The scriptures as seen above, points out what we should do and not do as God’s people:

• The Lord’s warned that we should never mock anyone, irrespective of status or position.

• There are so many trashes in our society and churches today. God is reminding us that we are the light of the world, Mathew 5:13-15; therefore, we don’t need to add to the trash

• In marriage, grooming, cuisine, religion and culture; there are a lot of trashes, we must not add more to it.

Monogamy is God’s ultimate standard for marriage; the marital principle of one man to one woman has been foundational before the fall and corruption of man, but the modern world thinks otherwise don’t add to the trash

• The sanctity of marriage institution has lost its value don’t add to the trash.
• In business there is no more trust, but deceit don’t add to the trash.
• In academics and politics, there are loss of value, trust and honesty; don’t add to the trash.
• What are we going to hand down to the next generation as concerns value, honour, integrity, or we are going to add to the trash?

In the past the institution of marriage had values; families had values, there was dignity in labour, people regarded honesty and integrity over wealth; for good name was, indeed, better than riches. Today, the quest for wealth; the concept of ‘hustling’ and the gospel of prosperity at the expense of salvation and humanity has polluted the sacredness of life. Don’t add to the trash.
• Maritally relationship has become contractual. Don’t add to the trash!
• Academically, education has become value for paper over knowledge and experience.
• Leadership and position have become more of interest than ideology; people can do anything to get position, but are careless and reckless on leadership delivery; Don’t add to the trash
• It is easier to point fingers when others are doing wrong, but fall into the same trash when given the opportunity for expression.
• God through given talents, opportunity and gifts give men the privilege to meaningfully contribute to life and faith; don’t add to the trash.

There are a whole lot of trash in the religious, political, marital, academic and entrepreneurial platforms. Funny as it is; cultural and traditional institutions are promoting obnoxious traditions with little or no regards and adherence to core value system. Take for instance; people give so much financial investment for a one-hour ceremony of bringing the couple together and careless of upholding the core value system that held our ancestors glued to their spouses. The revival and restoration of evil and obnoxious tradition of the killing of twins; sacrificing human heads at the burial of a ‘supposedly great king’ or the oppression of a widow where if any husband dies before the wife, the wife is responsible for his death, and if a woman dies before the man, it is a good omen and the throwing away of corpses to ‘the evil forest’ for not dying properly. These are some culture and traditions, which are upheld in the cultural clusters, but in such places the culture of chastity and value for unity and honesty has become alien.
• Don’t add to the trash.
• We can make a difference.
• Gradually change can occur.
• Change begins when men intentionally see the need for change
• Be the need you desire.

• The Ven. Stephen Wolemonwu is Rector,Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor.