In Nigeria, we are happy and very quick to set boundaries of things to discuss and things not to discuss. We keep repressing ourselves as a people and refusing to move on as a nation because things are not meant to be put to open discussions. When President Obasanjo stole the idea of National Conference from the PRONACO Group that proposed it without giving credits to the originators, he set limits and no go areas. Those limits became the bases of its outright failure.

It is almost a taboo for anyone to get up in Nigeria to critique the church: what would you say is wrong with you to make you do that? The church is perfect and can do no wrong because those who will appreciate its excesses are themselves neck-deep in seeking its prayers and miracles. Therefore, I will not commit the insanity by critiquing the church. I will only try to raise some questions which might help me clear some doubts in my mind.

Strange enough, Nigeria has never had such unprecedented number of congregation of believers in its history as it does now. Hundreds of thousands of people attend the holy places to pray for themselves and to pray for Nigeria(?). Nigerians have come to embrace the church so wholesomely that those who evangelize the church to us are currently so amazed that PhD degrees and researches on the incredible growth of churches in former colonies are becoming interesting university work. They brought the religion to Africa, now the religion is beyond the European comprehension. The last time this writer was in Germany, I spoke with lots of friends who also helped to call some other friends to confirm that Reinhard Bunke, that famous crusade evangelist who is wholesomely famous in west Africa, is hardly known at home in Germany. What is going on is Africans are dying their cloth deeper than the indigo of the bereaved.

The churches in Nigeria today are nothing but money collection outlets. In every sitting, in every meeting, generous offerings are solicited and collected. You dare not go to church with nothing in your pocket because you would be embarrassed. First, they would ask you to bring out the money you have brought to offer God out and hold it high. Then they would ask that if you have nothing to offer God, ask the person next to you to give you something to offer God so that you can participate in the blessings. Of course it is not so that you can participate; it is so that you can add to what is collected that day.

Amazingly, many offering collections had entered the faith so innocently that people are even afraid to think that they exist. When a friend got married, the trick that the church did was to give offering bowls to both my wife and husband to hold and asked the congregation of people who had come to rejoice with them with “rejoice offerings”. The trick there was to make the couple’s guest see their eyes as they come out to make offerings. Those who danced out would be reluctant to throw small denomination of naira into the bowl. And then, if you were the guest of the groom, you would not want to be seen as not supporting the bride by not putting anything inside the bride’s bow. So you were psychologically compelled to drop something in the two bowls! When he realized what was going on, and after about three times of ridiculously extorting money from his guests, he told the priest that he would not do it any more and he was ready to walk out of the church in protest before they stopped.

There are so many collections in the church of today. There is “tithe offering” (which is the initial 10% of your salary), there is “church offering” (which is separate from tithes and very different from every other offerings to be collected that day). Then there is “pastor’s appreciation offering” which itself is different from the “pastor’s family offering”. Then there is “thanks giving” offering which is different from “testimony” offering (testimony offering is what you give to God for sharing testimony of a happy day) and many other absolutely ridiculous offerings in the name of God. If you were prudent not to spend so much money and you are the church goer, then that money you save will go to God through the pastor’s pocket.

When I spoke with some critical people about these worrisome collections in the churches, they told me that I was the stupid one that go to church with high denomination of the currency. If I were as wise as they were, I would change my money to the most basic denomination which would make it easier to give so many offerings in one Sunday while spending only the amount one originally intended to spend. Do not be angry with yourself that you approach God with a ridiculous amount of money or a cheap denomination of N20! Oh no… God did not ask the pastors to collect so many offerings. Besides, you would be giving not less than 5 times which makes it 5 times N20 going to church from you in that church service.

All the other offerings can be passed as innocent offerings. The type of offering which greatly bothers me is that which is “church building” offering. Every church does this. They collect money to build churches and in some other instances, to renovate the churches or pastor’s house.

A German friend once took me to a museum and when we got to the part where church riches and gold were displayed, he felt sad and angry and quickly moved past me. When we were outside, I asked him what was wrong. He told me that each time he saw the church’s riches, he got angry. He asked me to imagine the ancient European times when there was little or no money when people were pure peasants without money or riches. Yet the church exploited their sufferings and collected their labor only to acquire riches and gold and build huge edifice from the labor and sufferings of their congregations. Then I also became angry because what I imagined was torturous to my vivid imagination.

Churches in Nigeria collect money from congregation to build “the house for God” people innocently buy-in to the pastor’s dream to construct edifice large enough to glorify God. Humphrey Boigny did that in Ivory Coast. He woke up one morning and said God asked him to construct a church for him. He went to his own village and constructed an edifice which spurred the envy of Papa’s Land in Rome because it became bigger than the Basilica. But at least, the Ivorian ruler used the national resources and not peanuts from peasants to make his dream. The church and of course all churches in Europe built with people’s money now belong to the state.

Nigeria must begin to move towards the European paradigm; churches that are built on people’s contributions must not belong to Pastor Paul Adefaransin’s family, or Arch. Bishop Benson Idahosa’s wife, or Bishop Okwonko’s family name, or Bishop Oyedepo’s family legacy or Pastor Chris’s “yopie” family name and so on and so forth. These must be public institutions since it is not possible to identify every individual that contributed to the building of such edifice. If it is not proven that the building was exclusively family resources of the pastors ALONE used in constructing such edifice, then it must be public property. If owners should use any resources- no matter how small, from their congregation, then the Nigerian public must have shares in the money collected as offerings in that church. Our money was used for starting the business venture and we must be regarded as business partners.

But knowing how frustrating it is for Nigeria nation to take up this case and to think of the merit of my call because those who would make that radical policy decision are already inside the church asking one of the pastors and bishops to pray for him/her so that he/she can remain in the position for ever; asking God to eliminate all oppositions in the way. That kind of person cannot have the liver to challenge the ownership of the church. Rather it is for us as thinking people to come to realize and be aware when our integrities are being taken for granted. Such questions must repeatedly come into our minds:

1. Why is the church not using our offerings to build its own church building?
2. Why would I be the one contributing to building church? Am I really convinced that God has asked our pastor not to alleviate people’s sufferings but to build a church for Him?
3. Who owns the building when it is done? Do I get to share part of the ownership of the building since I contributed in the funding for its constructions?
4. There are so many buildings around, why do we need a new church building?
5. Nigeria of today; its leadership, its citizens, its economy, its sense of directions is in mystery and disarray. What has the church done to help aside from prayers?

We must be bold to ask these questions. We must not only demand responsibilities from our political leaders and public office holders alone. What we do in our little sphere are as important and those in the public spheres. Let the church also begin to think of giving accountability and transparency. Then we can approach public scrutiny with purity and strength.

Dele A. Sonubi

Dele4you2@yahoo.com

Robot  # 1 | 25.08.2006 22:01

In Nigeria, we are happy and very quick to...Read the full article.

b4best  # 2 | 26.08.2006 00:17

Dele, Thank you so much for this article. You posed a question that I have been thinking all alone, but could not voice, all because of fear of been prosecuted by God, which is the fear- Pastors have invoked on the consciousness of church goers. I have been asking this questions silently myself. In fact, as a Born Again Christain, it pains me to see that so many pastors are using God's holy name as an avenue in making money. I know by the spirit of God, that Christ died for all sinners and according to the bible, gave his life which is the ultimate tithe offering so that all who believes in him would be eternally redeemed from sins-It follows that we don't need to give tithe to the priest in order for our prayers to be answered-because Christ has given his life for all. All we then need to do, is believe in Christ, which is the ultimate tithe offering. As some know, most pastors don't preach this truth, majority who are wealth conscious do not preach that any more, instead, they preach that people should give tenth of their offering to church alone- all in hope of giving it to God. The poor are not even remembered. You are so right, when you asked the question, who owns the church? The church should belong to God, but since we all do not see God physically, so who gets all the money that is been contributed to church? Well, it goes to the pastors bank account. It pains me really to see what is going on in the church, when Jesus gave all that he has to the masses that gathered to hear him preach, but the pastors keep all that people contribute to themselves. The sad fact to this, is that when the masses that contribute money to Church go back to the same church to ask for help-, they never get it. Even prophet Paul said it in the bible that we should not ignore taking care of our family, that is, by not taking what belongs to the family and giving it to the church, but making sure we take care of our family- our parents- Prophet Paul did say we should give to the church so the word of God may be preached, but not at the expense of our family's need. So, I don't understand why the pastors around the world, even here in the USA, ask that we forfeit paying bills, taking care of our family, just to give a faith offering to the church- when all that money goes into their pocket and not to God. In fact, the pastor have a lot of mechanism of extracting money from the people, they say, when you give, you are being loyal to God, as if God cares weather we are loyal by giving all that we have to the pastor.( What God wants from us is to believe- that is, in his truth which, is in Christ Jesus, not necessarily the so called truth preached by the pastors- the truth in within us all) I have been thinking, since each time i go to church I give 10% (honestly out of guilt, whereas back home, i know that my parents need more help that I am giving to the church- Instead of giving my 10% to the church, I will still give, but would give them 1% and the remaining 9% will be shared to the needs of people that truly need help, and have no other way of getting the help that they need at that particular time. And I am praying that God truly would not mind, since he already knows that pastors has made fools of so many people, by tricking them to giving their hard earned money to the church all in the sake of his Glorious name.

RECK  # 3 | 26.08.2006 08:28

to everyone his own, i say. As a christian, you are at absolute freedom to refrain from giving in to the too many offering solicitations in your local worship centre. I don't think they force or even maintain a register of non-givers in many worship centres- in the early days there used to be a tithe register/log. Most born agains agree that tithing is still relevant in the new covenant, and that it was not intended to die with Prophet Malachi, hence his renewed call in the last book of the old testament, for the practice to continue into the new. Whatever you do without faith (belief in) is a waste of space, you might as well not do it. You owe yourself a duty to seek understanding, and follow your conviction. I agree that you can sometimes be peeved at the rather too many variegated "offering time" calls, but if you purpose in your heart what you will give to God even before you come to the service, you can certainly say "pass" to the offering bag, when next it comes your way. "The poor will always be with you". Giving of offering is not the cause of poverty in the land. Refraining from giving offerings will not necessarily translate to better family budget managements and poverty alleviation for your loved ones. Certainly God does not support pastors fleecing the flock. Pastors who engage in spending church offerings on their lusts and pet dream projects and not on the gospel work as directed by God will definitely have a case to answer. If you worship in such a place, I recommend you move on and seek another worship centre where there is not such a leadership, and you can flow freely and be blessed. I know many of such places still exist. So it is your call.

pappilo  # 4 | 26.08.2006 09:17

99% of all these pastors are thieves. In the church I attended until about 4 weeks ago, there is an offering called the 'booster offering'(no pun intended) which helps relieve you of all your coppers i.e coins. They have a system where, just before the offering time a preacher gives a quick sermon of miracles that happened when he gave and evil that befell him when he didnt. This is just a trick that messes with your mind. I used to give them about 10p but sometimes £1 when i am feeling generous. if you really want to make a difference in the world and you do not beleive in giving to charities, instead of giving 10% of your salary to a bloody church, take time off work that amounts to that 10% and use that time for charity work, that way you know your 'money' has been used for what it was intended. Some fools continue to give and say to me 'God wants me to give, whatever the pastor does with the money is up to him. God will judge' hello!!! wake up, i never knew brainwashing was this easy. Anyway me i am at home every sunday now watching football. God sees my mind.

villageHeadMaster  # 5 | 26.08.2006 09:47

Yes O! Pappilo...God sees your mind... You 'spend' your Sundays watching football...You sure sai na only offering dey stop you from worshipping with other brethrens?

Visitor  # 6 | 26.08.2006 10:15

It will be tough to get people to understand that 1. The Church is the body of Christ comprising of all those that believe and does not need to be housed in a building. It would be impossible to do so in any case 2. The pastors/priests/deacons etc - are servants of the church and have been exhorted to accept only that which they are given of the people's free will, not that which they demand or frighten or dupe people into giving. To carry out their duties, they are to give up all material things and the things to feed the ego and take only that which they need 3. the pastors are meant to serve as the conscience of the people, reminding them of the laws of God, and showing example of Christian living by their own lives 4. the Christian is free to give everything S/he has or as much as s/he wants to into the service of God. But the key phrase is 'the service of God' not service of the pastor or or of church leaders 5. all members of a particular congregation have a right to ask questions (and to oppose if need be) about the use of church assets (freely given by whatever member(s) not coerced out of them) because these are held in trust not just for the members of that one congregation but for the use of all of God's people whether or not they go by the moniker Christian. 6. No member of any congregation should feel obligated to donate/contribute more than their heart/mind or pocket allows them to. Christianity is a way of life, the carrying out of God's Commandment (Love your God above all else and your neighbour as yourself). 7. It is the duty of every Christian to come into an understanding of the meaning of those 2 'summary' commandments that Jesus left us with So at the risk of starting my own congregation/denomination, I rest my case and hope that we will all be able to fight the priests of Mammon, masquerading as 'men of God and their wives' that have been let lose in Nigeria

pappilo  # 7 | 26.08.2006 10:21

villageheadmaster, that isnt the only reason o!!!. The so called brethren are mainly awon olodu (guymen). They are the ones who sit in front of the church and mingle with the pastors and deaons while we the 'poor' ones sit at the back and watch. The pastor used to lay hands on people but with those same hands he fornicated with a memeber of the congregation and was only suspended for about 3 months. He is a full time pastor... he probably fornicated in a hotel.... his only source of income is from the church....he paid for the hotel room with money... do you get my drift? your offering!!!. 99% of the sermon is about financial breakthrough, bruv there are other things lacking in my life that I should be preached to about. My guy, reasons plenty and for your info I am only at home for sometime (hopefully) till i find a 'good church'. NB Watfrd 0-1 Man Utd. My former church is an east london branch of a very well known church in Nigeria

salstep  # 8 | 26.08.2006 11:31

=pappilo;127440>99% of all these pastors are thieves. In the church I attended until about 4 weeks ago, there is an offering called the 'booster offering'(no pun intended) which helps relieve you of all your coppers i.e coins. They have a system where, just before the offering time a preacher gives a quick sermon of miracles that happened when he gave and evil that befell him when he didnt. This is just a trick that messes with your mind. I used to give them about 10p but sometimes £1 when i am feeling generous. if you really want to make a difference in the world and you do not beleive in giving to charities, instead of giving 10% of your salary to a bloody church, take time off work that amounts to that 10% and use that time for charity work, that way you know your 'money' has been used for what it was intended. Some fools continue to give and say to me 'God wants me to give, whatever the pastor does with the money is up to him. God will judge' hello!!! wake up, i never knew brainwashing was this easy. Anyway me i am at home every sunday now watching football. God sees my mind. Pappilo, u talk true. me i stopped going like 6 years ago. I actually wrote an article for this site but didn't publish. I can't understand y nigerians are so easily brainwashed. Me i feel more comfortable not going. I will not be blackmail by so called financial breakthroug preachers. As if the only reason people go to church these days is to acquire wealth. I know loads of people in the UK who commit all sort of evils during the week and end up in church on sunday. Hypocraites

salstep  # 9 | 26.08.2006 11:32

NB Watfrd 1-2 Man Utd

DaBishop  # 10 | 26.08.2006 12:04

=Visitor;127448>It will be tough to get people to understand that 3. the pastors are meant to serve as the conscience of the people, reminding them of the laws of God, and showing example of Christian living by their own lives Well said; Jesus Himself was pained at the fleecing of his flock and had to on ocassion, send the thieves out of the temple with a whip. (Matt 21:13). Further, Jesus had warned that in the end times (i.e. the time we live in), before his appearing; For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; in so much that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect - Matt 24:22. So it is not surprising. We urge that you be not discouraged or cynical and anti-religious because of the acts of those already prophesied about and stay home to a 'soccer-church' which does not lead to heaven. This is because the bible also warns not to forsake the assembling together with the brethren, as is the manner of some, more as the end draws nearer. We cannot all blame the pastors, however, for our spiritual commissions and omissions. If we want to soldier on, we would do so regardless of any spiritual leader's misdirection. While they may contribute directly or indirectly to apathy, the responsibility for doing the will of God on earth, still resides with the individual. You choose, and you cannot pass the buck on blameworthiness for your own sins. The church must go on with or without 'bad' pastors. - Yes thithes have to be taught and taken of the flock; - Yes the congregations have to build a house or place of worship since most congregations because of size no longer meet in personal houses; - Yes freewill offerings can be taken; the church has various obligations the ocassional visitor is not aware of. At my church; while I ran the church office; you would not believe the schemes persons come with to get money from the church (some even for drugs) - because the church really takes care of the poor. I understand the 'prosperity preachers' and their poor taste in using the gospel as kalu-kalu machine; but the church even in the USA is touching lives the government cannot touch.

---

The conversation continues in our forum. Click here to read all comments

---