IBIYEMI VICTOR AKINWALE
Identity crises is one of the fruits of modernism. We live in a society where people live by
values and practices that they do not understand themselves. We just live lives that are somewhat meaningless
and confused all because there is no definition of what we are living for. That
seeming confusion has become a bane to forge ahead with the challenges that
life presents daily. Also, because there is no definition of values in the
society, individuals suffer in the constipation of joggled values and waggled
ideas. Just as individuals suffer this plague, institutions also crumble under
the weight of this epidemic. A prominent institution that has suffered from the
pangs of identity crises is culture. Though culture grows from borrowing and giving, most cultures in the contemporary dispensation are dying
under the weighty burdens of anomies. The spontaneous rapture and evacuation of
traditional ways of living to the modern-civilised methods are most times
questioned to check the moral propensity the modern world offers humanity. The
colour which the contemporary eon is painting is often thrown into strict
observation and questioning in order to understand the future of human kind in
the scheme of its agenda.
Humanity has evolved over the centuries in the schemes
of different civilizations and societies. In these varied epochs, a plethora of
identities have been created and others jettisoned, and these different
identities have shaped humanity and the society to this present age. These
different eras have also operated through diffused institutions to influence humanity
which has always been the subject of the different epochs. In that wild chase
of modernism, the Church has stood as the conscience of the world, teaching us
how best to live our humanities which must be tailored towards a supra-sensible
reality which is the Divine. In this contemporary maze, where the tables are being turned down, the Church
again continues to echo her voice in the crowd seeking the salvation of
humanity and the restoration of a brutalised Christian identity. The Church has
therefore always tried to fulfill what it means to be “in the world but not of the
world”[i]
and by that she continues to stand as the voice of God in the society. How much
of this voice is heard? What exactly is this Christian identity?
A CHRISTIAN
IDENTITY?
Christians in the last two millennia have wrestled to
determine and live out their Christian identities in the changing contexts of
culture, time and space. In this age of globalization, this question of the Christian
identity is all the more poignant and complex.[ii]
What exactly is this identity?
Suffice to say that the Christian identity is built on
the “ideals”[iii]
of Christianity- a religion which for over 2000 years was established by Jesus
Christ himself on Peter and the other apostles which has continued ever since.
These ideals are carefully preserved in the Holy Bible, Apostolic Tradition of
the Church and taught by the magisterium of the Church- the true Church founded
by our Lord Jesus Christ.[iv]
The Christian identity, like every other identities, is constructed in constant
social interactions with the surrounding societies and cultures, “others,” and
defines and redefines those “others,” such as Jews, pagans, heretics, et cetera.
Therefore, as other identities, the Christian identity is “contextualized and
contingent”[v]
in history, yet it also presents and projects Christian ideals and universal
claims through the selective process of self-definition.[vi]
To understand the Christian identity in plain and concrete terms, there are
some identity markers that serve as indicators to viewing the tenets of the
Christian ideal.
Theological and Ecclesiastical Markers: From a theological perspective, Christians have
affirmed, with an uncompromising rejection of polytheistic worship, the
exclusive worship of the one true God as the creator and redeemer (monotheism)
like the adherents of Judaism and (later) Islam and unlike most of the people
in antiquity. But unlike the believers of Judaism and Islam, Christians have
also affirmed Jesus as God as revealed in the Scriptures.[vii]
Hence, Christians profess the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity- Three persons
in one God; the Incarnation- God becoming flesh; The Crucifixion of this God
for the salvation of the world and his ascension.
Social and Moral Markers: The moral and social markers of the Christian identity
derived from their religious markers, for Christians claimed that right living
came from right belief[viii];
the “Christian way of life” was a tangible evidence of “Christian truth” and
conviction. The summary of these Christian ethics lies in Charity, love of
enemies and living the virtues. Concretely, therefore, Christians have
championed the course of chastity and purity, while characterizing pagan sexual
practices as replete with sexual immorality- adultery, incest and other
licentious unions such as homosexual practice.[ix]
In condemning those practices along with divorce, abortion and infanticide,
Christians consistently claimed the superiority of Christian sexual morality: a
life-long monogamy for the married and a celibate life for the single which
eventually led to the discipline of priestly celibacy for the Catholic Church
of Latin Rite.[x]
The above markers summarily picture the preservation
of the Christian ideal which is taught repeatedly by the Church, through Sacred
Scriptures and Sacred Tradition. In these ideals lie the Christian identity,
which has suffered persecution and disgust as the world grows in
modernism.
THE DIALOGUE
WITH POST-MODERNISM: A JUBILANT REQUIEM
Just like every other era or epoch in the history of
civilization, the post-modern or the contemporary society has brought with it
gaudy, tawdry and flamboyant innovations. These initiatives are at the same
time revolutionary, rebellious and are criticisms of the old ways. When an eon succeeds another, it is always a battle to
improve what has been on ground by clearing and effacing what might constitute obstacles
to the total liberation and freedom of
humans. Humanity, as said before, is always at the center of the debates of
the revolutionary turn-over that occurs with civilization at least in the face
of these zealots. However, what
civilization, tries to secure- that is, man’s progress and happiness, has not
always been the situation.
The different “isms” that rule the contemporary
kingdom, are nothing but tragic ideologies in view of sustenance of humans on
earth. Some of them are: relativism, subjectivism, individualism, idealism,
atheism, secularism, humanism, terrorism…the list is endless. Benedict XVI
aptly argues that the crisis of modern world is hinged on these different sham
ideologies. He calls these crises “turbulent times” and these turbulent ideologies
have metamorphosed into: the dictatorship of relativism, the reign of
secularism, an epoch of intellectual atheism, the decline of faith especially
in Europe, the promotion of sexual aberrations- homosexuality and its kinds,
political instability, religious quagmires, uncontrollable terrorism in Africa,
injustice, wars and political debacle in Africa, and a faceless humanity.
Obviously, these are the storms in which the Church is sailing.
Those sham ideologies of post-modernism have rendered
the modern world cracked and fragmented. Above all, they are all against the
Christian demands of a religious society built on God. These ideologies are fast
becoming the norms of many a micro society in the world, and all again, the
crises and pangs of humanity are loudly and horrendously heard.
THE LAST-MAN STANDING [xi]AND HER
RESILIENT ECHOES
In the scheme of all these spontaneous changes in the
world and its affairs especially with the different ideological conformities to
the mundane suggestions of the modern world, the Church has remained at her
very best as the last-man standing.
She has remained largely uninfluenced by the negative proclivities of the
modern society. It is the project of the contemporary society to influence and
change all institutions and ideologies by its current trends and definition of
realities. That project has led to the corruption and erosion of genuine
humanity and the basic divine intervention in man’s life. Furthermore, the project
has sought to redirect man into the desert of self-destruction in the name of
civilization and progress. It has wounded all the meaningful institutions that
have sought to protect the dignity and sanctity of human life. The project has
continued to vehemently promote the cultures of death, debased humanity and a
faceless humanity. It has continued to promote, a doubtful existence and a selfish humanity. -humanity that needs not
the intervention of its creator, a generation of Übermensch[xii]
who can do anything thinkable.
This corrosion
of religion by the contemporary ideology once again is based on the supposed fear of Christian imperialism and
absolutism. The fear of a theocratic
regime scares the modern man and hence, he wants to efface every inclination to
the dominance of religion and God.
Therefore, the contemporary man daily invents another religion for
himself all in the fear of the truthful persuasions of Christianity.
In the midst of
these, the Church stands erect not bending to the rules of engagements with the
contemporary society. That the Church continues to stand does not mean she ostracizes herself from the contemporary society which could be a solution to not joining them if she is not for them.
On the other hand, she has continued to echo her voice beyond all strides seeing
to establishing the whole world on the platform which it all began- which is in
God.
Currently, she
has opened her windows to the modern
world for the indwelling and giving of the Holy Spirit. This is to engage
in an interaction with the contemporary society in order to fulfill her singular
vocation, which is to be an apostle to all nations- bringing them back to Christ. In this standing,
the Church has suffered and continues to suffer the anti-tidal ripples of
contemporary atheistic ideologies. She is often persecuted, neglected and even
denounced, but her message continues to stir and purge the hearts of men.
THE CHRISTIAN-IDENTITY IN THE FACE OF MODERNITY: A
BATTERED IMAGE, A FACELESS RELIGION
In the midst of
these contemporary rages, the Christian identity has been battered, wounded and
even killed in some circles. I call this problem- ‘the problem of a blurring
Christian identity’ a situation where Christians live not just a double-standard
life, but living so dimly that their lives cannot even torch another life. Hence, the Church faces a consequent problem of
nominalism and syncretism.
The contemporary
Christian identity is in crises and shambles. It is joggled in the middle of
variant conflicting cultures, and many are left in the dilemma of pragmatism
and productive religion. The basic
tenets of Christianity are waning, the theological and moral indications of an
authentic Christianity are dying out, a more colourful and glamorous
Christianity is being embraced daily and those templates are being set daily
for the universal definition of Christianity.
Furthermore, there
are some basic scriptural-based teachings
that are not preached anymore today in “civilised
Christian circles” because some of these teachings have been characterized
as politically incorrect. More so, there are some virtues in the Christian
moral life that cannot be preached again because of the loss of identity to the
modern situation of man. Some of these teachings are on pre-marital sex, the use of contraceptives, chastity and a host of
others.
If a pastor dare
preaches about them in his Church, the pews will be deserted on the next
fellowship, and so, to keep the people and also to maintain his swollen
pockets, he continues to reemphasize with utmost vigour, what the contemporary man
wants to hear.[xiii]
The search for a
pragmatic religion- a religion of prosperity and convenience- has led many
Christians straight to the current whims and definition of Pentecostalism, which can be described as a religion of
miracles. The proliferation of Churches and the funny names these churches bear[xiv]
have confirmed the new definition of Pentecostalism as a worship that is
“highly emotional, with a lot of vocal prayer, singing, clapping, instrument
playing and dancing. With great emphasis on miracles, the use of spiritual
gifts, especially prayers for healing”[xv]
The real problem is the categorization of a true
religion with these characteristics.
The modern world
therefore with its teeth of “isms”- relativism, individualism, nominalism,
subjectivism, has continued to bite bits and pieces off the chunk of the authentic
Christian identity, as taught in the Scriptures, and as handed down by Christ
himself. How can we resuscitate this identity knowing fully well that without a
resuscitation of this identity to correct the ills of the society, humanity goes down
into oblivion?
A RENEWED CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IN THE SOCIETY: LIVING
THE YEAR OF FAITH BEYOND THE YEAR OF FAITH
Maybe the
question that should be asked is: How are we to live an authentic Christian faith
in the contemporary society? The ultimate goal of the concluded Year of Faith
is exactly what we are grappling with here. The Year of Faith would be a total
failure if its aftermath does not evoke an authentic living of the Christian
faith.
A genuine
Christian identity is first made manifest through an authentic encounter with
Christ. It is a grand necessity, for those who call themselves Christians, to
move beyond being nominal Christians
by inheritance in assuming a maturity in faith denoted by a convinced faith-a
faith that is based on a personal conviction of the mysteries that the Church
teaches. It is this faith that produces an authentic Christian identity that is
in total conformity with the teachings of the Church.
Secondly, a
renewed Christian identity is built firmly on a strict adherence to the Scriptures
as taught by the Church. In this, there is no half-measure. One of the greatest
deceptions of post-modernism is the relativistic and subjective interpretation
of religious truths. A renewed Christian identity is tailored by and pruned by
the authentic interpretation of tenets of belief in the Scripture by the
Church. St. Paul concludes therefore that “all scripture is inspired by God,
profitable for teaching, for reproof for correction and training in
righteousness.”[xvi]
Finally, the
teachings of the Church by the magisterium is another apposite means of
renewing the corroded Christian identity in the modern society. Christians must
obey, to the letter, all the teachings of the Church, as contained in the Catechism, Vatican II documents, the
Encyclicals and other media. The cause of syncretism and nominalism is the half-measured
loyalty given by many Christians. We often take the ones that are “possible to
obey” while the others are churned out and forgotten. The Church is both Mater et Magister, hence, we
have an obligation to listen to everything she says and follow suit, for our
vocations lay within the mainstream of the Church’s vocation to attain
salvation.
AMBASSADORS OF THE TRUTH
The Church will
continue in her vocation as the conscience of the world! No matter what, the
gates of hell shall never prevail against her.[xvii]
She is the first ambassador of truth, and we are, in that light, fellow
ambassadors of truth. It is therefore a prerogative that our voices must be
harmonized with the Church’s voice to echo the message of God in an age that
pays little attention to God. A Latin adage summarises this situation: Vox populi, Vox Dei- the voice of the
people is the voice of God. I dare to explain further that, the people in the adage must be the category
of the people of God not just ordinary secular people, whose voices are in
contrast to the principle of God. As ambassadors of truth in our contemporary
age, there are some requirements we must necessarily have; for a Latin cliché
says Nemo dat quod non habet- you
cannot give what you do not have. The first is a convinced and enlivened faith,
formed by adherence to the Scriptures, Sacred tradition and the Church’s
Magisterium.
Without a
collective renewal of the battered identity of Christianity, we will inevitably
be dancing to our own dirge and requiem. The contemporary innovations and
ideologies are deceptions that claim to promote the situation of man.
Intrinsically, they are man’s inventions and invitations to extinction, through
the nagging and faceless vision of humanity which they promote. The Church, on
the other hand, stands as the conscience of the world echoing measures of
restructuring man’s dignity, even as she participates in the positive fruits of
civilisation and modernisation. She is therefore not aloof, rather she
participates in and purifies the intentions and cognitions of the modern man.
[i] Jesus in his priestly prayer instructed his disciples that they must be
in the world but not of the world. John 17... The two words- “in” and “of” do
not just function as prepositions only but they represent two contrast
categories in response to the message of Jesus.
[ii] Helen Rhee, “Christian
Identity” in The Encyclopaedia of Christian
Civilization, www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com 23 November, 2013.
[iii]
The ideals of Christianity are found especially in all
of Jesus’ teachings about discipleship and about following him. (Mark 8-9).
Hence, Christianity identity is modelling our lives on Jesus life since he has
asked that we must be perfect as the heavenly father is perfect (Matt. 5:48). The
evangelical counsels are the summary of the identity of a Christian.
[v] Lieu, J. M, Christian Identity in the Jewish and
Graeco-Roman World (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), p. 18
[vi] Helen Rhee, Early Christian literature: Christ and culture in the Second
and Third Centuries, (London and New York: Routledge, 2005), p. 7
[viii] Helen Rhee, Early Christian literature: Christ and culture in the Second
and Third Centuries, p.106
[x] Helen Rhee, “Christian
Identity” in The Encyclopaedia of
Christian Civilization, www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com 23 November, 2013.
[xi] “Last man standing” is a figurative expression of a persevering Church
that does not in any way ascribe a masculine nature to the Church who is the
bride of Christ.
[xii] The Übermensh is a German concept in the philosophy of Friedrich
Nietzsche which is translated as Overman, Above-human, Superman. Nietzsche
posited the Übermensh as the goal humanity should set for itself. Zarathustra presents the Übermensh as
the creator of new values- a replacement of God in his “God is dead”
project.
[xiv] Jesus of God Mission,
God’s Mennonite Church, Guided Missiles Church, Healing has begun Ministry,
Jehova Sharp Sharp, Hurricane Miracle Ministry, Healing Tsunami Ministry, Satan
in Trouble Ministry, Fist of Fury, The Yoke Must Broke (The broke in this name
is not a mistake), Other People’s Money, Your money is looking for you Ministry
*their locations will not be mentioned.
[xv] Msgr. J. Aniagwu, “The Challenge of Pentecostalism” in Pentecostalism-
proceedings of the National Seminaries Committee Workshops held in Jos, 2004,
Edited by Charles Hammawa (Jos: Fab Anieh, 2005), p. 11
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