TRIBALISM...you're your own delay.

Hello guys! How's life with you? Its good to know you're pushing hard to fulfil destiny. I want to briefly pen down few words dropped in my spirit regarding an issue that's secretly undermining our opportunities. its the issue of tribalism. To properly dissect and expose the probable benefits and obvious disadvantages of tribe/tribalism as a hindrance to the overall performance of the purpose of God in a believers life, I'll use the current structure of the "this present house" family popularly called the tribe to further drive home the positive benefits of tribe yet pointing out the disadvantage of tribalism which is misrepresented of tribe like we see nowadays. This present house has what is called the tribe. Its the sum of expression of the vision of a governing church; that's my definition and its based on my understanding of what Pastor Tony Rapu once shared. The tribe is broken down into many expressions, namely: this present house(TPH), God bless Nigeria Church (GBN), the water brook church (TWB), the underground Church(TUC) and Freedom Foundation. I want to believe there are other expressions of the tribe but let's keep it at 5 for the purpose of this piece. The tribe as listed above is an expression of a vision, each expression differs but the literally have the same objective. I believe that objective is to articulate the purpose of God for man by building a whole man that lives to exemplify the will of God on earth which is dominion and worship. Now that's my definition, more like I just para phrased it. Hahaha. Anyway so the governing church has clean upwardly mobile people yet we have the area boys and prostitutes of GBN, we also have the young at heart from TWB and the seemingly rebellious teenagers seeking expression under the Underground church. All are part of the tribe, none is better than the other. Everyone is unique, the inter relate and feed from the same grace that's indicative of the call on Pastor Tony Rapu's life. We would miss the point of the tribe once we begin to compare using shallow parameters like who dresses best and who's service is more tight. The bible says we are not of them that compare amongst themselves for such people are not wise. Now back to tribalism. In the dispensation of grace, the bible says hence forth know we no man after the flesh, I believe that scripture meant we no longer relate or seek to define people based on human or worldly parameters. Tribalism is a thing that from my survey hinders most, the performance of Gods will in our lives after sin. Tribalism makes you short change your opportunities for bais/sentiments. Its so common to see Christians confess the purpose of God yet reject the opportunity of God (obviously unknowingly)simply because its coming from seemingly unfamiliar terrain. Nigeria is a muilt lingual country, with over 250 ethnic groups, we sure have our diversifies but in God we are united as one body. Most young people were raised by parents that sold opinion based on certain events the encountered, some are true but often limited to the persons they met. Using events in few people's lives to justify your tribal bias is tantamount to cutting your nose to smite your face. A very popular example is the notion that igbos are money slaves, a child raised with this notion sees every dealing with an igbo as something to be careful with as its believed an igbo would go for your money. Same goes for the notion that Hausa people like killing people so even when you meet a sincere peace loving Hausa man, you think he has a sword and he's going to kill you now; this is the same idea the fuels the believe that most men want to take a lady's money hence ladies in an attempt to be careful become ridiculously bias about every man they meet. No tribe is left out, I once heard my granny talk about tribe, so I decided to ask about every tribe and she had a bad report of every one, when she was done, I asked what about igalas, she goes; well we have our own issues but really we're not that bad. Hahahaha. I was amazed. The issue here is my granny only sees the good in her tribe while every other person is bad. My granny is about 80 years, I expect little from her but what's more shameful is when a young upwardly mobile person thinks like my granny. Its more embarrassing when a said born again Christian thinks and act on my granny's opinion. Let me also say that its not completely wrong to identify certain traits with certain people and that I would explain. Its true that Igbos are more business inclined than any tribe in Nigeria hence the possibility of disagreements based on failed deals would involve more Igbos. Its also true that Yoruba ladies and Benin ladies love the western life hence the travel more and naturally would want to associate with anything that enables them see the world but that's not good enough a reason to brandish the Igbos fraudsters or the Benin and Yoruba ladies an unsettled tribes. Prior to former President Olusegun Obasanjo's term in office, many Igbos bought land in Abuja FCT, infact it was said that about 50 percent of land in FCT belongs to igbos; so its expected that when Elrufai demolished houses, more igbos would be affected because more igbos bought land in places the should not have bought. We cannot say Elrufai picked on Igbos. Similarly who gets robbed at night the most in Nigeria? the igbos, that's because the travel more than the Yoruba or Hausa people; does that mean the god of armed robbery is against the Igbos? Answer is No. When the bible says hence forth know we no man after the flesh it meant we are delivered from human assessments. You cannot define people by tribes. God can use any and every one to reach out to you. Walking through life based on your defined tribal parameters is tantamount to restricting your opportunities to what's obtainable in that tribe. The earth is the lord and its fullness thereof. If your parents raised you with negative words about which tribe is good or bad; thereby making your tribally bias,its your duty to begin to deprogram yourself using Gods word. The bible says be transformed by the renewing of your mind. When something goes wrong either in a relationship or in business, its the person involved that should be analysed not his or her tribe. Relationships succeed or fail based on character not tribe. If your walk in the spirit, God says you would not gratify the deeds of the flesh, it means remaining in the law of the spirit is the security against falling into sin. Friends tribalism is a killer when it aims to demonize rather than showcase the dynamics of who we are. Dating or marrying based in tribal bias is not a guarantee to a successful home neither does it make understanding each other better. If you are disfuctional and broken, you would reflect that either with a Yoruba lady or Hausa damsel. Character is the security of relationships, communication is the life of a relationship and when I say communication; be careful not to think its just words cos you could speak igala but lack the rhythm needed to understand me. God is in the business of working wonders, he might send your tribes man or lady but he sure won't be restricted to your wishy washy definition of what's acceptable. Many of us loose our opportunities to either date or do business simply because he or she is not from our tribe. I am an Igala man, I respect and acknowledge that but if you think being igala is enough to get funding for a project then think again, the banks don't care where you from, the principles governing financing are not tribal,the are globally tested lending criteria; so why do we seek to justify events based on tribe when we acknowledge that doing business or making money has nothing to do with tribe. In closing, Jesus was told his father and mother are here looking for him, he said this people are my father and mother. Jesus was able to raise the bar beyond human definitions of what's family. We are expected to be like Christ, we need to define acceptance of each other using higher laws. The law of the spirit of God. Doing otherwise is tantamount to delaying the performance of purpose in your life as a believer. God bless you. Igonoh Godwin.