I was seated in the front seat (as I love to do) whilst enjoying the back and forth and keeping mute in order to hear all sides (if you know me, you'll know it's unusual to be quiet in those situations).
What brought about the discussion was the lengthy prayer of a fellow passenger, which I also found to be over the top. I reckon it's said out of fear of death rather than from the heart of faith. This prayer leader turned the bus into somewhat of a crusade service. I know Christ saved those who "...through fear of death are subject to bondage..." Heb 2:15.
I can already hear some readers asking rhetorically, "...is that not cool as a Christian?" I'll respond with a resounding "No, it's not cool". Let me give an example of this imprudence.
I was once at a bus stop where I was in a hurry to get to work, and a woman who supposedly was evangelizing shouted "...Gba Jesu si aye re/Accept Jesus into your life..." directly into my ear, insomuch that I could feel her spit on my face 🤮
Anyways, back to the atheist...
After the whole prayer session of about 25 minutes in an approximate 2-hour journey, the atheist spoke up and asked if he could start his ministration.
That question was a confrontation that was very callous if I'm being honest. Imagine having ministered for 25 minutes and feeling accomplished for God, then out of the blue, some random passenger just poured cold water on the entire thing. I'll likely punch his lights out 😂
However, someone suggested innocently that he proceed, probably with the assumption that this minister is a Muslim or of another religious affiliation. Although it's worth noting that permission is not usually requested to carry out your ministrations in public spaces in Nigeria which is good altogether.
Nevertheless, this guy proceeded with his prayers by saying "...Oh great driver, how about you drive carefully and make sure you deliver us safely, cos I believe no one is watching over us except satellites in space..." (Translated from Yoruba).
It's now safe to say I burst into a peal of short-lived laughter because the fellow passenger sitting with me in front fumed with anger - he was a muslim Alfa, I might add.
Well, the passengers descended on this 'not so innocent minority' who dared to upturn the prayers to God and mock it with a prayer to the driver.
There was at first a confrontational hullabaloo which quickly got doused by pacifists and became more of an argumentative session between religious persons and this lone atheist.
I loved the arguments from both ends, but I respected the atheist more because he had logical reasoning on his side while the religious ones took to scriptural defences. The religious ones defended the actuality of God using arguments from scriptures, scriptures that the atheist didn't even regard as an authority in this exchange of views.
However, I am not saying the religious ones are wrong and the atheist right, but what I would suggest they should have first established is the authenticity and authority inherent in the scriptures from historical data.
For instance, Peter on Pentecost, Stephen before being stoned, and Paul before the Sanhedrin, Festus and the Jews portrayed the accuracy and tenacity of scriptural writings and prophecies to defend their beliefs in Jesus. If the religious ones had come from this angle, their defence would have been more tenable as the book would no longer be considered just religious but also historical in context.
However, I'd like to point out here that every Christian is expected to be an apologist in one way or another 👉
Titus told everyone to speak with "authority" and not be despised Titus 2:15.
Paul told Timothy to be well grounded so as to defend his faith and not be looked upon as young 1 Tim 4:12, 2 Tim 2:15.
The gospels began with the genealogy of Christ or the historical actions of the day to lay a foundation of accuracy to the words that would come next...
Back to the atheist
...while the back and forth were going on, our bus' back tyre suddenly burst on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway (the clean, freshly paved road) at high speed. Suddenly, the same ATHEIST shouted JESUS!!! on the top of his lungs while the driver managed to bring the vehicle to a stop safely.
Well, we all burst out laughing at the inconsistency of the atheist, and I particularly gave a wry smile at the seeming gratefulness the other passengers had to the driver who they claimed was an expert.
Everyone, including the atheist, called on God one way or another to rescue us from impending doom. The atheist, as well as everyone else, appreciated the driver for his professional maneuver that safeguarded our safety.
HERE IS MY TAKE
Pray, God listens. Also, prepare adequately as it pays. God exists, and common sense exists too.
Jesus Christ still remains the Lord 🙏
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