CHRISTIAN SUBMISSION TO CIVIL AUTHORITIES (ROMANS 13:1-7) AND HIJAB CONTROVERSIES IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The concept of Christian submission to civil authorities is a topic that has been debated and discussed for centuries, with many different interpretations and viewpoints. One of the key passages in the Bible that addresses this issue is Romans 13:1-7, which states that Christians should be subject to the governing authorities, as they are appointed by God to maintain order and justice in society. However, this passage has often been used to justify the submission of Christians to oppressive or unjust authorities, and has been the subject of controversy in many different contexts. One such context is the controversy surrounding the wearing of hijab, or head covering, by Muslim female student particularly women in Christian Schools. Recently, the government of Kwara state enacted a law enforcing the use of hijab in public schools. The law was extended to cover mission school established by churches in identification with their own religious belief which is at variance with Islamic injunction. But while the government argues that since those schools are being grant aided by government they must fall under the category of public schools. The Christians are however reading a political undertone here in favour of Muslim faith. These policies have sparked controversy and debate among Christian communities, with the argument that the hijab is a form of oppression and goes against Christian beliefs, since it is a traditional Islamic head covering. The writer adopts historical, descriptive and analytical methods. Findings reveal that the concept of Christian submission to civil authorities, as outlined in Romans 13:1-7, plays a big role in the ongoing debate surrounding hijab controversies. While Christians are called to respect and follow the laws and rules set by their authorities, they must also remember to prioritize their allegiance to God above all else.  The paper concludes that hijab injunction is a peculiar religion issue exclusively reserved for Muslim adherent, with recommendation that for sustainable peaceful co-existence, successive government should face the business of governance in order to enhance socio-economic development for all citizens irrespective of religious affiliation.