Psalm 105:15 - '’Touch not my anointed, do my prophet no harm’' is now the most popular Bible verse in Nigeria as Men of God struggle to hide the many failings of their human flesh.
Previously, these canal failings of the Men of God would have slipped by unchallenged, but Nigerians have become more ‘awake’ as they grapple with the current economic and societal difficulties facing the country. Today, questions are being asked about the relationship between a pastor's lifestyle, church funds and other church assets [e.g.: universities, private jets]. Life's difficulties have created a congregation of doubting Thomas; Psalms 105:15 is fast losing its potency. The doubt is not in their faith in God, but in the 'anointed' modern day prophets and the church structure.
Every new week is now greeted with a new scandal centred on a Man of God. The revelations about the inside workings of the church and its leaders will only increase, as we are in the information dissemination age. Information can now be recorded and distributed around the world in less than a second.
Some of the recent difficulties
Despite the easy flow of information and the awareness of Nigerians, there are still some major challenges in unravelling the lifestyle of Nigerian Pastors.
Apart from a high regard for Psalms 105:15, a lot of congregants are afraid of divine misfortune after speaking up. A few others do not want to labelled as those behind the fall of the church/Man of God.
Pastor Chris Oyakihlome of Believers Loveworld Inc. [Christ Embassy], during his divorce saga, warned his congregation to refrain from speaking against a man of God.
“To speak against the man of God is to bring a curse on yourself and your children. When you hear people speaking against a man of God, move away from there. Men of God don’t just talk. When they speak, God is forced to move,’’ he said during a church service.
These fears are heavily fed and nurtured by some readings in the Holy bible. E.g.: When Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, Miriam was plagued with leprosy. Numbers 12:9-10 [The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous[a]—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease.]
Reasons why questions are being asked
If the church must become more responsible to God, society and its followers, then questions must be asked.
God encourages believers to ask questions. 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world."
If Christians do not ask questions, church leaders will sleep on duty, take a piss on the bible and probably go unpunished. Nigerian pastors are gradually becoming lords whose actions cannot be questioned.
The church is presently rife with stories of fraud, sexual immorality and consumerism. Some recent scandals involving men of God include- the alleged loss of $5 million to a Ponzi scheme by Kingsway International Christian Centre lead by Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo and the explosive sexual scandal involving preacher Apostle Suleman.
When accused of wrong doing, Nigerian Pastors hide under the tagline ‘religious prosecution’. Should their congregation not hold them accountable especially when these accusations are backed by evidences? [1 Timothy 5:19-20]
Even in cases when the Pastors promised the congregation a ’robust reply’, the reply never comes.
An example is the news that broke out about 4 years ago that Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Common Wealth Of Zion Assembly (COZA) Ministries had been sleeping with a church member. The member had published a detailed account of the affair, which circulated widely, to which the pastor had promised a "robust reply" shortly thereafter. No robust response came forth afterwards, and he not even offered an apology or explanation to his church members.
1 Corinthians 11:28 calls for self-examination; are Nigerian pastors exempted from the call?
What the churches need to do
These cases are reminders that religion provides a perfect platform for unscrupulous men to capitalise on the fear peddled in scriptures to exploit billions of gullible people around the world. Churches need to revisit their doctrines on veneration of men of God. They need to accept that all men are fallible.
The Bible in Song of Solomon 2:15 - "Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom."
Just as it is with public officials and secular leaders, pastors who abuse their positions of trust should be held accountable and purged of their ill behaviour. If not, the church, as it is seen now, will continue to be exploitative and become a den of concealed abuse.
Congregants should also stop being preys and gullible to the actions and inactions of the pastors. They should become more responsible for their lives and know God for themselves.
Nigerian Pastors have certainly fallen from their pedestals, but only God knows those that have fallen from Grace.
[ This article is part of NB Weekly 11 - Download your free copy here ]
Previously, these canal failings of the Men of God would have slipped by unchallenged, but Nigerians have become more ‘awake’ as they grapple with the current economic and societal difficulties facing the country. Today, questions are being asked about the relationship between a pastor's lifestyle, church funds and other church assets [e.g.: universities, private jets]. Life's difficulties have created a congregation of doubting Thomas; Psalms 105:15 is fast losing its potency. The doubt is not in their faith in God, but in the 'anointed' modern day prophets and the church structure.
Every new week is now greeted with a new scandal centred on a Man of God. The revelations about the inside workings of the church and its leaders will only increase, as we are in the information dissemination age. Information can now be recorded and distributed around the world in less than a second.
Some of the recent difficulties
Despite the easy flow of information and the awareness of Nigerians, there are still some major challenges in unravelling the lifestyle of Nigerian Pastors.
Apart from a high regard for Psalms 105:15, a lot of congregants are afraid of divine misfortune after speaking up. A few others do not want to labelled as those behind the fall of the church/Man of God.
Pastor Chris Oyakihlome of Believers Loveworld Inc. [Christ Embassy], during his divorce saga, warned his congregation to refrain from speaking against a man of God.
“To speak against the man of God is to bring a curse on yourself and your children. When you hear people speaking against a man of God, move away from there. Men of God don’t just talk. When they speak, God is forced to move,’’ he said during a church service.
These fears are heavily fed and nurtured by some readings in the Holy bible. E.g.: When Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, Miriam was plagued with leprosy. Numbers 12:9-10 [The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous[a]—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease.]
Reasons why questions are being asked
If the church must become more responsible to God, society and its followers, then questions must be asked.
God encourages believers to ask questions. 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world."
If Christians do not ask questions, church leaders will sleep on duty, take a piss on the bible and probably go unpunished. Nigerian pastors are gradually becoming lords whose actions cannot be questioned.
The church is presently rife with stories of fraud, sexual immorality and consumerism. Some recent scandals involving men of God include- the alleged loss of $5 million to a Ponzi scheme by Kingsway International Christian Centre lead by Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo and the explosive sexual scandal involving preacher Apostle Suleman.
When accused of wrong doing, Nigerian Pastors hide under the tagline ‘religious prosecution’. Should their congregation not hold them accountable especially when these accusations are backed by evidences? [1 Timothy 5:19-20]
Even in cases when the Pastors promised the congregation a ’robust reply’, the reply never comes.
An example is the news that broke out about 4 years ago that Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Common Wealth Of Zion Assembly (COZA) Ministries had been sleeping with a church member. The member had published a detailed account of the affair, which circulated widely, to which the pastor had promised a "robust reply" shortly thereafter. No robust response came forth afterwards, and he not even offered an apology or explanation to his church members.
1 Corinthians 11:28 calls for self-examination; are Nigerian pastors exempted from the call?
What the churches need to do
These cases are reminders that religion provides a perfect platform for unscrupulous men to capitalise on the fear peddled in scriptures to exploit billions of gullible people around the world. Churches need to revisit their doctrines on veneration of men of God. They need to accept that all men are fallible.
The Bible in Song of Solomon 2:15 - "Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom."
Just as it is with public officials and secular leaders, pastors who abuse their positions of trust should be held accountable and purged of their ill behaviour. If not, the church, as it is seen now, will continue to be exploitative and become a den of concealed abuse.
Congregants should also stop being preys and gullible to the actions and inactions of the pastors. They should become more responsible for their lives and know God for themselves.
Nigerian Pastors have certainly fallen from their pedestals, but only God knows those that have fallen from Grace.
[ This article is part of NB Weekly 11 - Download your free copy here ]
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