Balancing Faith, Culture and Modern Traditions: A Call for Reflection

I don’t know what you believe in and honestly, I don’t need to know.

What matters is that I firmly believe in the one true Creator who made the universe. 

I also believe that He sent His only begotten Son, along with the guidance of those who came before me, to show me a clear and distinct path. 

This lineage of wisdom and faith includes my father, whose influence has shaped my understanding of life and spirituality.

It would be absurd to disregard my father’s contributions or call him useless simply because I want to adopt foreign traditions under the guise of modernization. 

I’m not here to condemn pagan worship or suggest that Christianity is not a part of our heritage. 

Instead, I encourage you to critically analyze what true worship and cultural preservation mean and not blindly adopt traditions that conflict with our identity.

When we reject our ancient heritage without understanding its depth, we risk severing the spiritual inheritance of our children and future generations. 

At the same time, dismissing Christianity entirely could open the door to behaviors and practices that are harmful, immoral and inhumane.

Take the Jews as an example, they have preserved their traditions for generations, even as Christianity emerged from their ancient stories. 

As Africans, however, we often fail to think for ourselves. 

Instead, we abandon centuries of culture to embrace foreign customs that don’t align with who we are.

For instance, what’s wrong with following Christ while maintaining our traditional marriage practices alone? 

Nowhere in the Bible is there a mandate for white weddings. 

Are we truly following Christ by holding court or church weddings and labeling them “white weddings”?

If the intent is to promote monogamy, we must also recognize the chaos we’ve introduced. 

Many couples now feel trapped in marital constructs that eventually push them toward infidelity or divorce. 

Ironically, the cultures that introduced these practices to us lead the world in divorce rates and now we’re following suit.

Let’s face it: 

Not every man wants to marry multiple wives.

Personally, I would choose to remain faithful to one woman who loves me. 

But that’s my decision. 

Others may feel differently, and they should have the freedom to make their own choices without societal constraints. 

When given this freedom, many men would still choose monogamy out of love and respect, not compulsion.

This obsession with white weddings has also become a financial burden, discouraging many hardworking men from embracing matrimony. 

Marriage, as it stands, appears to benefit women disproportionately, while the couple as a whole struggles under its weight.

To the women reading this: 

Know your worth and choose wisely. 

Don’t insist on elaborate white weddings as a way to control or trap a man. 

You can often tell during the relationship phase if a man genuinely desires a lifelong commitment with one woman. 

It’s far better to build a meaningful life or career than to marry a wealthy fool and hope to cage him with a white wedding.

Consider the examples of public figures like Yul Edochie and others. 

These situations illustrate that white weddings often fail in their supposed purpose of ensuring stable, loving marriages. 

Instead, they create a dynamic I call “reversed psychology.”

Here’s what I mean: 

If you want a man to stray, set strict boundaries. 

If you want him to stay, don’t confine him unnecessarily. 

A goat penned into a small area will always yearn for the greener grass on the other side.

Let’s reflect on these truths and strive for a balance between preserving our culture, honoring our faith, and creating a future that works for everyone.

Thanks, and may God bless you as you ponder this.