A Powerful Reflection on the Movie Adire: A Story of Love, Judgment, and the True Essence of Morality
The movie Adire has sparked a thought-provoking reflection on the realities of the Nigerian church and the importance of compassion, love, and humanity. The story revolves around themes of religiosity, love, mistrust, and judgment, highlighting the flaws in the self-righteous attitude of some church members.
A Personal Connection to the Story
The author of this reflection shares a personal experience that resonates with the movie’s themes. They recall a self-righteous individual in their Benin church who judged them for wearing trousers outside of church. This encounter led to a wavering faith and commitment to the church. The author’s experience serves as a testament to the damaging effects of judgmental attitudes in religious communities.
The Paradox of Judgment and Love
The movie Adire poses a poignant question: How can a self-proclaimed righteous pastor’s wife be less compassionate and forgiving than a prostitute? This paradox highlights the flaws in prioritizing doctrine over humanity. Femi Branch’s character emphasizes the need for “compassion over doctrine,” underscoring the importance of empathy and understanding in our interactions with others.
The True Essence of Morality
The reflection concludes that humanity is the true essence of morality. In the pursuit of moral righteousness, we often lose sight of love, compassion, and humanity. The author urges judgmental individuals to recognize their own flaws and focus on promoting humanity rather than doctrine.
The Harmful Effects of Religion
The reflection also touches on the harmful effects of religiosity when it prioritizes doctrine over humanity. The author notes that religion can do more harm than good to sinners, while humanity can only bring good. This highlights the need for a more compassionate and empathetic approach to faith.
A Call to Action
The final message of this reflection is a call to action: “Teach humanity, leave doctrine.” This phrase encapsulates the need for a shift in focus from rigid moral codes to the promotion of love, compassion, and empathy. By embracing humanity, we can create a more inclusive and supportive community that fosters growth and redemption.
EXCERPT FROM ESHI AYO
I watched Adire on Saturday.
It is is a story of religiòn, love, mistrust and judgment.
The movie clearly describes the reality of the Nigeriàn chùrch.
Sade, the wife of a pastor, was self-righteous, arrogant and judgmental and she reminded me a lot about a certain man in my Benin church six to seven years ago. He was a great teacher of the word and I enjoyed listening to his teachings. However, he was a self-righteous human. Few occasions he saw me outside of the church putting on trousers, he gave me a look of disdaín. He practically didn’t like me because he felt I wasn’t righteous enough because I wore trousers. That was the beginning of my wavering faith and commitment to chürch.
Adire movie is a proof that there is more judgment in the churchh than there is love. How could a “pròstitùtè” be more accommodating, tolerant, compassionate and forgiving than a self acclaimed righteous pastor’s wife?
Femi Branch said he would pray for his wife, Sade to have “compassion over doctrine” and I think that’s where humans have missed it, in the quest for morality, they lost love, compassion and humanity Forgetting that humanity is the true essence of morality.
I hope that judgmental people are able to see their flaws as much as they focus on the flaws of others because oftentimes, they are worse than those they greatly critícize.
You don’t win souls by hàting, judging and condemníng them. The moment a soul feels condèmned, they lose hope in redemption. The gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t to condèmn sinners. Religíon does more hàrm than good to sinners but humanity does no hàrm but good to anyone. Teach humanity, leave doctríne.
Eshi Ayo