In Nigeria those years, it is not enough to say you are a Christian. You need to make it clearly by use of phrases such as “I am a born again Christian”, “ I am a Pentecostal Christian” or “ a bible believing Christian”. Those who are proudly catholic would use phrases such as “ I go to a real or proper Church” or “ I go to first and genuine Church”. My experience in the Uk is similar but different in some ways. The word “pentecostal” among the Christians circle I found myself in the Uk has a slightly a wrong connotation but the use of word “Evangelical” is often used and favoured. What these demonstrate, I think, that as human beings, we like labels; we like to have some sense of identity and a way of distinguishing ourselves from others. But, at times, the intended or unintended consequence of applying labels to others is our tendency to project a single, simplistic story onto groups of people whom we perceive to be different from ourselves. Sadly, we often like to use words and phrases to downgrade the significance of others, even among Christians. An account in the scripture that resonates with me on this subject is the one found in Mark 9“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us. “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us”. (Mark 9:38- 40 NIV). Jesus prayed for our unity as Christians in John 17 and promised us that our unity and love for each other will be a witness to the world and bring credibility to our mission and ministry. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ( John 13:36). Over the days and weeks, I will be reflecting on the deep divide among the ethnic groups churches in the Uk today and why we are still comfortable with this deepest stain. I might touch the ‘golden calf’ – the power of colourism . Then I would also look at the social class divide – “ them and us” in the one body of Christ. The series with end with various theological divide and how we determine who is with us and against us among fellow christians – ‘litmus test’ I am passionate on this subject and I am looking forward expressing what has been close to my heart and upon which I wrestle with day and night for the past 6-7 years.
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