“Don’t be a good churchgoer and a bad Christian”: Nigerian Catholic Bishop Urges Authentic Christian Living

Lafia, 26 August, 2025 / 5:53 PM

Bishop David Ajang of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Lafia has cautioned the people of God against reducing Christianity to mere religious appearances, urging them instead to embrace authentic discipleship rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the dedication of St. Matthew Kuchikau Parish of Lafia Diocese, Bishop Ajang emphasized that salvation is open to all; it’s not a reserve of a particular group.

“There are good Christians and bad Christians. There are also good Muslims and bad Muslims. Salvation is for all, but you must strive for it. Being a Christian by name is not enough; you must be an exemplary Christian whose life is modeled after Christ,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishop told ACI Africa on August 24.

Bishop Ajang noted that many Christians today practice what he called “theoretical Christianity” by attending Mass and belonging to Church societies without living out the gospel values in their daily lives.

“Don’t be a good Churchgoer and a bad Christian. You can attend all church functions without being a Christian,” he said. 

The Catholic Church leader furtehr said, “Some people are very religious but still not Christians. They belong to pious associations but are impossible neighbors or colleagues. What qualifies you for heaven is living a Christ-like life—being kind, understanding, hopeful, and supportive of others.” 

Bishop Ajang underscored the need for authentic Christian living and lamented the trend where many Christians focus on prosperity and religious appearances while neglecting the deeper call to discipleship.

“If you look at modern Christianity, I don’t know where the twist came, but we seem to be obsessed with prosperity,” he said.

Bishop Ajang decried the modern obsession with prosperity preaching and external religiosity, insisting that faith must be lived practically.

“Going to Church does not make one a Christian. Even being baptized technically qualifies you as a member of the church, but it is only when you fashion your life after that of Christ that you can be said to be a Christian,” he said.

The Local Ordinary of Lafia Diocese, who doubles as the Episcopal Chairman of the Commission for Social Communications of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), said Christians must return to the practical living of the Gospel, noting that faith is more than declarations. 

“Very few people are trying to live out the Christian tenet, but most people are okay as long as they read the Bible, declare themselves saved, and rain down insults on their enemies,” he said. 

Addressing insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central region, where Churches have been forced to close, he described the crisis as multifaceted, rooted in terrorism, criminality, and socio-economic deprivation. 

He cautioned against framing it solely as an attack on the Church, saying, “To just use a general categorization and say it is an affront to the Church may not be correct. It is more about criminality.” 

Bishop Ajang also condemned the misuse of sacred vestments by Priests in online skits, describing it as a distortion of Priestly identity. 

“In every twelve, there must be a Judas,” he remarked, lamenting the challenges of controlling such behavior in the digital age.

The 55-year-old Catholic Bishop reflected on the importance of parenting education, noting that many parents are ill-prepared to raise disciplined children. 

“Every child needs a basic level of discipline to keep him on track, but today, if you discipline a child, it means you are wicked. Parents should be taught how to be parents. I really believe that,” Bishop Ajang told ACI Africa.