Church Leaders Debate Self-Defense
Church leaders in Nigeria are sharply divided over how to react to a surge in violent attacks against Christians and churches in the country's Muslim-majority north.
Hundreds of Christians have been killed and churches burnt in regular attacks launched this year by Fulani herdsmen in Jos and members of the Boko Haram terrorist sect in Kaduna, Borno, and Niger states.
Such attacks increased this spring following the controversial April election of Christian president Goodluck Jonathan. More than 800 people were killed in the violence, mostly in northern states. The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), a major northern denomination headquartered in Jos, said it lost more than 32 members, three ministers, and 48 churches. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 84 of its churches were destroyed as well.
In November, a series of church bombings killed dozens in Yobe state. In September, a Christian family of eight was killed in Barkin Ladi in Plateau state.
The steady attacks have thrown the Christian community into opposing camps. While some continue to advocate for calm and prayer, others are now urging Christians to defend themselves.
CAN national president Ayo Oristejafor stated that Christians can no longer continue to watch while aggressors attack them. "I have a responsibility to defend myself and my family," he said. "Christians in the nation have suffered enough.
John Praise, general overseer of Dominion Chapel International Churches in Abuja, has called for churches to raise "young people to defend the church because nobody has the monopoly of violence.
"People say, 'When they slap your cheek, you turn the other.' We have turned both, and they have slapped us. There is nothing else to turn."
By contrast, bishop Wale Oke, national vice president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria's South West region, argues that Christians must resist such temptation.
"To fight back is contrary to the position of our Lord Jesus Christ," said Oke. "He said, 'If they strike you on one cheek, turn the other.' He did that when he was arrested. It was what he used to conquer the world."
Dozens of northern churches have been stockpiling arms and training youths to counter attacks from Muslim extremists. A fringe Christian militia named Akhwat Akwop emerged in September vowing to match "blood for more blood." However, these efforts are not supported by the broader Christian community.
Pastors' approval of self-defense has transformed over the past 25 years into angrier rhetoric that has fueled revenge killings, observes a Christian leader in Jos who requested anonymity. But there are signs that such violent mindsets may have peaked.
"Some pastors are realizing that we have taken this 'enemy' rhetoric too far. We've drifted away from the teachings of Jesus and returned to a traditional African worldview of retaliatory violence," he said. "We Christians are not without blame."
Sunday Agang, academic dean at Jos's ECWA Theological Seminary, recently published his doctoral research on the violence in northern Nigeria. He strongly cautions Christians against fighting back.
"Self-defense is engaging the issues of political, economic, and religious injustice and bringing them to public discourse," he said. "Christians must do anything they can to make the Muslims understand our shared humanity. This is what Jesus means when he said that we should turn the other cheek."
Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere:
Previous Christianity Today coverage about the church in Nigeria includes:
The Truth About the Religious Violence in Jos, Nigeria | It's not easy to state who started it or how many died. But the horror for those affected is clear. (January 21, 2010)
More Human Smoke Rises in Jos | This week's deadly riots struck home for the academic dean of ECWA Theological Seminary. (January 21, 2010)
Diagnosing Jos | Political problems don't always have political solutions. (December 23, 2008)
The 'Handicap Icon' Gets New Life
Sidelining the Stigma of Mental Illness
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Steve Skeete
This question is one of life and death for Nigerian Christians. I stand with those who believe that Jesus, and the New Testament writers, make it clear that retaliation, revenge, and taking life in the name of self defense is not the Christian way. When it comes to dealing with our neighbours and those who would harm us, 'the greatest of these' is still love. How do we win our neighbours and communities for Christ if we arm ourselves and rise up against them? When under attack, Christians must use every means short of conflict in 'self' defense. Running away, hiding, going underground, suffering persecution and even death are all part of the N.T formula, fighting and killing those against us is not. Believers in the N.T on various occasions had ample reasons and opportunities to fight back, they never did. Christians living under a variety of totalitarian systems had every reason to forcefully resist, they too, rarely did. Nigerian Christians must be careful not to take up the sword.
A Hermit
Good, thought provoking article. Every person is at different stages of spiritual development; every person and community will be called by conscience and the Spirit according to their capacity. To try to apply a blanket commandment to everyone with respect to use of violence, is not helpful. We are all clearly called to love, not hate, and prayer- to heap burning coals on those who would harm us by doing good, as grace and our sinful nature allows. People fully transformed into Christ, will respond to violence as he did. The deeper question, should be not whether to use violence, but how is God calling us to be transformed in such situations.
Bill Payne
This is an extremely important conversation. Christian pacifism happens wherever Christians are a minority. In that context, fighting back is not an option because it will lead to annihilation. However, in places where Christians are the majority, they depend on the state to protect them from persecution. Imagine what would happen in Texas if 1000s of Christians were routinely murdered for their faith by Muslims? When Nigerian Christians want to be defended, they want the state to defend them. In fact, that is a purpose of a lawful government. Law and justice should go hand in hand. However, personal retaliation is never God's way and should be forbidden.
Gerry
There is a DIFFERENCE between defense and retalliation. Placing armed men in positions to control the entry of those who wish to cause harm is in no way contrary to Jesus' teachings. We are to protect the innocent from harm physically as well as spiritually. Going out to exact revenge is lowering oneself to the same level as the Muslim honor killings!
Michael
Turning the other cheek is what you do for the sake of loving your neighbour. Fighting is something you may have to do for love of God, because the state is to rule according to His law, not according to the ravings of some deluded prophet. Many Muslims are guilty of blaspheming God's holy Name, in that they call Him to witness against His own revelation. They are dangerous criminals who must be forced to abjure their false religion on pain of the severest punishment.