die trying.” Youths have turned to ritualism to make money. The more violent ones engage in kidnapping, whilst others become drug dealers, money launderers, or leaders who steal.

The elders and women are also not left out.

The church must choose: either to restore itself to Jesus’ teachings or continue chasing materialism. If it insists on materialism, then it should prepare to write its epitaph.

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