Tunde Bakare’s Achilles’ Heel

By: Deji Yesufu

Tunde Bakare has been in the news in the last two weeks. Bakare came under severe criticism following his comments on the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Bakare had predicted in the video that his words will be twisted and taken out of context, and true to to it that was what happened. People felt that Bakare was laundering the image of Tinubu and preparing him for the Presidential elections in 2023. When I watched that video, I saw something else entirely.

In 2004/2005, I was in Lagos searching for job after finishing school. I had to undergo surgery and my parent instructed me not to use my recuperating period for job search. Instead I spent that time going to Bakare’s Church, Latter Rain Assembly – while they were still in Akilo Rd. Ogba. I never regret the time I spent there. For some strange reasons, Bakare’s sermons centered on empowering jobless graduates to making a living. He taught us how to do things even with practically no resources. Everything I do today, besides my 9am to 4pm job, was inspired by my time listening to Bakare in that time period. For a while, after that, I regarded myself as a “Bakarite”. I have since jettisoned that label and I’ll return to that matter later.

My point at this juncture is to state that Tunde Bakare was certainly not laundering Tinuhu’s image in that video. Those of us who listen to Bakare’s sermons know that his words were more like adages and they require careful listening and not hasty conclusions. Whatever anybody may have against Tunde Bakare, whatever he might be accused of; one thing you cannot accuse Bakare of is financial fraud. Bakare is one man that is above board concerning financial matters and every effort by people to rope into some financial misdemeanor has never succeeded.

Having said that, I have this thing against Tunde Bakare; it is the reason I stopped referring to myself as his disciple or a Bakarite. It is my sincere hope that Tunde Bakare or some of his assistants will read this essay and help him to refocus his ministry. It is the matter that concerns the heart of his preaching.

When Archbishop Benson Idahosa was alive, Tunde Bakare preached series of messages where he accused the Archbishop of “loosing his vision”. He said Idahosa has allowed the gospel of prosperity to make him loose the true vision of ministry: which is seeking the lost for Christ’s kingdom. Incidentally, and by a strange turn of events also, it appears to me today that Tunde Bakare himself has lost the vision of true Christian ministry. Bakare has replaced the faithful preaching of the word of God, the Bible, which alone can bring sinners to repentance and faith; and is rather preaching a social gospel – a gospel of a better Nigeria. Which in a real sense is not a gospel of Christ but another gospel.

Let’s be clear at this point: I am not one of those who think that clergy men cannot comment on national issues or things that concern the well being of a people. I think it is plain hypocritical to say that pastors should face ministry and leave politics. The truth of the matter is that pastors oversea the lives of ordinary people and when these people are suffering because of some harsh economic realities, pastors must be able to say a word or two to caution government. This is why the recent comment by Bishop Matthew Kukah are quite welcome in our body polity, and the Nigerian government will do well to heed his warnings and not criticize the Catholic Priest. However something becomes fundamentally wrong when most of a preacher’s utterances concern social matters and not gospel realities. I am of the opinion that Tunde Bakare has left gospel preaching and is now wholly concerned with a social gospel.

My departure from “Bakareism” followed my renouncing of Pentecostalism. Pentecostalism is not a heresy; however it harbors many erroneous positions that leaves open opportunity for Satan to take advantage of the unwary in the movement. Pentecostalism does not offer a critical edge to guard against the encroachment of heresies, this is why less than half a decade following the birthing of this denomination, it was taken over by the heresy of the Word of Faith. While Tunde Bakare repudiates Word of Faith, he left himself open to another error: social gospel. Pentecostalism is prone to these errors because of an element within it’s movement: its tendency to glorify experience and minimize Bible teaching.

In seminary my teacher told us that a faithful minister of Christ has no business with topical preaching. Preachers should center their preaching on the word for word textual preaching of biblical texts or what is known as expositional preaching. When ministers do this, they are forced to remain within the text of scripture and not say things outside of it. Of course there are some texts that might warrant the preaching on a social issue but because the Bible is chiefly teaching Christ and the salvation he brought to humanity, Expositional Preaching will lead a minister to center on Christ and him crucified.

This is where Tunde Bakare errs. He preaches topically and not expositionally. And topically preaching will lead a minister to preach his own bias. Bakare’s bias is politics and unfortunately he makes the Bible preach what his bias. I genuinely pray that God opens his eyes to see this. I hope he repents and traces his path back to genuine Christian ministry.

The trouble with Tunde Bakare was not his speech on Tinubu, which clearly was not his endorsing Asiwaju for 2023. Bakare’s trouble is his social gospel: his belief that Jesus died to make Nigeria better. Rather, Jesus died to save men from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Period. Jesus did not have to die to make Nigeria better; hundreds of countries around the world are thriving without Jesus Christ and his gospel. What humanity needs is salvation from sin. A message that Tunde Bakare used to preach heartily sometimes ago but which he has since replaced with a social gospel today. This social gospel, Bakare’s quest for a better Nigeria, is his Achilles’ heel.

Source: https://textandpublishing.com/tunde-bakares-achilles-heel/

Ok.

but is like I have heard him preach from the Bible recently without any reference to Nigeria or polity....Maybe I'm not following him enough to notice...

culf:
but is like I have heard him preach from the Bible recently without any reference to Nigeria or polity....Maybe I'm not following him enough to notice...

Like many preachers like him, he does preach from the Bible. The problem is allowing his bias sip into his ministry.

When a preacher focuses on exposition of the Bible, he finds little time for his biases

pastor Tunde bakare talks with both sides of his mouth

There is:

1. Social gospel.
2. Marriage gospel.
3. Healing gospel.
4. Motivational gospel.
5. Morality gospel.
6. Deliverance gospel.
7. Empowerment gospel.
8. Prophetic gospel.
9. Prayer gospel.

Which one should a pastor focus on?

.

Acehart:
There is:

1. Social gospel.
2. Marriage gospel.
3. Healing gospel.
4. Motivational gospel.
5. Morality gospel.
6. Deliverance gospel.
7. Empowerment gospel.
8. Prophetic gospel.
9. Prayer gospel.

Which one should a pastor focus on?

The True Gospel... Lalasticlala, Seun, Mynd44 consider for front page

VBCampaign:
Tunde Bakare’s Achilles’ Heel

By: Deji Yesufu
Tunde Bakare has been in the news in the last two weeks. Bakare came under severe criticism following his comments on the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Bakare had predicted in the video that his words will be twisted and taken out of context, and true to to it that was what happened. People felt that Bakare was laundering the image of Tinubu and preparing him for the Presidential elections in 2023. When I watched that video, I saw something else entirely.

In 2004/2005, I was in Lagos searching for job after finishing school. I had to undergo surgery and my parent instructed me not to use my recuperating period for job search. Instead I spent that time going to Bakare’s Church, Latter Rain Assembly – while they were still in Akilo Rd. Ogba. I never regret the time I spent there. For some strange reasons, Bakare’s sermons centered on empowering jobless graduates to making a living. He taught us how to do things even with practically no resources. Everything I do today, besides my 9am to 4pm job, was inspired by my time listening to Bakare in that time period. For a while, after that, I regarded myself as a “Bakarite”. I have since jettisoned that label and I’ll return to that matter later.

My point at this juncture is to state that Tunde Bakare was certainly not laundering Tinuhu’s image in that video. Those of us who listen to Bakare’s sermons know that his words were more like adages and they require careful listening and not hasty conclusions. Whatever anybody may have against Tunde Bakare, whatever he might be accused of; one thing you cannot accuse Bakare of is financial fraud. Bakare is one man that is above board concerning financial matters and every effort by people to rope into some financial misdemeanor has never succeeded.

Having said that, I have this thing against Tunde Bakare; it is the reason I stopped referring to myself as his disciple or a Bakarite. It is my sincere hope that Tunde Bakare or some of his assistants will read this essay and help him to refocus his ministry. It is the matter that concerns the heart of his preaching.

When Archbishop Benson Idahosa was alive, Tunde Bakare preached series of messages where he accused the Archbishop of “loosing his vision”. He said Idahosa has allowed the gospel of prosperity to make him loose the true vision of ministry: which is seeking the lost for Christ’s kingdom. Incidentally, and by a strange turn of events also, it appears to me today that Tunde Bakare himself has lost the vision of true Christian ministry. Bakare has replaced the faithful preaching of the word of God, the Bible, which alone can bring sinners to repentance and faith; and is rather preaching a social gospel – a gospel of a better Nigeria. Which in a real sense is not a gospel of Christ but another gospel.

Let’s be clear at this point: I am not one of those who think that clergy men cannot comment on national issues or things that concern the well being of a people. I think it is plain hypocritical to say that pastors should face ministry and leave politics. The truth of the matter is that pastors oversea the lives of ordinary people and when these people are suffering because of some harsh economic realities, pastors must be able to say a word or two to caution government. This is why the recent comment by Bishop Matthew Kukah are quite welcome in our body polity, and the Nigerian government will do well to heed his warnings and not criticize the Catholic Priest. However something becomes fundamentally wrong when most of a preacher’s utterances concern social matters and not gospel realities. I am of the opinion that Tunde Bakare has left gospel preaching and is now wholly concerned with a social gospel.

My departure from “Bakareism” followed my renouncing of Pentecostalism. Pentecostalism is not a heresy; however it harbors many erroneous positions that leaves open opportunity for Satan to take advantage of the unwary in the movement. Pentecostalism does not offer a critical edge to guard against the encroachment of heresies, this is why less than half a decade following the birthing of this denomination, it was taken over by the heresy of the Word of Faith. While Tunde Bakare repudiates Word of Faith, he left himself open to another error: social gospel. Pentecostalism is prone to these errors because of an element within it’s movement: its tendency to glorify experience and minimize Bible teaching.
In seminary my teacher told us that a faithful minister of Christ has no business with topical preaching. Preachers should center their preaching on the word for word textual preaching of biblical texts or what is known as expositional preaching. When ministers do this, they are forced to remain within the text of scripture and not say things outside of it. Of course there are some texts that might warrant the preaching on a social issue but because the Bible is chiefly teaching Christ and the salvation he brought to humanity, Expositional Preaching will lead a minister to center on Christ and him crucified.

This is where Tunde Bakare errs. He preaches topically and not expositionally. And topically preaching will lead a minister to preach his own bias. Bakare’s bias is politics and unfortunately he makes the Bible preach what his bias. I genuinely pray that God opens his eyes to see this. I hope he repents and traces his path back to genuine Christian ministry.

The trouble with Tunde Bakare was not his speech on Tinubu, which clearly was not his endorsing Asiwaju for 2023. Bakare’s trouble is his social gospel: his belief that Jesus died to make Nigeria better. Rather, Jesus died to save men from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Period. Jesus did not have to die to make Nigeria better; hundreds of countries around the world are thriving without Jesus Christ and his gospel. What humanity needs is salvation from sin. A message that Tunde Bakare used to preach heartily sometimes ago but which he has since replaced with a social gospel today. This social gospel, Bakare’s quest for a better Nigeria, is his Achilles’ heel.

Source: https://textandpublishing.com/tunde-bakares-achilles-heel/

"³¹At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”
³²Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish My purpose.
³³Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!
³⁴“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me.
³⁵And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’"
- Luke 13:31-35

So in a nutshell, you are saying that Tunde Bakare, in his capacity and/or mandate of taking care of the Lord's sheep, should be indifferent to the plight, pains, hardship and travails that the sheep are daily going through and not to show by speaking out, making public statement that reveals how he does feel and/or know about their affliction(s)

Somebody, now and then, has to step up to the plate and speak. if it happens to be a Tunde Bakare or a Bishop Matthew Kukah, so be it and of course, the more the merrier.

As a matter of fact, there is the time and place for, to be political and of course, there possibly is a deadly price for wading into politics, which is why it shouldn't be everyone's cup of tea or coffee really. Not everyone as a believer, is called to blend politics with their faith and/or religion, lmso. Yahshua Ha Mashiah aka Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour of the whole wide world though He shunned direct involved politics, He regularly was at loggerheads with those in political and leadership positions.

I restate not everyone is called into politics or called to make political overtures. MLK Jnr, is famous for the civil rights movement, is also famous for saying: "There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right." I'll be frank with you in letting on that, I even up to now, have never been impressed by Tunde Bakare, but I respect his inclination and disposition to speak up and say things because of how he feels about the otherwise unfortunate lives most are subjected to.

John the Baptist, with his head cut off and placed on a platter, paid the price for speaking out. Prophet Elijah turned suicidal when politics turned round to fight him back, lmso.

Tunde Bakare is human, just as everyone else is. He never claims that he walks on water, so of course expectedly will now and then give in to the craving of flesh. He just like you and everyone of us else, is not a complete man, lmso. He is work in progress as much as we all are work in progress.

Just because Jesus did not die to make Nigeria better, doesnt mean denying giving someone, if its just only person, hope from hearing Tunde Bakare, speak out, and lend his voice to the voiceless on social justice matters and issues.

I agree with longetivity, that Tunde Bakare talks with both sides of his mouth, and would say, as for me, he personally doesnt really have a squeaky clean air of sincerely made utterances. Case in point, when in 2006, he said Buhari is not part of the new, with saying: "Let me tell you the truth by the spirit of God, neither OBJ, Atiku, IBB and this tall one, Buhari are part of the new" and then fast forward to 2011, he was willing to be the running mate of a Muhammadu Buhari who he earlier had said was "not part of the new"

It is just so sad that Tunde Bakare had no choices, other than to put a pitch for shady Tinubu. Classic case of chasing between the devil and the deep blue sea (i.e. Tinubu versus Tinubu) lmso. I would have preferred he correctly and properly politically sensitise and NOT be fawning over political heavyweights, the likes of shady Tinubu.

MuttleyLaff:
"³¹At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”
³²Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish My purpose.
³³Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!
³⁴“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me.
³⁵And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’"
- Luke 13:31-35

So in a nutshell, you are saying that Tunde Bakare, in his capacity and/or mandate of taking care of the Lord's sheep, should be indifferent to the plight, pains, hardship and travails that the sheep are daily going through and not to show by speaking out, making public statement that reveals how he does feel and/or know about their affliction(s)

Somebody, now and then, has to step up to the plate and speak. if it happens to be a Tunde Bakare or a Bishop Matthew Kukah, so be it and of course, the more the merrier.

As a matter of fact, there is the time and place for, to be political and of course, there possibly is a deadly price for wading into politics, which is why it shouldn't be everyone's cup of tea or coffee really. Not everyone as a believer, is called to blend politics with their faith and/or religion, lmso. Yahshua Ha Mashiah aka Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour of the whole wide world though He shunned direct involved politics, He regularly was at loggerheads with those in political and leadership positions.

I restate not everyone is called into politics or called to make political overtures. MLK Jnr, is famous for the civil rights movement, is also famous for saying: "There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right." I'll be frank with you in letting on that, I even up to now, have never been impressed by Tunde Bakare, but I respect his inclination and disposition to speak up and say things because of how he feels about the otherwise unfortunate lives most are subjected to.

John the Baptist, with his head cut off and placed on a platter, paid the price for speaking out. Prophet Elijah turned suicidal when politics turned round to fight him back, lmso.

Tunde Bakare is human, just as everyone else is. He never claims that he walks on water, so of course expectedly will now and then give in to the craving of flesh. He just like you and everyone of us else, is not a complete man, lmso. He is work in progress as much as we all are work in progress.

Just because Jesus did not die to make Nigeria better, doesnt mean denying giving someone, if its just only person, hope from hearing Tunde Bakare, speak out, and lend his voice to the voiceless on social justice matters and issues.

I agree with longetivity, that Tunde Bakare talks with both sides of his mouth, and would say, as for me, he personally doesnt really have a squeaky clean air of sincerely made utterances. Case in point, when in 2006, he said Buhari is not part of the new, with saying: "Let me tell you the truth by the spirit of God, neither OBJ, Atiku, IBB and this tall one, Buhari are part of the new" and then fast forward to 2011, he was willing to be the running mate of a Muhammadu Buhari who he earlier had said was "not part of the new"

It is just so sad that Tunde Bakare had no choices, other than to put a pitch for shady Tinubu. Classic case of chasing between the devil and the deep blue sea (i.e. Tinubu versus Tinubu) lmso. I would have preferred he correctly and properly politically sensitise and be fawning over political heavyweight the likes of shady Tinubu.

VBCampaign:

Slight edit done with the last sentence though.

Talking of "I would have preferred he correctly and properly politically sensitise and NOT be fawning over political heavyweights, the likes of shady Tinubu".

Tbh, I didnt lay into Tunde Bakare because I understand he is human just as I am, so I decided to not pass any comment on his chequered gaffes slash proph-a-lies concerning his past and even future coveting of the highest position in the country