By Revd. Idowu Ibitoye
The word church is from the Greek word: Ecclesia, meaning the call out saints; believers who have been regenerated are the church. In order words church is the assembly, the redeemed believers. The word Nation in Greek word ethnos meaning, an ethnic group, tribe, clan or people that are bounded together with one language, nation is a larger number of people limited by common descent, history, culture or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory.
The church and nation are interwoven as both depended on each other, people made of both the church and nation. Church people are those that control the affairs of the state. Church has many responsibilities in ensuring a great nation is built and developed.
The Church and the Nation
Both the church and the nation, the two are inseparable, and are interrelated, and they are interdependent to move the society forward. Trying to separate them from each other will cause chaos in the society. Clergies and government functionaries must know these facts, for the rapid growth of our society.
1. Through the church a godly and God fearing nation is built- it is the responsibility of the church to train and produce God fearing individuals that will occupy positions of governance, โrighteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to many peopleโ -Prov.14:34. Ungodly people are occupying sensitive positions in governmental leadership in contemporary times, while this is causing retrogression on the development of dearnation, nepotism and corruption are found in them. The church must discipline and prepare her members for governance.
2. The church is a mirror to the nation-During the early church the state constitution are drafted according to the church law (known as canon law), in which the principles and values of the bible are used in the state affairs. The church must set the pace for the nation to follow. Church people must influence the affairs in a godly manner.
3. The church is the voice for the voiceless -It is required for the church to speak or any ungodly policy, she must not hesitate to voice out, often time, Elijah spoke out against King Ahab, โwhen he saw Elijah he said to him, is that you, you troubler of Israel?. I have not make trouble for Israel, Elijah replied, but you and your fathers family have abandoned the Lords commandment and have followed the Baal’sโ1 kings 18:17-18. Christians’ clergies should not hesitate to speak out whenever government is going astray.
4. The revival that will transform the nation positively will begin from the church – there is no doubt that our nation needs revival for positive turn around and for this to be achieved such revival must commence in the church. Positive reorientation must begin in the church; parishioners must start additional change that will influence our nation positively. Clerk should begin to preach live change messages for immediate and effective national revival.
5. The church is a solution to a ding nation- Nigeria is due both physically and spiritually and the antidote medicine is in the church. The church must not allow this nation to collapse; she must rise to contribute her quotas. Prophets in the bible contributed immensely for the development of Israel such as Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Contemporary clerks must realise the cankerworms that are destroying the nation, such as corruption, laziness, evil vices and immoralities etc. live transforming programs must constantly organize by the church, which will eventually translate to positive transformation of our society.
6. Aggressive evangelism- the church want to record a positive turnaround must be actively involved in mission and evangelism, โtherefore go and make disciples of all nation, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…โ Matt 28;19-20. The only agenda of the church is mission, soul winning, all church activities must focus on soul winning into the kingdom. Regardless of church denomination, she must rise to her duty of mission.
The role of the church in building a great nation
The church has many responsibilities is ensuring great nation is established, the church is Gods representative on earth and she must present the master well, because we are therefore Gods ambassadorsโฆ II Cor 5;20. Church roles include;
1. The church is to teach and practice holiness – the church has the mandate to teach the nation, Jesus Christ told his disciples, โโฆ teaching them to obey all that I have commanded youโฆโ Matt 28; 20. The church must ensure that sound doctrine is taught and she must practice what she is teaching, โdo not merely listen to the word and deceive yourself, do what it saysโ James 1;22. Holiness is missing in our contemporary society; church leadership must ensure that her member’s practice this virtue through which such members can influence others positively. Holy living is becoming things of the past in our contemporary world; church must ensure that this is restoring into our society.
2. Prayer- the church has the responsibility to pray for the stability of the nation โ pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you be securedโ, ps.122:6. Through prayer the church must serve as a watch manover the nation. The prayer of the saints works wonders and can avert any danger coming over the nation. Through prayer peace can be restore into a crisis region. โI urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people โ for Kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holinessโ, I Tim. 2:1-2. The church need to pray for those in authority, so that our society will be in peace and it will be easy to spread the gospel.
I believe strongly that prayer is the key that can totally eradicate the spread of COVID-19.
3. Peaceful co existence โ The church has a role to live peacefully in living with people of other faith. Nigeria is a secular state where many religions must co exist. Religion violence must at all time be discourage among the major faith. Christians must be well taught and prepare in living peacefully with any other faith adherents. The church must engage with other religion an interfaith dialogue, the purpose is to promote peaceful co-existence in our society.
4. Teaching members to be God fearing โ Christian clerics need to teach her members to be God fearing, this will make one to ran away from sin (Deut. 6:24). Series of evil practices are on the increase in our contemporary society, murder, ritual killings, mass mascare, rape, and kidnapping etc all these hearth of people, the only antidote is for church leadership to teach her members to always fear God in all their dealings.
5. Law Abiding โ Christians must be law abiding they must not break the law. Keeping the nations law will help one to live a godly and peaceful life.
Conclusion
The church has a lot to contribute in building a great nation. The church must rise to occupy her rightly position in moving the society forward, the society is earnestly waiting for the church, โfor the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealedโ. Rom. 8:19. The church must reveal Christ to our die world.
