How a Catholic-Pentecostal Split Could Help Nigeria's Militant Islamists
United body divides for the first time in 40 years over politics and Islam.
[ posted 3/7/2013 7:45AM ]
Christian unity in Nigeria suffered a blow when the nation's Catholic leaders indefinitely suspended relations with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)—the first split in the umbrella body's nearly 40 years of existence.
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Steve Skeete
This impending split is both unfortunate and typical. Christians seem unable, or unwilling, to understand that it takes the "entire Church to reach the entire world". If Nigeria must be won for Christ, and it must, then the Church must do it together. For far too long the Church has been divided by denominational names, and ecclesiastical titles. The addition of pride, privilege and prestige usually complete the wall of separation. "Divided we fall" is a cliche but it is also painfully true in relation to the Church of Jesus Christ. Not only do modern Christians appear to have a penchant for "falling out" but a tendency to always do so publicly. Christian denominations wear their lack of affection for each other like a badge of honour and never seem able to speak with one voice on any societal issue of genuine importance. If the threat of Islam, Sharia and Boka Haram cannot unite the Church in Nigeria, nothing can! Nigerian Christians must either "hang together or hang separately".