Firstly, I know most Nigerians have poor reading culture, hence the Quote: "If you wish to keep something from a Black Man, hide it in a Book". But if you have the interest of this Nation at heart, you'll read this piece to the end. Please pardon grammatical errors you may encounter and do not expect 'Big Grammar', I'm only a Poet.

Now, do not be carried away by the topic. By 'Private Jet Preachers' I mean every Religious Leader who seems to have compromised their position to the point where people have began to question their authenticity or who have failed to help right the wrongs of the society with their positions but instead seek favour from their Political counterparts. I remember the Bible warns that “…there shall be many False Prophets among you who shall deceive greatly in God's name and seem like the real deal but take heed for their ways are not the ways of Christ and by their fruits ye shall know them”

In every Society from time immemorial, there are always two kinds of Leaders: Political & Religious Leaders and they're inseparable due to the balance they bring to the Society.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS are Priests, Prophets, Pastors, Imams & other clerics whose sole responsibility is to provide moral & spiritual guidance as well as bridge the gap between the Political Leaders and the followers.
They serve as the VOICE of the Masses against Political wastefulness, tyranny, injustice, oppression and other vices characterized by the Leaders who were elected to 'serve'.
Prophets like Moses, Jonah, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Nathan, Jeremiah all chastised the Kings (Political Leaders) when they did wrong (even when they risked being beheaded due to the system of Government then...E.g John The Baptist) but they performed their tasks fearlessly & selflessly. These Prophets (Men of God) were never wealthy but they never lacked. They had everything they needed (emphasis on NEED) and most importantly, never compromised their positions to ridicule and scandal even if it meant turning down gifts from questionable sources, no matter how mouth-watering the freebies are (As seen in the story of Elisha, when he healed a Rich leprous man. His servant who deceitfully received the gifts became leprous too)...that and many more.

Jesus Christ lived like the Prophets but with even more impeccable character and simple lifestyle. He was tempted by the Devil but refused. He walked most of the time even when he could order for a Horse or Camel. He borrowed a boat to enable him preach to a large multitude by the shore. He fed over 5000 people with 5 loaves & 2 fish offered by a young boy which he multiplied even when his Disciples had earlier suggested sending them home. He was mostly with the poor & sick (those He came for) and chastised the Rich, Merchants, Tax-collectors, Pharisees, Church Elders when necessary. When he needed to make an entrance into Jerusalem before he died, he borrowed a Donkey.

The Early Apostles practiced the principles Christ laid down which guided the Early Christians leading to massive charitable works as they spread across the globe. The leaders of these early Churches never ventured into unnecessary acquisition but acted as True Leaders by providing for members, followers, widows, poor, sick & society as a whole. Again they also fearlessly chastised Kings and Emperors. Some were killed violently but they endured it as the persecutions of following Christ and doing the right thing in the sight of God and not Man.

MORAL: Christ, the Prophets before him and even the Apostles after him never made it a priority to acquire Chariots, Horses, Houses (Jets, Cars, Yachts) in the name of preaching the gospel. They put their followers' need before any acquisition and the followers benefited directly from whatever was acquired in the name of the Ministry.

Now fast-forward to the New Era:
Christianity was introduced to us by the ‘White Men’. I don't have details of what they did but their works speak more than the tales we heard. These Missionaries built homes, hospitals, schools, boreholes etc throughout their stay here and to the benefit of all despite the hostility they encountered. Some were even killed by our Traditional Rulers. Mary Slessor risked her life to stop the killing of Twins by challenging an age-old Custom in Old Calabar. Imagine the grossly jungle mentality they encountered, yet they stayed, just to introduce us to the New age and give us the Good News of Christ.

Our current Religious Leaders have totally deviated from the teachings of Christ and principles of the Old Prophets and they have instead chosen to live like the vain, flamboyant and sinful Kings of the Old Testament citing Bible verses to backup their careless and selfish lifestyles (knowing that the Scriptures can be manipulated just the way the Devil did to tempt Christ). Their followers have been so blinded by the Scriptural interpretation of these 'Men of God' that they have refused to seek wisdom and understanding from the Author himself and are spoon-fed with chaff from the twisted minds of these Motivational-Speakers-turned Preachers who have transformed the Gospel into a Tax-free Family Business Empire. Where God CALLS them (assuming that's true) and they CALL their Sons to head the Branches. Starting a Church is now so lucrative that most of them CALL themselves, infact you can start a Church with the help of investors (Yes it's happening already). I only wish God would issue His true Servants 'Certificate of Authenticity' signed by Heaven.

Religious houses aren't taxed by Government because they're registered as Charity Organizations same with NGOs hence abide by same rules. Therefore the Church is accountable to members and the Government on how every kobo is spent same way other Charity homes and NGOs are monitored. So if a Pastor buys a Jet, an NGO too can as well spend the funds meant for charitable purposes to get a Bugatti, Ferrari or Yacht citing 'flimsy reasons' when there are numerous and cheaper alternatives such as HIRE, LEASE and what have you. These wasteful and unnecessary acquisitions are used only by the Church Leaders citing 'Gospel reasons' but registered to the Church to evade TAX.
A Jet costs Billions of Naira and its maintenance sits at over 100million annually besides cost of spare parts, parking fees etc. The total cost of this TOY can feed Millions of Nigerians, build good roads, portable water, affordable Schools, Health Care etc without waiting on the Government. Infact, Nigeria can be like DUBAI in a period of 10years if only these Religious Leaders (with the Billions Churches generate) channeled just 50% of these resources towards humanitarian work and amenities, but they're more interested in living The Life and building Multi-Billion Naira Auditoriums to out-do each other (as if God cares about the size of the building to dwell therein).
They substantiate these wasteful vanities by twisting Verses in the Scriptures while their gullible flocks toil to fuel their Lavish-lifestyles. There's no more humility and simplicity in them as Christ led. Below is a summary of what they do to their flock in the guise of Spiritual guidance:
» They compete with each other: Concerning themselves with Whose Church is Bigger or has the largest Congregation Worldwide and owns the most fleet of expensive toys...not forgetting to add the 'Bodyguard' phenomenon - Scared of what...getting shot?
» They LOOT their Congregation through donations and empty LIES and promises: Car seed, Employment seed, Better Job Seed, Promotion seed, Building seed, Church development seed, Harvest, Covenant, Fruit of the womb Seed and a hundred more - Selling Miracles?
» They Quote and twist Bible verses to back up their selfish excesses: Even to justify killing, if the need arises - Remember notorious Rev. King?
» They're wasteful & call it abundance with slangs: My God is not a poor God & Jesus was poor in other for us to be Rich - The dumbest backup Punchline ever!!!
» Some will even tell you to bring your Tithe to Church rather than use it to help a dying man on the streets by threatening that you're robbing God, forgetting that these same Tithes and Offerings are meant for Charitable purposes (Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan)

Have you ever wondered why the so-called Missionary Private Schools are the most expensive and inaccessible to over 99% of the same congregation that made it possible? (I’m a product of one by the way…so the Religious-Voltrons should calm down). This never happened when the Missionaries first came. They created free and affordable subsidized Institutions to enable the 'Common Man' have access to them, many of their works can still be seen today, several decades after (That was the true purpose of Christ).

In my opinion, I see no Christ in the lives and works of all these 'Celebrated' Preachers who encourage Corrupt Politicians, Fraudsters and their cohorts as long as they make contributions towards their Ministry. They have packaged Salvation for Sale with Price Tags to those who can afford it. Or how can a Preacher who has compromised himself by receiving money, contracts, cars and Private Jet from Corrupt Politicians be able to speak against the same Government's recklessness? They stay SILENT on National issues but are QUICK TO DEFEND their LUXURIES. They no longer represent the People but THEIR OWN POCKETS.

Prayer will take us nowhere. We cry to God for Good Leaders but still vote based on Religious and Tribal sentiments, while our Religious Leaders continue to Wine and Dine with the 'Ogas at the Top' for personal favours and of course endorse/anoint them for Re-Election (LAUGHS). Nigeria will continue to sink deeper till we open our eyes and stop encouraging these 'tin gods' who have hypnotized us with 'Don't Judge a Man of God' and 'Touch not my Anointed' even when they LOOT you dry, RAPE your daughters and F**K your wives. I guess the Constitution should simply grant them 'Immunity' since they're so SACRED.

We have become even more Religious than the Foreign owners. Saudi Arabia and Dubai don't blow up themselves, but every other place with their borrowed Religion (including Northern Nigeria) create unrest with their Religious-myopia. Religious Fanaticism and Tribalism are our BIGGEST Problems, not Corruption...until they are addressed, Mr. Corruption will remain our Landlord and Nigeria is just another ill-maintained Aircraft heading for a FATAL CRASH!!!

Oladapo Adedayo Adebo (@willadebo) & Wadupradio.com

k