My view... my thoughts....: Lord graciously hear us.

From inside the bus, I noticed the man about to get on- there was something about him. He was wearing a white shirt with a black "swine" (waist-coat), and he reminded me of Jojo Mwangaza (local gospel musician).

So I took a guess: he had to be a highly-religious Pentecostal (how can you guess that just from his clothes, you wonder? It was the clothes AND the way he carried himself hehe). Well, he sat down in front of me and took out (flaunted, actually) a smartphone with such a huge screen I could read everything on it without squinting. He started scrolling down the "dialed numbers" list and he paused on "Timothy TBN". Then he just kind of held the phone in a way that the young man next to him could see the screen (the phone caught the young man's attention too). I wondered what was so "flauntable" about the TBN phone number- was it TBN HQ in the US (or wherever TBN HQ is?)?

Nope, it was a local MTN number (smh). Then it rang- a gospel song, and when he answered it, he was like "Good morning, man of God!" in a typical "Glory Glory!" accent........ hehehehe. I knew it!

It felt good to know that my initial instincts about people still prove to be spot-on

That was a post put up on face book by Asimbuyu Adaugo Mwangala. Before I had finished reading that particular face book status update, my mind had raced far ahead of where my eyes were reading and already made conclusions. Another pastor in another scandal. It was only when I was done reading in full that I realized that well, this was really just on what her instincts told her about the man about to board the bus she was on. But why did my mind race so far ahead of me and conclude this was about to be a story of a pastor in a scandal?

Well, recently, the press and even social media have been awash with a lot of negative stories about pastors. Some flock like myself care so much about the reputation of the men of the collar as that gives the reputation of the body of Christ - defines Christianity. Sometimes, the control and power of a pastor can be overwhelming. This power is meant to be used responsibly and connect the world to God through his grace and love. There are a lot of make-believe priests who operate using mind control and mass hypnosis at the altar of the church. I watched a documentary on crime channel, of a pastor that goaded a girl in his church to kill his own wife in the belief that this was an order from God. Apparently the man had also been having sexual relations with this same girl. The story is a long one and I don’t intend to tell it all over as it has been aired so many times on the 'couples who kill‘series show.

Closer to home, when a local college girl, Ruth Mbandu was killed recently the first suspects arrested by the police were senior members of a named church. The Ruth Mbandu case is still in court hence I will not delve more into it. However, there have been other reported cases of pastors being arrested for rape, sued for divorce or bigamy, alleged to have had group sex with church members and a lot of other reported stories.

One such story that comes to mind was the case one congregation the Registrar of societies had given ultimatum to explain their activities or face deregistration within 48hours.

The life of a church known for ‘sweetness’ and ‘clouds’ faces a looming ban if it fails to prove legitimate registration by Monday, according to Chief Registrar of Societies Kakoma Kanganja. Mr Kanganja has ordered Mutima Walowa Uwamakumbi (The Sweet Heart of Clouds) to report to his office for verification of church registration. In the past, there have been reports of the church forcing its flock to have sex with one another based on the fact that they probably dreamt about each other the previous night, according to a probe. Mr Kanganja, who visited the church on Saturday, asked the church leadership to prove their registration as the original certificate of practice they had was withdrawn in 1999.(http://lusakavoice.com/2013/05/19/mutima-walowa-uwamakumbi-under-scrutiny/) / (http://lusakavoice.com/2013/05/19/mutima-walowa-uwamakumbi-under-scrutiny/)

For a person like me who has grown up giving respect to the people that oversee the work of God here on earth, I get very disturbed when I hear such things. Forget the over used and often misused, ‘he without sin cast the first stone.’ The institution of priesthood must be protected as a sanctified position in the church. I am wary of the fact that all human beings are sinful and have fallen short of the glory of God, but my point is that, those that are called and anointed must try by all means to lead a blameless life. Didn't Jesus lead a sinless life when he came down and lived his life as a man? Isn't Christianity not about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?

It is not my intention to ridicule the men of God here, but I am trying to uplift the spirit of the true people of God not to get discouraged when such things happen. The bible is clear when it says ‘in the last days many will come in my name saying I am the messiah, but you shall know them by their fruits.’ Besides, do not let the evils of one man discourage you. Look upon the Lord; call upon the lord for all your answers. Christendom has been attacked by the devil. As Christians, we have been attacked from the head, as the devil is seemingly molesting us through the very people who are supposed to lead us – the very representatives of God here on earth, our pastors, bishops and reverends.

There seems to be a new breed of pastors, who seem to have diluted the word of God to suit their individual and selfish interests. There is a whole generation of new Christians that have become so worldly and focused on riches, money and property. The funny thing is that this proliferation of these ‘men of God’ is being fueled by a ‘market’ of ‘miracle seeking flock’. The miracle seekers are constantly in pursuit of prophetic messages that will suit their hearts desires. The kind of desires like a job for most of the youth, or marriage in the case of the women folk and the business men want to hear that they will clinch more business contracts. Is this what Christianity is all about?

It is almost impossible now to differentiate a church service from a 'get rich' motivational talk. At least this is what I felt on July 6, 2013 when I went to the blessing center for an evening of worship service with renowned American Pentecostal televangelist, author, actress and gospel singer Juanita Bynum. Mubita C. Nawa, the celebrated Zambian motivational speaker walked onto the stage to say a few words and his motivational talk really sounded like one of the many preachers around. Is it really a thin line between gospel preaching and motivation talk? I have nothing against prophesy or prophets per se, it is biblical.

My worry is, there is a growing trend of miracle and prophecy seeking. Is this all what Christians are called to do? Don’t fall in love with miracles because Mathew 24:24 states; “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

(Romans 16:17-19) I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ¹⁹Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

The false prophets tell you to come to Christ Jesus and you will receive anything you want, like success, business, good life and miracles. Some of these contradict the bible because they are earthly desires and not spiritual (1 John 4 teaches us not to believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them). (http://allchristiannews.com/pastor-says-that-if-followers-pay-for-his-helicopter-god-will-buy-them-a-car/)

Unfortunately the true purpose of Christianity has been forgotten. Didn't Jesus teach us two golden rules of Christianity?

1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, your mind, your strength and might and
2. You shall love your neighbor as yourself (do unto others as you would have them do unto you)

You will rarely find the message of Love God or even love your neighbor in the church today, but only a lot of mind control and mass hypnosis at the altar of the church. The motivational speakers at the pulpit are not even the biggest problem for the church today, but manipulators who specialize in counterfeiting the ministry of God for personal and selfish enrichment. The other species being the sexual predators who manipulate the women folk with many promises of marriage success once they sleep with the ‘men of God’. Does the bible allow for a man of God to have sexual relation with any other woman other than his wife? Mathew 18:18 states, ‘verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’

The challenge of keeping order in the church was committed to the church, not to an individual. However, ministers of the word are God’s representatives and they ought to inspire and portray God’s image. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praise worthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 AMP)

"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. " 2Peter 1:4.

The True Prophet Preaches Repentance And Obedience To God's Law. 1 John 4:1-6

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

A Wolf in sheep's skin!

Christianity is not really about the preacher man, it is personal. As Christians we are called to live by the teachings of God in faith and prayer and God will tell us which spirits we should not follow. Mind you, we are called to respect Gods representatives. Touch not my anointed ones says the bible. In this blog, I am not making a clarion call for defiance and disrespect for our teachers of the word. This is to ask all Christians to remain steadfast and to pray for our leaders for them to walk a faithful path. Above all, the biggest church is our individual hearts. Let us pray for guidance, pray for wisdom and more than ever ask for the grace of God to be upon us. As Christians, the first church you have is your heart and you can only appreciate divine power by being faithful to God. Jesus said, ‘I will come and get my church’ and that did not mean those who worship with bishop ABC, pastor XYZ or reverend JKL. It did not even mean UCZ, Baptist, Catholic, Adventist or any other Pentecostal. HE will come for individuals who have obeyed his commandments, who have lived according to his teachings, who have acknowledged their sinful nature and repented from them. ‘He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’ – 2 Corinthians 5:21

I will end with a prayer of intercession for all the men of God… the kind of prayer I learned almost close to 16 years ago when I attended St.John’s Christian brother school- a Catholic school.

God, teach us your children how to love your world so that we are careful stewards- of your creation. Loving God, teach us your children how to love humankind. Show us how to share our riches with those who have not. Give us the grace to love our enemies, and to give every woman and man their due. Help us to pray for our community and teach us how to serve within it.

Lord, make every person out there who calls on your name “Lord, Lord” a true evangelist of yours, by having repented and given up all sin and sinful ways, by having accepted Jesus as the only Savior, Lord and Mediator, by being led by the power of the Holy Spirit and by bearing witness to the deliverance, blessing and healing in Jesus. And above all by representing your name on earth in the most holy ways as your son Jesus Christ did on earth.

Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

Loving God teach us your children how to be fully members of your body, the church. I pray for all who today will worship you throughout the world. We ask you to bless them. May all the leaders of the church on earth be strengthened as they lead us, and may all our fellow Christians here on earth intercede for them to be a light to draw men and women to you!