You were told in order to be Christian you must be John or Daniel. You cannot be Oghayerio. No. That is not a Christian name. Christian must be John.
Whose theology? That is racist theology.
Since when did Jesus become an immigration officer at the gate of heaven checking for English and Hebrew names? Since when did the cross have a surname requirement?
Christianity came to Africa with the Bible in one hand and a name eraser in the other. They told our fathers: “Burn your shrine, and burn your name too. From Oghayerio to John. From Osaruonamen to Daniel. From Aiyevbekpen to Mary.”
That is not evangelism. That is colonization of the soul.
God did not die for “John.” He died for man. He called Saul, and Saul became Paul. He did not change Simon’s name to Peter because “Simon was not holy enough.” He gave him a new purpose, not a new passport name.
Oghayerio means “If it’s so, let it be.” Osaruonamen means “God has done this for me.” Aiyevbekpen means “Don’t pretend to be what you’re not.” Which of these is unholy? We are not Children of a lesser God.
The problem is not the name. The problem is a theology that equates holiness with foreignness. A theology that says God only understands Greek, Hebrew, and English.
That is racist theology. It tells an African child that to meet God, he must first reject himself.
Jesus was not called John. He was called Yeshua. In his own language.
So let Oghayerio serve God as Oghayerio. Let Osaruonamen worship as Osaruonamen. Heaven is not a British embassy.
God is looking for hearts, not name tags. Thank God is Sunday.
+2348039289375
bcradle@ymail.com