May 28, 2023
Greetings!
I am Harry Agina. Welcome to episode 11 of “In God’s Name.” It’s about fake, ignorant, and mischievous Pentecostal Christianity in Africa, with Nigeria as the headquarters. Pastor K was sweating when we left him in the last episode, which was after Kono’s daddy’s visit. Daddy had made his threat open. On his next visit, Pastor K would have to say how he got his claim that his son Kono has ancestral curse, or face daddy’s wrath.
Beyond daddy’s threat, Pastor K was also in a fix with his own wife. She apparently has not been aware of her husband’s fraudulent escapades. Now he has a problem talking to her about his problem. When the going gets tough, the tough scammers get going with more inventions. Let’s see how Pastor K handles his complex problem, in episode 11 of “In God’s Name.”
IN GOD’S NAME 11
- INT. KONO’S DINING. EVENING.
THERE IS DEAD SILENCE AS KONO’S FATHER SLOWS DOWN BUT CONTINUES TO EAT NONTHELESS.
KONO SITS THERE, FOCUSED ON HIS FATHER, WAITING.
FINALLY THE FATHER PUSHES THE PLATE AWAY, FINISHES CHEWING, SWALLOWS…
FATHER: How long have you been attending that pastor’s church?
KONO (Smiling): Since we became members, father.
FATHER: And that is supposed to be the answer? Do I know when you became members? Do I look like I came here to joke with you over this matter?
KONO: Sorry, father. But what is this all about? We already talked about the so-called befitting thanksgiving.
FATHER: Kono, that young man insulted my ancestors! How dare he tell you that my own revered ancestors passed a curse down to you?
KONO: Father, you are taking this the wrong way. Ancestral curse could be several generations old. You may know about your progenitors up to 6, 7, or even 8 generations up. But how about those before the ones you know?
FATHER: And you are now saying that he must be right? Is that what you are trying to tell me here?
KONO: Father, he said God revealed it to him. Who am I to doubt that?
FATHER: Have I said you should doubt him? And even if I said you should doubt him, so what? Is he not human? Are all humans not fallible?
KONO: So what should I have done, father?
FATHER: The same thing I did.
KONO: Which is…?
FATHER: Well, that brings me to the real reason I came here. I asked your pastor to tell me where exactly in my ancestral line-up the curse came from. He said he didn’t know. And I asked him to better find out. I told him that the same lord he claimed revealed it to him had better reveal that too to him.
KONO: But did you have to…
FATHER (Cuts in): I haven’t quite finished.
KONO: Sorry. Please, go on.
FATHER: Good. In the meantime, pending when he is able to tell me exactly where in my ancestral line-up the so-called ancestral curse came from, I nicely ask you to find another church to attend.
KONO: But father! What you are asking him to do is nearly impossible! How can he possibly-?
FATHER (Cuts in): Does God hide any needed truth from his servants the prophets? Did Joseph not interpret dreams to his prison inmates and then to Pharaoh?
KONO: Yeah, but that was long, long…
FATHER (Cuts in): And even more miraculous, didn’t Daniel have to remind Nebuchadnezzar his forgotten dream and then interpret same dream to him?
KONO: Yes, father. But that was long, long ago when God was still very close to his prophets!
FATHER: God is NEVER far from His true prophets! So those impostors should stop lying in God’s name by saying what God didn’t tell them to say! He had better have my answers ready for me when next I go to him, or else!
KONO: Or else what, father?
FATHER (Gravely): He insulted my ancestors! And a true son does not take an ancestral insult lying down. He might end up in court for vilification.
THE FATHER RISES AND BEGINS TO LEAVE. SELA COMES OUT FROM THE KITCHEN AND FOLLOWS HIM. KONO RISES AND FOLLOWS THEM FROM THE DINING…
- INT. PASTOR’S DINNING. MIDNIGHT.
HE PRETENDS TO EAT, STILL THINKING OF HOW TO ANSWER HIS WIFE.
THE WIFE IS LOOKING AT HIM, CURIOUS TO GET THE ANSWER TO HER QUESTION, STILL PUZZLED…
WIFE: Honey, please talk to me.
PASTOR: Is it now okay to talk while eating?
WIFE: That’s not what I am saying. I mean, it is not every second you have food in your mouth.
PASTOR: Well, then be patient.
WIFE: Yes, honey. I hope it is not bad news though.
PASTOR: Well, that depends. Look, I cannot be eating and talking. If you won’t let me do one before the other, then I might as well tell you what you want to know before I choke.
WIFE: Alright! Please, eat! I will wait.
PASTOR: Too late, actually. I have already lost my appetite.
HE PUSHES THE FOOD SLIGHTLY AWAY AND GRABS THE HAND TOWEL…
WIFE: I am sorry.
PASTOR: Forget it. Anyway, he came to ask where exactly among their ancestors the curse came from.
WIFE: How does he expect you to know that?
PASTOR: That’s what I asked him. Well, not exactly in those words. But then he said something that makes sense. At least, logically speaking.
WIFE: And what is that?
PASTOR: He said the Lord that revealed the ancestral curse to me should also reveal to me where exactly it came from.
WIFE: Well, that is simple! Isn’t it, honey?
PASTOR (Scowls at her): How naïve! Anyway, the part of it that worries me is the how.
WIFE: The how? How then?
PASTOR: Kind of disguised threat.
WIFE: Oh my God! What are we going to do?
PASTOR: Good question!
THE PASTOR RISES, PICKS HIS BRIEFCASE, AND WALKS AWAY. THE WIFE BEGINS TO CLEAR THE TABLE…
- INT. DINING. NIGHT.
KONO IS NOW EATING.
SELA COMES OUT FROM THE KITCHEN WITH WATER FOR HIM, POURS IT IN A CUP FOR HIM, AND SITS. THEY ARE SILENT FOR A WHILE…
SELA: Do you think the pastor will be able to get those answers for father?
KONO: I don’t know.
SELA: I don’t think he will.
KONO: Why? What makes you say that?
SELA: I don’t know. I mean…I am not saying he is fake. But…
SHE TAILS OFF ND SHRUGS…
KONO: But…what?
SELA: Well, like many of his contemporaries, he displays all the attributes of the fake prophets that Jesus talked about in the book of Matthew chapters 7 and 24.
KONO: Look, I don’t want to go into this with you all over again. As for father, I know him. He does not make empty threats. That’s enough worries for me. So please don’t add more.
SELA: Honey, I am not trying to add more. I am just trying to see how we could come up with a solution. I mean… you just said it yourself that father does not make empty threats.
KONO: Later then! Please!
SELA RAISES HER HANDS IN SURRENDER, RISES, AND WALKS AWAY…
LINK TO EPISODE 12:
AFROCULTURAL DRAMAS ON RELIGIONS AND CULTURE, “IN GOD’S NAME,” EPISODE 12