One of my best songs of all time has to be’ coffin for head of state’.That was a classic.Fela remains a legend.He knew what he was saying,meant it,but we all chose to look the other way even when we know he is spot on.For those of you who know the song but do not know the title,do you remember “Inspiritus christus,mass christus,mass christus,mass christus…Allah hu,waku-baru,salem elekum,Allah-hu…
Through Jesus christ our lord…and so on”? That’s the song.
I have always had this ‘fear’ about writing about( or is it against?)’men’ of God.I get to think about 1 chronicle 16:22,and i just back down.
I just think i have seen enough,and backing down in this operation-all-pastors-must-acquire-private jet-and live like politicians era?When most of the congregation don’t know the next meal?don’t have a place to go back to as shelter after service?Are sick?Do not have jobs?That will be sinning on my part.Haba!
You know, it is a different thing when a government official acquires private jets,houses all over the globe et al.We all know how they came about the loot.We all know they are all thieves.Criminals.What do we now call pastors that tend to tow the same line?Living almost the same lifestyle?Granted,these politicians do not care.They do not see us,so they kind of don’t know the pain the ordinary man goes through.But for a pastor that comes in contact with the hungry man on the street at least once in a week(if not everyday),sees the suffering first hand,and still goes ahead to buy a private jet?I do not think God is happy.
These(pastors)are the guys we run to in this hopelessness of ours.I mean after all the frustration of the country,one tends to find succor in church,and for these men to disappoint us with these lifestyles?One cannot differentiate the lifestyle of a pastor and that of the modern day Nigerian politicians.It just seems one is trying to outshine the other.Come to think of it,they now almost roll together.Check now…who was it that “came to dinner” recently when another pastor launched his own private jet?It’s definitely not carolina!
They have children schooling abroad,they have private jets,some even keep marrying wives and all sorts.We know how one(the politician) gets to fund his lifestyle,what baffles me is how the other(pastors)funds his!
Where and how in the world did a pastor get 30 million dollars to buy a private jet.It kind of sounds small when i say 30 million in dollars.Where in the world did a pastor get over four billion naira to buy private jet?Is there something they are not telling us? Even if you have that kind of money and do not have anything to do with it,why not just take a look at that man that came to church with a torn slippers?There are so many like that in churches today!There are so many jobless people in church!What would Jesus christ of nazareth have done with over 4 billion naira?That money would have profited both the church and the congregation.What happened to building a factory or something,employ plenty jobless people in church,produce and make money for the church and poor members?
Jesus would have built a well equip health center to help the poor.Jesus would have provided shelter for the poor(at a subsidized rate).Even if these things were in place,Jesus would have built more.There are so many poor people ot there!Jesus would not have bought a private jet.Now I am not saying pastors do not have the right to live comfortably and enjoy the good life.Far from it,the issue for me is,we cannot even these days spot the difference between these pastors and our thieving politicians(most of whom have the same mind as the devil).
These are the same churches that have the most expensive schools.I once met some guy that was a worker in one of these ‘mega” churches,who badly wanted admission as age was not on his side again.Dude actually thought God had answered his prayers when the church started building a university..To cut the long story short he was asked to pay an amount he only dreams of.
No one really preaches salvation these days.I wouldn’t call myself a born again.I am a christian,I go to church well(at least every sunday)and believe me its been a while i heard a sermon on salvation.Its all prosperity.Nobody questions your source of wealth any more.Just bring it to the alter man,God understands(is what you hear)Its not heresay.What?God understands when one swindles another fraudulently of his hard earned money?God understands one taking a fellow human beings life for money?
Pastor Bakare was spot on when he said “Preaching greed is sin, we have the confidence of millions of people and continue to fail them, that must change”.Honestly the masses feel let down.We feel the disappointment.
I have always been taught that religion is an opium of the masses.I have refused to believe it all these years.You are being dealth with seriously in the name of religion and you are asked not to talk?Say God go vex?We must talk.This madness has to stop.
I will not relent.They will not stop me from giving offerings and paying tithe.I will not stop going to church to praise and thank God.I know there are some good pastors out there though,who care only about your soul and where it ends up on the last day.
It’s just sad when pastors make you feel they are living in affluence at your expense,through Jesus christ our lord.
Chiechefulam Ikebuiro
08167362942