Rotimi A L A B A Oti | The Redeemed Christian BIble College (original) (raw)

Papers by Rotimi A L A B A Oti

International relations and diplomacy, Feb 28, 2020

In Nigeria today, it seems that politics is synonymous to violence. Though there are many politic... more In Nigeria today, it seems that politics is synonymous to violence. Though there are many political parties with different ideologies in the country, some of them are found to engage in actions or words intended to hurt people. In fact, they go to the extent of using dangerous weapons to inflict injuries on perceived political opponents. In this respect, this paper establishes the fact that there is political violence in Nigeria and also examined some of the factors responsible for violence in Nigeria politics such as political environment, ethnicity or tribal politics, intolerance, the insincerity of our political leaders, and electoral fraud. In the same vein, critical criticism as a result of deep hatred for a party or person may also engender political violence in the form of words or utterances. The consequences of such political violence are enormous in every aspect of our national life, which would need the intervention of the church as a voice to save Nigeria and the world from the state of violence and the insurmountable problems attached. Though the church in this country has been playing significant roles, more has to be done to make a positive impact especially among the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and unfortunately the instruments being used for this political violence. This paper adopted a qualitative research method, while data were collected through secondary sources and internet materials.

Spectrum Journal of Contemporary Christianity and Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2016, A Journal of The Redeemed Christian Bible College, Special Issue on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, 2018, pp. 55-64. (Nigeria), 2018

Corruption is a global phenomenon. It seems to have eaten deep into the fabric of every sector in... more Corruption is a global phenomenon. It seems to have eaten deep into the fabric of every sector in Nigeria, including the church. Some of the churches in Nigeria are bedevilled with corrupt practices like hypocrisy, greed, fraud, lies, pretensions, adultery, fornication and many other vices she has been preaching against. Pastors embezzle church funds; engage in financial fraud while ministers are known to engage in all forms of sexual immorality. The truth is that not all churches in the country have equal corruption strength. The "paper argues that the church is in the world and of the world contrary to what the Bible says that the church is in the world but not of the world. The church, which is supposed to be the custodian of moral values, is now the den of corruption in its various forms.
The qualitative research method was adopted, while the collection of data was through secondary sources and internet materials, which enabled the researcher to adequately analyse the data.

Journal of the Nigeria Association for Christian Studies (NACS), Nigeria , 2019

The insecurity in the world has become worrisome to all and sundry. The rate at which situation o... more The insecurity in the world has become worrisome to all and sundry. The rate at which situation of insecurity is daily growing especially in Nigeria is alarming, with series of political crises, religious unrest, economic sabotage and ethnic chauvinism. As at now, the unity of the country is being threatened by the spate bombing, kidnapping and all other vices. All measures put in place by the government seems not to be working. As a matter of fact security of life, property, progeny, intellect, religion, and honours is gradually becoming a thing of the past in Nigeria. All these security challenges has affected the social, economic and political stability of Nigeria. While several factors could have contributed to Nigeria's security situation today, this paper examines some of the causes of insecurity situation in Nigeria and gave recommendations as to what the church can do to help. The paper, therefore concludes that the spate of insecurity in Nigeria could be checked if the church will not fold her arms, but act according to what were stated in this paper. The collection of data was through secondary sources and internet materials which enabled us to interpretively and critically analyse the data.

Journal of Church History and Missiological Studies, U.I. Ibadan, 2020

In the church in recent times, it seems that agitation for the approval of homosexuality or same-... more In the church in recent times, it seems that agitation for the approval of homosexuality or same-sex marriage is on the increase. There is a fight for recognition and societal acceptability of their kind of relationships and marriage, like heterosexual marriages. Homosexuality is characterised by all form of sexual attraction between people of the same sex or sexual attraction to people of ones' sex. Homosexuality among men is commonly referred to as gay while in women the term lesbian is used. The Bible described it as Sodomy. Therefore, this paper examines what should be the in attitudinal position of the Christian in the care of homosexuals in Nigeria. Though it is illegal to be a homosexual in Nigeria, we can not deny the fact that there are homosexuals in the country. This paper recommends that moralization, Pastoral counselling and follow-up service should be key among other methods in the care of homosexuals by the Christians in Nigeria. The methodology used in this paper is a qualitative research approach, while data were gathered predominantly through sources made of books, unpublished materials, journals articles as well as internet materials.

Nigeria Journal of Church History and Missiological Studies (NJOCHAMS), Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2020

Every individual inhabiting a community desires a developed state where everything will be just p... more Every individual inhabiting a community desires a developed state where everything will be just perfect. But this desire seems an unachievable ruse since human being and nation of the world desires the development of a just state, but how can a just state be developed in a nation where morality has been thrown into the wind. It would be an aberration talking of a just state in a country where oppression and exploitation of the citizens is the order of the day by some bad political leaders is overtly the order of the day. A nation where corruption in many ways has eaten deep into the fabric of their system. will continuously remain an unjust state. Corruption has brought the nation to a state of injustice, which has greatly affected other areas of life and governance. The deterioration becomes prolonged until Christian religious ethics is utilized in the system. This paper therefore, examines Plato's idea of a just state and the situations that have brought the country to her present state of unjust living using qualitative research approach as its methodology, while data were are collected predominantly through secondary sources. The principles of Plato's framework as it strongly and publicly affects the primacy of Christian religious ethical values as the timely medicine for the treatment of the disease called injustice are considered. Therefore, The paper advocates love, justice, honesty, integrity being some of the biblical principles and moral foundations on which Christian religious ethics are built and considered as the ethical values that should be taught and imbibed at homes, schools, in the church, other religious centres and at all levels in order to have citizens whose ethical conduct will promote and sustain the development of a just state.

Books by Rotimi A L A B A Oti

Music has always been the cradle of religion; without which religion will not have full expressio... more Music has always been the cradle of religion; without which religion will not have full expression. From the bible days, it is discovered that Christian response to God's intervention and revelation has often been communicated through song. Today, among members of African Pentecostalism, songs play significant roles during social activities, such as wedding celebrations, naming ceremonies, anniversaries, birthday celebrations and SO on. Music, as a combination of both vocal and instrumentals, accord people the opportunity to express their emotions fully. However, works on the role of music in African Pentecostal churches in SouthWest , Nigeria, as it relates to liturgical activities, have not been given adequate attention. It is evident that music in the contemporary society is not static, but dynamic and always passing through different stages. Therefore, at this time of spiritual reawakening in the history of the church, the objective of this study is to gain insights into the role of music in the African Pentecostal churches. This paper adopted sociological underpinnings with a more descriptive and analytical perspective, particularly participant's observation on the role of music in African Pentecostal Churches in SouthWest , Nigeria.

Book Reviews by Rotimi A L A B A Oti

This book is an ethnographic research on music and other elements central to church worship as a ... more This book is an ethnographic research on music and other elements central to church worship as a tool for the making of individuals and members of the Cherubim and Seraphim (Ayo Ni 0) Church in Lagos, Nigeria. Chapter One portrays singing as a unifying medium through which a shared set of values is embraced. By singing the same song with the same mind, members became parts of a larger imagined society that extends time and space and share an ethical orientation toward the world where one can achieve a good life. Chapter Two explores the history of the Church with emphasis on the development of its repertoire of hymns which served as a repository of history to members and its performance as a way of bringing the past to the present. Rather than seeing the past as a source for contemporary moral breakdown of Nigerian society, it integrated a powerful and efficacious Yoruba history into Cherubim and Seraphim's version of Christianity. Chapter Three explores the creative strategies and choices made by musicians who in 1978 created a commercial recording of the church choir to enable an audience outside the church to understand Nigeria's political economy and religious experience. Those responsible for this recording drew on meaningful cultural forms to make authoritative claims about morality and engineered a reorganization within morally legitimate historical frameworks of interpretation. Also, there was a discussion on funding, growth, and relationship of the church compared to other Christian denominations. Chapter Four considers the kind of religious experiences and ethical orientations the choir produced through musical recordings. It shows that electronic media and its forms of circulation extends the reach and power of the church into members' daily lives and allowed them to achieve a certain desirable religious mode of experience. However, the use of electronic media in religious practice did not diminish the role live performance play in worship nor did it invite complacency on the part of church musicians. Chapter Five discusses the relationship between the church's cosmological conceptions and forms of media that enabled members to bring it to life. Members drew on angelic symbolism and mimicry to produce a direct connection between paradise and the church, collapsing the space between "world" and "heaven." Religious text and sacred forms of dressing were combined with music and dance to re-enact visions of angels worshipping before the throne of God. Thus, music and other media were manipulated to produce multiple, simultaneous effects that activated sensory domains. These sensory effects became materially linked through white robes, candles, incense, lighting, church's interior space, singing, and bodily comportment. Chapter Six emphasizes the emulation of Jesus by following "In His Steps" to achieve one's goals as a Christian. Though life is filled with trials and temptations, endurance is needed for a final rest with God in heaven. Through dramatic recreation, people understand that life choices, as well as past, present, and future, help shape their actions. To navigate these issues, a particular moral and ethical stance was required to achieve well-being in life and final salvation in heaven. At the same time, the church was positioned as an answer to troubles and tribulations, doubts and frustrations while mimicking Christ. Chapter Seven examines the transformation of individuals and their behaviors through proper religious practices via Christ and the Church. The Holy Spirit was a crucial and necessary interlocutor through which the process of transformation and rebirth

Spectrum Journal of Contemporary Christianity and Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2016, A Journal of The Redeemed Christian Bible College, 2016, p. 159-160. (Nigeria), 2016

Sam. O, Ministerial Ethics: A Practical Guide for Pastors and Christian Leaders, Ogbomosho, Niger... more Sam. O, Ministerial Ethics: A Practical Guide for Pastors and Christian Leaders, Ogbomosho, Nigeria: Amazing Grace Publications, 2012, viii+152pp. ISBN-8788785052855.

International relations and diplomacy, Feb 28, 2020

Journal of the Nigeria Association for Christian Studies (NACS), Nigeria , 2019

Journal of Church History and Missiological Studies, U.I. Ibadan, 2020

Nigeria Journal of Church History and Missiological Studies (NJOCHAMS), Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2020

Spectrum Journal of Contemporary Christianity and Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2016, A Journal of The Redeemed Christian Bible College, 2016, p. 159-160. (Nigeria), 2016