By Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi
Before you scream, ‘Pastor Korede Komaiya again?’ Just know that the man is adamantine. For the flak that came with his avowal not to follow a poor pastor, he has remained fiery in expressing his perception of Kingdom ways to whoever has ears. His preachment that inspired this essay indicates that the backlash and bashing that came with his controversial comment couldn’t quench man’s quest to set society aright. However, dissenters appear to no longer be in the mood for Komaiya’s assertions. He lately issued a warning that didn’t trend as it should.
This was while declaring the following statement: “Do you know the baptism we’ve been through? Do you know the Graces we’ve connected to? Do you know the fasting, the prayers, the givings, the sacrifices? You can’t just come and dagger the anointed. The anointing will ooze forth and hit you… In a generation, someone will just go online and be talking trash. What angels can’t say about men that will judge angels…?”
The video of Pastor Komaiya saying this, as seen on a popular Instagram channel, got views and engagements that were subpar – no matter that it contains an observation that validates the description of some Nigerians as “collective children of anger” in 2012. That was Dr Reuben Abati clapping back at trolls who attempted to make his job as President Goodluck Jonathan’s mouthpiece difficult.
Back to the above quote, which wasn’t Komaiya responding to critics for their savagery over his controversial remarks. He was actually speaking in defence of a fatherly minister of the Gospel. In this instance, he was tackling online disparagers for their unconscionable heckling of those who should be revered, highlighting what such behaviour portends. It wouldn’t be surprising if these irreverent peeps quarrel with my use of “revered” or “adored” for mere mortals – they would argue that such qualifiers only apply to the Almighty.
Yet, these are elders of whom 1 Timothy 5:17 says should “be counted worthy of double honour!” It is because they are meant to be revered that they are designated as “Reverend.” Yet, that’s even the lower rung stricto sensu, given the existence of a higher rank in the Anglican Communion known as “Venerable.” Care to know what the word means? The dictionary defines the adjective as “accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.” For the Roman Catholics, they aren’t just okay with “Reverend” but completed the title with “Father.” Their priests are so highly esteemed that people go to them for confessions and “get absolved” of their sins. Now, are these the kind of personalities you would want to drag online?
Most orthodox denominations address their Bishops as “My Lord” and “Your Lordship.” For Archbishops, it’s strictly “Your Grace.” I remember many years ago when I used to write official speeches for formal engagements in an Anglican diocese; part of the protocol template was the line “My Lord Spiritual and Temporal.” If conservative Christians could so venerate their priests, how much more the Pentecostals? Pastors are perceived by outsiders as “gods of men” rather than “men of God” due to the honour lavished on them by Pentecostals. Cynics believe that the relationship between these Pastors and their congregation is fueled by charisma, hero worship, cult following, brainwashing, and gaslighting.
Arguably, it is Nigerian evangelicals that initiated the trend of calling Pastors “Daddy.” You won’t find this breed of Christians disrespecting any other Pastor because they understand the value of the Anointing. As it were, the uncouth can only be found among the unconverted. Their disrespect for men of God has become so pronounced that it caught the attention of Dr Mensa Otabil, the celebrated Ghanaian theologian and founder of International Central Gospel Church headquartered in Accra. This was how Pastor Komaiya reported it in the remaining aspect of his video: “Dr Mensa Otabil told me recently: he said ‘Pastor KK, will you people not rise up and do something about how bloggers and people abuse Fathers in Nigeria?’ Dr Otabil said, ‘In my lifetime, I never knew it could get this worse. People we honour, people we revere. He said, ‘In Nigeria you abuse your best.'” Not just as it concerns Christian leaders; perhaps keyboard warriors who took the Jonathan government to the cleaners can relate to the last line in retrospect!
It then means that the world is actually taking notice of Nigerians’ indiscretions online. Little wonder global statesmen don’t empathise when constituted civilian authorities misgovern Nigerians with impunity. They may well be saying, “Serves you right for insulting your best.” The observation by the Ghanaian philanthropist and motivational speaker re-echoes what Pastor Paul Enenche said not too long ago. Delivering a sermon at The Glory Dome of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, the fiery preacher said, “The reason why there’s not much progress in our generation is that we have almost a vagabond generation who have no value for Oil. They don’t have value for fathers. People that should be imparting them, they are attacking them, and they’re wondering why they’re amounting to nothing, and they’re angry that the people that they are attacking are growing bigger. Just a vagabond generation!”
With these witnesses, belligerent bloggers in the Nigerian blogosphere should be calming down. They’ve got to turn a new leaf. If not for anything, for the fact that you can’t attract what you attack, as Dr Paul Enenche succinctly pointed out. Even if you consider Pastors to be useless or have no regard for Christian elders, your obeisance should be to the position they occupy and what propelled them there. Many don’t know what the prayers and presence of these Kingdom Generals are doing for Nigeria. God forbid that the fathers of Faith, whom Heaven has graciously planted here, enter eternity with their Anointing or the Oil on them gets transferred to nationals of other countries due to Nigerians’ contempt and penchant for grieving the Spirit at work in these once-in-a-lifetime servants of God. This was why Pastor Komaiya demanded that “A generation that knows how to honour must rise up so that generational anointing will not just disappear!”
For their insolence to have been observed beyond Nigeria’s borders, scurrilous digital natives should show penance by refusing to chase clout with issues of the Spirit, which they know absolutely nothing about. Even for God’s chosen people, their Leader had privileged information and tactics that the children of Israel didn’t question. This was because they understood that the performances of Moses (even where weird) were dictated by the Lord. Here’s how David captured it in Psalm 103:7, “God made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.”
Social media personalities must desist from dragging those who have paid and are paying their dues to God. Let the One who called them deal with their perceived shortcomings. Absolutely, 1 Chronicles 16:22 is enough for the wise!
VIS Ugochukwu is a Sage, Storyteller and PR Strategist who engages with readers via Twitter (now X) @sylvesugwuanyi.