CHURCH OWNERS

Judging from the success of prosperity preachers, the zeal for land, the mass following of the recently deceased Dr. Myles Munroe and many self-help ideas, it is evident that most people are looking for a sense of financial security. There is a lot of emphasis on upward financial mobility. We admire people who have “made it” and we also want to belong to that category or at least to get closer to owning our own home. Everyone wants to keep their families safe. Jesus did say that the poor would always be among us though. Most rich people would want the poor to be better off if only to delete their fear of being robbed. There are two classes of thieves though: those who steal to survive and those who steal to thrive.

Most churches that specialize in casting out demons and in planting seed satisfy a need. That is the best way to go about business. Identify a need and satisfy it. If that need doesn’t exist then some business models go ahead and create that need. The world has suffered many wars and in a way is war-fatigued. But the world is always at war in a spiritual sense. Those who belong to Christ see the war at play in their lives as they seek to execute God’s kingdom agenda. Those who do not belong to Christ seek to serve his purposes, although most of them do not know that they are serving him.

Everyone wants to be free, and yet again everyone wants to belong. We all want a freedom that is defined by us. We want to define who we relate with, how often, how long those relational meetings last, the depth of relationship and we would rather be the ones to cut off those relationships when things go sour.

The church in Kenya is generally full of American prosperity doctrine, Nigerian opulence, South African worship, tribal political affiliation and semi-demonic activity. How else would you explain people who attend church on Sunday and then visit witchdoctors, brothels, mistresses, affairs, nightclubs, wild parties and such during the other days? How would you fail to defend someone who spends all week stealing from work and participating in corrupt deals, when this person is your church’s highest contributor and a member of your elder’s court?

The recent exposure of a Kenyan preacher portrayed the church in a bad light. There seemed to be enough evidence to show that the church really cannot be trusted. But the editors weren’t totally biased. They did speak with the bishop of a family of churches and gave him a fair hearing. It is sad when such things happen but the bishop did make a valid point. He insinuated that if the people who gave the money did not exist then the con artists would not succeed. At the heart of the prosperity gospel is greed. Those who give desire money they didn’t work for, from a god who they expect to work for them. They trust the middleman who is the pastor. They see the middleman as the sign of things to come. He seems to be living the life they are all aspiring towards and so they do not complain when he gets richer. He slowly moves from their pockets to their hearts and by the time he is done with them, he is called dad and they gladly support their father from their pockets.

Those who do not follow Christ shouldn’t throw stones at the church in my opinion. If you don’t belong to that society then allow them to sort their own mess. If anyone has to interfere, the government should be that person, and only in the event that other mediators (church councils and affiliations) have failed. Those who belong to Christ should stop worshipping men. Blind obedience to a human being is never healthy. You will be used and discarded at the end. I believe that if your pastor really wants you to prosper then they will have a great interest in social justice. They will not spend lavishly while you attempt to sleep hungry. They will not send their children to overpriced schools as yours are sent home for lack of school fees. They will not fly first class while you walk home in the rain through dangerous alleyways. They will not wear designer suits that cost the same amount as three months’ rent in your neighborhood. They will not desire a special parking place but will instead park at the worst place to allow you to park at the best place. They will not be served by kneeling women, but will instead serve women brought low by shame and the circumstances of their existence. They will not prey on the wounded, promising them healing when they should simply take them to the hospital and have the church assist with the expenses, care and follow up. They will not eulogize criminals but will instead offer solace to the bereaved while giving admonition to the living. They will not tolerate habitual sin but will instead restore such people in a spirit of love, taking care so that they are also not absorbed into this vicious cycle. They will lead their people without fear, but with great humility, not lording their authority. It is after all, delegated authority, and the church ultimately belongs to Christ. No one owns a church, we are only members, and Christ owns the church.