Parasitic Capitalism and Contemporary Christianity in Nigeria

By Adedokun Boluwatife Loyce

Biologically, parasitism is a kind of relationship between organisms in which one organism benefits at the expense of others; a non- mutually beneficial between the host and parasite. Interestingly, this concept can be aptly be applied to the state of the contemporary Christendom in Nigeria as it had apparently developed over the years with the consistent proliferation of ‘modern churches’ with their attendant observable regularities. Besides spirituality, Christianity should be a medium of social, moralistic, economic and political solace for its acolytes and also the church, as its main institution, should act as the conscience and an informal check of its nation as it had been, until recent, since the antediluvian time; then the relationship between the church and the society can be said to be symbiotic. From the Marxist perspective, the church has abruptly gone capitalistic; capitalism as a mode of production is based on a relationship of interminable economic subordination of the working class (proletariats) by the owners of the capital (bourgeois). Also, it involves the concentration of the means and instrument of production in the hands of the minority at the detriment of the masses, in fact, it is a parasitic relationship. Ironically, the Nigerian ‘Christian proletariat’ does not only provide labour is also the perpetual provider of ‘capital’ but not its owner. ‘Religious capitalism’ is accurately akin to ‘religious parasitism’

It is very evident that the foundational creeds of Christianity are becoming trite and fictitious as they are being continuously overlooked in favour of the ear soothing messages. Doctrines  such the Second Coming Of Christ and other creeds that serve as the map of the ‘pilgrim’ such as restitution, holiness, forgiveness, no divorce and remarriage are swiftly losing their prominent positions to prosperity, business expansion, fame and other corporeal things of this world.  However, this preceding notion does not infer one as an ‘anti-prosperity’ advocate as even God had already promised wealth and prosperity in abundance; the affluence of the biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Solomon, David, Job et al is an attestation to God’s munificence but a common denominator to these hitherto mentioned patriarchs is that they sought the kingdom of God first before other things of this world were added unto them. As much as it not a crime for one to succeed (even the Bible affirms success) but in our worship in our various churches I do not think the church should lose sight on its  focus- The Second Coming Of Christ.

A chunk of our so-called spiritual leaders are very proficient at winking at the impecuniousness of the less privileged fraction of their denominations. Rather than devising ingenious means to ameliorate the pathetic predicament of their members, ironically, they scheme out foxy ways of expropriation and milking of their unsuspecting members through subtle shenanigans. Also, these pastors through Bible passages like Malachi 3:10, Romans 13:1-2, Hebrews 13:17 which emphasize tithe payment and implicit obedience to leadership unduly exploit their unsuspecting members  but often overlook numerous  important scriptures like 2 Timothy3:1-5,4:2, Ecclestiastes1:1-3,Gal 6:2 et al to mention a few. Bible verses like ‘’seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you’’ have become stale. It is inconceivable that some people eschew churches on Sunday because of tithe and offering; it is not a very good sight to behold when one remains seated while other members are dancing to the gallery with their tithes, offerings and donations. Ideally, the act of tithing and offering should be a personal relationship between a man and his God not as a means of proving financial superiority among the brethren.

Many a churches in Nigeria have Class stratification has, of recent than before, become more accentuated in modern Christianity; its provenance can be traced to the top echelon in the spiritual hierarchy in the church, the practice by which the ‘quantity and quality’ of the prayer, prophecies offered depends on how infinitesimal or colossal the member (s) offering is rather appalling. But the easily perturbing question is “Did Jesus ever gave preferential treatment for Peter over Judas even when he knew the latter would eventually betray him?” “Did Jesus not teach equality as well as humility by washing all the disciples’ feet”? Consequently, this hideous trend has sprawled to the congregation as a whole. Take for illustration, a scenario in which worshippers are befogged with the thought of how to ‘oppress’ themselves with their ultra expensive vehicles, attires and other frivolities at every services. Instead of thinking of how to make amends for their spiritual relapse, worshippers now engage surreptitiously or overtly, in fashion parades, motor fairs without any nugget of ignominy. Who is to blame? Do not blame the worshippers, they only took after their pastors, prophets, Reverends or whatever the nomenclatures. In contemporary churches, the rich do not with consociate with the poor rather  they prefer isolation; the rich have separate seats and parking lots and unfettered access to the pastor while the poor are often overlooked. Suggestions that might plausibly proffer solutions chipped in by acolytes who are perceived poor are easily sent to the Coventry.

It is so nauseating that in a country where about  sixty eight percent of the population live in abject poverty, some PASTORPRENEURS, as that seems to be the proper moniker, still have the chutzpah  to acquire private jets, exotic cars, choice houses within and outside the shores of Nigeria, when a chunk of their respective congregation live in abject penury. There was this case of a prominent pastor, who is loved to be seen with politicians, who got a private jet as birthday gift and his wife got a limousine some few weeks later. On the basis of morality, I believe he(the said pastor) should have opted for cash so that more churches will be built and the gospel will spread, even if he accepts cash what is the plausibility of him using the money to develop the church? As a matter of fact, I am still of the conviction that there are some oblivious places in this country of ours where the gospel of Jesus Christ has not fully spread. Most pastors often hide under the façade of multiplex travelling schedules, one salient question is that can these pastors travel as much as the world renowned business executives with very busy schedules who also have to attend meetings at different countries, even continents of the world? More so, if Bill Gates could attend meetings by train and Warren Buffet can still live in the same house he acquired in 1958, then why must our pastors live superfluous, spendthrift and wasteful lives? I think it is about time Nigerian spiritual leaders took a cue from the Pope; St Francis who maintained that if his power was to be authentic, it should be service to others – especially the poorest and the weakest in the world.

Actually, spiritual leaders ought to serve as watchdogs and checks to the surfeits of our political leaders but to the converse, they have just been puppets and sycophants! Their arrant cupidity had debarred them from rising to occasion and challenge the untoward extravagance of our politicians. A situation in which a politician doles out huge amount of money that is far beyond his earnings in the name of offering is unacceptable. Accepting unclean money under the charade of donation by people who live above their means is subtly giving the fillip to corruption. Little wonder such pastors remain mum on these corrupt politicians; he who must wash a person clean must also be clean. If our spiritual leaders have summoned the temerity to rejects gifts, donations they impugn its propriety, corruption would have been remarkably checked.

Let us take a look at how the contemporary leaders run the affairs of their respected organizations. In most churches of today places importance on individuals rather than the institution itself and this has led to leaders taking unilateral decisions without recourse to other constituted bodies within the church. This unseemly trend has led to instability and invariably schisms in various churches. Most churches are splitting today. In time past, when there were crusades, the picture of the Jesus took a considerable space in the fliers and posters not the leaders but now, what do we have? Portraits of spiritual leaders and their various spouses as if they were the Saviour who would deliver the people from their ordeals. Well, they have already taken over the glory of God and their rewards are at hand. Some pastors just dip their hands in the purse of the church with impunity causing enormous rift in the church. Such acts should not be found in the Church that Christ is coming for! Our ‘Pastorpreneurs’ have now become businessmen; through funds gotten from the congregation they have become overnight investors. Most churches now have investments in real estates, confectioneries and particularly in the education sectors. Yes! Good as it may sound; it is phenomena that the church grows financially but over the times, it has been discovered that these investments are registered in the name of the leaders and their children as nexts of kin and not in the name of the church.

Spiritual leaders are public figures that should be seen as an avatar of holiness and simplicity; but it is rather rueful that they cannot walk freely even among the people they lead. I have seen an instance of a spiritual leader who in his church during a service was walking about with bodyguards as he was preaching. What is that for? Why do they need to blare sirens on our roads? Some quarters might argue that the security situation of the country warrants that but this situation was far before the security situation of the country drooped to this dolorous state.

When the country is going adrift as a result of insouciance of the political elites, the church with its considerable influence in the Nigerian society ought to be at the fore front of bringing back the country to the point of rectitude through its very constructive criticisms, stern stances on political and economic phenomena but the reverse is the case; even the church leaders too want to take active role in the sharing of national cake by standing out as political candidates. Just cannot imagine the Arch Bishop of Canterbury vying for the seat of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Moreover, the quest for the revolution that will sweep out the present crop of our corrupt leaders ought to be spurred on by the church; let our spiritual leaders take a cue from the Catholic Church in Russia whose Vladmir Putin must put in consideration before initiating certain policies. Which government has ever put the influences of the our monolithic churches into reflection before reeling out its policies? None! The church as a result of its cupid tendencies has lost its rightful place

It is very important we as Nigerians should be very careful; we must not let these false prophets take us unawares. They are marauders who are willing to strip Nigerians of the little they have. Please weasel out of churches where the burning doctrines are not preached. I believe God has given us discerning spirits that can make us differentiate the right denominations. Capitalism must be stemmed in Christianity after all, Christ is not exploitative!