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When Church Leaders Step Out Of Line, An Article By Tony Ogunlowo
November 8, 2016 – When Church Leaders Step Out Of Line, An Article By Tony Ogunlowo
In writing this article I’ve been advised to tread carefully so I do not tread on the toes of certain powerful ‘Men of God’. Naturally I would be scared of a true ‘Man of God’ but not a charlatan.
Disregarding whatever potential threat there are I will present the truth as I see fit. It is the Readers right to discern between right and wrong.
In recent times a lot of so called ‘Men of God’ have been side-tracking their primary duties in favour of chasing after things of a material nature.
A ‘Man of God’ is supposed to be a representative, and servant, of God in this world. Such a person would have given up everything to devote his or her entire life to the worship of God. There can be no room for things of a material nature – money, business, etc – to distract them from praying, meditating and teaching the word of God. It is one of the reasons that the Catholic Church insists its priest remain unmarried and with no world possessions.
To be a ‘Man of God’ is a calling whereby the individual devotes his entire life to the service of God. It’s not a job. It’s not the means to enrich oneself or to get up to all sorts. No so-called ‘Man of God’ is God but is supposed to be a servant of God, channeling his wishes. Those that think they can act like the Almighty playing judge, jury and executioner are blaspheming themselves.
The new age Christian leaders, a law on to themselves, have turned themselves into flamboyant life-coaches who are more intent on making money than saving souls. Has anyone ever seen a Muslim Imam driving around in a limousine or travelling around the world in a private jet? Has anybody ever seen a Hindu Holy man dressed in designer suits or a Jewish Rabbi who is more interested in his business interests than his followers? The answer is a resounding ‘NO’.
We Christians are quick to judge and condemn other people’s religions as being inferior to ours but at least they have the decency not to turn their religions into businesses. Other religious leaders live very frugal lives – some in abject poverty – which they believe is in accordance with the will of their Gods. Only we Christians have the audacity and total disregard for our religion for some to turn it into a money-making machine.
A majority of our so-called ‘Men of God’ live champagne lives at the expense of their followers. A church leader with multiple business interests will have little or no time to concentrate on his real profession of preparing sermons and counselling people – unless of course they are snake-oil merchants or charlatans!
A church is a place of worship and not the foundation stone for launching a multi-million dollar business empire. You cannot worship God and Money. It’s got to be one or the other. Any ‘Man of God’ who’s in it for the money should take off his dog-collar renounce his ‘pastor-hood’ and become a bona-fide businessman.
In doing so he’ll have to raise his own capital to start off in business, not using the tithes collected, and pay tax on his earnings!
Currently a controversy is brewing over how much a certain ‘Man of God’ is charging as fees to attend one of his institutions of higher learning. This same ‘Man of God’ has even gone on further to threaten the wrath of God on anybody who criticizes his decision. To start off with, I don’t think God Almighty, personally, would be pleased that a mere mortal is using his name in vain in a petty matter of school fees.
One should point out that there is nothing wrong with a Christian organisation owning an educational institution. It’s the running of such that should be brought into question.
The Catholic, Baptist and Anglican churches all run schools but you don’t see the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury personally running them; they appoint independent managers who report directly to the governing board of the church.
Also if a church organisation run by these ‘Men of God’ are not-for-profit ventures how come the fees they charge to attend their institutions of learning are out of the reach of the parishioners who contributed the tithes to build them in the first place? Can’t there be any concessions for them to pay a lower rate? Does it all have to be about money?
I know I’ll be vilified for saying this but it’s high time all these so-called ‘Men of God’ gave up their money-making ventures – if they honestly can – and concentrate on being what they currently pretend to be. There’s no point in being one of the richest pastors in the world if you can’t save a single soul!
Follow me on Twitter:@Archangel641 or visit https://archangel641.blogspot.co.uk/
D Hunter
November 8, 2016 at 7:15 AM
INSIGHTFUL INDEED…! How can a church own a school and the poor can‘t attend it?
How can you be teaching people how they can make it to the Kingdom of God, when they can‘t enter your own Earthly “Kingdom“ built with people‘s Tithes and Donations?
Why should christian schools be the most expensive schools in Nigeria now? How can one relate this to the term “Christianity“ with regards to the early Christian community?
Another academic session and parents are paying through their nose to send the kids back to school.
May God really open our eyes and minds to really know Him.
I take a stroll…
sola olaniyi
November 8, 2016 at 8:51 AM
i agree with the points raised in this article
Metu Nyetu
November 8, 2016 at 4:51 PM
FEEBLE MINDED CHRISTIANS THINK that it is an exercise of a corrupt faculty to critically question certain things the church and some so-called men of God do. I thank God because I do not let any human being think for me; and Mr Writer, you equally do not swallow some sermonizing words from a pulpit without first of all chewing it, so that if it has grits, you spit it out at once. Good!
I MAY not dwell my thoughts on private jets because they at times come in handy. The exorbitant tuition fees of these schools is what makes me wonder if the members of those churches have been hypnotized. I, for one, would have long chamged church if I were their member.
Jilo
November 8, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Gone are the days when men of God are indeed men of God. Nowadays we only have business men parading themselves as men of God but doing contrary to what is in doctrine of Christianity. Top Christan schools in Nigeria are being attended by the rich men kids. There is vacancy for children who came from poor background. If Jesus Christ happens to be alive today do you think he will be happy the way his religion is being run?.
When Jesus was alive, he preached love for everybody not some certain class of people. Today, our so men of God are only interesting in worshipping money. You will surely have your seat in the front row if you can donate cheerfully to the church however, you may be prevented to enter the church if you are so poor. Is this how church setting suppose to be?
The writer of this article has said it all. There is no love in our churches nowadays. Christianity has been turned to business center. That is why most of our prayer take too long to answer by God because most of his self proclaimed Ambassadors are not connecting to him spiritually. It seems they are inclining toward Devil side by serving two masters. According to the Bible it is more easier for a Camel to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. If these men of God really want to follow the scripture,should they be running after money or running the house of God?.
The most shocking part of this discussion is that some of them are now going out of their way to secure spiritual power through the power of Darkness just because they want to be included as one of the most popular Pastors. Most of our young folks see this as business nowadays. Just because you attended Divinity School that has not given you the ticket to become a man of God. That is a big mistake most of the people are making and it is a sin in the sight of Lord. If you are chosen by God to preach his words, that power will manifest in you and people will see that not by lying that God said when God has never said anything.
Tee
November 9, 2016 at 3:11 PM
Hey my man Tony again Gbam ! FEAR NO BODY! i have said it severally, the Christianity as practiced now is the biggest con of the century, even arm robbers having a stake in it. It is not difficult for any objective observer to see the deceitful maneuvers that are played out everyday by these so called ‘men of god’. They collude with corrupt politicians to loot the country and so contribute to the abject poverty that is now characteristic of an average Nigerian.It is so unchristian what these so called men of god are practicing. Jesus was a humanitarian,he fed the poor and provide succor for the needy he never ask for anything in return. He sent his disciples out for soul winning not for material things
Matt:- 10:5-15
what we have now in Nigeria are just Pastorpreneurs who are only after how much money how many houses how many jet they can acquire. I am beneficiary to the charitable hospital by a truly christian outreach, Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesha, when i was small (1972) i was involved in an accident and broke a leg, i was admitted to GH osogbo and after so much effort by the surgeon there to rescue my leg form being amputated, some one recommended that i be transferred to Wesley Guild hospital;l am so glad they did; and my leg was saved. I still remember the Peugeot 403 ambulance form the Wesly Guild Hopsital that took me there. I had good treatment and spent around 6 months and when i was discharge the hospital did not ask for one kobo form my parents. But for them my leg would have been amputated and my life expectancy and chances would have been greatly reduce, so i am grateful for their help. I believe that primary foundation of any christian to is to alleviate suffering not to collude with corrupt elements in the society to further compound the suffering.What we are witnessing now is definitely not Christianity; people are so much brainwashed now that the now worship the pastors/prophets and so blinded by the fanfare that they part with their meager cash to the detriment of their own family. Lets all be vigilant.