How do you react to the idea that there are cult members in Nigerian churches?
It is nothing strange and nothing new in Nigeria because man is a religious being. When white men brought the concept of Church to us, they came as a religious group in search of trade, not to preach salvation. Many of them even brought so many herbalists into the church so as to increase the numbers. So many of them just moved from the cults into the new religion called Christianity but they did not drop their old ways. The white men wanted the crowd not salvation for their souls.
Secondly, many of the people that came to Christianity through the orthodox churches did not find confidence, salvation solution to their problems through the church but still found satisfaction in their old ways. Majority of the people in the then Anglican, Methodists, African churches were polygamous and members of the cults. But thank God for the new dispensation in especially, the Anglican Church where cult members have been flushed out.
When some of them went to the universities to study religious studies, they still studied Ifa, invocations, incantations, etc which they still brought to the churches.
Also, there are people who claimed to have met God in some odd ways. They went on to found churches but in secret, they are still in the cults. Some of them went on to call themselves prophets, pastors, founders etc and before you know it, they have large crowds and are being associated with Christianity.
So many people who want miracles, authority over others, money, influence, fame, but couldn't wait for the right time from the Lord patronise them. The practise is not only in the orthodox, but it has also penetrated the Pentecostal. Pastors who want to satisfy their members, go on to these powers to reinforce their ‘calling'.
Someone said in spite of these barrages of criticisms, T. B. Joshua is waxing stronger: his church is the most beautiful, he has one of the largest members and his ministry is growing all over the world. Could his be a case of a prophet not having honour in his home?
Forget about the beauty of the church. Man always look at the immediate and now, while God looks at the ultimate and eternal. Though T. B. Joshua could have the finest church and now speaks better grammar, and he is spicing his sermons with the name of Jesus, but there are so many contradictions in his statements which are obvious to the discerning minds.
Having branches all over does not cancel the questions like who are his pastors, where did he train, who is the Paul of his Timothy? I have never heard him speak of personal testimonies or experience . 99% of the people in his church are there for one miracle or the others. Miracles are temporary. Any body could do it. Magicians in Egypt responded to Moses with their magic. Who can be pointed at as his son in the faith? Miracles are ephemeral, they will come and go. |
