In this post, we’ll explore the ministry of TB Joshua in the light of some biblical teaching.

TB Joshua’s disciples often quote Matthew 7:20, “You will know them by their fruit” as a defense for their master, citing the many supposed miracles and changed lives as his fruit. Ironically if you look at the context of this verse, it is actually one of the passages of scripture that most provokes our critical examination of him. Matthew 7:15 starts ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves“. The reference to “sheep’s clothing” shows that these false prophets will appear to many as genuine prophets, but in reality they are frauds.

A counterfeit has to look like the genuine article in every possible way for it to be effective. So when his disciples pipe up “but he does everything in the name of Jesus!”, we say are you surprised? Would a false prophet of Christ really go around healing in the name of the goat god? Reading on in this passage of scripture it speaks of the day of judgement, saying “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt 7:22-23). This shows us that the fact TB Joshua claims to do things in the name of Jesus is no defense at all.

Regarding fruit, the disciples will point to his many miracles as evidence of the good fruit he bears, but from our perspective the fruit we see couldn’t be more different. The writers of this blog know personally over a dozen people who have served at SCOAN or visited for healing. Of these, we are not aware of a single miracle, but 3 are dead (having died shortly after being proclaimed healed by TB Joshua), one is recovering from intimate abuse allegedly suffered at his hands, another is estranged from his family (who are still SCOAN supporters) and several have dealt with depression and despair since leaving the church. Additionally, a previously thriving UK church has fallen apart, of course there are many reasons for this, but the influence of TB Joshua coming into the church at a vulnerable time is seen by many as the beginning of the end. This is the fruit we see, you judge for yourself – good or bad?

Perhaps there are genuine miracles taking place there; maybe some of them have been medically verified. Does this not validate his ministry? Not according to scripture. As well as Matthew 7:22 (“did we not do mighty works in your name”), a few chapters on in the book of Matthew, it warns that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24). Both of these verses appear to speak of real, verifiable mighty works or signs and wonders. Matthew 24:24 especially should sober us, as it describes signs and wonders as being the means of deception. This not only shows us that genuine Signs and Wonders are categorically not a validation of a ministry. We are even specifically warned to not consider them in this way.

As previous posts have demonstrated, there is no shortage of allegations against TB Joshua, covering everything from intimate assault to mind control. Bizarrely, his disciples seem to see these allegations as some kind of stamp of authenticity, implying that this proves he is a man of God, because all men of God comes up against lies and accusations. While it’s wrong to draw a correlation between a man’s anointing and false accusations, it is true that any well-known personality, religious or secular, is vulnerable to troublemakers and attention-seekers making up lies about them. After all, even Jesus was accused of being a Drunkard and a Glutton (Matt 11:19). Scripture seems to preempt this issue with a command in 1 Timothy 5:19 to “not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses”. This rule offers protection for the Elder from troublemakers and charlatans, but also offers the congregation protection against abusive leadership by giving them the option to bring accusations if there are two or more witnesses to the allegation. The next verse describes how to deal with leaders who are caught in sin, they are to be “rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning”.

In the case of TB Joshua, there are many more than two or three witnesses to the accusations linked to on this site. The accusations are serious, even criminal in nature. They need to be investigated and if there is any truth to them, TB Joshua needs to be rebuked. This site in a small and imperfect way helps to serve this purpose. It’s not how it should be done, but reading the ex-disciple reports by Giles, it seems clear that the structure of SCOAN would not entertain any accusation against their autocratic leader, no matter how many witnesses there were.

The model of leadership shown in the New Testament is team-based and accountable. The only leader who stands out above all others is Jesus himself, the chief Shepard. Nobody else is shown as being infallible. Even Peter, who Jesus called the rock on which he would build his church (Matt. 16:18) had to be publicly rebuked for hypocrisy by Paul, the ex-persecutor and self-proclaimed “Least of the Apostles” (1 Cor 15:9). There is no support within the New Testament for independent, dictatorial leaders. Leaders are told to “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:2-3). Church leadership is anything but a platform to build your own empire on, Christian leadership is accountable, in submission to others and open to being questioned, Paul commended the Bereans for examining the scriptures to see if what he was saying was true (Acts 17) – Christians are meant to think for themselves, not blindly accept whatever a charismatic leader tells them.

frosbel:

In the case of TB Joshua, there are many more than two or three witnesses to the accusations linked to on this site. The accusations are serious, even criminal in nature. They need to be investigated and if there is any truth to them, TB Joshua needs to be rebuked.

Were there no accusations against Jesus by many witnesses? At the same time many people have testified of miracles they received. Financial help they received.

John 7:12
12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

Have you met the man before? Do you have first hand information? Your conclusion is based on the reports of other men.
There definitely may be issues there. Anywhere people are there are imperfections. It will be more more authentic if you tell us your experience there. Than the report of others. Either true or false . Don't be partaker of other men sin.

The model of leadership shown in the New Testament is team-based and accountable. The only leader who stands out above all others is Jesus himself, the chief Shepard.

God had always led and dealt with people through a triangular leadership. He never dealt with people in mass. He always lead people by one man. Even if there are groups of leaders at the base of the triangle,there is always a person on top to lead.

God had always led and dealt with people through a triangular leadership. He never dealt with people in mass. He always lead people by one man. Even if there are groups of leaders at the base of the triangle,there is always a person on top to lead.

[quote][/quote]

The nominal leadership in the early church is not comparable to the supreme leadership in today's churches. Neither Peter nor James wielded the kind of power that today's one-man ministry founders wield. You meander seamlessly from general principles to specific principles without basis. That would fail any basic test of logic. It's like saying that God has always dealt with educated people and using that as a basis for preaching that a church should only be led by Ph.D holders. While a Ph.D holder is educated (specific), there are also non-Ph.D holders that are educated (general).

I see a lot of this approach of moving from the general to the specific in the church. Like a minister spends one hour going through all the scriptures on giving and its benefits. In conclusion, he asks people to open their wallets and give to the church. But the scriptures he quoted were not ALL specific about giving to the church. So, why didn't he tell the people that giving carries benefits, including giving to the church, charity, relatives, etc.? Instead he equates giving to giving to the church and only mentions these other forms of giving once in a while.

Same thing with words. Bible talks about good and bad words. Pastor preaches about it, but limits ito to positive and negative confession, which is only one aspect of good and bad words. The rest are neglected or relegated to the background. Interestingly, you see little of this in the Catholic church, where priests undergo formal training in philosophy (which logic is a part of). Catholic priests have their own issues but illogic is rarely one of them.

Leadership is based on spiritual principles. On earth ,in heaven and even in hell. There is heirachy among angels and demons. There is headship in the home and in the society. Attack against spiritual leadership deasnt make bible sense. 

Judges 17:6
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. . .

If you read the rest of this story you will understand why leadership is spiritual

^^^

Again, hierarchy is not absolute authority. What obtains in one-man founder ministries is not true hierarchy. It is absolutism. Everybody in their ministry hierarchy is easily dispensable. Nothing like that exists in the NT.

Joagbaje:

Leadership is based on spiritual principles. On earth ,in heaven and even in hell. There is heirachy among angels and demons. There is headship in the home and in the society. Attack against spiritual leadership deasnt make bible sense.

Judges 17:6
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. . .

If you read the rest of this story you will understand why leadership is spiritual

I know enough about leadership to write a book on it. You're comparing apples and oranges. God did not establish a church to make anybody king.

Joagbaje:

Leadership is based on spiritual principles. On earth ,in heaven and even in hell. There is heirachy among angels and demons. There is headship in the home and in the society. Attack against spiritual leadership deasnt make bible sense. 

Judges 17:6
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. . .

If you read the rest of this story you will understand why leadership is spiritual

^^

attack against Spiritual leadership is not godly for sure, but there is also a big difference between rebeling against spiritual godly holy authority and exposing the lies , malpractices and deceitfulness of wolf prophets and teachers.

Paul and the apostles exposed false teachings and teachers.

It is our responsibility to do so as well.

If we fail the souls of millions could be damned.

The tricks that false prophets use, such as 'do not judge' or 'touch not God's anointed' are just smoke screens and misrepresentation of the word of God for those who have something to hide.

These statements are only valid for God's children, those who have the Spirit of GOD in them.

"But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) " - Romans 8:9

Many people today are not led by the Spirit of GOD but by the devil, let us be careful.!!!

nlMediator:

I know enough about leadership to write a book on it. You're comparing apples and oranges. God did not establish a church to make anybody king.

Leadership is service and not kingship

1 Peter 5:3
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Joagbaje:

Leadership is based on spiritual principles. On earth ,in heaven and even in hell. There is heirachy among angels and demons. There is headship in the home and in the society. Attack against spiritual leadership deasnt make bible sense.  

Judges 17:6
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. . .

If you read the rest of this story you will understand why leadership is spiritual

I like your leadership in the home example (I've already addressed secular leadership elsewhere). The husband is the head, then the wife, the kids. The Bible tells the wife to submit to the husband but in the same breath says that the husband and wife should submit to each other. Where's the equivalent in the one-man ministry founder model? Is there a 2-way submission? Does any man rule his own household the way one-man pastors rule their ministries, speaking from an authority standpoint? Either such a man lives in the jungle or will not be married for long. That's the point. God can set up a leadership model, with a point man, but that in no way resembles the absolutism of today's ministries. Instead God's model in the NT resembles the family approach, where a leader governs with virtually equal authority with others. The same way a husband and wife govern the home.

Joagbaje:

Leadership is service and not kingship

1 Peter 5:3
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

So why do you keep brining up the Israelites King example into the leadership discussion?

Because a king is supposed to be a leader. Leadership is based on Gods principle. There are two sides to kingship. The negative is the oppresion the positive is service.

nlMediator:

I like your leadership in the home example (I've already addressed secular leadership elsewhere). The husband is the head, then the wife, the kids. The Bible tells the wife to submit to the husband but in the same breath says that the husband and wife should submit to each other. Where's the equivalent in the one-man ministry founder model? Is there a 2-way submission? Does any man rule his own household the way one-man pastors rule their ministries, speaking from an authority standpoint? Either such a man lives in the jungle or will not be married for long. That's the point. God can set up a leadership model, with a point man, but that in no way resembles the absolutism of today's ministries. Instead God's model in the NT resembles the family approach, where a leader governs with virtually equal authority with others. The same way a husband and wife govern the home.

This is a beautiful piece