PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies);
ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS NOT BUSINESS CENTRE
MAIN
TEXT:
“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the
temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned
the tables of money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would
not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as He
taught them, He said, “Is it not written; “my house will be called a house of
prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers” (Mark 11:15-17).
INTRODUCTION:
Today, the Christian worship centres,
especially those of the Pentecostal sect carry with them derogatory names as, “business
centres”, “small scale industries”, “commercial ventures”, “fund raising
centres” etc. as ways of qualifying the nefarious marchandization introduced to
the church by people of questionable character who now parade themselves as
ministers of the gospel. For instance, while it is the instruction of Jesus
that deliverance work be done free of charge (Matt. 10:8), a “faith ministry”
at Nekede in Owerri West Local Government Council of Imo State, Nigeria (name
withheld) takes to unbiblical mode of operation which demands three thousand
naira for what it calls liberation form, 5 cans of 5 Alive fruit drink, one
dozen of milk, 8 bottles of Olive oil, one carton of malt, 2 bottles of wine,
stew rice, vehicle for conveying team members to deliverance venue, which must
not be by public transport, a fat (money filled) envelop and a definite demand
to come for a testimony service at the ministry with all the members of the
families/kindred prayed for during a given liberation prayer session, as
requirements for any exercise of liberation by the ministry in question. What
an unwholesome ministerial modus operandi? It is in the light of this ever-increasing
money-motivated approach to the preaching of the gospel that the writer seeks
to show that;
CHRISTIAN
CHURCH IS NOT BUSINESS CENTRE
The
Christian church is not centre for the exchange of goods and services for
money, but preparatory ground for the human souls raised by God for the kingdom
of heaven. But, who would have believed that in the history of Christianity
that the sacred bride of Jesus Christ which we refer to as the church would
degenerate to such an inglorious state that gives the ungodly the impetus to
nickname it “commercial venture” after Jesus had shown his firm displeasure of
the activities of money changers and those who used the temple courts of the
Jews as centre for money making?
In
this era, one notices that the church has become a point for all sorts of
wickedness. It is no longer news that pastors, priest, revered fathers,
bishops, etc defraud their members, money and materials amounting to millions
of naira and kobo. Nowadays also, the incessant turns of ill-motivated fund
raising in the church makes it glaring that personal gains play down on
selfless service to God and humanity. Furthermore, the physical buying and
selling of religious articles like, the rosary, scapulas cross, head-tie, holy
water, etc at worship centres by the mainstream and other orthodox churches
equally constitute similar things that Jesus reacted against in Jewish
synagogue, (Mark 11:15-17). In fact, the climax of the woes besetting the
modern church is the proliferation of private ministries for mere economic
reasons. To be candid, the foregoing forms the basis of the revelation of the
writer that;
(i)
Different
forms of buying and selling are still going on in the church of today, (verse
15);
(ii)
Material
gains and personal enrichment are the basic reasons for the preaching of many
gospel ministers of the present time (verse 15).
(iii)
Jesus
is not happy with the merchandization going on the church of this generation,
(verse 16) etc.
CHRISTIAN
CHRUCH IS NOT DEN OF ROBBERS
The
word “robbery” is not a restricted term only used to qualify the activities of
those who use firearms to forcefully dispossess people of their belongings, but
carries a wide-range of application. Thus, there are “armed robbers” (those who
steal with ammunition), “civil robbers” (government workers who siphon public
funds), “executive robbers” (political leaders who embezzle public funds),
“political robbers” (politicians who steal people’s mandate through rigging of
elections) and “ecclesiastical robbers” (gospel ministers or church workers who
steal church funds). But, for the purpose of this project, the focus will be on
the latter.
Let
it be noted that Jesus used the expression “den of robbers” to depict the
activities of those who were stealing (or would steal) from people in the House
of God, in the name of religion. With this in mind, it becomes obvious that the
church of this dispensation harbours individuals of dubious intentions. For
example, the sell of what are known as “white stone”, “black stone”, “holy
handkerchief”, “holy apron”, “holy water”, “olive oil”, “mustard seed”, and
relics of various shapes and prices in some religious denominations, which the Bible
does not prescribe for prayer purposes points to the fact that most Christian
centres are better described as “den of robbers”. Another dimension of
“ecclesiastical robbery” is the manipulative oratory used by false preachers to
take undue advantage of people’s finances. Please, guide against such intrigues
like, “if you have been living peacefully with your spouse, give God a love
offering”, “if you have been successful in an examination, God deserves a big offering,
and so on, as they are some of the antics designed to defraud the gullible
members of the church their possession. This is not to discourage one from
giving for the work of God, but to sensitize one to be on high alert to
forestall the evils of those who dupe in the name of the Lord. Therefore, the
reader is by this, advised to be;
(i)
wary
of the “so called” Christian denominations that are market centres for
religious relics and articles, (verse 15-12);
(ii)
sure
that his/her faith is not placed on religious relics, but in the living God, (I
John 5:21);
(iii)
disconnected
from pastors/priests whose preoccupation in the church is fund raising, instead
of the preaching of the word, (2 Cor. 2:17), etc.
CHRISTIAN
CHURCH IS EXCLUSIVELY GOD’S HOUSE OF PRAYER
Well
remarked, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”… (Mark 11:17). But sir,
the prayer has been converted to a money making venture in the house of prayer.
Does this sound funny? Not at all, but speaks of a painful trend in the
sanctuary of God. If one may ask, is this not the picture of the happenings in
today’s church, where pastors, priests, reverend fathers, etc find it difficult
to pray for people without some kind of gratification? To call a spade a spade,
can any of the organizers of the orchestrated, “one night of joy” , One Night
of Bliss”, “One Night of Glory|”, “One Night of Healing”, “One Night of Total
Evidence” etc. prayer sessions boldly stand to declare their sincerity of
purpose before the Lord? If not, what is the brain behind such glamorous night
vigils? The answer to this question is better investigated by God, who searches
the heart, and tests the mind, (Jere 17:10).
However,
it is important to bring to the knowledge of the reader that the house of
prayer is where everyone prays for their needs, and not where someone directly
or indirectly prays for fees. A house of prayer is a house of relief and not a
house of burden. But, when a house of prayer begins to make un-warranted
demands in prayers, such a house of prayer becomes a house of burden, and so,
translates itself into a den of robbers, (verse 17). So, beware of those
churches or ministries that;
(i)
are
in the habit of putting forth conditions for prayers, (verse 17);
(ii)
convert
God’s house of prayer to a fund raising ground, (verse 17);
(iii)
market
religious relics as essentials for prayer, (verses 15-17), etc.
In conclusion, this piece is an effort of the writer which
seeks to expose the infiltration of obnoxious practices that undermine the
morality of the gospel in the service of God, it is not an attempt to ridicule
or portray anyone or ministry in bad light, but to draw attention to the
relevant truths of the Bible, since it is the truth that sets free, (John
8:31). WATCH AND PRAY.
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