- Says even the majority can carry an evil vote
Rev. Fr. Gabriel Ugoje has admonished Christians against following the crowd, stressing that rather than conforming to the social norms around them, they should dare to be different, following the path of Christ. He gave this advice at the Lagos Archdiocesan 2024 edition of Lenten Pilgrimage, held recently at Ave Maria Grotto, Lekki, Lagos. The cleric emphasised the need for Christians not to follow the path the people are taking, stating that they are in the world but not of the world.
Fr. Ugoje said, “Conventions and societal pressures are two things that weigh heavily on us as modern-day Christians, we sometimes want to follow the crowd, we sometimes want to trend and some of us would want to chase clout as the “gen-z’s” would say. We simply want to join the band wagon, do what others do, if you can’t beat them simply join them; hmmmmm, this pattern of life does not guarantee salvation. “Dear friends in Christ, this passage does not in any way suggest that we become Pharisees, rather it talks about the personal choices we should or shouldn’t make, it reminds us to avoid crowd mentality, relativism, love of the world, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and things of such nature because of our Christian calling.
“It reminds us that the race of salvation is personal and we must work it out with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). It reminds us not to be fooled by numbers, especially in today’s world, that even a crowd is capable of evil and making wrong decisions, and say to us ‘majority carries the vote’; even the majority can carry an evil vote.” Going down memory lane, he shared his experiences in the seminary, reflecting on words of admonition by Archbishop Felix Alaba Job. “Archbishop Felix Alaba Job would remind us as seminarian back then, ‘ubi multitudo, ibi peccata’ and in the words of William Penn often quoted by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, “right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it, it can never make it right.”

He described the features of the people of God, “We are a peculiar people, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, we are people set apart, and most importantly, we are sons and daughters of God, called from darkness to light, our Father indeed has certain expectations; we are made in his image and likeness and so we must act like the scripture tells us ‘be Holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy’ Matt 5:48. “God expects us to separate from all unclean courses, from all unclean connections, from all unclean friendship, from the presence and appearance of all uncleanness, from communion with corruption, Satanism and whatever is sinful.”
While acknowledging the importance of Christians to be different, he challenged the people of God to dare to be different because they are called by Christ to be different. According to him, the Psalmist in Psalm 1:1-3 says about those who dare to be distinct; “Blessed are those who reject the advice of evil men: Do not follow the examples of sinners: Do not join those who have no use for God, but obey the law of God. Continuing, he related a Biblical instance of Daniel who dared to be different.
“Daniel in the scriptures refused to defile himself with the king’s meat against all odds, as a result he was greatly loved by God. (Dan 1:8-16). Daniel stood his grounds on some many things and was on the side of God, and some people hated him and set him up. We all know the story of the Lion’s Den, but they forgot that Daniel was serving the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the commander-in-chief of the army of Lions, the Lion king that other Lion kings would bow to his command.”
Fr. Ugoje reminded that following Christ is difficult because it demands not only a willingness to die for Him, but to live for Him through sacrificial service. He however, assured that the Lord would not desert his people. “Dear friends, God never said this path would be easy, in fact, the Bible says in Sirach 2:1, “my child, if you desire to serve the Lord, be ready for an ordeal” but God still promises to be with us to the end (Matt 28). In Psalm 23:4 we are reminded, “even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”- this should be the attitude of every Christian confronted with tough moral choices.”
He added, “Dearly beloved in Christ, this message is not only very timely but apt and indeed needful, especially today in a confused and dangerous world that has some, attempting to remove God and morality out of everything. “To take the Lord’s side is not a small issue. To take the Lord’s side is not a joke. Taking the Lord’s side would put you at par with the world. “My child, if you desire to serve the Lord, be ready for an ordeal” Sirach 2:1. “You cannot serve two masters. Do not compromise your faith to please the world, because believe me, once it’s time for the world to do same for you, the world will never shift grounds.
Let us not try to be like everyone else (Israel tried it and they paid dearly for it); we are unique and different. We are made in His image and we must act like his children.” On a final note, the homilist urged Christians not be fooled by numbers. “They may appear to be more on the other side, but one with God is majority.”
He left the congregants with these parting words, “Dear friends, in all, heaven is the goal. We have had a hard time enough here, may none of us be found wanting, but like the saints may we all be rewarded with the crown of eternal glory through Christ our Lord, Amen. The Lord is calling you…he wants you to repent and have a new life in you.”