There is a trend I’m picking up and it’s grieving my soul. The most religious (Christian or otherwise) societies in the world, are it’s poorest and most underdeveloped. The cities that pack millions into auditoriums are the ones that don’t have any representation in other aspects of human influence. It’s seems like an inversion of everything that I have learnt, that light should give illumination, that spiritual enlightenment should lead to economic, social, governmental and whole revival. Thorough analysis however reveals, that the opposite is true.
Why, you may wonder? Don’t waste your wonder, it’s not far fetched. The church needs to regain it’s saltiness, and the people of God their light. We have replaced the gospel of the kingdom with the gospel of salvation. We have left the discipling of nations, for the leadership of individuals. We have wondered off the biblical world view into being spiritual. Hear this and hear it clear, any spiritual activity that does not elevate a man into a higher realm in all the areas of influence on earth, is a mere and empty religion!
“The gospel that does not deal with the issues of the day is not a gospel at all” – Martin Luther
In South Korea, as at a few years ago (Before Africa -Nigeria started challenging the numbers), when the biggest churches in the world were in South Korea, when there were churches that had over 1 million members and many more close to those kind of numbers. It was amazing that while the ranked highest in number of churches or population of churches, they had no standard company from South Korea that was one of the top 500 companies in the world. A similar study in America shows that the most Christianized city in America is Dallas Texas. This was so based on number of people in church per capita on sunday. When analyzed based on core services however, the city was the lowest ranking city in the nation. Indices like crime rate, job availability, abuse, homelessness e.t.c.
There are two broad ways to look at this, one we can choose to see it as religion being the opium of the masses – meaning that poor people search for something to believe in. Or we can look at this the way I’m seeing it, that there is a lot of brain drain in society as gifted hands and minds feel that to serve God they need to be very involved in a church. The Church which is meant to have a biblical worldview of Religion being only one of the segments, now has become the source of brain drain of the other segments. Haven given up authority for education, governance, family, media, entertainment and business to the world, the earth is in chaos. What however amazes me the most about the Dallas analysis, is what the Dallas Pastor was credited to have said – “Those things do not concern us, we are spiritual leaders”. I again affirm in the words of Martin Luther, the gospel that does not deal with the issues of the day is not a gospel at all!
We need to ensure that we are relevant, not just on Sunday’s but all week though. We need to find out our own mountains and conquer them for God. There is a lot of Junk going on in Media today, a lot of lies, misrepresentations, and falsehood. Why? Because, light is not there, and the people of light rather than taking their lights to the world are comfortable with shining it into their own eyes and confusing one another. The Entertainment industry has become one giant manufacturing industry with only one product – sex! Education is in crisis, family values are fast eroding. The government is in the hands of charlatans, crooks and thieves, our lives are shaped by those who cannot mould their families. Where are you and I in the midst of all this mess?
I have only 3 questions for you, think about them and let your answers be correct.
1. Will your community notice (positively) if your local church shuts it’s doors tomorrow?
2. Would your workplace notice if you were no longer there?
3. Is your industry different because of you?
Let’s stop fooling ourselves, if your answers are No, you have to make them yes this year!
25 thoughts on “Religious Brain Drain”
You are right . It is a food for thought. keep it up chrm
You got me thinking again Deolu, what a paradox!
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This is my first comment on any of your blogs. I have exactly the same thoughts going through my mind and find it difficult that the leaders in the church are yet to stand up for what is right and say enough is enough! Are our church leaders going to sit wherever they are and watch things decay? If Moses had stayed back in exile and continued just to pray, he sure would not have led the Israelites out of Egypt. Thank God we have identified the first Christain leader in Nigeria Pastor T.Bakare. Othere are yet to awake from their slumber.
This is a case of water, water, water, yet not a single drop to drink. Churches, churches, churches yet not a change in attitude
Great piece with a lot of provoking thoughts. In answer to your questions, yes to the first two and still working on making the third a yes! is that a pass mark my prophet? lol . Was with my BFF and her family today and as we shared, we had this common ground..being a blessing and leaving a mark where ever we go..my prayer at the end of it all was that we will be like Moses, to deliver those God has assigned to us, be a Joseph to preserve those God has given us and be a Nehemiah to build up our community despite all oppositions.As Christians, The church has been relevant from Biblical days that even in Judges..4, a woman was a judge to lead the men to war. Prophets were relevant that the Government of the day did not do anything without consultations, Prophets were King makers and economic advisers..but today the reverse is the case..The church must come back to Isaiah 9-2-7. I conclude with this piece below;
Events in Nigeria has really shown that starting a church is the cheapest business venture to start and also the fastest growing industry in the country……..Every Lazy Tom, Dick and Harry is now a senior Pastor and a General overseer. The case of the blind leading the blind and a massive multiplication of ignorance……….Bad economy….we need MORE prayers, sick leaders…we need to pray…..bad roads….pray more,Nepa…..keep praying! God CANNOT be mocked….we need to wake up and take action because the consequence of our inactions outweighs the cost of acting.
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Good post deolu. I feel u on this one very well.
The prayer of the ancient Moravian Fathers will become popular again in 2010, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.” [PROPHECY]
you are ao right here..christians 'so called' becoming so heavenly focused that they become earthly useless
chairman, your sense of values will never be eroded in jesus name amen, as you have rightly said ,the church is declining significantly from impacting the society, i trully believe its high time we change our mindset from being churcheous to christian.
This brain drain is not in church alone. It is everywhere and it affects us all. I just discovered that one 1 percent of the church goers thinks. The prefer to be prayed for than to use their brain and think their way out of problems.
G8 piece bro Deolu, i think d brain drain does not have to do wit d church alone, It has to do with each individual. We all need to stand up and do what is right. It actually a thing of the mind we all need to STAND UP and act. It’s a thing of the mind, most of us know the truth but do we live by it, DO WE ACT IT?
Not taking any action has resulted in the situation where we are today as a nation, continued silence will only make things worse. We need to speak out and take a stand now.
Sir, i am the Church. I have listened to your rebuke. I have changed. Watch out for me in 2010.
I agree with your conclusions about the church being a light, and that the response of that Texas Pastor (if that was its essence in full context) is reprehensible. I dont quite agree with the conclusions drawn from the statistics you give though,
(1) the fact that they dont have one of the top companies does not translate to being one of the poorest companies.
(2) Which company ranking did you use and based on what parameters – They do actually have a company that is ranked 47- Samsung electronics (http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/18/global-09_The…
(3) South Korea is still one of the most religious societies today, apart from still having the largest churches it in fact recently equalled and surpassed The USA as the the country sending out the most number of missionaries. (According to the US center for world missions)
(4) In the years that South Korea has grown from a pagan/budhist asian nation to a nation with a large christian presence and influence, it has also grown its relevance and economy from one of the poorest to one of the rich economies. And that is despite the fact that it has both a small landmass and small population. Having pointed those out though.
I will agree with you that if the church's impact and relevance is not felt in the society, she has lost her mission as salt and light.
Its just that the alleged numbers you gave are either innacurate or do not support your opening statement.
A better example would perhaps have been Nigeria, and I would agree. For that too I believe it is not far from the mediority and perversion of the gospel which we commonly find among preachers and pastors.
@ Agam,
Thanks for your comment and analysis, the numbers on South Korea are historic and the trend as at that point in history, here however are a few of my thoughts
1. The statistics on South Korea was as at 1990’s and yes they are not the poorest, but their influence was not representative of a positive trend that Christianity should bring. This is alarming because the normal trend in history was that once you had the enlightenment that Christianity brings, other areas of influence ought to develop because of it (check out America, or UK back in the days, even Nigeria back in the days). The Brain Drain concept and the statistics was actually a concept that the church leadership in South Korea then identified and started to make steps to correcting. 1/500 ten years later is not bad, but I actually think they have more now. Better trends in South Korea are indicative of change and progress from where they once occupied.
2. Nigeria needs to further analysis, I agree with you.
More importantly, if you agree with the conclusion and only have issues with the examples it’s good enough for me. My head aches, not for the alignment of the arguments, but for the alignment of our actions. We ought to be light and salt, not feel good because our light creates what can be perceived as fluke.
The church is busy fighting itself than to make any meaningful impact in the world. We will not fully achieve our purpose until we stop the bickerings going on within the body and face the task of impacting lives. What we focus on in the body is what differntiates us, rather than pay attention to what unites us. No wonder we have many grand auditoriums, beautiful stickers and lingos yet we fail to reach the world. I pray for revival and I say Lord, let it begin with me!
…hmmmmmmmm gone r d days when CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) speaks with one strong voice & even Abacha listens!
HMMMMMMMMMM got nothin 2 say further for now!
Its up 2 all!
chairman this is a challenge. I asked God to help us. One or the other we are all guity or rather put the concerned ones are guity of this. God helping me i will join in spreading this message. more grace, prophet.
It is forsooth a food for thought for all religious leaders in this great nation. I pray we get it right in this nation. As individual, it’s better we start with our environment by creating a platform for change.
anybody that will change the world have to start from his immediate environment vis- a- vis(positively or negatively) u have indeed provoke my inner mind to air my views that church is not just a religion congregations but an institute where u can acquire skills in righteousness and apply them in the market place. We must all be sensitize that church and state are inseparable, they are both interwoven…..therefore there is need for our leaders in the church to be more enlighten that church is an institute of growth and not a channel for self aggrandizements.thanks
an interesting twist to your proclamation Deolu, will be Saudi Arabia- they are a very highly prosperous nation and yet devoutly religious! What have they done right?
I AGREE DEOLU. BUT I THINK IS NOT D ISSUE OF CHURCH PER SE BUT OF INDIVIDUAL IUNDERSTANDING HIS ROLE AND ALLIGNING WITH D DEMAND OF SOCIETY. IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT IF YR CHURCH DOES NOT CHANGE U CHANGE YR CHURCH.
I AGREE THAT ANY RELIGION THAT IS NOT IN TUNE WITH THE ISSUE OF THE DAY IS OFF KEY. THANKS.