THE OZUBULU CHURCH MASSACRE AND THE WRITING ON THE WALL

By Tayo Faloye

When CACOL cried out that the church was already neck-deep in corruption and vanity, we turned a deaf ear.


When Obasanjo accused men of God of venerating those whose sources of wealth are questionable and accepting gifts without asking questions, he was insulted.


When pastors make outrageous altar calls for donation in billions and millions of naira toward church projects, we go hysteria in religious delusion without raising an eye brow or asking questions.


When Obazee of FRC was fired for trying to bring transparency and accountability to the church system, many cheered and justified his sack.


When Pastor Tunde Bakare lamented how churches are being used to launder and siphon money, many fellow pastors rose up against him.


When VP, Osinbajo chastised the church for always talking about giving without talking about honesty, and enjoined church leaders to confront their members who are living above their means, they faulted his claims.


THEN, THE OZUBULU CATHOLIC MASSACRE HAPPENED.


The real story behind the bloodletting killings isn't far-fetched. It is trending news. It reinforces the unheeded warnings highlighted above. 


And as usual, social media went into a frenzy. We all suddenly found our voices, which were previously lost in bandwagon conformity.


The 'touch not my anointed' advocates, in their hypocrisy, are calling on the wrath of God to befall the perpetrators while their glaucoma would not allow them see the culpability of these so-called General Overseers.


The narrow minded bigots, as usual, are busy spinning conspiracy theories, giving the massacre ethnic coloration and running flat commentaries.


But let me say this again...


until we revert to the true selfless Christlike doctrines and ethics of old devoid of materialism; until the church stops the commercialization of Christianity as is the norm today; until pastors stop turning Christian ministries into industries for selfish gains; until upright living, love and salvation become the watchwords of churches as against prosperity; until men of God desist from viewing the needs of others as an opportunity to make a profit, rather than an occasion to sacrificially minister to others, may another Ozubulu, if not worse, not befall the Christendom again.


May the souls of the departed RIP.