The social media has become a place where all sorts of trash is peddled. From celebrity worship to political propagandas to dry comedy down to religious bullying and idolatry. It is imperative we separate our beliefs from the norms of the society. That politics is blatantly discussed on social media, okay. It has its way of passing information through the various arguments for or against the motion in consideration. Celebrities, social gossip and 'small talks' can equally be pardoned just as the comedy that gets recycled too much that it loses its taste.
Religion should not be categorised as the aforementioned. Yes, it is the opium of the masses, we have observed that much, and hence it should not be allowed to lose its fervour. This fervour stems from the 'way of life' of the original creator of the various religious sects. For Christians, Christ really laid a perfect blueprint for his followers. He did not make it difficult. Neither did he hide much (well, save for his parables which are often what you may wish to interpret them as). If one goes through the four gospels in the manuscript, you will discover what Christ really 'preached'. He did most preaching with his life. Not his mouth. His life and lifestyle was simply simple. Modesty personified. He hardly condemned anything, nor did he advocate for sacrifices. Instead, obedience. He did not go about tearing down chains, nor was he binding and loosing them as full time job. He did not use his chariots of fire to consume his teaming enemies nor call down the cherubim to tackle his teething problems. In fact, the mainstay of his life was highlighted in two situations. One was in making man know that everyone has sinned but if you felt otherwise, cast your stone. What does this teach us? Tolerance of others. The second was just before his crucifixion. He probably prayed a long time, but the best way he communicated what the theme of the prayer was, was by not seeking his own wish. If it were just his wish alone, he'd want to live in palaces, eat good food, wear good clothing, have pretty wives, horses, etc. But despite yearning all those, he let his father's will be done. What does this teach us? Our prayers are often misguided. We are as selfish as they come. Always asking that God change His will for our sake and not the converse. Which is easier and better, that God change His will or that we let His will be done in our lives? That we go to church, not to worship Him but to make demands? Honestly, it's really nice to live a good life, have fancy things and have fun and all the works. Do we ever sit down to ask what does guys that cannot afford three square meals a day did wrong? Do guys that languish in hospitals and prison for nothing but their faults deserve as much as they get? The victims of war, natural disasters, children from broken homes, the homosexuals, the mentally ill, the drug addicts, etc? You know, it's very easy to be critical from a vantage position, but do you think your views and faith would remain the same if you were not in that position? Do you think you would have been a Christian if perhaps you were not born into a Christian home or did not run into that brother that converted you?
I don't believe in 'preaching' the gospel, I believe in 'living' it! Most religious make Christianity boring and seemingly bigotry. It should not be. The first 'recorded' miracle in the manuscript was carried out at a party. Those days, marriage ceremonies were some of the biggest parties. They still are though. Christ was very tolerant in his way of life. He mingled with tax collectors, the equivalent of agberus, omoniles, FIRS, etc of today. He frolicked with politicians too. But most of all, he fed the hungry. He guided them even when they did not know the direction he was leading them. He did not seek to enrich himself from their misery. He did not seek to ride on the best horses because he is their leader, nor did he seek to build new synagogues every day, nor make money, wealth, affluence, connection and prosperity his main points in his teachings. He loved his people. He sacrificed the most (5 loaves and 2 fish) he had, not from the abundance (or excesses). He preached by example. He sacrificed his life. He shed his blood. He did not turn himself to idol just to be worshipped but his way of life which bothered around selflessness and tolerance for our neighbours.
Today, we condemn ISIL, Boko Haram, Al Shabab, Al Qaida etc for religious intolerance, whereas that is what we do per minute. You see dudes posting religious contents that are so biased that you wonder how better than the terrorists they are. They construct fictitious scenarios to appeal to weak minded people of same faith even when it undermines others’. Mind what you broadcast, it is far telling. Often times, people just echo others’ line of thought, not theirs. Somebody tells you this, you don’t investigate, don’t analyse, or criticise. Just rebroadcast. That’s automated foolishness. No matter the source, it is imperative we double check what we are about to forward to others, because those guys we forward it to are not going to judge the author, but you. They see what you just dished out as representing you.
In essence, Christianity is not about blasting away with your megaphones, public address systems and the loudest music instruments (competing for attention), but lending a helping hand to the needy (and nor the connected). When giving alms, most people give to those who can reciprocate the gesture, or be referrals or mentors etc. It is wrong. I dislike the attitude of making ceremony out of everything. Sometimes, it’s good we leave our religious biases aside and think and act like humans first. Humans act humane. Humans are considerate, peaceful, loving, generous, patient and non-destructive. Let us not let our love for religion deprive us of our love for humanity. Let us stop recycling messages of hate, of racism, of bigotry, of xenophobia, of ethnicity, terrorism and nepotism.
Let us be humans first and build our nation, any form of bias (religion especially) will hinder nation building and foresightedness.

cc lalasticala