The Church Has a Role Towards Producing Responsible Christian Citizens – Defence Minister, Gen. Chris Musa
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), has stated that although Nigeria is a wonderful country, blessed in all ramifications, one of its major challenges is disobedience to the two great commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ: to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbour as yourself.
Gen. Musa made the statement as the Keynote Speaker during the Kingdom Lifestyle Conference Series IV, themed, “Overcoming the Conflicts of Worldly Systems: Living and Entrenching Kingdom Lifestyle in Our Place of Assignment.”
He commended the organizers and the leadership of the Jesus World Changers Apostolic Mission (JWCAM) for sustaining the initiative over the years and for choosing a theme that speaks directly to one of the key challenges confronting believers and leaders in the contemporary world.
Quoting Colossians 3:23, he said that our places of assignment require conviction, discipline, courage, and a conscious commitment to live according to the values of God’s Kingdom. Whatever our profession or position, we must understand that our place of work and influence is not outside God’s purpose; it is part of our assignment.
“The Kingdom lifestyle must move beyond the church building, and Christianity must become a lifestyle. Then our faith will influence how we make decisions, exercise authority, manage resources, treat humanity, and serve our nation,” he added.
He lamented the character challenges faced by Christians who come under pressure to compromise, and decried situations where people leave the church after service and begin to insult one another, due to the wrong impression that holiness is confined to the church building. He challenged Christians to be consistent and to remain focused on Christ alone.
Gen. Musa cited the example of Daniel in the Bible, describing him as a model of Christian integrity and character who served in Babylon within a complex political and administrative system, yet his faith and integrity remained intact because he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. Daniel’s example reminds us that integrity goes hand-in-hand with competence and hard work.
“Kingdom living should never be an excuse for mediocrity or poor performance. The Church has a responsibility to raise Christians who are not only spiritually strong but also professionally competent,” he stated.
He declared that Christianity is practical, and called on the Church to be there for its congregants, to help them understand that coming to church is not merely to listen or to declare, ‘I am a child of God, I believe in God.’
“Our lives must be the Bible that people read. Our actions and inactions should tell others whether we are Christians or not. Most times I get scared when someone says, ‘Do you know I am a Reverend, or a Pastor?’ I just assume you are not, because you don’t have to tell me. By your actions and inactions, I should know that you are a Christian.
All those who were first called Christians were Christ-like, and the question is, are we Christ-like?” he asked.
Emphasizing the need for Christians in government, the military and security services, as well as in science, technology, medicine, education, business, politics, media, law, and the financial sector, Gen. Musa called on faithful Christians, wherever they are, to make a difference and become agents of transformation as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
He charged that Christ wants us to be Christ-like in all we do, not just in some things, but in everything. In every sphere of endeavour, we need Christians who will represent Christ through their character, competence, and conduct.
“Without character, whatever brilliance you have, even if you are smarter than Albert Einstein, your character will define who you are. Wherever God has placed us, we should strive to add value and positively impact mankind to entrench Kingdom lifestyle,” he said.
He appealed to church leaders to encourage Christians to join politics. “Whether politics is dirty or not, get in and clean it up. If you are not in politics and cannot make decisions, the constitution will not protect you. If you are in, you can make a difference, but if you are not, you can’t make a difference.”
On national security, Gen. Musa noted that the security challenges Nigeria is experiencing are not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but assured that the Federal Government is taking every measure to address them. He observed that terrorists, bombers, and kidnappers are not relenting, but every Nigerian has a responsibility to play.
He said the transformation of Nigeria is our collective responsibility, and the Church, as a major stakeholder in building a secure Nigeria, has a duty towards national development by producing responsible Christian citizens.
“A transformed Christian will influence the family. A transformed family will influence the community, a transformed community will influence institutions, and transformed institutions will influence society, while a transformed society will influence the nation. Let’s stop flapping around, but give ourselves permission to be the person God made us to be,” he charged.
He admonished that with all the manpower and mineral resources we have, we must commit ourselves to raising a generation that understands that success without character is failure in disguise.
“We need to commit to building institutions where competence, merit, accountability, and integrity are valued. Having spent much of my professional life in the security sector, I have realized that guns cannot bring lasting peace; a secured and prosperous society will depends more on the quality of its values and institutions.
The insecurity we face today is largely due to loss of values. Families are no longer families, and the distraction is enormous with social media, DSTV, and other happenings around. Parents are working and the children are left with social media and DSTV,” he added.
He regretted that most Christian children today know almost nothing about the Bible. They go to church, but the church is not in them. They are only Christians because their parents are Christians.
“Oftentimes, we are raising weaklings and the world is ready for them. Loving children does not mean overwhelming them; let them understand the bad and the ugly side of the world,” Gen. Musa pleaded.
Earlier in his welcome address, Pastor Dr. Olubayode Awosika, the Convener, Kingdom Lifestyle Conference and Senior Pastor of Jesus World Changers Apostolic Mission (JWCAM), said God has called believers to be His light and to walk in His ways. According to him, Christians cannot live apart from Him, but must represent Him and make His Kingdom visible wherever He has placed them.
He listed such spheres to include government and public agencies, corporate organisations, community service, business and entrepreneurship, as well as civil society, politics, churches and ministries, education and academia, media and communications, families and communities.
“Wherever we are called, we remain the same people – called to represent Christ, uphold the Kingdom lifestyle with excellence, and bring glory to Him. Yet we find ourselves in systems where our values are constantly tested,” he said.
Pastor Awosika stated further, with KLC Series 4, Kingdom people are challenged not only to occupy spaces and hold positions, but to get established in Christ while building impactful careers, businesses and institutions with legacies that honour God.
He stressed that Christians should not only build careers and businesses, but build people and institutions, and live righteously.
Pastor Awosika charged believers to uphold values in their families, in workplaces, in businesses, institutions and in their communities, and declared, “We are to examine ourselves, renew our commitment to God’s Kingdom principles, and consider how our presence in various sectors of society can become a channel for God’s Kingdom”.
In his opening remarks titled “Excelling Without Soiling Our Hands,” renowned chartered accountant and boardroom guru, Chairman of OA Group, Otunba Olusola Adekanola, FCA, said one question young professionals often ask him after meetings is: “Is it possible to succeed in this country without compromising?”
“My answer has always been, ‘Yes, it is possible.’ It is not easy, cheap, or quick. But it is possible, and there are witnesses to that,” he said.
Sharing from practical experience on how a believer can excel in a compromised system without compromise, Otunba Adekanola noted that the world system runs on assumptions such as “the end justifies the means” and “since everyone is doing it, no one can be blamed.”
He said this manifests practically as “inflated invoices”, “settlements” to make files move, audit opinions expected to be signed without questions, contract sums padded to “take care of people,” and polite requests to backdate documents.
“The worldly system does not stop at the church door. It sits in pews, in pulpits, and sometimes in our committees,” he added.
Citing biblical examples of Joseph, Daniel, and Elisha, Otunba Adekanola outlined some practical steps to excel in the marketplace without compromising Kingdom standards. He called on believers in the marketplace to be different, excellent, and to faithfully champion transparency through reforms that make honesty the norm for everyone.
During the panel session, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BIA Consulting Ltd., Pastor Ben Akabueze, CON, speaking on “Kingdom Governance Principles for Marketplace Application,” explained Kingdom governance as the practice of applying God’s values, authority and wisdom to leadership, business, economics and organisational culture.
Providing insights into key principles for marketplace application, Pastor Akabueze said the marketplace is not merely where money is made, but where God’s people exercise stewardship, influence and Kingdom values.
Hon. Pharm. Albert Atiwurcha, MPSN, a former member of the House of Representatives, spoke on “Victorious Kingdom Lifestyle – Principles for Daily Living.” He described Kingdom lifestyle as a way of living that reflects the character, principles, values, practices and authority of God through Jesus Christ and the Word of God, in a world where Kingdom values are frequently challenged by worldly systems.
He said “A victorious Kingdom lifestyle is not about attending church, speaking the same language, or displaying church symbols. It is about living in a manner that demonstrates the reality of God’s Kingdom in practical situations”.
He added that victory does not mean Christians will not face challenges or disappointments. Rather, through faith in Christ, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to God’s Word, believers can remain faithful and overcome the challenges that confront them.
Pharm. Atiwurcha said every challenge is temporary, but victory begins with Christ. He admonished believers with some principles, including making God the foundation of their lives.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ayodele, a former Director/Head of Legal and Prosecution at the EFCC, speaks on “Kingdom Lifestyle – Make Money and Make Heaven,” emphasizing some points with scriptures on how to make money and make heaven.
She stated that poverty is not righteousness and wealth is not waywardness. “You can be poor and proud, and rich and humble. You can make money, but don’t make it your sufficiency. God is your sufficiency,” she said.
She further advised: “Make money your tool, but make heaven your thought. Make money, but be a good Samaritan and not a rich fool. Be a lender to God. When you give to the poor, you lend to God.”
Among others, she said “Making heaven and making money is unity of purpose. But use money to make a difference on earth and in eternity,” Mrs. Ayodele admonished.
The well-attended conference recorded the presence of respected faith leaders in the marketplace, church leaders, entrepreneurs, young professionals and others as participants, including Dame Abimbola Fashola, wife of former Lagos State Governor and former Minister of the Federal Republic, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.
Dr. (Mrs.) Dere Awosika, OON, MFR, mni, the Chairperson, Planning Committee, Kingdom Lifestyle Conference Series 4 expressed gratitude to God for the success of the conference. She appreciated the keynote speaker and other speakers, as well as sponsors and everyone who contributed towards the conference success.
