For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre… Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together…
Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. Acts 19:24-29,32,38-41.
Experience has taught me never to be quick in meddling with matters for which details I am not yet privy to. If you are a Bible student, you will realize that nothing is actually new under the sun. Things may be repackaged and represented but there has been a precedence.
Man was designed to always seek for survival at every given time. This survival instinct can make a person kill his or her conscience, go to any length to latch on to influence or bounce back. When people seem to be losing relevance, attention or influence, they look for lifelines to latch unto to bounce back and it doesn’t matter at whose expense or at what cost.
Demetrius saw the growth of Christianity and its rising influence as a major threat over the territories where his business thrives and survives on; knowing that to get people to react or respond, you have to hide your actual motive, stir their emotions and tie their actions to what they hold sacred, and boom, you get them to react or respond without thinking. It worked for Demetrius. While many were fighting for the preservation of Diana’s images and Temple, Demetrius was fighting to preserve his business and influence, while others didn’t even know what they were fighting for or against.
Politicians know that religion and ethnicity are major snowballs in Nigeria, so they stir it anytime their grip to power or pursuit of a certain personal agenda is being threatened by other powers. Their ethnic or religious constituency will never ask what he did or how he did it, neither will they ask for investigation, they will only scream oppression etc. This has kept the country docile, immobile and moribund.
While controversy remains a liability to the church, it remains an asset to an entertainer. The religious spirit in Nigeria has today made the church a leverage to anyone seeking cheap or undue publicity, attention or relevance.
If you have never been accused before, you won’t know how it feels.
If you have never been blackmailed before, you won’t know how it feels.
If you have never been framed before, you won’t know how it feels.
If you have never been raped before, you won’t also know how it feels.
If you have never been suppressed before, you won’t know how it feels.
What happened to the law courts?
What happened to the voice of reasoning?
What happened to the voice of conscience?
While we raise dust over the burning issues because those involved are celebrities, we tend to forget that this is an evil that lives amongst us. What happens to the little girl or boy who may not have the clout to fight for themselves when violated by others. I had expected people to fight for institutional frameworks that would investigate and recommend due punishments for certain absurdities rather than play to the gallery over mere allegations.
Just before you join the concourse, think! Think!! Think!!!
I say no to rape!
I say no to media trial!
I say no to thoughtless actions!
I say no to envy!
Have a blessed day. Your weekly tonic will come tomorrow by God’s grace.