The Church as A Pathway to National Rebirth in Nigeria: A Reflection on Matthew 5:13

The work studied how the Church could serve as a pathway to national rebirth with emphasis on Matt 5: 13-16. Using analytical and descriptive methods, the paper discussed the theological implications of the Church being salt and light in the context of Nigeria. The metaphorical parlance and symbolic understanding of these elements of light and salt both in the Biblical and social world is not only significant but instructive. For instance, salt is a sign of covenant while light is a sign of orderliness and progress. In other words, salt preserves while light is a guide and could also be a warning light. In the face of endemic corruption, bad leadership, lack of value for human life, materialism, greed, covetousness, worldly pleasure, instant glory through rituals among young people and the likes that are prevalent in contemporary Nigeria, one then wonders what impact Churches are making in the country. Jesus enjoined his followers to “let their light shine before others, so that they may see their good works and give glory to the father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). The work therefore emphasized areas where the Church in Nigeria can make appreciable impacts and further explained that even though our society is corrupt and full of abominable things, the Church must be the salt and the light. This it maintains could be achieved if she retained her distinctiveness, stand for and speak out the truth, protest against folly, deceit and wickedness. The paper recommended that the Church should rise to the challenge of Matt 5:13-16 in order to achieve a successful national rebirth.