It is often difficult and upsetting when the discussion is religion. This is even more so when it is in Nigeria because it is very easy for such discussion to hook sensibilities and tug at emotions. It is nearly certain that discussing religion would go south regardless of how much care you inject into treating the topic. It is so touchy that it is always advisable to keep off the topic, but some of the representatives of the religions we are familiar with in our country will not let you be. Oftentimes, they speak and act in such ways that provoke the intellect, question human logic and at the same time challenge believable standard morality.
However, one of the philosophies of the Yoruba is that which encourages a man to address issues whenever there is the need. Even if the issue involves one’s inlaws, one is advised to speak up. A man must state his case and declare his intentions. He is charged to do so as clearly as he can since it is not allowed for him to hold grudges against, or go into enmity with his inlaws. They say Eyi a o se là á wí, enikankìíyanànarèlódì. So, because of this contention, I must state how I feel about that blip by the Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Reverend Biodun Fatoyinbo.
Before this goes south and deeper, it must be understood from the outset that it is not in any way about the Christian religion in itself per se, but that it is about some of the individuals propagating the religion. The issue today is about some of our Christian leaders and preachers of The Word. The Reverend Fatoyinbo is one of them and he has a sizable congregation both physically and online.
Secondly, this isn’t about “touch not my anointed…” Indeed, it is more about the fact that some of these anointed people are creating problems for us by sometimes making mockery of their anointing through what they say or fail to say. They also often put other Christians on the spot when questions are asked of those things they have resorted to be doing through their calling and anointing. If it was about “touch not my anointed,” let us agree then that Reverend Biodun Fatoyinbo has touched the anointed son of God, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, the first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
Reverend Fatoyinbo said (among other things) in a sermon he entitled “Financial Flow in Ministry”: “Poverty demolishes families. It is a killer of dreams. I was studying recently about what Pastor Apostle Ayo Babalola did. I stand to be corrected but what God did through this man… If they had documented what God did in the life of that man, I’m telling you people would be coming for pilgrimage.
“He was so anointed. He carried heavy-duty grace, but no money! So, all the grace just went like that. Where are his children? Where are his children? I’m sure some of them will hate God.”
These declarations by Rev. Fatoyinbo drew the ire of many. Of course, it is enough to get people infuriated and people were indeed enraged. I am also one of those incensed by what he said and here in my own little corner, I have decided to tell Fatoyinbo through this medium that he thoroughly misfired. He really misjived, going by popular street lingo. What he said is utterly uncharitable. By the kind of religious upbringing some of us had which lays emphasis on modesty, Fatoyinbo obviously did not know the truth about the person and ministry of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola and his numerous children—biological and spiritual—found all over the world. If he knew, he did not say it. My guess is that he didn’t know, that is why he said, “I stand to be corrected…”
Fatoyinbo is known for his gospel of physical prosperity and opulence. I think the Rev. Fatoyinbo is of the warped belief that if you do not have or display the kind of wealth seen with preachers like him, musical stars, sports icons and so on, you are either not blessed by God or you have not attracted enough of God’s abundant blessings. For him and his ilk, blessings are quantified by how much money is in your bank account, how expensive and flamboyant your dresses are, how lucrative your abode looks and how posh your vehicles are. Blessings are mainly these or nothing—not anything rooted in modesty; not a doctrine to advance us in decorum. It is all about the offensive blitzkrieg. It is such that the Facebook account of COZA says it is “the wealthy place.”
What Reverend Fatoyinbo said of the revered Apostle Ayo Babalola negates almost in totality the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (cf Isaiah 11: 2-3). Those gifts, I believe, should help everyone, including those in the business of propagating the Gospel of Christ. But the Catholic teaching, which is ancient and universal, is not the type that might resonate with preachers like Fatoyinbo. But he could still study the teaching which was articulated by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th Century. On the flip side, it could be argued that, going by the established thoughts expressed by the Reverend Biodun Fatoyinbo, he would certainly not do anything near what Christians like Francis of Assisi, who was born into enormous wealth, did when he encountered Christ.
Pastor Fatoyinbo must have heard the name ‘Ignatius of Loyola’. Even if he may not have read about his life, he might have heard about educational institutions named ‘Loyola’. The life of Francis of Assisi greatly influenced Ignatius of Loyola. “Ignatius was inspired by Francis’s devotion to Christ and his ascetic lifestyle, seeing it as an alternative to the worldly life he had previously known,” a source says. Our Pastor unfortunately strayed while preaching on how to fructify his physical wealth gospel. In that bid to bring the fruit of grace and blessing to focus, he himself wandered off focus and ended up making regrettable snide remarks about the person of a man of God no less in stature than Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola. No, Biodun, you goofed!
Just like St. Francis and St. Ignatius, the name of Apostle Babalola is still ringing loud today. They are not etched in our hearts because of how much money they flaunted, they are evergreen because they touched lives in more profound ways through their pristine discipleship. They lived for things that endure, not ephemeral things like cars, aeroplanes, suits, wristwatches and so on. The spiritual and physical legacies of Ayo Babalola in many states of the country and overseas stand as more enduring wealth. These weigh more than those things he had expected Babalola, a man he acknowledged as to have carried “heavy duty grace”, to have acquired for himself. Clerics still visit his tomb in Efon-Alaaye in Ekiti State; people still call on the God of Ayo Babalola everywhere and also in specific places, including Erio, Ido-Ile, Odo-Owa, Garage Olode and in many other prayer resorts.
Thanks be to God that he has heard from the Apostle’s children whom he had asked after… I also congratulate him for his apology. We can move on, but lessons must be learnt!
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