Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / New
Stats: 3,143,160 members, 7,780,126 topics. Date: Thursday, 28 March 2024 at 10:02 AM

Pastors And Convoy Mentality - Religion - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / Pastors And Convoy Mentality (1445 Views)

Millionaire Pastors and their Poor Members / Awareness For The Top Pastors And The Churches!!! / Nigerian Fake Pastors And Church Business Exposed (2) (3) (4)

(1) (Reply) (Go Down)

Pastors And Convoy Mentality by segyemaro(m): 3:12pm On Mar 17, 2009
THIS IS AN ARTICLE I READ IN THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF MARCH 16TH 2009,I WAS THRILLED AND WONDERED,SO I DECIDED TO SHARE IT WITH NAIRALANDERS.
The church building was bursting with a sea of religious humanity. Dutiful ushers meandered through narrow tracks between rows of seats, as worship songs rent the air. It was a waiting game: the man of God was yet to arrive. Suddenly, a procession of posh cars thrust through the entrance, one of which disgorged on the scene a band of armed policemen, who provided free entertainment in military acrobatics. From a jeep with tinted glasses emerged a happy figure. As a newcomer, I maintained an inquiry look at him to establish his identity in the political class. He walked briskly towards the church building, distributing oral blessings to those that greeted him. That was the pastor, not a politician!

While we were yet protesting the siren and convoy mentality among our politicians, the initiation had already been concluded in our sanctuaries. First, let me put the issue in proper perspective: there is nothing wrong for a pastor to go in the company of other cars, especially when it is necessary. What is curious is the inclusion of armed policemen in such a company, tinted car glasses shielding the pastor's identity, and when the movement itself becomes no less than an abridged carnival, with all the theatrics of ostentation and cynosure tactics. The questions that readily come to mind are: Have guns become part of the armory in the Christian warfare? Are the tinted glasses meant to prevent Satan and his workmen from seeing the pastor, lest they attack him? Will the pastor miss his way if he goes in a lone car?

The first question pertains to the issue of protection. "That God protects us does not mean we should be foolishly unrealistic, and refuse to play our own part. Heaven helps those who help themselves". That could be the argument of the indulging pastors. They can even make reference to the pervading state of insecurity in the country, pointing out that some men of God have been victims. But wait a minute, do armed policemen really constitute self-help in the sight of God? Will God be interested to play second fiddle to a human security arrangement? Is a pastor really well protected in the hands of smoking-nourished, liquor-honed, armed cops? And if a pastor's police guard kills an attacker, will God pat the pastor on the back for successful self-defense?

Talking about insecurity, is the pastor's sudden prominent economic status not responsible for the attraction he holds for armed robbers? In the past, when men of God were MISSIONARIES, no robber would attack them. Stories did abound then of robbers who went to rob men of God but got converted rather. That was when pastors lived modestly, and were fully committed to spreading the gospel. Today's pastor is a loud materialist, a millionaire and a potential politician, who is very passionate about long life, so as to enjoy wealth to the fullest, yet he is sermonizing about a heavenly paradise so inviting. When he wants to plant churches abroad, he does not remember war-torn Sudan and Congo, he rushes to America and Europe, to avail himself of the dollar and pound advantage, even though those climes are already bursting with churches. Anyway, my thinking on this particular question is that a man of God who is not out of favour with God will have nothing to fear and will have no need for armed policemen. His guards are the Angels.

The second question is on "tinted car glasses". Honestly I can't fathom any other reason for this but naked pride. For, it can't be part of the protection apparatus. Though, I am told, some of such glasses, and even cars, are bullet-proof. Imagine, we have become so keen on living that we now think we can limit Death's hands with physical barriers. It might not be too long before we start having pastors preaching, flanked by robotic aide-de-camps. Be that as it may, The pastor 'shielded' behind tinted glasses might as well be interested in the preferential treatment offered to people who ride in cars bedecked by same. In that case, it is impeachable, being an effort in self-elevation. A pastor might be accorded some kind of exemption, but must he pushfully present himself as a candidate for same? One would have even expected a pastor to be visibly accessible, and identify with the common people. The materialistic pastor is no less than a 'spiritual socialite', spawned by base values and displaced righteousness.

The third issue is the convoy procession. Last year, I witnessed the arrival of a certain popular pastor during a crusade in Okota, Lagos. It was, to say the least, a car parade. A procession of cars snaked its way down the road in advertised showmanship, a religious re-enactment of the ideal Nigerian electioneering scenario. The scene was further heightened in its electricity with sturdy police gyrations and carnival aura. Such processions, with all these ceremonial fripperies, denote nothing but the expression of flamboyance and cynosure theatrics. It all boils down to materialism, a brand of it that is a fusion of narcissistic arrogance and showiness.

Well, a little digression please. The use of the word 'brand' has just reminded me of a spooky development in Christian evangelism. It is gratifying to note that Christianity has for long now embraced both outdoor and indoor advertising for evangelism. The problem, however, is that just like in conventional corporate marketing communication, Christianity as a concept has already been commercialized, such that denominations are now brands of it. Each brand tries to capture a sizeable portion of the market, or possibly all of it, through brand advertising: the messages on billboards and other media do not project Christ and His values, and how the target audience would benefit by being Christians. What we have are messages advertising miracle-hawking churches (brands), and an implicit appeal to the audience to shun other brands and patronize the one being advertised. A sincere evangelical message in the media should be anonymous and Christ-centred, with promises of salvation and warnings against sin. A direct corollary of brand advertising in Christianity is internecine competition in Christendom, leading to all the negative effects that obtain in any competitive environment.

One of such negative effects is the tendency to lionize inferior values and downplay the imperative ones, as long as that is what the market wants. In the case of Christianity, miracles have been placed above salvation, such that brands offering the former will be more appealing to the target market than their counterparts dishing out 'mere' salvation. Meanwhile, one of the cardinal virtues in Christianity is modesty. On no account should it be compromised. The convoy mentality is highly regrettable.


*Emmanuel James, a Platonist, contributes this piece from Lagos.


OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SECTION The Prison As A Metaphor


Pastors And The Convoy Mentality
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by Maykelly(f): 12:00pm On Mar 18, 2009
@poster, your msg is too long, but according to your Topic, I don't see anything wrong for pastor to move in convoy. Reasons is not actually that they are using it for protection but, to escape from holdup on the way in other to meet up for whatever they are heading for. They go together hence in convoy.ok. cool
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by dejiariyo: 1:18pm On Mar 18, 2009
so pastors are not humans, they dont wanna be holdup in traffics?hmmm pastors getting piority wrong
now we will have landlords using escorts cos they dont wanna be holdup in traffics as well
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by segyemaro(m): 6:45pm On Mar 18, 2009
yes its long ,i did not want to summarized it because i wanted it to be on its original cos i am not the writer. A lot is wrong for a pastor to move with convoy and siren,please lets be realistics at least for once
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by manmustwac(m): 7:39pm On Mar 18, 2009
May kelly:

@poster, your msg is too long, but according to your Topic, I don't see anything wrong for pastor to move in convoy. Reasons is not actually that they are using it for protection but, to escape from holdup on the way in other to meet up for whatever they are heading for. They go together hence in convoy.ok. cool
So the pastors have the right to move in convoys with their expensive rides, with tinted windows like politicians flaunting ill gotton wealth? When your Lord Jesus Christ was on this planet no be common donkey he is wakka?

1 Like

Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by MrCrackles(m): 7:45pm On Mar 18, 2009
Pastors dis!Pastors dat!!

Pastors make una comot for news, wetin dey now
?! grin
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by blacksta(m): 8:30pm On Mar 18, 2009
@ poster


do you not know that the anointing has to be protected
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by MrCrackles(m): 8:35pm On Mar 18, 2009
blacksta:

@ poster


do you not know that the anointing has to be protected

shocked shocked shocked
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by mustafar1: 8:39pm On Mar 18, 2009
soon they'll fly in convoy. millitary formation and all, with fighter jets flanking both wings and above.

1 Like

Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by marvisjoy: 8:49pm On Mar 18, 2009
they should be given brigade of guard too
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by bawomolo(m): 10:36pm On Mar 18, 2009
blacksta:

@ poster


do you not know that the anointing has to be protected

i never knew a spiritual anointing requires physical protection. it's a miracle working god
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by segyemaro(m): 7:43pm On Mar 19, 2009
na soooooooooo
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by kenny888: 5:05pm On Mar 20, 2009
what do they need convoy for?
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by segyemaro(m): 5:39pm On Mar 20, 2009
only God know ooooooo
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by marvisjoy: 9:16am On Mar 21, 2009
yes oooooooooooooo
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by realpastor: 4:00pm On Mar 21, 2009
na who nor like better thing?
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by segyemaro(m): 2:31am On Mar 31, 2009
You call that better thing?when they are following the way of the world,they are infact suffering.
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by realpastor: 3:18am On Apr 02, 2009
Hmm things of the world.
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by marvisjoy: 8:02am On Apr 03, 2009
I will do more if i were in their shoes. I will go around with machine gun
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by kenny888: 6:13pm On Apr 07, 2009
You will do more if you were in their shoe?my brother abi sister pray for better thing not to be imprisoned to yourself.
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by segyemaro(m): 10:33am On Apr 08, 2009
That is realy imprisonment.
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by Epiphany(m): 12:09am On Apr 10, 2009
Shebi when Jesus dey move from place to place, people 'thronged' after him? In a way, i can understand all these people moving along with pastors in convoys.

Firstly, people who just want to 'attach' to the pastor. You know those kind of people na! Wherever pastor wants to go, they want to follow him

Secondly, people looking for cheap miracles. In our country where everyone is looking for a quick fix, once they hear that Daddy GO or Bishop Oyedepo are going somewhere, they must follow him to the place also.

Then of course, there are the IDIOT PASTORS whose ego's are too big for themselves. They just want to feel important hence, they hire armed security men and make sure that their ushers, church choir, deacons, assistant pastors, protocol and all members of their church follow them to their destinations. Since all these people cant fit into the pastors car, he ensures that they all come in as many other cars as possible.

All na flamboyance and deceit, which are very un neccessary.
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by realpastor: 3:58pm On Apr 10, 2009
you can say that again.
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by segyemaro(m): 6:05pm On May 03, 2009
Epiphany:

Shebi when Jesus dey move from place to place, people 'thronged' after him? In a way, i can understand all these people moving along with pastors in convoys.

Firstly, people who just want to 'attach' to the pastor. You know those kind of people na! Wherever pastor wants to go, they want to follow him

Secondly, people looking for cheap miracles. In our country where everyone is looking for a quick fix, once they hear that Daddy GO or Bishop Oyedepo are going somewhere, they must follow him to the place also.

Then of course, there are the IDIOT PASTORS whose ego's are too big for themselves. They just want to feel important hence, they hire armed security men and make sure that their ushers, church choir, deacons, assistant pastors, protocol and all members of their church follow them to their destinations. Since all these people cant fit into the pastors car, he ensures that they all come in as many other cars as possible.

All na flamboyance and deceit, which are very un neccessary.
na sooooo
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by realpastor: 7:42pm On May 18, 2009
segyemaro:

na sooooo
Lord have mercy
Re: Pastors And Convoy Mentality by marvisjoy: 9:11pm On May 20, 2009
realpastor:

Lord have mercy
[/quoteLord have mercy on he pastors or who?

(1) (Reply)

Prophet T.b. Joshua Prohpesies --- President Roh's Suicide / 5 Nights Of Glory With Pastor David Ibiyeomie / A Bible Meeting On Speaking In Tongues.

(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. 45
Disclaimer: Every Nairaland member is solely responsible for anything that he/she posts or uploads on Nairaland.