Men of God are closer to the altar than heaven, which is a true saying in our contemporary time. There is a need for a clarion call for caution and reason among the religious leadership.
“In times of crisis, faith can be a source of personal comfort and community resilience. But as Covid-19 arrives in Africa, some faith leaders are making things worse”
– Amanda Lichtenstein, Rosemary Ajayi and Nwachukwu Egbunike
Photo Credit: @pixabay
The novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, is sweeping across the world as governments tighten the restraints on long-held practices to fight the pandemic.
As of the 20th of May 2020, about 4.93 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed globally with 1.71m recovered cases and 324,000 resultant deaths.
Let’s come a bit closer home!!!
As of the 20th of May 2020, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Africa stands at 91,413 with 2,907 resultant deaths. Similarly, within the same period, there have been 6,401 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria with 1,714 recovery cases and 192 deaths.
Men of God Are Closer To The Altar Than Heaven
The above statistics SHOW the severity and the reality of the times we are living in and would require the expression of our innermost sense of altruism and collective solidarity to steer ourselves out of this public health quagmire.
According to a Gallup report by Frank Newport, “the most dramatic outcome of religion practices (sic) has been the exceedingly quick shift of religious services from in-person to online worship.”
This couldn’t have been truer in this Covid-19 pandemic era.
While for almost a hundred years, churches have used various communication methods to reach their audiences, such as radio, television, and more recently, online media, Gallup asserts that the halting of in-person worship “is one of the most significant sudden disruptions in the practice of religion in U.S. history.”
A March 2020 Pew Research Report shows a change in holy habits due to the pandemic. The report also shows that more than half of respondents said that they have “prayed for an end to the spread of coronavirus,” and “attended religious services in person less often,” as well as “watched religious services online or on TV instead of in person.”
Similarly, Time Magazine reported that drive-in church services have achieved a great level of attendance during the COVID-19 outbreak.
However, when asked if the crisis would affect long-term personal religious life, only 19% of Americans said that their faith has strengthened and only 3% said that it got worse.
According to some information in the news, Saudi Arabia sealed off the Eastern Qatif Province and quarantined people there. This was the only area in the country that was cut off.
Saudi officials say it was necessary to suspend entry and exit from the province to stop all travel to and from neighbouring countries.
Let’s bring it home.
I read in some dailies where Pastor Chris Oyakhilome lambasted some pastors for backing church closure and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winners Chapel, criticized the reopening of markets and closure of churches and said the power of darkness was against the reopening of churches.
According to Bishop David Oyedepo, spiritual famine is far more destructive and there is no vaccine for hunger and no medical solution to hunger. He claimed the church of Christ on earth is liberated, and that spiritual famine shall not have its way while asserting that no one has the answer to a problem like Jesus.
But Pastor Poju Oyemade of Covenant Nation said the closure of churches does not in any way stop the Holy Spirit from working. Referring to the Bible, he said: “The sick healed in the book of Acts were healed on the streets, in people’s homes, in public places and not within the four walls of a Church.”
Men of God Are Closer To The Altar Than Heaven
Similarly, some Islamic Clerics have voiced their opposition to the lockdown policy as it is perceived as a covert means of subverting their freedom of religious expression. In states like Bauchi State, Kano State and Kwara State, some Imams have been suspended for violating the movement restriction orders.
I agree with them but the journey to eternity begins with obedience.
No doubt, religion plays a major role in some countries, especially in Nigeria, where church and mosque gatherings are a consistent part of everyday life.
Yet some citizens have raised serious concerns over the danger of spreading false hope at a time when fact-based action is critical to curbing the virus.
One can be vast in the words of the scriptures, one can work for God/Allah, give to the needy and preach on the pulpit, but yet, might not make heaven. Do you know why? A scripture verse says and I quote: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”
“The authorities that exist have been established by God”. (Romans 13:1). It’s either our religious leaders who have failed to study and digest this verse of the scripture before challenging the government. No one prayed to be in this mess that, as of now, does not have a concrete and recorded cure.
Men of God Are Closer To The Altar Than Heaven
No doubt, we are all petrified by this pandemic. I have been waiting for what our religious leaders will offer us in this area. Before now, show off and display of prowess of miracles rented the airways.
But none could come out now to lay claim to being able to cure this but some clamouring for the embargo to be relaxed.
I’m not sure if they stay abreast of what the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights as key issues to be considered for the slow easing of restrictions and transitioning to a ‘new normal’; public health and epidemiological measures; capacity for dual-track health system management; population and behavioural insights; as well as socio-economic implications.
Countries seeking to ease some restrictions while remaining vigilant can now consult some key indexes for the gradual easing of the lockdown restrictions introduced in response to the spread of COVID-19 across the European Region which is more affected by this novel.
The transition out of lockdown is set to be a complex and uncertain phase. Challenges and circumstances vary from country to country and there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Countries must communicate this to the public to build trust and ensure that people observe restrictions specific to their situation.
Our religious leaders, most of whom are not old enough to tell us the story of how deadly the last pandemic reacted over a hundred years ago, can’t force the populace to come out to worship, when they can’t also guarantee healing over this, except for their offer of faith.
None could remember the case of Pastor Landon Spradlin in Virginia, the USA, who was not worried about the coronavirus when he went to New Orleans to preach during Mardi Gras. A month later he was pronounced dead, no thanks to the coronavirus.
No one prayed to be an addendum to the death index of this virus in Nigeria. However, our Men of God should tread carefully and demonstrate that they are closer to heaven than the altars in their dealings while seeing the severity of the current pandemic for what it is before the various faith movements suffer further credibility damages.
I close this with a quote by Bill Maher: “I have a problem with people who take the Constitution loosely and the Bible literally”.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-cross-gods-altar
Men of God Are Closer To The Altar Than Heaven
