The Northern Christian Association has cautioned Christians against engaging in confrontational religious exchanges, stressing that defending the faith should not involve insults or abusive arguments.
The association’s chairman, Joseph Hayab, gave the warning in a statement issued in Kaduna, urging believers especially youths and clergy to remain calm amid increasing religious provocations on social media.
Hayab noted that many online debates, often framed as defending Christianity, contradict biblical teachings and risk worsening divisions among religious groups. He described such engagements as “vain and unprofitable arguments,” warning that they frequently lead to strife and ungodliness.
“The Bible warns Christians against engaging in vain arguments. From a biblical angle, vain arguments include reckless, unprofitable and provocative debates.
“Believers in Christ are, therefore, instructed to avoid vain arguments because they generate strife, ungodliness, and ruin both the speakers and the listeners,” he said.
Citing scriptures such as Titus 3:9 and 2 Timothy 2:23, Hayab emphasised that Christians should not respond with hostility, even when their beliefs are mocked or misunderstood.
“As a Christian leader, I do not teach, encourage or instruct church members or any Christian at all to insult the divinity of another faith just because some disgruntled persons say or write awful things about Jesus or Christianity.
“An honest study of the Bible will help you understand that as an ardent follower of Christ, you cannot ‘fight for God,’” he added.
He further explained that God does not require human defence through verbal attacks, noting that such actions undermine the essence of Christianity.
“Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can ‘fight’ those who fight Him. From a Christian biblical viewpoint, no one can battle against the Lord because He is an omnipotent warrior who never loses,” he said.
Hayab warned against what he described as misguided religious zeal, stressing that emotional reactions to provocation weaken the message of love and peace central to the Christian faith.
“Such debates are unprofitable, worthless, and causes of ungodliness. Therefore, the biblical instruction is to avoid, shun, or have nothing to do with them,” he said.
He added that using abusive language in the name of defending Christianity misrepresents the faith and diminishes its moral authority.
“It is not a show of strength when any Christian uses abusive words with others, thinking that they are defending the faith. Rather, such an act derides the Christian faith, makes a mockery of Christ’s spiritual authority and dims the bright light the Christian gospel brings to the world,” Hayab said.
The warning comes amid rising tensions on social media platforms, where religious debates in Nigeria have increasingly turned heated, sometimes escalating into real-world conflicts.
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