Staff Writer
The Road to Salvation is Paved in Gold
There is a
ubiquitous presence in Africa, one that preys on the simpleness of common
Africans and the continent’s desperation for salvation from their destitute
condition. The culprit is religion in general, and Christianity in particular.
The gospel and the salvation from earthly burdens that it promises has morphed
and blended with the promise of riches and prosperity. Africa is now pioneering
a new genre of Christianity called prosperity gospel that preaches and affirms
God’s earthly rewards to his faithful and tight-giving followers.
The men who run
these houses of God are themselves shiny examples of the “rewards” the divine
showers on his followers—especially those who are in the know of God’s
miraculous ways. Bishops, pastors, and reverends now easily make the rich list
of their respective countries. Some countries have a more pronounced presence
of this new type of gospel than others. West Africa, with Nigeria and Ghana in
the lead, is the epicentre of this phenomenon. Churches may very well be the
most popular type of small business in Africa, but it is the mega-churches that
are responsible for the growth of and the level of wealth now associated with
this new “industry.”
Mega-churches
endow their owners with the kind of personal wealth once reserved for global
business elites, sport stars and, notoriously, Africa’s corrupt politicians. Africa’s
top five richest men of God are Nigerians. Obviously, the talent required
to filch this level of wealth makes these men very capable businessmen in their
own right. And, it would appear, they selected the right “business” to exercise
their talents. Mere Sunday tights and offerings are not enough to amass these
men their millions, they have made themselves a hot commodity through expert
branding—which their followers seem to never get enough. The backbone to the
system, which they all employ, is corporate synergy of all their respective
ventures under their brand. And the ventures are many. They include, in the case
of Pastor David Oyedepo, billionaire businessman
and presiding bishop at the Living Faith Church (a.k.a Winners’ Chapel): multiple universities, high schools,
publishing houses that print millions of sold copies of his works, internet
café, and others. He is reported to have a couple of private jets and fine
houses in the United States and London. The rich list includes: Temitope Joshua Matthew of the Synagogue Church Of All
Nations (worth between $10m and $15m); Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway
International Christian Centre (worth between $6 million and $10 million) and
Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church (worth between $3 million and $10
million).
| Pastor Oyedepo |
The fact is that
Mr. Oyedepo and his fellow men of God are entrepreneurs who have found the
gullible masses to feather their nests with gold. However, if this was being
done through the capitalist system, without the convenient and pliable words of
the gospel there would be no call of foul play being involved. There are many
complaints that Africa could use more innovative entrepreneurs, but the deft
and calculated manner of this level of thievery, preying on the poor judgement
and desperation of their congregation, is little less than what is expected of
Africa’s dictators. These men provide false hopes and encourage the little
wealth, if any, that their victims possess routed into their personal coffers.
They then turn around and present themselves and “their” wealth as testament of
what God will endow those who follow their wealth-obsessed preaching.
Unfortunately, it
does not seem this trend will abate any time soon. There are numerous countries
where it is now the norm to have multiple churches on the same street—all
competing on Sundays for as many followers as possible and the title of the
loudest source of the gospel. Too many people are now convinced, thanks to this
new breed of men, that the fruits of righteousness are riches, visa to America,
and large contributions to your church in thanks to God.
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