Editorial: Is the Church failing the nation?

The Church is an institution that has existed from the very beginning of human existence.

Indeed in early times nations were governed by priests because they were well versed in matters of governance and were also revered by the people.

Churches have since those times played very influential roles in nation building and governance, contributing to discourse in matters of the state.

The Church has also contributed immensely to the provision of health and educational facilities across the country, and has even moved to other sectors such as microfinance, insurance and the provision of social amenities.

All these contributions of the Church to the nation state have, by and large, brought an improvement in the quality of life of the citizens.

However, it does seem to the Daily Graphic that the foremost roles of the Church, which are soul-winning or evangelism and the promotion of righteousness, are fast eluding it.

The Church has now joined in the fray of amassing wealth through falsehood and rituals, by a section of pastors to the detriment of the larger number of citizens.

Teachings on Christian virtues have now been skewed towards preaching on prosperity, which, in itself, is not evil.

The danger, however, lies in the fact that Christians are now getting caught up in the ‘get-rich-quick’ syndrome and have neglected the principles prescribed by the scriptures.

Self-acclaimed pastors have arrogated to themselves the power to make people rich overnight, by asking them to do certain things which unsuspecting Christians also follow through without asking questions.

The result is that people no longer want to work for genuine money but depend on directions and rituals they are asked to follow through to get wealth.

Most times, these charlatans who call themselves ‘men of God’ do not only end up duping people and leading them astray, but also help to produce lazy people who get frustrated in life when they lose everything.

While we believe that the day of retribution awaits the false teachers and prophets of our time, we are of the view that the high incidence of ‘sakawa pastors’ would be reduced, if the true churches teach their members the right doctrines.  

Nobody has become rich overnight by just declaring a fast and praying. Wealth has always been the reward for genuine hard work and it is time churches taught their members this basic principle of life.

The Daily Graphic also urges Christians to learn to study the scriptures on their own, so that no trickster will come under the guise of teaching the word of God to deceive them.

Perhaps harsh economic conditions contribute to the incessant prayer vigils which sometimes run into several weeks.

Although a government voted into power owes it to the people who put it in authority to provide the right structures that would promote economic, financial and physical well-being, harsh conditions are not a licence to stop work entirely in order to pray.

We urge the numerous great church leaders the country has been blessed with to lead exemplary lives of modesty and teach the right scriptures to their flocks.

The principles of fruitful living can all be found in the Good Book (Joshua 1:8-9). We cannot afford to have a failed Church because we will all be doomed if that happens.