By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Leading bishops in the Adamawa State capital, Yola, have advised Christians against retaliation should Muslim fundamentalists choose to attack them for any reason.
The bishops spoke on Sunday against killings perpetuated in recent days over allegations of blasphemy that have nearly resulted to attacks and counter attacks between Christians and Muslims around the North.
Bishop of the Yola Diocese of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Marcus Amfani, who is also the Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Jos and President of Supernatural Love Ministry Yola, Archbishop Calvin Antonza II who is also the Bishop of International Praise Church, Yola said Christians should never return violence for violence.
Speaking at the 11th Synod of the Yola Diocese of the Anglican Communion held at the Anglican Church of Redemption (ACR) in Jimeta, Marcus Amfani said disruption of the law or disobedience to established order should always be left to law agents to handle.
“Let there be tolerance in our land. Nobody should take the law into their own hands in the name of religion,” he said.
He added that the three-day meeting of the highest policy making body of the Yola Diocese of the Anglican Church (11th Synod) which was officially rounded off on Sunday, was about the biblical injunction of showing love to one’s neighbours irrespective of who or what they are.
He urged Christians and Muslims to abide by the teachings of their respective faiths, saying, “Paul in 1 Corinthians 4 asks us not to judge but to leave judgement to God. The holy Prophet Mohammed was severally ridiculed. They called him names, but he did not advocate killing. So, I call on us all to let there be tolerance in the land.”
Speaking in the same light, Archbishop Calvin Antonza asked Christians to always remember the example that Jesus Christ established for Christians in event of violence against them.
He said, “When Jesus was being persecuted, he prayed, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'”
He said he would not expect a Christian to use a method not natural to him.
“The method that is natural is love. You can’t fight hate with hate. Pay hate with love. Love will always conquer,” he said.
The Sunday session of the 11th Synod of the Yola Diocese of the Anglican Communion was attended by guest ministers, including the Calvin Antonza, a Pentecostal pastor, who played the part of guest speaker.
