J. Lee “Akinwale” Grady is a Christian and a frequent
visitor to Africa. He has observed the destruction accompanying the “Prosperity
Gospel”:
·
Churches have been growing rapidly in many parts
of Africa today, yet sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where
poverty has increased in the past 25 years. So according to the statistics, the
prosperity gospel is not bringing prosperity! It is a flawed message, but I
believe God will use selfless, broken African leaders to correct it. https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/19113-5-ways-the-prosperity-gospel-is-hurting-africa
Why is this? Christ has exalted many nations. Why not
Saharan Africa? Grady claims that the popular “Prosperity Gospel” has ravaged Africa
and offers these reasons for it:
·
“It is mixed with occultism.
·
It fuels greed.
·
It fuels pride.
·
It works against the formation of Christian
character.
·
It actually keeps people in poverty.”
Ironically, it seems that as the “Prosperity Gospel” has
grown, so has poverty. Conrad Mbewe has pastored in Lusaka, Zambia, since 1987.
He explains the effects of this false “Gospel”:
·
The Bible is primarily about salvation from sin
and being sanctified into the image of Christ. We ought to be admiring those
among us whose godliness shines like the sun in its noonday strength, but we
are fast losing that view. Christians are instead admiring the few individuals
with big houses, and flashy cars and clothes, even when such individuals are
living in sin. Invariably this emphasis is resulting in churches being rocked
with scandals once rare in evangelical circles…This teaching has become a
religious pyramid scam, with the so-called “men of God” reaping a fortune while
their blind followers are getting poorer. Every day we have to deal with
disillusioned individuals who have woken up when it’s too late. This teaching
is wreaking havoc in the lives of many Christians. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/prosperity-teaching-has-replaced-true-gospel-in-africa/
How should these problems be addressed? Mbewe advises:
·
It begins with a display of the true gospel and
then exposes that which is false.
It is not enough to simply present the truth. The lie must
also be exposed. Josephine Olatomi Soboyejo, Crowther Graduate Theological
Seminary, Abeokuta, Nigeria, also has observed the destructive power of this
false “gospel”:
·
Before the advent of African priests, expatriate
missionaries in Africa were noted for their detached and abstemious ways of
life. They upheld what is known as “Vow of Poverty”, which was taken prior to
sacerdotal ordination. They toiled selflessly for their flock without caring
for personal material benefits. This orientation has been discarded for
prosperity vocation in this 21st century. Priests now use luxurious cars, fly
expensive private jets and are escorted by well-armed military/police officers.
The social-economy context of prosperity theology has become a great attraction
to impoverished people of Africa…Africa has many Churches; growing rapidly yet
remains the only region that poverty has increased in the past two decades. So
there is no impact of the prosperity message on the people. Most Africans live
on less than $1 a day and many proactive youths are still unemployed. http://file.scirp.org/Html/71957_71957.htm
Soboyejo adds:
·
the prosperity gospel is not bringing
prosperity! It makes their followers poorer so it is a flawed message!...This
gospel has been ascribed many names, such as the “name it and claim it gospel”,
the “blab it and grab it gospel”, the “health and wealth gospel”, the “word of
faith movement”, the “gospel of success,” the “prosperity gospel,” and “positive
confession theology.”…Preachers of the prosperity gospel encourage their
followers to demand of God everything from modes of transportation to homes,
furniture, and large bank accounts. Prosperity gospel is bankrupt because it
deviates from the “True gospel” and proclaim “false gospels”, which usually
focus on the same basic fallacies by not matching up with Scripture. Any
“gospel” which is inconsistent with or different from the clear teachings of
the Bible is bankrupt-Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Cor. 11:3-4.
Where the “Prosperity Ministry” has gone, so has the
corruption of the Gospel and even of society. Feumba Samen, an economics and
statistics graduate of Université Marien N’Goubi in the Republic of Congo, has
warned that in this ministry:
·
Prophets, pastors, and gurus take the place of
God. They do not preach according to the vision of Christ whose sole mission
for the church is to seek the lost and make disciples, according to the Great
Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). They do not preach Christ crucified—instead they
proclaim healing, miracles, and support for the tired and overworked as a
priority of the church. These so-called men of God divert the theological
foundations of the church, using all the means of propaganda for manipulating
their followers looking for social rank, honor, and money by means of miracles
and healings. https://world.wng.org/2014/11/the_prosperity_gospel_in_africa
Everyone that is touched by this “gospel” pays for it,
according to Samen. Their conscience is dulled to its many corruptions:
·
The philosophy taught in these cults
manufactures uprooted and alienated individuals. The good seed—that is, the
African intelligence that should be the pride of Africa—is not, for the reason
that they are victims of spiritual alienation caused by looking up to the gurus
who eventually lull their consciences.
This “gospel” is so poisonous that it must be exposed for
what it truly is – a life-destroying deception:
·
I am astonished that you are so quickly
deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a
different gospel…But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a
gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have
said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel
contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)
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