The church and other religious groups in the country have been urged to preach more on the civic responsibilities of their members as part of the on-going crusade for national rebirth. The Rivers State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Zilly Aggrey, made the call in an interview in Port Harcourt when he also spoke of plans to purge churches in the State of pastors who engage in sharp practices.

Apostle Aggrey, who is General Overseer of Royal House of Grace International Church, recommended what he tagged: “Transformation theology” under which sermons should emphasize commitment to national transformation.
He urged for a shift from the current trend of casting and binding witches as well as deliverance and prosperity in churches, to getting adherents to actively work for the collective good through good moral conduct.

“Every religious society is a by-product of the kind of teaching that are being given to the people. In this part of the world, that is Africa, the average African Christian gets excited when you talk about witches and wizards and demonic powers.
So, they preach more of salvation, miracles, deliverance, breakthroughs and prosperity messages instead of commitment to national transformation.

“You see, such teachings have not yet taken over the teachings of religious gatherings where people will now come to know that if you are a citizen of a country, you are under obligation to be patriotic, to make sure that you represent God and represent your nation adequately and effectively.

“Righteousness is not just abstinence from indulgences; righteousness simply means doing things right. So, we have not taught our people from religious houses even how to drive on our roads.
“People should hear from their pulpits how to drive, how to pay your taxes, time management, obligations to credit. These are things that are not being taught. What we teach is how to bind the devil, how to fight witches and wizards, how to prosper and all of that. We have not been involved in community development”, he said.
The PFN State Chairman urged churches to emulate the early Missionaries who were committed to the development of the holistic man.
He urged for teaching of his proposed reformation theology in churches, market places, schools, police stations, military formations, offices and motor parks.

“When people are indoctrinated with the reformation theology, they will begin to be alive to their civic responsibilities. Within the religious circles, we should begin to teach the kind of things that will indoctrinate our people to say that they should not just accept people because of questionable wealth that they have acquired”, he said.
Apostle Aggrey observed that many churches have not taught their members, “the sacredness of the vote”, pointing out that, “if electoral reforms are eventually put in place and the larger society which come to church are not being taught the vital aspect of preserving your votes”, not much would be achieved in that all-important area of national life.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/06/national-06-04-2010-16.htm

this is one way Nigeria can move forward. when pastors preach financial prosperity., it kind of encourages corruption.

Now,that is very sensible.