Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / New
Stats: 3,143,483 members, 7,781,450 topics. Date: Friday, 29 March 2024 at 02:33 PM

The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. - Religion - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. (10680 Views)

Kumuyi Offers To Resign Over Son's Wedding Controversy / Efcc Takes Possession Of The Jet Akingbola Bought For Pastor Adeboye Of Reemdee / Why Did Pastor Adeboye Responded 2 The Purpoted Sms Message & Not The Jet Issue? (2) (3) (4)

(1) (Reply) (Go Down)

The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by naptu2: 8:07am On Nov 28, 2012
[size=14pt]The Jet Controversy by Tony Rapu.[/size]

The controversy surrounding Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor's recent receipt of the gift of a jet has cast a harsh glare of scrutiny on the Church and its leaders. It has also caused no small dissension among pastors and Christians. This has been amplified by the social media where the vigorous debate has gone viral. As  president of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, he is seen not only as an important and influential figure in Christian circles but also, the most prominent representation of Christian leadership in the country. His profile also makes him influential in the corridors of power where he is seen to represent the Christian position on national issues. All this has made his acquisition of a jet an issue of contention. Of course, he is not the first to own a private jet. Some other pastors and clerics do and so do a number of politicians, tycoons and socialites. But perhaps because of his profile, his pastoral vocation and prominence, Oritsejafor has drawn attention and ire. Or perhaps because  the media in very recent times has been awash with heated debate on the issue of ownership of jets in Nigeria, the acquisition  of yet another jet  by yet another prominent Nigerian was just more fuel for the fire of contention.

 

On one side, there are those who have vehemently condemned the ownership of jets by pastors. They criticize the trend as too ostentatious, too flamboyant and as being at complete variance with the sobriety and low profile expected of ministers of the gospel. They have gone ahead to berate especially, Pentecostal pastors for fleecing the people. Furthermore, they argue, such displays of wealth are not in consonance with a reality in which the vast majority of the country’s population is mired in poverty. The opposition counters that Oritsejafor is well within his rights as an individual to receive gifts from his congregation in appreciation of his service to God and humanity. They say that the jet is less a luxury than a necessity; a tool for aiding the ministry of an evangelist whose missions require him to be able to travel swiftly and at short notice without suffering the bottlenecks and aggravation of the airports and public aviation. Thus, the jet should be properly seen as an instrument of the gospel. Perhaps if Paul the Apostle were alive today he would have achieved much more if he had a jet and a mobile phone. There is also the idea that Oritsejafor has been justly blessed by God for his 40 year meritorious exertion for the sake of the gospel; and that the new jet is simply an example of God rewarding his servants with material prosperity. Therefore, those criticizing him are belly-aching, envious and speaking out of a mindset conditioned by poverty that cannot grasp the awesome grace of God in the lives of his servants. How can we mediate this collision of fiercely-held views?

 

The truth of the matter is that clerics are well within their rights to acquire or receive jets or other material assets. They have the inalienable right to pursue after ownership of property or other material acquisitions. God is a God that cares about the material endowment of His people and asking His servants to swear to vows of chastity and poverty negates the tenets of our faith and becomes a throwback to the medieval days of the Church of monks, nuns and monasteries.  But as we delve deeper into Scripture we begin to see other considerations that inform our perceptions of what is right or wrong. Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, "All things are permissible but not all things are beneficial or expedient." Or as The Message Bible succinctly renders it: "Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate." The import of the Apostle Paul's admonition is clear – the fact that something is legal does not mean that it is beneficial.  While pastors might be well within their rights to acquire or receive jets, what makes it right at this time is its interpretation on the platform of motive and expediency.

 

So the question is not "is it right or wrong to own a jet?" It goes deeper. The more penetrating issue being unearthed is "is it expedient at this time to own a jet?" Elisha the Old Testament prophet berated his servant Gehazi who had surreptitiously obtained some gifts from Naaman the Syrian General. Elisha asked Gehazi, "Is it the time to receive money and to receive clothing?" (2 Kings 5:26). The question for Gehazi was that of expediency of the moment. There were other issues at stake. There were other considerations. Solomon the wisest man who ever lived said "To everything there is a season and time to every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  The Apostle Paul also urges us to ensure that our liberty in Christ does not become a source of grief to others or cause them to sin. He said, on one occasion, that he was legally justified to eat food offered to idols, a practice that would have horrified many of his listeners who found such pagan practices abhorrent. But Paul conceded that if something he had a liberty to do caused his brothers to stumble, he would refrain from doing so.

 

Thus, careful and continuous thought must guide our daily decisions beyond the technical issues of right or wrong.  There is another process of thinking that should inform our perceptions of what is permissible and what is not. Therefore, legitimate questions can be asked about the propriety of owning a jet in a country where poverty is rife (unfortunately it is often done in cruel and contemptible language). People's perceptions of issues are their own realities. The ownership of jets currently paints a picture of pastors who live in alienated opulence, quite removed from the laity to whom they minister. This unfortunate and unflattering portrait casts a dark shadow on our witness and our ministry. With the growing trend of jet ownership, we also run the risk of being ensnared in the trap of competitive acquisition and conspicuous consumption. For instance, a jet that can only cover the African continent might soon be deemed unsatisfactory and discarded in favour of a jet that is capable of transatlantic distances. After a while, it may not be enough to be able to fly to Europe at a moment's notice; one may find it necessary to find a jet that can cover greater distances, perhaps reach America or the Far East.  How far do we go in acquiring such expensive items in the name of facilitating the gospel? Secondly, the more we seek or accept such expensive gifts, which are not just pricey but also inordinately expensive to maintain, the more beholden we will be as pastors to those who can afford us the means to maintain them. Already, in many churches, attention is heavily skewed in favour of the rich and the powerful. In a country where corruption and abuse of power are rife, this leaves the pastors open to charges of colluding with the corrupt. Indeed, we must humbly admit that many who bring gifts to our churches may have obtained them through dubious means and questionable methods. This exposes us to accusations of sanctifying greed, theft and graft, in return for receiving expensive gifts and status symbols. It also negates our ability to operate with moral and prophetic authority and fulfill the function of speaking truth to power – a much needed role in our society which is steeped in moral degeneration. Under these circumstances, the ownership of jets must be deemed, as Paul the Apostle clarified, "technically legal but spiritually inappropriate".

 

So also are all displays of ostentation that cast clerics in the mould of the super-rich elites. The argument that a pastor is entitled to a jet because bank chieftains, moguls and CEOs own theirs as well reflects a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of pastoral ministry. There should be no basis for comparison. Our goal should be to emulate Christ, not to compete with CEOs. There is a need for sobriety in the times in which we live. We have to always balance the things that are permissible with sensitivity to the expediency of the times in which we live and continuously process the ethical demands of our higher calling - - an understandably difficult and arduous task. Indulging in displays of opulence is currently inconsistent with those demands. This is why pastors in a spirit of deference, ought to see this debate, not through the prism of technical legality, but through the prism of spiritual propriety. The gospel is already, in the words of Paul, "a stumbling block." Our insensitivity in these depraved and trying times need not constitute another stumbling block. We live in times of national turmoil, combustive passions and volatile emotions; times in which the people we lead, as God told Jonah concerning Nineveh, do not sometimes know their right hand from their left.

 

Dr. Tony Rapu

http://m.facebook.com/note.php?refid=7&note_id=447687251959059

8 Likes

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by Cyberknight: 9:12am On Nov 28, 2012
All the brouhaha over private jets owned by church leaders is, in my opinion, misplaced. Most of these churches are actually private companies run as businesses. And if the board of directors of a business decide to use the company's profits to buy the MD/CEO a jet, they are within their rights. Any person who doesn't like it should cease contributing to that particular church company's profits by ending his attendance at its Sunday seminars and other gatherings, or raise the issue at shareholders meetings.

7 Likes

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by tushbobo(m): 9:20am On Nov 28, 2012
The question is where is Charity in the Church of God today? God places charity above all these acquisitions men take as important.We do not see 'men of God' suffering their flesh to the benefit of others like the Apostles of old.
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by Albert708(m): 9:20am On Nov 28, 2012
This is all rubish the church need
a revolution...
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by cameronese(m): 9:29am On Nov 28, 2012
A Market Woman was running here and there looking for where to change Naira to Dollars, she came to me for assistance -- she was so serious about it and ready to do anything for it. Out of curiosity I asked her; Madam, what is that so serious you want to do with this dollars? Then she told me it was for Offering in the church (Christ Embassy) and she must get it at all cost!

Obviously, their pastors have made them believe (Through brainwash) that the best offering is the one offered in dollars or even made it mandatory for them. All these are effort to make more money by the said church. The Logic is: While the naira may get devalued -- the value of the dollars will always be on the increase against the naira -- guaranteeing the international value of whatever amount they make, and at the same time making it easy to be moved into foreign accounts.

Why would a church remotely influence their members to donate in certain currency? For those who are saying quite if you do not like the church; its easier to quite smoking that to break free from brainwash

2 Likes

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by tushbobo(m): 9:30am On Nov 28, 2012
...and Christians nowadays are quick to quote scriptures which seem to justify their vanity.At the same time ignoring scriptures that preach placing others above self,fruits of the spirit,seeking first God's kingdom etc

1 Like

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by bomega4u(m): 9:32am On Nov 28, 2012
Cyberknight: All the brouhaha over private jets owned by church leaders is, in my opinion, misplaced. Most of these churches are actually private companies run as businesses. And if the board of directors of a business decide to use the company's profits to buy the MD/CEO a jet, they are within their rights. Any person who doesn't like it should cease contributing to that particular church company's profits by ending his attendance at its Sunday seminars and other gatherings, or raise the issue at shareholders meetings.

Period!
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by ola80(m): 9:37am On Nov 28, 2012
Cyberknight: All the brouhaha over private jets owned by church leaders is, in my opinion, misplaced. Most of these churches are actually private companies run as businesses. And if the board of directors of a business decide to use the company's profits to buy the MD/CEO a jet, they are within their rights. Any person who doesn't like it should cease contributing to that particular church company's profits by ending his attendance at its Sunday seminars and other gatherings, or raise the issue at shareholders meetings.

GBAM
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by toluene12: 9:38am On Nov 28, 2012
[/b][b]
Cyberknight: All the brouhaha over private jets owned by church leaders is, in my opinion, misplaced. Most of these churches are actually private companies run as businesses. And if the board of directors of a business decide to use the company's profits to buy the MD/CEO a jet, they are within their rights. Any person who doesn't like it should cease contributing to that particular church company's profits by ending his attendance at its Sunday seminars and other gatherings, or raise the issue at shareholders meetings.
Actually bro, churches are not private companies, they are registered as charity organisations- reason why they are exempted from paying taxes. Their main source of funding is via donations from registered members or the public. Also, they are not expected to declare profit instead they are to give account of judicious use of funds towards various projects or other charity works. The members of the board of trustees are not to dip indiscriminately into the charity purse or enrich themselves from the charity's funds (read about charity commission and the king's trust mininstries as a case study).
If pastors want to run churches like a business enterprise , then they should go back to CAC and register their corporation properly.

2 Likes

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by badesco(m): 9:43am On Nov 28, 2012
Pastor Ayo Oritshejafor should be left alone, after all there are other pastors that has more than one jet yet nobody cry foul.

1 Like

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by Dee60: 9:44am On Nov 28, 2012
It is indeed about the timing. It is possible that in the near future, owning a jet would be like owning a car, after all in the recent past, very few could own a Mercedes Benz. At a time like this, church leaders may indeed be sending out wrong signals by increasing the fleet of jets. They may even be seen as joining the bandwagon (like following the path of the very corrupt politicians and oil thieves of our time).

No one has come up with any economic justification, though. If for instance, a church has ten people travelling inter-continentally every week, and they feel that owning their own jet could help to save time and money, then they may have some argument or justification!

In all, reason should prevail. If our meat will cause others to stumble, then we should carefully check how we eat meat. I agree fully with Dr Tony Rapu, it should not come down to technicalities of right or wrong. We should examine the message that the spiralling acquisition is sending out. Before you know it, some pastors will in a covert (or even overt!) manner be asking their congregants to buy them jets and they would have one very good example to cite.

If a pastor can afford it, and his means of income are obvious to all, may be there wont be questions, and such a pastor could buy, yet should be mindful of the will of God even in doing that.

1 Like

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by Redmosquito(m): 9:53am On Nov 28, 2012
Minion: Your wickedness! What do you think of this new trend?
Hades: Once mortals abandon their greatest God, their brain, the very seat of their logic and intelligence. Once mortals forsake this their great weapon(brain), then they have surrendered themselves to the devices of others, both good and bad
Minion: My King! So what you are saying is that the pastors have the right to get richer at the expence of the concregation, simply becaure the concregation has turned away from there only God, their brain?!

2 Likes

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by tushbobo(m): 10:02am On Nov 28, 2012
toluene12: [/b][b]
Actually bro, churches are not private companies, they are registered as charity organisations- reason why they are exempted from paying taxes. Their main source of funding is via donations from registered members or the public. Also, they are not expected to declare profit instead they are to give account of judicious use of funds towards various projects or other charity works. The members of the board of trustees are not to dip indiscriminately into the charity purse or enrich themselves from the charity's funds (read about charity commission and the king's trust mininstries as a case study).
If pastors want to run churches like a business enterprise , then they should go back to CAC and register their corporation properly.

Dont literally translate cyberknight's post.The fact is dispite all laws and controls,Churches in Nigeria are run as private businesses.The pastors are not accountable to anyone.Most of these pastors are wiser than their followers(they have probably read far more books and generally more exposed).They know its easier to get rich using other people's money.People naturally have a longing for a spiritual cause and this makes it easy for the pastors to deceive in the name of God.
How can you explain someone who believes he has God's calling (mostly false) sets up a Church,ordains himself pastor and starts collecting tithes from members.These tithes do not go to God or humanity but used to enlarge/enhance the pastors empire and powers.
Most people are not thinkers and just go with the crowd without having a depth that they are being manipulated.
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by ypzilanti: 10:10am On Nov 28, 2012
Nothing more to say on this topic.

The facts speak for themselves. Anyone not consumed by 'man idolatary' and 'god of man' worship stands on the side of reason.
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by kunlekunle: 10:36am On Nov 28, 2012
Cyberknight: All the brouhaha over private jets owned by church leaders is, in my opinion, misplaced. Most of these churches are actually private companies run as businesses. And if the board of directors of a business decide to use the company's profits to buy the MD/CEO a jet, they are within their rights. Any person who doesn't like it should cease contributing to that particular church company's profits by ending his attendance at its Sunday seminars and other gatherings, or raise the issue at shareholders meetings.

churches are considered charity organisations, if so you cant use the fund at will.
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by floriana(m): 10:37am On Nov 28, 2012
Nigerian pastors are God's instrument of punishment for man's worshipping of his fellow man. The many ediots in the churches who would not read their Bibles but would rather idolise their showmen pastors are being fleeced of their incomes as punishment. Long live Nigerian pastors and more jets to their ego.

1 Like

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by bigfat: 10:45am On Nov 28, 2012
IS JET A LUXURY OR NECESSITY IN NIGERIA?

1 Like

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by ocelot2006(m): 10:55am On Nov 28, 2012
That's it. My tithe now goes straight to orphanages, NOT churches.

4 Likes

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by mountzion1: 12:59pm On Nov 28, 2012
Kudos to the pastor tony rapus,tunde bakare and matthew kukahs of this world,like he said all things are law but not all are expedient.because we all have assumed knowledge we feel we can interpret the word.there is saying that goes:Do not be open minded that your brains will fall out.To all christians this is my advice,be like the berean christian who after been preached to go back home to search scpriptures compararing scipture with scripture.
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by Jazzgreen(m): 1:53pm On Nov 28, 2012
Yet they tag this Man who uses his church finances to assist the poor as "EVIL" and justify the jet owners as the "SAINTS" and TRUE PASTORS. MTCHEEEEEEW angry

Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by smokeyupu(m): 2:27pm On Nov 28, 2012
Behind bobo:

Dont literally translate cyberknight's post.The fact is dispite all laws and controls,Churches in Nigeria are run as private businesses.The pastors are not accountable to anyone.Most of these pastors are wiser than their followers(they have probably read far more books and generally more exposed).They know its easier to get rich using other people's money.People naturally have a longing for a spiritual cause and this makes it easy for the pastors to deceive in the name of God.
How can you explain someone who believes he has God's calling (mostly false) sets up a Church,ordains himself pastor and starts collecting tithes from members.These tithes do not go to God or humanity but used to enlarge/enhance the pastors empire and powers.
Most people are not thinkers and just go with the crowd without having a depth that they are being manipulated.
If you open a church,may be you should give it to the state government to run for it not to be seen as a private thing ! Whether a church is run by one man,two men,community,state or a country,so long as it's doctrine is bible based,it is a church of God. A community must not come together for there to be a church.Church is when two or three are gathered. Make una leave church alone.Church no be nigerian politics or economics. Humans can't do anytghing no matter how you try.Only the spirit can. The best you can do as a human is to either leave that particular church or stop going to church. The protestant shoulted;sacrilage,blasphemy,hereticism false doctrine,human doctrine all as practiced by the catholic church according to the protestant church,but what happened ? The catholic church continued with their doctrines and never changed but people left just like some of you here. IF YOUR CHURCH DOES NOT BECOS U CAN NOT CHANGE HER.AND YOU CAN'T BE CHANGED,CHANGE CHURCH !
God bless us
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by smokeyupu(m): 2:39pm On Nov 28, 2012
ocelot2006: That's it. My tithe now goes straight to orphanages, NOT churches.
Then you dnt pay tithe ! Tithe if you are to follow it should be taken to the house of God. Taking money to the motherless homes is still very very good but not tithe ! But pls note:If you pay ur tithe and you dnt help the needy,your tithe is worthless !But every one who sincerely pays tithe out of love for there to be much in the house of God,will most certainly help the needy as well. I am not a faithful tither but i know i'm not doing the right thing !
Dnt allow the devil deceive you with all that is going on. I have heard pple say they have stopped going to church but to who's detriment ? At their ofcourse becos God on judgement day will not hear any excuse concerning how you stopped fellowshipping with other believers becos of JET PASTORS !
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by smokeyupu(m): 2:40pm On Nov 28, 2012
ocelot2006: That's it. My tithe now goes straight to orphanages, NOT churches.
Then you dnt pay tithe ! Tithe if you are to follow it should be taken to the house of God. Taking money to the motherless homes is still very very good but not tithe ! But pls note:If you pay ur tithe and you dnt help the needy,your tithe is worthless !But every one who sincerely pays tithe out of love for there to be much in the house of God,will most certainly help the needy as well. I am not a faithful tither but i know i'm not doing the right thing !
Dnt allow the devil deceive you with all that is going on. I have heard pple say they have stopped going to church but to who's detriment ? At their ofcourse becos God on judgement day will not hear any excuse concerning how you stopped fellowshipping with other believers becos of JET PASTORS ! The bible said u can't have true fellowship with God and not fellowship with other believers !
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by Dipwater(m): 10:11pm On Nov 28, 2012
[quote author=smokeyupu]
Then you dnt pay tithe ! Tithe if you are to follow it should be taken to the house of God. Taking money to the motherless homes is still very very good but not tithe ! But pls note:If you pay ur tithe and you dnt help the needy,your tithe is worthless !But every one who sincerely pays tithe out of love for there to be much in the house of God,will most certainly help the needy as well. I am not a faithful tither but i know i'm not doing the right thing !
Dnt allow the devil deceive you with all that is going on. I have heard pple say they have stopped going to church but to who's detriment ? At their ofcourse becos God on judgement day will not hear any excuse concerning how you stopped fellowshipping with other believers becos of JET PASTORS ! [/quote



Tithe ke! People still dey give their money to pastors?
What if ur god does not exist?]
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by Shegbe: 2:33am On Nov 29, 2012
I sincerely do not know what the ranting is all about. He is not the first Nigerian pastor to buy a jet & he will most likely not be the last. I heard from a colleague dat Alison Maduekwe's son owns a jet almost double the cost of Pastor Oritsejafor's jet. I guess nobody is concerned because he is not a pastor. Misplaced priorities. Mtcheeeew.
Re: The Jet Controversy By Tony Rapu. by giftbz(m): 9:33am On Nov 29, 2012
[b][/b]Yes T.B.Joshua will always remain an agent of the devil in their eyes for as along as he refuses to embrace their ways and continues in the charity life Christ demostrated on earth. They are all chained professional pastors that delights in swimming in affluence while 87% of their members eat in the ratio of 0:1:0 daily. They get free labour and donations from they to build schools, yet they prevent their children from attending through very high school fees and claim to be agents of the light.God go help us oooh!

(1) (Reply)

Is It True, CCC And C&S Are Into Worship Of Water Spirit Without Knowing? / Be Wise As 'serpents'. Really? But Satan is the 'Serpent! / Crazy Things That Religious People Believe - Add Yours

(Go Up)

Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health
religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket

Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 106
Disclaimer: Every Nairaland member is solely responsible for anything that he/she posts or uploads on Nairaland.