Kenya must have the highest number of churches per square kilometre. In Kenya, the church has become the most profitable tax-free business. Every 30 metres, there is a church.
These churches mushroom where poor people live. If you go to wealthy neighbourhoods, there are few churches, may be one or two after a kilometre. If you live in a place where there is no church in a radius of one kilometre, you are a rich man.
Any broke man without theological training can wake up one morning, arm himself with a Bible and open a church. What he needs to do is recruit a few actors to help him perform fake miracles and he becomes a wealthy man.
The funny thing about Christians is that even when you try to open their eyes by telling them their pastor is a spiritual conman, they won’t believe you. Instead, they will rebuke and curse you even after you present them unassailable video evidence to buttress your claims. It will be worse if you post it online because the same Christians will descend on you with unprintable words and even say you are blasphemous.
When missionaries first came to Kenya, the church was at the forefront in developing society. The church built schools and vocational centres. The church ministered to the daily needs of its poor members and as a result, their lives improved.
Because of their good health, they carried the excessive proceeds of the work of their hands and presented it in the church in form of offerings and tithes. The sermon would not be complete without harvest and thanksgiving ceremonies.
The pastor did not use the Bible to blackmail or coerce congregants into giving. As a result, more schools and hospitals were built. During sermons, the primary theme was anchored on preparing man for life after death.
It was incumbent upon the church, through the pastor, to ensure each member led a good life as they awaited the second coming of the Messiah. Pastors lived simply within the church compound. Most of them were also hardworking farmers. They stored up treasures in heaven as the Bible advises.
Fast forward:
Today, most pastors – not all – have become spiritual conmen. They are stealing in the name of the Lord. Unlike days gone past, today it is the poor members of the church who pay their pastor’s bills.
The modern-day pastors own private jets and expensive cars bought by poor members of the church. Members of the church fund a chain of businesses, including schools and hospitals, owned by the church but the pastor pockets the profit.
People forget that Christ was a simple man. He never asked anyone to pay for the miracles he performed. The Son of Man trekked all his life. He owned no donkey nor horse, which were a means of mobility. He only enjoyed a donkey ride once, when he was approaching his death.
The modern-day conmen masquerading as pastors and church elders claim they are following the teachings of Christ yet they rob the poor people that they are supposed to care for.
To please the pastor, poor Christians are squeezing themselves dry to fund projects in the house of God. Sadly, their situation remains the same. The more they give, the poorer they become and the richer the pastor gets.
The church has totally neglected its members. Pastors have abandoned their noble role of giving hope to the hopeless. Instead, the church has become a leading player in doing business.
A number of big expensive private hospitals and schools are owned by well-established churches. Ironically, the fee they charge is far beyond the means of the poor members who contributed to their establishment.
Christians must wake up from their spiritual slumber. They must not allow conmen masquerading as men of God to sell them hope and steal from them. If you must give, give what the Bible requires of you.
If your needs outweigh your income, don’t give the pastor and starve the children that God gave you because he will punish you. Don’t give all your savings to your pastor just to make him happy as you suffer while waiting for blessings. God created you and he knows you have needs.
Besides preaching, every pastor must have a job or a private business where he gets his daily bread. If your pastor does not have a job and depends on the poor members for survival, avoid him.
