In the last two columns, we examined things to quit in the new year. This week, I want us to explore a trend from the perspective of the scripture. Before we delve into that, I remember at the beginning of last year addressing a slogan at the time, ‘no gree for anybody’, and how we can apply that to our lives as Christians. This is especially important because things are more or less a question of values. What value orientation do we subscribe to? God value? Or societal value? It is important as Christians to derive our values from God's enduring word and the magisterium's teachings.

 

Since the beginning of this year, a new slogan has emerged in pidgin English: ‘dey for who dey for you’, which means ‘be there for who was there for you’, implying that ‘you need not be there for who was not there for you.’ As Christians, should this slogan be our mantra? What does the scripture say about this? I think the Bible’s values are quite different from this; the Bible enjoins us in Genesis 4:9 to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers when Cain killed Abel, his brother. Further, Matthew 5:43-48 admonishes us to do good to those who do evil to us and to pray for those who persecute and slander us because these acts would make us children of God and because we would have done something differently from merely reciprocating a good. The last verse says, ‘Be perfect, even as your heavenly father is perfect, earlier echoed in Leviticus 19:2.

 

These are tall injunctions, no doubt. They are extremely difficult to practice but not impossible. Also, in Romans 12:17-21 in verse 20, “so if an enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink…do not allow evil to prevail, instead prevail over evil by means of goodness.” While I subtly understand the spirit behind the slogan, which is to care for oneself and not allow others to ride roughshod on us, Christian charity, more importantly, demands that we consciously look out for and still be charitable to those who did not do good to us. When we attempt to practice this tall order, God usually takes the ‘battle’ off our hands, as stated in Exodus 14:14. “The Lord will fight on your behalf, and you will remain silent.”

 

In this new year, instead of going by the societal or worldly slogan, how about we rather say and practice ‘dey for who no dey for you, na so Baba God want am’? May we receive the grace to be faithful to our Christian calling through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Happy New Year 2025!

 

In the last two columns, we examined things to quit in the new year. This week, I want us to explore a trend from the perspective of the scripture. Before we delve into that, I remember at the beginning of last year addressing a slogan at the time, ‘no gree for anybody’, and how we can apply that to our lives as Christians. This is especially important because things are more or less a question of values. What value orientation do we subscribe to? God value? Or societal value? It is important as Christians to derive our values from God's enduring word and the magisterium's teachings.

 

Since the beginning of this year, a new slogan has emerged in pidgin English: ‘dey for who dey for you’, which means ‘be there for who was there for you’, implying that ‘you need not be there for who was not there for you.’ As Christians, should this slogan be our mantra? What does the scripture say about this? I think the Bible’s values are quite different from this; the Bible enjoins us in Genesis 4:9 to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers when Cain killed Abel, his brother. Further, Matthew 5:43-48 admonishes us to do good to those who do evil to us and to pray for those who persecute and slander us because these acts would make us children of God and because we would have done something differently from merely reciprocating a good. The last verse says, ‘Be perfect, even as your heavenly father is perfect, earlier echoed in Leviticus 19:2.

 

These are tall injunctions, no doubt. They are extremely difficult to practice but not impossible. Also, in Romans 12:17-21 in verse 20, “so if an enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink…do not allow evil to prevail, instead prevail over evil by means of goodness.” While I subtly understand the spirit behind the slogan, which is to care for oneself and not allow others to ride roughshod on us, Christian charity, more importantly, demands that we consciously look out for and still be charitable to those who did not do good to us. When we attempt to practice this tall order, God usually takes the ‘battle’ off our hands, as stated in Exodus 14:14. “The Lord will fight on your behalf, and you will remain silent.”

 

In this new year, instead of going by the societal or worldly slogan, how about we rather say and practice ‘dey for who no dey for you, na so Baba God want am’? May we receive the grace to be faithful to our Christian calling through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Happy New Year 2025!

 

In the last two columns, we examined things to quit in the new year. This week, I want us to explore a trend from the perspective of the scripture. Before we delve into that, I remember at the beginning of last year addressing a slogan at the time, ‘no gree for anybody’, and how we can apply that to our lives as Christians. This is especially important because things are more or less a question of values. What value orientation do we subscribe to? God value? Or societal value? It is important as Christians to derive our values from God's enduring word and the magisterium's teachings.

 

Since the beginning of this year, a new slogan has emerged in pidgin English: ‘dey for who dey for you’, which means ‘be there for who was there for you’, implying that ‘you need not be there for who was not there for you.’ As Christians, should this slogan be our mantra? What does the scripture say about this? I think the Bible’s values are quite different from this; the Bible enjoins us in Genesis 4:9 to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers when Cain killed Abel, his brother. Further, Matthew 5:43-48 admonishes us to do good to those who do evil to us and to pray for those who persecute and slander us because these acts would make us children of God and because we would have done something differently from merely reciprocating a good. The last verse says, ‘Be perfect, even as your heavenly father is perfect, earlier echoed in Leviticus 19:2.

 

These are tall injunctions, no doubt. They are extremely difficult to practice but not impossible. Also, in Romans 12:17-21 in verse 20, “so if an enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink…do not allow evil to prevail, instead prevail over evil by means of goodness.” While I subtly understand the spirit behind the slogan, which is to care for oneself and not allow others to ride roughshod on us, Christian charity, more importantly, demands that we consciously look out for and still be charitable to those who did not do good to us. When we attempt to practice this tall order, God usually takes the ‘battle’ off our hands, as stated in Exodus 14:14. “The Lord will fight on your behalf, and you will remain silent.”

 

In this new year, instead of going by the societal or worldly slogan, how about we rather say and practice ‘dey for who no dey for you, na so Baba God want am’? May we receive the grace to be faithful to our Christian calling through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Happy New Year 2025!

 

In the last two columns, we examined things to quit in the new year. This week, I want us to explore a trend from the perspective of the scripture. Before we delve into that, I remember at the beginning of last year addressing a slogan at the time, ‘no gree for anybody’, and how we can apply that to our lives as Christians. This is especially important because things are more or less a question of values. What value orientation do we subscribe to? God value? Or societal value? It is important as Christians to derive our values from God's enduring word and the magisterium's teachings.

 

Since the beginning of this year, a new slogan has emerged in pidgin English: ‘dey for who dey for you’, which means ‘be there for who was there for you’, implying that ‘you need not be there for who was not there for you.’ As Christians, should this slogan be our mantra? What does the scripture say about this? I think the Bible’s values are quite different from this; the Bible enjoins us in Genesis 4:9 to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers when Cain killed Abel, his brother. Further, Matthew 5:43-48 admonishes us to do good to those who do evil to us and to pray for those who persecute and slander us because these acts would make us children of God and because we would have done something differently from merely reciprocating a good. The last verse says, ‘Be perfect, even as your heavenly father is perfect, earlier echoed in Leviticus 19:2.

 

These are tall injunctions, no doubt. They are extremely difficult to practice but not impossible. Also, in Romans 12:17-21 in verse 20, “so if an enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink…do not allow evil to prevail, instead prevail over evil by means of goodness.” While I subtly understand the spirit behind the slogan, which is to care for oneself and not allow others to ride roughshod on us, Christian charity, more importantly, demands that we consciously look out for and still be charitable to those who did not do good to us. When we attempt to practice this tall order, God usually takes the ‘battle’ off our hands, as stated in Exodus 14:14. “The Lord will fight on your behalf, and you will remain silent.”

 

In this new year, instead of going by the societal or worldly slogan, how about we rather say and practice ‘dey for who no dey for you, na so Baba God want am’? May we receive the grace to be faithful to our Christian calling through Christ our Lord.