tunapawizzy: i read this article on www.ekekee.com written by Segun Dada. it is thought-provoking
here's the link http://www.ekekeee.com/men-of-god-or-gods-of-men-by-segun-dada/


I was brought up to believe in the Christian faith. My parents – particularly my mum – love God and the church. We were brought up to believe in the values of the church, live in the ways of Christ and the commandments of God.
Growing up in Nigeria, I have seen beyond doubt that religion has become a scam. The worship of self-acclaimed men of God is truly the only thing that has the semblance of real worship in today’s Nigeria. Men whose lives are supposed to showcase the true ways of Christ are now interested in fame, wealth and power which, according to the doctrines of the bible, are distractions of this world.
Most people see it as a sin to criticize pastors, bishops, deacons, and the rest of them in the church leadership because they have achieved “sainthood” for owning a church and preaching the “gospel”.
Without mincing words, the church and its leaders which are supposed to be seen as the conscience of the nation are yet to live up to that expectation.
Of the 66 books of the bible, there exists one which is called the “Acts of the Apostles”. It is a history of how the apostles appointed by Jesus took his word from “Samaria to Judea and to utmost parts of the earth”. The apostles left their comfort zones into presumed enemy territories to preach the gospel, they didn’t sit in their homes and ask their followers to fast and pray for the gospel to get to the utmost parts of the earth, they “Acted”. They walked, rode on donkeys and sailed on canoes. They acted!
The bible documents that Jesus spoke against evil authorities. He didn’t offer them special prayers, he didn’t accept tithes and offerings from them and just went his way. He spoke against them in public. Jesus Christ was a true revolutionary even till the very end!
Very many years ago, Reverend Martin Luther King Jnr rose against racism; he led 250,000 black Americans on a protest against racism. He didn’t ask them to fast, pray and pay tithe; he acted to save generations unborn. He wasn’t intent on seeking opportunities to dine and wine with the rulers of the period so they’d offer him import waivers or oil blocks. Because of this, very many years later, a Black man is the president of the USA, the leader of the free world! All this happened because a “Man of God” acted! He was a revolutionary, like Jesus.
During the fuel subsidy period, our religious leaders, save a few, refused to side with the Nigerian people against a government determined to keep enslaving them. They kept quiet and asked us to pray to God for divine provision; they refused to side with us.
My dad once told me that, as a kid, Christian missionaries came to his Dad (my grandfather, that is) begging him to allow his children come to their school free of charge. He proceeded to Abeokuta Grammar school where Reverend Kuti was principal, free of charge. He later got a scholarship to study abroad. The church paid all through!
What do we have today? Churches ask members to contribute for the building of church operated universities. Yet after completion, about 80 percent of the same church members who contributed won’t be able to afford the tuition fees.
Pastors, bishops and reverends drive big cars, live in mansions and have billions of naira in their bank accounts while majority of their congregation live in abject poverty. Some of us who dare speak against this lifestyle are tagged blasphemous.
The church, like the entire Nigerian establishment, needs a complete overhaul.
Except a few true religious leaders like Bishop Akinola, Nigeria has majorly a group of money-seeking, fame-obsessed jet-flying fellows who like intimidating the rest of us with the bogus title, “Men of God”!

Black Peni5: Lord, give me the strenght and patience to read this article...

Most people see it as a sin to criticize pastors, bishops, deacons, and the rest of them in the church leadership because they have achieved “sainthood” for owning a church and preaching the “gospel”.
Without mincing words, the church and its leaders which are supposed to be seen as the conscience of the nation are yet to live up to that expectation.

Of the 66 books of the bible, there exists one which is called the “Acts of the Apostles”. It is a history of how the apostles appointed by Jesus took his word from “Samaria to Judea and to utmost parts of the earth”. The apostles left their comfort zones into presumed enemy territories to preach the gospel, they didn’t sit in their homes and ask their followers to fast and pray for the gospel to get to the utmost parts of the earth, they “Acted”. They walked, rode on donkeys and sailed on canoes. They acted!

The bible documents that Jesus spoke against evil authorities. He didn’t offer them special prayers, he didn’t accept tithes and offerings from them and just went his way. He spoke against them in public. Jesus Christ was a true revolutionary even till the very end!

Very many years ago, Reverend Martin Luther King Jnr rose against racism; he led 250,000 black Americans on a protest against racism. He didn’t ask them to fast, pray and pay tithe; he acted to save generations unborn. He wasn’t intent on seeking opportunities to dine and wine with the rulers of the period so they’d offer him import waivers or oil blocks. Because of this, very many years later, a Black man is the president of the USA, the leader of the free world! All this happened because a “Man of God” acted! He was a revolutionary, like Jesus.

During the fuel subsidy period, our religious leaders, save a few, refused to side with the Nigerian people against a government determined to keep enslaving them. They kept quiet and asked us to pray to God for divine provision; they refused to side with us.

My dad once told me that, as a kid, Christian missionaries came to his Dad (my grandfather, that is) begging him to allow his children come to their school free of charge. He proceeded to Abeokuta Grammar school where Reverend Kuti was principal, free of charge. He later got a scholarship to study abroad. The church paid all through!

What do we have today? Churches ask members to contribute for the building of church operated universities. Yet after completion, about 80 percent of the same church members who contributed won’t be able to afford the tuition fees.

Pastors, bishops and reverends drive big cars, live in mansions and have billions of naira in their bank accounts while majority of their congregation live in abject poverty. Some of us who dare speak against this lifestyle are tagged blasphemous.

ooman:

is your ID black PE.NIS, as in manhood?

dulphines: Are you saying religion and politics should be mixed...Personally, I think its a bad idea.


You sound like one of those talked about or related to one of them. They OP made a lot of sense. Please do not distract us with your citations!

Black Peni5:

No it is childhood...

Black Peni5:

Are you saying religion and politics should be mixed...Personally, I think its a bad idea.

Confirmbabe: @ fellow Christians somtyms i wonder if som of us respect our religion, hv u eva seen a muslim condemin d acts of a mallam, sheikh or imam dat ws involvd in a shady deal on social netwrks? Jst lik we hv fake pastors, we also hv fake muslim clerics bt dey dnt discuss diers. May God help us.

Black Peni5:

Are you saying religion and politics should be mixed...Personally, I think its a bad idea.



So if all of us become preachers, who will we preach to.


Jesus did not receive offerings because he was not heading a physical church. However he acknowledges offering given.
According to Mark 12: 41-44 Jesus sat near the temple money box where people put their gifts. He watched the people put money in the box. Many rich people gave much money. Then a poor widow came and gave two very small copper coins. These coins were not even worth a penny. Jesus called his followers to him. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. This poor widow gave only two small coins. But she really gave more than all the rich people. Those people have plenty; they gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor. But she gave all she had. And she needed that money to help her live."



Why do you like battle and revolution like this. Must everything be by force?


Politics and Religion are two extremely different areas. Thats why Seun has Politics section and Religion Sections on Nairaland.


Bros rather than tell us your life story, why not open your church and do all these things you are saying.