Discussions have begun among the Nigerian Church as to what role the Church can play in the ongoing fight against corruption. One of the core issues raised during a recent discussion of the issue had to do with the notion of identity, and this is presented here for the benefit of a much larger public.
Human beings need to settle the fundamental question of their identity in order for them to have a sense that life is meaningful, and in order to be able to impact meaningfully on life. Many people are undergoing a crisis of identity, unsure of who they are, and this leads them to engage in all manner of negative activities, and which renders them incapable of handling life’s challenges. The Church is the place where one should expect to find people who are whole, for the teachings of Jesus, if understood and followed, have addressed all the issues that trouble the human soul.
It has been said that we cannot know who we are until we know whose we are. The sense of belonging to Christ and His kingdom must grip every Christian’s heart and become his or her daily reality; otherwise, they will only pay lip service to the Christian faith. The Master, Jesus Christ, has taught that “a person’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses” (Luke 12: 15). In the powerful demonstration of true servant leadership by the washing of His disciples’ feet in John 13, Jesus teaches significantly about identity:
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13: 3-5; NKJV)
Jesus had no doubts about who He was – whose He was, what had been given to Him, where He came from and where He was going. That being settled, stooping before His disciples to wash their feet was in no way going to diminish His sense of identity or His worth. Unfortunately, that is not the case with us: we seek our identity in big cars, palatial homes, positions of power and influence, and in being served by others, in spite of the fact that Jesus explicitly tells us to follow His example: “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13: 15) If the pattern that is seen in our churches is of leaders lording it over their congregations, where members scurry around the pastors, calling them by exalted names and almost according to them the honour that is due to God alone, how could one expect that Christians would be able to go into society and serve the people?
The Church must return to the teachings of Jesus. The correct teaching will only grip people’s hearts and inform their action when they have first of all accepted Christ’s lordship over their lives. Selwyn Hughes, the writer of Every Day With Jesus, draws attention to the fact that Jesus, while explaining to His disciples the significance of His action of washing their feet, told them: “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13: 13-14; NKJV) The disciples called Him “Teacher and Lord”; Jesus reversed the order and said “If I, your Lord and Teacher”, showing that lordship comes first. Without submission to the lordship of Christ, seeking to obey His teachings will merely result in religiosity.
Christians going into public life and demonstrating the kind of leadership taught by Christ would make a great impact on society. The world’s system, controlled by a spirit which is not in agreement with the Spirit of Christ, is one in which leaders lord it over the followers. Jesus Himself drew attention to it: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” (Mt. 20: 25-26; NKJV)
In every area of public life Christians, propelled by the love of Christ for their fellow human beings, would make policies and laws as well as execute projects which would be to the benefit of all citizens, recognising them all as people made in God’s image and worthy of being treated with dignity, fairness and compassion. Instead of seeking to protect partisan interests (that is, of a select group alone), they would recognise that the righteousness of God demands justice for all. Thus, for example, Christians would not think that it is a sign of God’s divine favour to have import duty taxes waived for luxury items purchased for a church, and thus rob the nation of revenue which could have been used for the benefit of society. Even Jesus in His days paid His taxes! Taking the teachings of Christ seriously, which comes only from total submission to His lordship and authority, would positively impact on society in so many ways.