M.A. Akinola

As the global economic meltdown bites harder, a sane mind will expect that our pastors, imams, general overseers will act as a balm to their followers through sound preaching, conduct and positive body language. Because their calling is to bear the burden of their followers through long suffering. (2 Timothy 4,5)

But, ironically, these men of God have constantly failed to meet minimum moral standard required in a civilised society. The cornerstone of Jesus Christ message was "repentance of sin for redemption(Luke 24vs 47)" but today, the message is centered on materialism, self-glory and intimidation. The payments of tithes and other frivolous levies are so common in our modern day churches that even jobless members are constricted to pay irrespective of their financial status. It is very unholy and immoral to tax a jobless man because they are victims of an unjust society. They are the weak in any civilised society and for men of God to be involved in these shameless act is nothing but an indirect attempt at fuelling crime rates. Cases are abound where church members are involved in serious crimes with the sole aim of trying to pay their dues or tithes to their churches.

We have seen these churches venturing into business enterprise like housing estates and missionary schools. But funny enough, the prices are so outrageous that hardly can one-tenth of church members afford these service. Where is God spirits when churches conducts resonate survival of the fittest? These men of God are well vast in the art of intimidation in the name of imaginary hell fire. To speak up against these men is to invite invented man-made wrath of God. The gullibility of their followers is so gross that they cannot discerned the difference between greed, ego, intimidation, extortion, transparency and coercion. The psychology of the so -called men of God is very simple "the more you preach falsehood, the more it sticks with your audience."

The recent acquisition of a private jet by one of these pastor is another eye opener that all is not well with our men of God. Acquiring a private jet amid widespread of chronic and crippling poverty is insane. The atmosphere and timing is too poor, immoral and un-Christian.

At the darkest period of our history when our schools, social infrastructure, moral values, human and financial developments are at the lowest ebb, it is an irony how these men of God are feeding fatter and taking us for the longest ride. This is one of the most profitable sector, they should be well-taxed and supervised by the state (Caesar). Afterfall, Jesus, the founder of Christianity, commanded his followers to give to Caesar's what is due to him(the state). Caesar this times around needs these taxes to fix electricity, water, hospitals, schools, security and other infrastructural projects that will benefit all. It's evil and devilish for pastors to wallow in outrageous luxuries and opulence while their followers wine and dine in total penury. It is time to reflect!

Muiz Akinola,

Italy.

Robot  # 1 | 29.03.2009 19:29

M.A. Akinola As the global economic meltdown bites harder, a sane mind will expect that our pastors, imams, general overseers will act as a balm to their followers through sound preaching, conduct and positive body language. Because their calling is to bear the burden of their followers through long suffering. (2 Timothy 4,5) But, ironically, these men of God have constantly failed to meet minimum moral standard required in a civilised society. The cornerstone of Jesus Christ message was "repentance of sin for redemption(Luke 24vs 47)" but today, the message is centered on materialism, self-glory and intimidation. The payments of tithes and other frivolous levies are so common in our modern day churches that even jobless members are constricted to pay irrespective of their financial status. It is very unholy and immoral to tax a jobless man because they are victims of an unjust society. They are the weak in any civilised society and for men of God t...Read the full article.

Tunde meee  # 2 | 30.03.2009 10:58

"The payments of tithes and other frivolous levies are so common in our modern day churches that even jobless members are constricted to pay irrespective of their financial status". "Olohun mase je ki eni ti ogo ogbon lailai, ki eni ti ogbon le ma ri nkan je" . Meaning; May the foolish ones never become wise otherwise the wise ones will die of hunger

ikechukwu  # 3 | 31.03.2009 11:35

Some otherwise educated and intelligent people are ready to go hungry for their pastors to drive the best cars and live in absolute opulence. They don’t give a damn if their last money goes into the tilt of the man in the pulpit who wants to build a university, mind you not for the church but for himself, they just don’t care as far as they are concerned he is a man of God. They would just pick a passage in the bible and interpret it to suit a situation in which they are being 'robbed' and you would just wonder. The other day Dele Momodu was busy defending a very funny attribute. In a land where poverty is seen not imagined yet a pastor (who claims to be a man with good news for the people) just bought or acquired a jet of over 4billion naira yet Dele momodu was busy comparing his mumbo jumbo movement as a businessman to that of the pastor. If he wanted to tell us that the pastor is a bigger business man so deserves more comfort than him I would understand, but he was just spewing something I really should have ignored. For a man(Dele Momodu) who benefited immensely from the late MKO yet was too eager to go to Minna to get wild and weird pictures of IBB and his family even when MKO was still in prison(or was he dead then?) and yet felt no qalms about it says a lot about the charlatan called Dele Momodu. Money is the other of the day, pure and simple! The annoying part of this nonsense is that if there a was story about any of our leaders living in this kind of opulence, the same fellows who are very reluctant in calling a spade a spade when the issue of their pastors and religious leaders is concerned are ready to be sanctimonious on our political leaders they become human right activists and anti corruption crusaders. This is the level of unacceptable hypocrisy pervading our landscape. Has it paid us? ofcourse the answer is always steering glaringly at us everyday on the streets.

Solid  # 4 | 31.03.2009 11:58

=ikechukwu;341943>Some otherwise educated and intelligent people are ready to go hungry for their pastors to drive the best cars and live in absolute opulence. They don’t give a damn if their last money goes into the tilt of the man in the pulpit who wants to build a university, mind you not for the church but for himself, they just don’t care as far as they are concerned he is a man of God. They would just pick a passage in the bible and interpret it to suit a situation in which they are being 'robbed' and you would just wonder. The other day Dele Momodu was busy defending a very funny attribute. In a land where poverty is seen not imagined yet a pastor (who claims to be a man with good news for the people) just bought or acquired a jet of over 4billion naira yet Dele momodu was busy comparing his mumbo jumbo movement as a businessman to that of the pastor. If he wanted to tell us that the pastor is a bigger business man so deserves more comfort than him I would understand, but he was just spewing something I really should have ignored. For a man(Dele Momodu) who benefited immensely from the late MKO yet was too eager to go to Minna to get wild and weird pictures of IBB and his family even when MKO was still in prison(or was he dead then?) and yet felt no qalms about it says a lot about the charlatan called Dele Momodu. Money is the other of the day, pure and simple! The annoying part of this nonsense is that if there a was story about any of our leaders living in this kind of opulence, the same fellows who are very reluctant in calling a spade a spade when the issue of their pastors and religious leaders is concerned are ready to be sanctimonious on our political leaders they become human right activists and anti corruption crusaders. This is the level of unacceptable hypocrisy pervading our landscape. Has it paid us? ofcourse the answer is always steering glaringly at us everyday on the streets. ------------- I say, if a Pastor or Man-Of-God violates laws and God's commands, let him undergo the consequences that follow his actions. Thanks, SOLID