Happy New Year to you all, as I welcome you to the first edition of Singles’ World for the year 2026. It is my prayer that 2026 will indeed be a New and prosperous year for us in the name of Jesus Christ

In the previous editions, I discussed how people practice physical and emotional adultery in gross violation of the Word of God. I showed us very clearly that the Lord strongly condemns adultery and its various shades of practices.

In this edition, I want to discuss another form of adultery. My prayer is that the Lord will use this message to liberate and deliver those already ensnared in adultery and also keep the innocent from being victims, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Adultery goes beyond the physical act.

3. Digital Infidelity

The advent of information technologies and the proliferation of social medium have led to the prevalence of digital infidelity in society. Both the young and the old, Christians and unbelievers, deploy these technologies, albeit wrongly, both for personal and business purposes. Digital infidelity is common among the married and the unmarried. It occurs through private chats and sexting between a married man and another man’s wife. Both of them exchange honeyed and seductive chats that are considered inappropriate and immoral, such as “I am lonely, I am missing you, I can’t control how I feel right now, and I will not let you go. If I had seen you, I would not have married my present wife. Your thoughts make me go crazy, etc.”

Regular exchange of these seductive chats between a married man and another man’s wife through social media amounts to digital infidelity. This is because both of you have expressed your lustful thoughts in unmistakable terms for each other even though both of you have your legal partners. Besides, sexting also involves the acts of sending or receiving sexually suggestive photos or videos through phones or social media. It is common today to see a married man asking another man’s wife to send her nude or semi-nude images and sexual voice notes or emojis used with sexual intent. Married wives that are interested send them with relish to the married that they like. The point they are making is that even though we are miles apart, we can watch our nakedness online to spice our ‘love.’ Even when it is practiced between a man and his wife, it is considered an uncleanness; when a married woman sends her nude photo to another man, she is committing adultery with him digitally.

From the biblical perspective, it is only your spouse that is legally and biblically allowed to see your nakedness. In Genesis 2:25, the Bible says both Adam and Eve were naked as husband and wife, and they were not ashamed. It is therefore right, by inference, to say that it is shameful for a married man and another married woman to be naked before each other or to see each other’s nakedness when they are not married to each other. Sexual expression through any medium is expected to be shared only with one’s partner. This is because sexting involves sexual desire and attention even if there is no physical contact. If you practise this with another man’s wife or another woman’s husband, you have committed digital infidelity because sexual exclusivity has been broken.

Besides, sexting is often kept secret. It can be hidden from the partner, especially for those that have inquisitive spouses. Some also quickly delete such sexting and nude photos. This is because it violates the Word of God and the trust between the couple. When you are involved in sexting, you are creating room for emotional attachment to the person. It will deepen your emotional bonds while you are disconnecting yourself emotionally from your legal spouse.

You cannot be exposed to sexting and the nude photos of another man’s wife or another woman’s husband without experiencing sexual arousal and romantic connection with the person when this is what you should be experiencing with your legal partner. You have crossed the boundaries set by the Lord between your husband and your wife. Remember that part of the common marriage oath says that you will forsake others and cleave unto your partner till death do you part. Sexting and uploading your nude or semi-nude photos for another married man or woman to see violates your marriage oath. Even when done between two married people, it is morally questionable. A long-distance relationship is not an excuse for getting involved in sexting. What if your children see it or it leaks onto social media accidentally?

From the Bible perspective, sexting amounts to dishonoring your marriage and making your bed impure—Hebrews 13:4. Jesus expanded adultery beyond the physical by saying a lustful look at a woman amounts to adultery—Matthew 5:28.  In Ephesians 5:3-4, we are warned against sexual immorality and uncleanness (obscenity). Uncleanness or obscenity involves obscene speech, obscene images, sexual imagination, and arousal outside God’s boundaries. What is considered sinful by the Bible cannot be made holy by the digital platforms. Those who engage in sexting, explicit photos, and pornography are practicing digital infidelity. If it is between a married man and the wife of another man, they are practicing digital adultery. God will judge all those that commit adultery—Hebrews 13:4.  If you are involved, repent now before it is too late. If you are single and you are involved in sexting, you are practicing sexual immorality and obscenity. You have opened the gate of your life to sexual bondage. Repent now, and the Lord will have mercy on you.

By the grace of God, we will continue from here next month. Please do not forget to send me your comments and testimonies. If you are not born again, please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late. Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

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I am delighted to welcome you to the September 2025 edition of Singles’ World. In the last edition, we considered the practice of Omugwo—a cultural and traditional institution that, unfortunately, has been the source of conflict in many families. I discussed one major controversy: deciding which of the two mothers-in-law should carry out the practice. In this edition, I wish to examine another sensitive aspect of Omugwo. My prayer is that this piece will bring light and peace to your family, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Controversy

When Culture Collides With Faith in the Home

One area of frequent conflict in Omugwo is the generational gap between the wife and the mother-in-law (or even the wife’s own mother). Many African mothers, despite education, exposure, and modern technology, still prefer to care for babies in traditional ways. On the other hand, most Gen Z wives, guided by education and medical advice, lean toward modern methods of childcare.

Take, for example, exclusive breastfeeding. Medical science recommends it as the healthiest practice for the first six months of a baby’s life—no water, no pap, nothing else but breast milk. To a traditional mother-in-law, this sounds strange and unnecessary. After all, she never practised it, yet her children—especially her son, now the husband—grew up strong and healthy.

Similarly, if it is the wife’s mother, she might remind her daughter: “I raised you with pap and local concoctions alongside breast milk, and you turned out fine.” Such differences easily breed conflict. Yet the Bible reminds us that “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). Godly wisdom helps us balance cultural practices with sound knowledge.

Another area of tension is the use of local herbs (agbo) for bathing or feeding the baby. Many mothers-in-law strongly believe these herbs cure infections and skin conditions, yet they are administered without any measurement or scientific backing. In contrast, orthodox medicine prescribes precise doses with tested safety. Similarly, traditional feeding methods—like forcing pap into a baby’s mouth—clash with modern, medically advised practices.

While a wife may be able to correct her own mother, opposing her mother-in-law often feels culturally disrespectful and risky. Scripture guides us here: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother” (Ephesians 6:1–2). Honour must be shown, but obedience is limited to what aligns with the Lord’s will.

The conflict deepens when some mothers-in-law resort to traditional medicine from diviners (babalawo), incisions or cultic rituals to address conditions like convulsions or persistent night crying. For the Christian wife, such practices are incompatible with her faith and convictions.

While spiritual attacks are real (Ephesians 6:12), such traditional solutions often expose children to demonic influence from infancy, without their knowledge or consent. This is deeply unfair and spiritually dangerous. The Bible warns us clearly: “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16).

Born-again Christian wives particularly struggle when their mothers-in-law hold polytheistic or syncretic beliefs. To them, there is nothing wrong with traditional or cultic remedies, but to the Christian, these are spiritual traps. The Bible says: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).

Another controversial practice is the chanting of panegyrics (oríkì) to calm or lull a baby to sleep. While beautiful in cultural context, many of these chants invoke ancestral ties that may carry spiritual baggage. As the baby responds, the ancestral spirits behind the words may lay claims on the child. A Christian mother, taught in spiritual warfare, will oppose such chants.

Yet, if the husband is spiritually weak or overly attached to his mother, the wife bears the brunt of the conflict. Scripture says: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Training must begin with guarding the child’s spiritual atmosphere.

Even if it is her own mother who chants the oríkì, the disagreement remains sharp. The mother may dismiss her daughter’s concerns with words like: “What do you know? I am your mother. These chants are harmless.” This generational and spiritual clash can easily poison the atmosphere of Omugwo. The Bible cautions: “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Other conflicts arise in matters of hygiene. While the wife insists on washing hands, sterilising items, or even using masks where necessary—based on antenatal training—the mother-in-law may dismiss these precautions as unnecessary. After all, she raised her children without them. This difference leaves the wife worried whenever she leaves the baby at home. Yet, sending the mother-in-law away may cause lasting offense, resentment, and animosity within the family. The Bible advises: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).

Sadly, what should be a joyful, supportive tradition—Omugwo—often turns into a source of strife, tension, and unending battles.

Conclusion

Omugwo is a tradition that should bring joy and support to families, yet the realities show that it often becomes a breeding ground for generational clashes, cultural disagreements, and spiritual conflicts. The tension between modern medical practices and age-old traditions, between faith in Christ and ancestral customs, and between honouring parents and protecting the newborn reveals how fragile this season can be. What should be a moment of peace after childbirth sometimes becomes a season of battles that test the unity of the home. The Bible is true when it says, “A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands” (Proverbs 14:1). The wisdom or the lack of it displayed during Omugwo can determine whether the family experiences harmony or strife.

The questions remain: how should Christian couples navigate these storms? How can they embrace help without opening doors to conflict? How do they honour their parents without compromising their faith? These are weighty matters that must be carefully examined, because the future of the family—and the spiritual destiny of the child—often hangs in the balance.

As the prophet asked: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

By the grace of God, we will continue from here next month. Please do not forget to send me your comments and testimonies. If you are not born again, please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late. Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

The post Singles’ World September ’25 appeared first on The Olive Branch.

I am delighted to welcome you to the August 2025 edition of Singles’ World. In the previous edition, I turned our attention to the practice of Omugwo; a very beautiful cultural and traditional institution which, sadly, has become a source of conflict in many families. I discussed the meaning of Omugwo and its many benefits, as well as one of the major controversies surrounding it: who should perform the Omugwo; the wife’s mother or the husband’s mother?

It is important to reflect on this tradition and the disputes that often arise around it, so that what is intended to be a blessing to families does not turn into a source of pain or tragedy. My concern here is for Christian families in particular, so that we do not give room for the devil to sow discord and destroy our homes.

The Controversy

One of the most troubling situations occurs when the husband’s mother had strongly opposed his marriage to his wife right from the beginning. Her opposition may have been vocal and obvious, yet the son insisted on marrying the woman he loved. Now, when the marriage produces a child, the same mother insists on performing the Omugwo. While the son does not object, his wife does, and with good reason. How can she comfortably welcome a mother-in-law who once rejected her and fought against her marriage? Unless there is evidence of genuine repentance and reconciliation, such an involvement may be motivated by bitterness or hidden resentment, and this creates the potential for strife.

On the other hand, if the son decides to oppose his mother’s wish and stops her from coming, the mother may quickly assume that her daughter-in-law influenced the decision. She may then direct her hostility towards the wife. If the son boldly owns up to being the one behind the decision, both he and his wife may face open hostility and possibly even prolonged battles with the mother-in-law. Where the mother’s attitude is vindictive or malevolent, the situation could escalate into spiritual warfare.

If, in an attempt to avoid such conflicts, the couple chooses to invite the wife’s mother instead, the husband’s mother may interpret it as a deliberate attempt to rob her of her rights and privileges. She may then turn against both the wife and her mother, concluding that her daughter-in-law has conspired to deny her the honour she believes she deserves. In African societies, the mother-in-law phenomenon has grown so intense that it often takes on cult-like dimensions, leaving couples in fear of backlash and deep-seated conflicts.

Another scenario arises when a husband simply dislikes his wife’s mother for no clear reason, and insists that only his own mother must perform the Omugwo. In this case, the husband’s mother enjoys all the benefits of the tradition, while the wife’s mother is permanently sidelined. This can cause deep pain and bitterness for the wife, especially when her mother has made huge sacrifices for her.

The problem becomes even more serious where the wife happens to be the breadwinner or where she, along with her mother, had financially supported the husband, perhaps even sponsoring his journey abroad. In such situations, it is only natural for the wife to feel deeply offended when her mother is disregarded. She may begin to feel oppressed, marginalized, and silenced by her husband’s patriarchal insistence on favouring only his own mother.

This tension often spills over into the relationship between the wife and her mother-in-law. The wife may become reluctant to release money for her upkeep or unwilling to allow her full access to the baby. She may engage in subtle resistance, withholding affection or cooperation as her own way of protesting the injustice against her mother. The longer the mother-in-law stays, the more strained and toxic the atmosphere becomes.

If the mother-in-law eventually returns home, she may tell stories about her unpleasant experience in her son’s household. And more often than not, her story will be exaggerated and retold in a way that paints her daughter-in-law as wicked, disrespectful, and unfit to live with her son. Such narratives quickly spread in family and community circles, drawing sympathy for the mother-in-law and hostility against the wife. Some may even begin to pressure the son to divorce his wife, thereby deepening the rift.

This type of situation may discourage the couple from visiting their home country for a long time, knowing that the mother-in-law and her allies will be waiting to fight back. The atmosphere becomes precarious and unstable. If the family is not prayerful, careful and spiritually discerning, the marriage could suffer devastating consequences from emotional breakdowns to relentless spiritual attacks.

Conclusion

The Omugwo tradition is a wonderful and helpful cultural practice that, when properly managed, strengthens family ties and provides crucial support for new mothers. But when handled without wisdom, it can quickly turn into a weapon of division and destruction in the hands of the enemy.

As Christian families, we must approach Omugwo not merely with human wisdom, which is often earthly and short-sighted, but with the wisdom of God that is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy. Only divine wisdom can enable couples to navigate these complex family dynamics with grace, patience and love.

May the Lord keep your home, grant you peace, and give you the divine wisdom to manage the Omugwo practice in a way that honours Him and preserves the unity of your marriage, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

By the grace of God, we will continue from here next month. Please do not forget to send me your comments and testimonies. If you are not born again, please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late. Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

The post Singles’ World August ’25 appeared first on The Olive Branch.

Welcome to the June edition of the Singles’ World for 2025. In the last edition, I discussed with you the impact of modernist thoughts and secularism on Christian marriage. I discussed the movement by feminist activists to incite women to live independently and be assertive instead of allowing their husbands to treat them as subordinates in a marriage relationship whereas both of them are equal. I hinted that these are demonic teachings that are taught to erode the sacred Word of God and upturn the order of God in the home. The attention of the church is being called to this evil secularisation of the Word of God because it is already laying a siege against the Christian marriage.

In this edition, I will discuss another influence of modernism and secularism on Christian marriage. It is my prayer that you will not be swayed by these false teachers so that you can follow the path of godliness and righteousness.

Sex as Tool of Masculinity and Female Subjugation: Another modernist thought trending among feminist activists is that sex is a tool of masculinity for oppressing women. This perspective is rooted in a jaundiced and subjective mindset, rebelling against God’s Word and leading others astray. The Bible teaches that everything God created, including sex, is good (Genesis 1:31). God’s command to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28) necessitates sexual union between husbands and wives.

This feminist ideology implies that wives should have firm control over their bodies, submitting to sex only when they desire, defying the biblical principle that husbands and wives have authority over each other’s bodies (1 Corinthians 7:4). Such views can lead to tension and disharmony in Christian families. These malicious advocates presumptuously teach that the male sexual organ was created for oppressing women.

If these activists focused on men who abuse their wives, violate women’s primacy without consent, or engage in rape and molestation, their concerns would be understandable. Such men are deviants with morally bankrupt and depraved minds. However, their blanket statement about all men is misguided.

This feminist thought can create tension and disharmony in Christian families. If women view sex as a tool of oppression, they may:

1. Deny their husbands sex, leading to potential infidelity.

2. Reject marriage altogether, potentially leading to alternative lifestyles like lesbianism or living as “baby mamas.”

God created men and women with distinct roles, with men as initiators and women as helpmeets. The purpose of sex is to fulfill God’s mandate to be fruitful and multiply, not to oppress or subjugate women. Men and women were designed to work together in harmony, not in opposition.

We must reject this misguided ideology and uphold God’s design for marriage and sex. Men and women should work together in harmony, fulfilling God’s mandate and enjoying a healthy, loving relationship.

By the grace of God, we will continue from here next month. Please do not forget to send me your comments and testimonies. If you are not born again, please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late. Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

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