An integrated hermeneutics of loyalty to Torah in Hosea 4 and its ethical implications for church leaders in Ede community

Abstract

This study on “Integrated Hermeneutics of Loyalty to Torah in Hosea 4 and its Ethical Implications for Church Leaders in Ede Community” applied the message of Hosea on God’s lawsuit against the Israelites and its leaders to solving problems of unethical behaviours among church leaders In Ede community. Some church leaders in the community engage in sexual abuse, financial misappropriation, power tussling, and fetish practices. These behaviours threaten church growth, hinder Christian witness, and demean leadership dignity. This study adopted an exploratory research design and integrated Hermeneutics approach to unravel the message of Hosea 4: 1-9 and used it as a springboard to resolving the ethical issues among church leaders in Ede town. It is also premised on the ethical theory of virtues ethics propounded by Plato and Aristotle, which demands moral uprightness from individuals. Hence, the study examined the nature of moral flaws in Hosea’s days and the Nigerian context. It also examined the Torah’s concept and its place in Israel’s religious and political landscape and the Old Testament concept of loyalty. It applied textual, grammatical and lexical-syntactical tools to analyze Hosea 4: 1-9 and considers its implications for the unethical practices of church leaders. The research also employed interview as an instrument to discover immorality’s existence and effects among church leaders in Ede community. The research revealed three specific charges against Israel: lack of faithfulness, lack of covenant loyalty, and lack of God’s knowledge. These three elements have disrupted God’s relationship with his covenant people and are factors responsible for moral decadence in Israelites' society. The onus for the transformation of society rests on religious leaders who are expected to exemplify the lifestyle of moral uprightness and inculcate the same in the people they lead. Hosea’s message in 4: 1-9 implies that church leaders in Ede should inculcate the attitude of loyalty to God, allow their relationship with God to reflect in their character and lifestyles, teach God’s word and encourage loyalty to God’s word among their parishioners. More so, they should demonstrate adequate knowledge of God through their love and devotion to God and positively influence people through exemplary Christian living. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that Church leaders and members in Ede should endeavour to be a lighthouse, discourage religious syncretism but encourage religious tolerance, and avoid nominal Christianity.