Modern Christianity’s Curse

When a pastor sleeps around, the usual attitude and responses from faithfuls are “Who are you to speak about it?” “Leave him to God.”

“He’s God servant. God will deal with him.” And the all time classic “Touch not his anointed.” They continue to say this until it’s them, their sister, daughter, wife, mother, or friend that the Pastor has seduced/impregnated and then they sing a different tune.

How very spiritual indeed. An anointed man of God may sleep with church members and get away with it as long as he’s still perceived as being 'anointed'.

The word 'anointing' is probably the worst word that has been introduced to the Nigerian Christian’s vocabulary in recent years.

Like the word ‘gay' that used to mean ‘merry' and now means 'homosexual', ‘anointing' has been infused with new and inferior meanings.

Anointing used to refer to the power of God at work to change lives and bring men closer to God by his miracles or judgement.

And the anointed was the vessel through which God accomplished these works. The vessel was never really that important because God used sticks (Moses’ rod), animals (Prophet Balaam’s donkey), as well as people.

It was his power that was important, not the vessel. However, in this modern era of Christianity, the anointed has gained significantly more prominence over the anointing and has begun to Lord it over the people of God.

The anointing now stands for the ability to make money from, entertain, manipulate and/or bully church members and communities to submit to the will of the so-called anointed leader of a congregation or denomination in the name of God.

It is experienced as goosebumps, excited exuberance, gyrations and screams in service, falling under the power, beautiful aesthetics, highfalutin words, and prophetic blessing or cursing.

For example, an unentertaining choir will most likely not be considered anointed and any church experience that gives congregants ecstatic euphoria is considered very anointed.

Really?! People seem to forget that Pharaoh’s magicians performed the same miracles as Moses with their sorcery. And much like ‘gay', the nouveau Christianity welcome the new definition of the 'anointing' and it’s new ‘anointed’ carriers as an accepted way of life.

I wonder at times if we haven’t seen people falling out at a Michael Jackson concert? Haven’t we felt goosebumps listening to Whitney Houston or some other musician sing an inspirational song?

Have we not heard secular/non-Christian speakers make accurate predictions about the future? Are these people anointed because they create these effects or do these things?

Many Christians will answer, yes. Therein lies the problem. Nigerian church leaders, the new class of anointed, have attracted and cultivated a gullibility in their followers that world-class illusionists and hypnotists should take heed to learn from.

Be sober, be vigilant, be cautious at all times for your enemy, the devil, roams around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. Watch and pray.

These are Bible admonitions given to Christians, but many are too busy defending the anointed while the enemy continues to steal, kill and destroy in their lives.

It would seem like the more anointed a Pastor is, the more money he is expected to have. The thinking of many pastors is summarized in this scripture, ”a poor man’s wisdom is quickly despised”.

The interpretation often given to scriptures like this is sometimes baffling. Statements like “no money, no respect” which has defined our society’s way of life arise from it. This aside, how about Jesus? Was he rich in his earthly ministry?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John show us that he had influence and his needs were met as he trusted God to meet them but he did not have wealth, neither did he merchandise his power or teachings like his so-called messengers now do.

In fact Paul said, Jesus was made poor for our sake. The concluding part of that scripture says that we through his poverty might become rich. Let me quickly make a point here before the prosperity preachers start frothing at the mouth.

Was Apostle Paul (the man who wrote this scripture) rich himself? Was Timothy, his protégé rich? Remember the warning Paul gave to Timothy about Christians whose motive is to get rich. He said, many have wandered away from the faith because of it and have pierced themselves with many sorrows. He further tells Timothy to teach those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money.

Paul must not have heard about the new “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” gospel. James said, “listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you…

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.”

“The son of man has no place to lay his head”, it was said about Jesus. This is how rich Jesus Christ, the Father of Christianity, was. I use the term “Father of Christianity” because every pastor is ‘Papa’ and a “Father in the Lord” today.

If they are indeed in the Lord, Christ, they would obey him, but are they? The love of money is the root of all evil,

yet many congregations are taught to love money, seek money, and celebrate money every Sunday morning.

Trust these new anointed men of God to reinterpret scripture for us. Hypnotists take note.
Nevertheless scriptures do not condemn Christians to poverty rather they suggest that riches or lack thereof should be irrelevant to our walk with God, rather than this place of prominence that it has taken in our worship.

Jesus said, “Be careful to guard against all forms of greed, because even if someone is rich, his life does not consist in what he owns.” Apostle Paul said, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want”.

However, our new anointed pastors will teach "5 secrets of prosperity" and "10 steps to your financial freedom" but the secret of being content in every situation of life, Never! How can you talk about lack? It is a curse, isn’t it?

Paul must not have read that memo that’s why he would dare suggest learning to be content even when in lack.

It is unfortunate that many Christian ministers are compromised; collecting money from drug dealers, scammers, thieves, and corrupt government officials who come to give “tithes” and “prophetic offerings” to their anointed men of God.

Using these monies to build schools and giant auditoriums do not make the gift any more holy than the ill means by which they were got.

You may remember some years ago when Lawrence Agada, a senior cashier with Sheraton Hotels and Towers paid Christ Embassy N39 million in the name of sowing seed. Continue reading

CREDITS: SAHARA REPORT