Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
Are we ready for war? Should it be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth combat? If we take this path; then all of us shall be toothless and blind.
One of the basic questions that confronts many philosophers, sociologists and political analysts today, is; how can the struggle against terrorism be achieved? Beyond professionals, this question is on the lips of many Nigerians today. It has become everybody’s topic following from the outrageous killings, and sabotage of government and private properties. Lately, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo state was attacked by a group which has been identified as ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa Province) This group is a splinter of Boko Haram and they are growing in power and influence. Due to their attack the morning joy of Pentecost in St. Francis Catholic Church became the sorrowful noon at the loss of many lives. This is just one of the many attacks they have executed in recent times; they have caused many to desert their homes; others churchless and many children orphans.
In truth the days are tough, living in Nigeria makes one a potential casualty; going to Church has become a dreadful and fearful rite. Embarking on a journey has become a nightmare, safe departure but unfortunate destination, the irony of travellers giving tears for bread not just because of potholes or irresponsible drivers but because of the activities of bandits and terrorists. Obviously, government has failed, our nation is at the brink of the grave. What then is our hope as Christians?
In a conceptual manner, Martin Luther King Junior advocated for a nonviolent resistance. This is a kind of existential, pragmatic and moral philosophy that is geared towards turning the status quo. This for him is the most potent weapon available to the oppressed people in their struggle for freedom. Do we have other weapons we can deploy? Are we ready for war? Should it be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth combat? If we take this path; then all of us shall be toothless and blind. Christianity does not permit vengeance. Therefore, while we walk the path of self-defense let us also deploy some skills from King’s nonviolent resistance.
The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy defines nonviolence as the negation of violence. The use of peaceful means to bring about political or social change. Similarly, it comes from the belief that hurting people, animals or environment is unnecessary to achieve a result. It refers to a general philosophy of abstention from violence based on moral, religious or spiritual principles.
Non-violence (with a hyphen) refers more specifically to the absence of violence and is always the choice to do no harm or the least harm. While non-violence is the same as being passive. Nonviolence is not passivity. In nonviolence if a house is burning the most appropriate action is to put the fire out; while in non-violence, you sit back passively and let the fire burn. So, when we talk of nonviolence many think that we are calling Christians to be passive in the face of violence. We cannot sit back and allow the labour of our past heroes to be in vain. The goal of nonviolence therefore, is to put out the fire in this nation before we are burnt out completely. This can be achieved either through nonviolent protests, civil disobedience or other reliable means.
Nonviolent protests are symbolic actions performed by a group of people to show their support or disapproval of something. The goal of this kind of action is to bring public awareness to an issue. The message can be directed towards the public, opponents or people affected by the issue. It is high time we staged a protest against the incessant killings by blood-thirsty marauders masquerading themselves as pastoralists; we need not be told that these labourers are actually soldiers; call a spade what it is. We cannot continue like this; we are living in a jungle, we must stage a protest against this government. Christians everywhere should come out to the street; whether in the North, South, East or West; let us get the government’s corridors busy with our protests. We cannot just be quiet, the EndSARS protest signaled the power of protest in any barbaric nation.
The last assault in Owo, Ondo State where innocent citizens were slaughtered in their place of worship is barbaric, satanic and evil. All who visited Owo condemned the actions of these terrorists. Nigerians are tired of this modus operandi; we must rise and take drastic measures; we must checkmate these excesses; the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria should stage a protest across the nation. There should be ceaseless protests on the corridors of power. Why is the Christian Association of Nigeria quiet over the death of innocent worshipers? If we don’t act now, soonest the massacre at Owo will repeat itself in X. We preach and teach nonviolence not non-violence. Therefore, we must act, we must resist these bush soldiers; there should be public speeches, petitions, symbolic acts, such as colours, badges, flowers and carrying of placards.
Again, nonviolence gospel allows Civil disobedience. This is the refusal to comply with certain laws considered unjust, as a peaceful form of political protest. It is the refusal to obey the demands or commands of a government or those occupying power, without resorting to violence or active measures of opposition; its usual purpose is to force concessions from the government. It involves non-cooperation with the opponent. According to Gene Sharp the “actionists deliberately withdraw the usual forms and degree of their cooperation with the person, activity, institution, or regime with which they have become engaged in conflicts.” For example, Gandhi holds complete non-cooperation with the British masters, which he regarded as evil. Henry Thoreau in his essay On the Duty of Civil Disobedience holds that one should not cooperate with an evil system. In this nation, we cooperate too much with evil systems and that is why the land has been soiled with blood.
By means of civil disobedience, actionists are to terminate their usual cooperation in a way that it slows and halts or hinders an industry, political system, economic process or normal operations. In other words, non-cooperation involves the deliberate discontinuance, withholding, or defiance of certain existing relationships, whether social, religious, economic, or political (Gene Sharp, The Politics of Nonviolent Action). Civil disobedience has been used by some countries with appreciable and considerable results. Amidst these turbulent seasons we can attempt something in order to forestall the future of this nation. It is so sad; how workers are killed on their way to work. A civil servant that earns less than 50 thousand naira a month was kidnapped and his abductors were demanding for 5 million naira. We cannot continue this way. The available tool we have must be deployed for restoration and peace.
Beyond the above methods, the power of social media cannot be underestimated in this regard. The recent “JESUS IS GOING ON” on the WhatsApp status of many Nigerians engineered by the popular gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey was a commendable approach. The Facebook offers more opportunities to us to tell the world about our pains, we can advance a protest in many platforms until our cry is heard.
We must equally work on our minds. We must debunk the notion that war is an inevitable and inescapable part of human condition. This perspective is increasingly found in Newspaper editorials and general social commentaries. The ongoing Russia and Ukraine contest should serve as a lesson for us. We must increasingly campaign against the use of nuclear and chemical weapons. In our struggle for peace, there should be the establishment of “peace academies” that have the same standing and prestige as today’s military academy. All means towards negotiation or dialogue should be promoted and enhanced.
Even though the gospel of nonviolence remain debatable in the face of terrorism, we cannot deny the fact that nonviolent resistance is morally the most effective method ever used in the struggle for peace. Violence versus violence will lead to ultimate destruction and possible annihilation. Therefore, if lasting peace is ever to be attained, Nigeria should forgo the long-held philosophy of retribution or “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.
In the last few years this philosophy has crept into the pulpit of many ministers. Pastors are now known to be preaching the gospel of war. Many of them have taken to the scriptures to justify their sermons. Two of such scriptures that have become prevalent in recent times are:
- Exodus 21:23-25, “But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” Also confirm (Leviticus 24:19-22 and Deut. 19:21)
- Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”
As part of this nonviolent discourse therefore, it is necessary that I address the above scriptures. Let us take a look at the first one, (Exodus 21:23-25 ). This particular passage was quoted by Christ when he insisted on the truth of the passage. He says; “you have heard how it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil” (Matt. 5:38-39). Jesus cited this law to correct the negative impression many had about the law. Many think it is an approval for violence, rather it was the origin of nonviolence in truth. This law was part and parcel of the ethic of the Old Testament called Lex Talionis, the law of tit for tat.
According to William Barclay’s commentary, this law was never a bloodthirsty law. In fact, the law was the beginning of mercy. It’s original aims were: The limitation of vengeance; it was not meant for private individuals to extract vengeance; rather it was for judges to access punishment and penalty. Secondly, it was never carried out literally, otherwise it would have reversed justice, because it might have involved the displacement of a good eye for a bad eye.
Therefore, let us be mindful of the way we interpret the Bible. Misinterpretation does more harm than the sword. With the recent attacks of Churches many pastors are beginning to drum up support for war. Jesus, the Perfecter of the law moves from the old law of limited vengeance to a spirit of nonviolence. Throughout his suffering Jesus did not tolerate evil neither did he apply force or violence. As the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev.5:5) he could have retaliated but he did not because he is the Lamb of God (John1:29). As the Mighty One in battle (Ps.24:8) he could have fought for himself; but he did not because he is the Prince of peace (Isaiah9:6). Again, as the Chief Judge (John5:22) he could have ordered deadly penalty; but he forgave his murderers (Luke 23:34). In John 18:10 when Jesus was arrested Peter slashed off the ear of Malchus; but Jesus said to him Peter sheath your sword. This statement has become a theological reason for nonviolence.
Therefore, while we clamour for self-defence we must conduct ourselves accordingly. In the name of self-defence many are already street fighters. Our real self-defence should be self control, self discipline, self education and as it stands now our Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). If we are allowed to own weapons with our present state of self control or education we are going to annihilate ourselves even before the actual attack of the enemies. Oftentimes, it is painful that we are not educated enough to channel our energy towards the right method to achieve the desired results. Little wonder the Bible says in Hos.4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” M. K. Gandhi noted; “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind”. We must not be violent to restore our world. Violence has never been the best option for believers.
The second bible verse that torments us today is Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” This is indeed a baffling verse at the outset. How can God’s kingdom suffer, and what has violent people got to do with it? Much have been said about this verse in the Bible. However, this verse according to a material from Gotquestion is a graphic picture of the enthusiasm and excitement generated by John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ teaching. People were hungry for the truth and would not be kept away. There has been an extraordinary rush of people pressing in from all sides, eager for a blessing.
The “kingdom of heaven suffers violence,” figuratively speaking, in that people were thronging to hear the gospel that they resembled an army trying to besiege a city. The people entering the kingdom were not violent literally, but their eagerness to see the coming of the Messiah was so overwhelming that it was as if they were attacking a city and beating down the doors to enter. This Bible passage has nothing to do with violence.
This article equally sets out to evangelize the evangelizers; we must be mindful of what we preach, so often we have misrepresented the scriptures and Christ. The days are rough and tough but it is not an excuse to compromise the message of Christ. Martyrdoms of old were not fictions but historical facts. We are so religious and hallowed when we study the lives of the saints and martyrs, but now that the ball is in our court we have become so defensive, slanting the scriptures to fit our spiritual immaturities.
Basically, the argument that span across this article is about the appropriate reaction of the oppressed people or masses in their struggle against terrorism. Apparently, in our current state we have the methods of acquiescence (the reluctant acceptance of terrorism without resistance) and violence, but Martin Luther King in line with Hegel’s dialectical method held that, “truth is found neither in the thesis nor in the antithesis, but in an emergent synthesis which reconciles the two.” The philosophy of nonviolent resistance seeks to reconcile the truths of two opposites – acquiescence and violence. In other words, peace is not found in acquiescence nor violence but in nonviolent resistance. Inasmuch as the government of the day remains typically harmful than helpful, the masses must take to nonviolence. A force that is both moral and just. This to an outsized degree, shall reduce the various social harms and terrorism that are bedevilling our nation.
