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Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu popularly known in the music world as Sinach, an award winning Nigerian Gospel singer, released her hit song, “Way Maker” on December 30, 2015.
Lately, some Nigerian ministers of the gospel with global influence, particularly Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, former pastor of Sinach, and Dr Abel Damina, have criticized the lyrics of the song.
According to them, parts of the lyrics of the song fall short of the accurate scriptural description of Christ Jesus, stressing that the Lord is not a way maker but the Way and He is not the light in the darkness but absolute light without any shadow of darkness.
But did Sinach really compose the song without recourse to Scripture? Are the lyrics of her song scripturally and doctrinally erroneous? Should the entire Christian community reject the song based on the teachings of her critics?
Now, we know that the Bible is a big book which no one pastor can claim monopoly of its interpretation and understanding. In other words, no pastor is a repository of biblical knowledge.
Moreover, we know that Scripture speaks for itself. Thus, the best approach to determining the scriptural and doctrinal accuracy or inaccuracy of the lyrics of Sinach’s song is to carefully study the Bible.
First, let us see if Sinach erred in saying that Jesus is a way maker. Pastor Chris and Dr Damina emphasize that Jesus is the Way and not a way maker, clearly relying on the words of Jesus in John 14:6 to support their point.
However, what our esteemed leaders failed to consider is the fact that while “I am the way” in John 14:6 talks about the personality of Jesus, emphasizing who He is, Sinach’s “way maker” talks about the act of Christ Jesus.
Sinach knows that Christ Jesus is the way but He also makes a way where there seems to be no way. For example, God made a way in the sea for the congregation of Israel to pass through for their deliverance (see Isaiah 43:16-19). Thus, the songwriter is not wrong in saying that the Lord is a way maker.
Second, did Sinach err in stating that Christ is the light in darkness? Here too, Pastor Chris and Damina argue that she erred, stressing that God dwells in unapproachable light without any shadow of darkness (see Psalm 104:2, 1 Timothy 6:16).
However, we need to allow other passages of Scripture to speak to the issue and see whether Sinach made a mistake or not. As I stated earlier, the Bible which is our standard informs us about who Christ Jesus is in heaven and how He introduced Himself on earth.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
And John 1:5 says “The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In John 8:12, Jesus knows that the world is full of darkness – temptation, sin and evil. Thus, He describes Himself as the light of the world. In other words, the Lord says that He is the light in the darkness. Obviously, Sinach had this understanding in mind while composing her song.
It must be stated in conclusion that “the Way” and “Way Maker” are not competing descriptions. One describes who Christ is; the other describes what He does. Likewise, “Light” and “Light in the darkness” are not contradictory descriptions. One identifies Christ; the other describes His relationship to a darkened world.
This makes the lyrics of Sinach’s song scripturally and doctrinally accurate and acceptable. It is, therefore, important that church leaders cease criticizing her song, and apologize to her to promote unity in the body of Christ.
By James Quansah
