When a leader says, “I was wrong”
A time for self-examination and personal reflection.
Just like a hound hot in pursuit after a hare, anti-Christian social media is constantly seeking out scandalous news related to the Church.
Equipped with innuendos, truth, and half-truths lure the unwary. With their goal of garnering clicks for dollars, they don't have to wait long to find more fodder with which to sully the Church's image.
For this crowd, bad news is good news. And all the more so as the anti-Christian age is continuously hunting for any dirty linen they can dig out of Christians, their churches, and the pastors of those churches.
Have no doubt about it, the Church and Christ’s representatives have unwittingly or otherwise done so much to rubbish the holy name of their Saviour.
Today, this false characterization is so pervasive in Nigeria that almost everything wrong with the country is being blamed directly, and indirectly on Christians (and other religions).
Hardly a day passes without people pointing accusing fingers.
“Religion is the problem of this country.”
“Religion has not done anything good for this country.”
On 4 October 2024, the papers reported on Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s (General Overseer of RCCG) apologizing and recanting a “wrong”, and “not in the Bible” teaching he has passed on to his flock in the past.
Now, there is no person, Man of God (MOGs) included, who doesn’t make mistakes. In our social media-saturated world any MOG who misfires will be instantly called out. Yes, even if God needs to use the donkey of unbelieving people (like he used of an erring prophet) to do the correction.
Now, if a MOG comes out and confesses, “People of God I’m sorry, I was wrong to have told you this or that in the past. Today, I declare to you the genuine and authentic truth as it is presented in the Bible.”
Does that confession demean him?
No.
Does it cause the people to disown him?
Not necessarily.
Depending on the matter at hand, such admissions merely reflect his humanity. All of us are fallible. True believers (with their foibles) will only love and respect him more, taking corrections and following his example of repentance, confession, and turning to the right way. The scriptural way.
Many problems with the Nigerian church
Numerous egregious lies and false doctrines have infiltrated the community over the years. Regrettably, many Christians have shown a preference for these distortions.
When the “Top Gun” MOG (General Overseer or General Superintendent, etc) of any church or ministry is found in error, nobody dares challenge or correct him. This makes it easier for error to creep in and corrupt the Church.
“No tithe, no heaven.”
“Non-tithers will die young.”
“Non-tithers are robbing God.”
“Things are tight with you because you aren’t tithing.”
“Generational curses.”
… …
If you ask them to prove their points with the Holy Bible in light of the grace of God that brought salvation to all men, they can’t even convince you.
If you dare to point out their obvious errors, they will rebuke you with,
“Touch not mine, anointed…”
“Who are you to challenge the MOG?”
Because MOGs have been elevated to infallibility, many dangerous errors have entered the Church. Through the years, the idolatry of men making idols of their fellow men has worked death and destruction on the people of God. Sadly, Christians will rather listen to their pastors even when they say things contrary to God’s word.
In his book, The Last Christian on Earth — Understanding the Enemy’s Plan to Undermine the Church, Dr. Os Guinness cited the pernicious precursor of the Reverend Jim Jones and his People’s Temple tragedy in Guyana in 1979.
As a young preacher in Indianapolis, Jim Jones (of People’s Temple fame) is reported to have thrown his Bible on the floor and yelled at his associates, “Too many people are looking at this instead of looking at me!”
Christian celebrities might not go that far. They would not need to. More importantly, they would not do the reverse. By definition, celebrities are to be celebrated. Therein lies our chance.
If consumer religion transforms congregations into clientele,
their idolizing of celebrities produces a series of fateful switches in focus:
from private identity to public image (devaluing inner life and character),
from saints to stars (devaluing models of spiritual growth),
from followers to fans (devaluing patterns of discipleship),
from being gifted to being glamorous (devaluing leadership and spiritual authority),
and from wisdom, understanding and experience to endorsements, personal glimpses and slogans (devaluing faith).Modern men and women do not live by bread alone, but by every catchword and revelation that comes from the lips and private lives of their heroes. But since such fame is largely based on famousness, these celebrities are living tautologies and the emptiest of heroes.
Thus for ordinary people, the consumption of celebrities is like psychological fast food.
For Christians, it is not only non-nourishing but also a slow and deadly poison. Those who live by the image die by it too. And those who worship them are like them.
Minister of Sound Bites
These days, many pastors’ have changed into “ministers of sound bites.” Scriptural verses and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ are tagged with MOGs’ names on billboards competing for spaces in our major cities.
Many of them use the name Jesus Christ for self-promotion and personal profit.
In Nigeria, the name of the church or ministry founder plays around better than the name above all names — Jesus Christ.
Why?
Because, for many believers, God and Jesus Christ only exist in their hearts and minds.
In contrast, the name and picture of any popular MOG of any Church is visible, to be seen, admired, and adored. This is why, at every church crusade and mass gathering, the Nigerian MOG is the star, the celebrity of their shows. The name of Jesus Christ for many is merely a tag-along.
What do we call this?
Idolatry and blasphemy.
All of them are celebrities with some of them dangerously rich. They reign as multimillionaires at the head of religion-turned-to-business empires with their private jets, luxurious cars, and opulent mansions.
What do we call this?
Materialism and love of mammon.
Whoever falls into a pit serves as a warning to others. Will the Nigerian Church take heed and correct her egregious errors and profligate ways?
Live Not by Hypocrisy
In 2020, renowned Christian Apologist, Mr. Ravi Zacharias passed away.
The tsunami-grade scandal that followed his death rocked the Evangelical and the entire Christian world. Ravi Zacharias has been living a double life. His sins of sexual abuse went undetected for years.
In Nigeria, the typical reaction to such scandals would have been mute or along the lines,
“Who are you to judge the MOG?”
“Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm, …. bla, bla, bla.”
Ravi Zacharia’s memory was tainted because his walk was stained with many scandals unknown to his followers.
While alive, this is what he rightly quipped.
I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out.
This quote is from his book, Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend. It’s also in perfect harmony with Apostle Paul’s message who reprimanded believers for giving unbelievers impetus to drag God’s name into disrepute.
No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
~ Romans 2:24
In our culture, we don’t talk ill of the dead but consider the shambles left behind by a hypocritical life of zero integrity.
Ravi Zacharias’s fall wouldn’t have happened had there been a system of checks, balances, and accountability in place to ensure that he was living according to the scriptures he defended for most of his 74 years alive.
All Hope is Not Lost
The Nigerian Church must retrace its steps from being a leader-centric, money-driven Church into a Word-centered and Holy Spirit-empowered Church
The Nigerian Church is too MOG and founder-centric. Let’s refocus on our Saviour, “He must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30) We must stop making idols of men no matter how mightily God is using them.
We need to acknowledge our past mistakes and misguided teachings and revert to the teachings of the Holy Bible. God once utilized a donkey to guide a wayward prophet. Similarly, He may use unlikely means (such as non-believers) to steer us back to the right path should we stray.
He who keeps his sins secret will not do well; but one who is open about them, and gives them up, will get mercy.
~ Proverbs 28:13
Final Word
Yes, the number of church billionaires, megachurches, and public crusades is increasing daily. But we must admit it, the Nigerian Church's influence on society and its values has been minimal and even declining.
Only through repentance and return can God restore His glory to the Church, hear our prayers, and deliver Nigeria.