OUR FATHERS FOR GREEDY SOLD US TO FALSE PROPHETS

OUR FATHERS FOR GREEDY SOLD US TO FALSE PROPHETS.

Most of us find it easy to critic syncretism brought about by popular African Prophets.

Names like Prophet Bushiri & Eurbet Angel we critic, but we tip-toeing around our fathers in faith.

In this context we are reaping the actions and inaction of our fathers in faith whom we looked up to. Silence is not wisdom. Silence is construed as consent.

Remaining neutral or minding your business as a father in the midst of ravage wolves is cowardice. Protecting the flock God has entrusted under your care is your lane Pastor.

"Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities"

(Lamentations 5:7)

Our fathers are not exempted from the syncretism we have come to experience in the name of churches or ministries.

"Our fathers have sinned, and are not..." means they are dead. Fortunately for us we still have our fathers today. The probing question I often ask is; "how did we get here?".

And this is the question our fathers in faith ought to answer, or think through.

FROM GOSPEL CRUSADES TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

No adult my age who lived in Zambia can dispute the evangelistic ministry of Dr. Nevers Mumba.

With 'Zambia Shall Be Saved" Gospel crusades around the country. Messages like "take me to Jesus". are still sounding in my ears.

Dr. Nevers Mumba became a household name, old and young knew who Dr.Nevers Mumba was.

I remember hearing a story of Dr. Nevers when they had a car breakdown or accident the villagers came out, and a small child shouted pointing at Dr.Nevers Mumba "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus".

This tells you about the man Dr. Nevers Mumba and the message he carried. He lived, breathed and preached Christ, him crucified.

This is a legacy of Dr.Nevers Mumba. But where did it go wrong? When did we depart from Preaching "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" to my Papa, my man of gaad, my prophet? How did we get to my altar?

We didn't wake one day and found ourselves captured by false prophets.

What was the role of our fathers Dr. Nevers Mumba, Bishop Joe Imakando, Bishop Nwaka, Bishop Edgar Ngambi, Grace Ministries Mission Bishops etc.

In my humble opinion the Prosperity Gospel particularly in the Zambian context was brought about when focus shifted from Gospel crusades to international Conferences.

When Pastor Dan Pule facilitating TBN in Zambia meant we were now exposed to the best of 'prosperity preachers' twisting scriptures to raise money during telethons.

Telethons and time to collect offering is usually a dangerous time believers twist scriptures.

There are two West African Preachers Dr.Nevers Mumba brought to Zambia. These are Dr. Mensa Otabil and Dr. Fred Addo. These two in terms of ideology are like Pharisee and Sadducee.

Putting these two on the same pulpit is like putting a socialist and capitalist in the same Conference.

Dr. Fred Addo is a 'capitalist'. He sees money in the congregants. His messages are tailor made to make money. He can't support a socialist.

For a capitalist breaking the chains of oppression is counter-productive. To control your money he needs to leave you in mental slavery.

"Give me your money, then God will bless you with car, house and more money" says Dr.

Fred Addo.

On the contrary Dr. Mensa Otabil who is pushing liberation theology wants black eyes open, and freed from mental slavery.

While Dr. Fred Addo says give your money, Dr. Mensah Otabil is saying, "African Prosperity begins with the creation of wealth".

Money doesn't come by "I decree, I declare".

Dr. Mensa Otabil Prosperity began with the work principle. Finding your garden, your office, your job or your hustle.

Todays prophets will say that your problem is the generational curse, or it's a spiritual husband, or it's witchcraft".

Dr. Mensa will say the number one problem in Africa is ignorance.

So Dr. Mensa Otabil wants to free your mind from the chains of oppression, Dr. Fred Addo want to tighten the grip of bondage so that he can keep taking and taking as you believe God for the private Jet which never came.

Just after Dr. Never Mumba decided to enter politics, Dr. Fred Addo had made other connections because he saw how mentally enslaved Zambians were easy to plunder.

In one of his meetings he lifted up offerings in millions. And after collecting he said I need to collect an offering for my wife for releasing me to come here.

Again the people gave. Then came offerings of cars, stoves, frudges, clothes, shoes etc.

So this lady tells a story. How she didn't have anything to give to Dr. Fred Addo, so she removed her new shoes and gave.

On sunday when she went to church, she saw the Pastor's wife wearing the shoes she gave at the Fred Addo conference.

She felt rebuked by God. Why didn't she bless the Pastor's wife in the house, but went to bless a Guest speaker from another country?

Only for the shoe ending up on her Pastor's wife's feet? She vowed to buy the pastor's wife a new pair of shoes.

Our fathers surrendered into the Prosperity Gospel which is idolatry.

The Prosperity Gospel created within believers a capitalistic approach to Christian generosity. It's a seed I plant in order to harvest bountiful in return.

Offering and tithe became an investment.

Churches and Pastors became grounds that were described as fertile or infertile ground.

Greedy for more became the norm, and creating levels in churches defined by social and economic status of individuals.

Big tithers are publickly acknowledged and praised while the poor and low class are shamed for their lack of faith to believe God for success.

In order for us apologists to defend the Gospel we ought to honestly point at the contributions our fathers in faith made in peddling the Gospel for profit.

It's the Prosperity Gospel our fathers in faith accepted that created an enabling environment for the false prophets to come in and ravage the sheep while the shepherds are listening to Creflo Dollar.

So the Bishop asked the congregation. "Take everything in your wallets and purses ". The faithful members obeyed.

Then he said , "lift what you took from the wallets up", again they did.

Then the Bishop said bring whole of it in front".

Yes! Ambushed or tricked. This is Prosperity Gospel tricks.

And there are many carnal tricks prosperity preachers pulled out and we never discerned, because our minds were enslaved or are enslaved.

I call on our fathers in faith to step up, confess and speak truth to this generation of young preachers.

Today there is a deeper longing crying to hear messages like, "take me to Jesus" again!

UPS Coach Lawrence Musunte