A Professor of Religious Studies, at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Kehinde Obasola, has attributed high rate of poverty among Nigerians and occultic theology to the gospel of prosperity by new generation churches in the country.
Obasola, who expressed concern over the increasing wave of prosperity gospel coming from the pulpits of many Pentecostal Churches in the country, warned that it is evil and counterproductive.
He warned Nigerians to be vigilant while observing their religious obligations because of some prosperity preachers, who he said had adopted an “altered state of consciousness, peer pressure as well as hypnotic suggestions” to manipulate their followers into submission.
The scholar gave the warnings in the 115th inaugural lecture titled, “Delivering God From Evil: An Afro-philosophical Perspective” of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
With particular reference to adherents of the Christianity religion, Obasola urged them to interrogate every doctrine and messages emanating from the pulpits, warning that many of such patterns of preachers had deprived the congregants of their hard-earned money, plunging them into poverty as a result of the high contributions and levies imposed on them.
With particular emphasis on preachers, who constantly declared to their followers that their promised fortune will not materialise until they have “sown seeds”, paid tithes, made big cash donations, the professor lamented that while the prosperity gospel preachers are evidently amassing enormous wealth and living in opulence steadily, their followers have remained largely impoverished, having been plunged into poverty due to high routine contributions, tithes and special offerings imposed on them.
Citing over a dozen of preachers, being involved in purveying prosperity messages, Obasola said such line of teaching is inducing evil not only in Nigeria, but across the African continent, declaring that such practices is also “breeding occultism and cultic theology, greed and materialism” among others in society”.
“Churches are rapidly expanding in many parts of Africa today, yet sub-Saharan Africa is the only place in the world where poverty is increasing. The prosperity gospel is not working. It impoverishes the followers.”
He lamented that while the prosperity gospel preachers are evidently amassing enormous fortune and living in opulence steadily, their followers remained largely impoverished, having been plunged into poverty due to high routine contributions, tithes and special offerings imposed on them.
“The prosperity gospel has pushed pastors and leaders to embrace corrupt patterns of leadership, which is depriving people of their hard-earned money, plunging them into poverty. And as a result of the high contributions and levies imposed on them, congregants have been financially exploited.
“Prior to the arrival of Christianity in Africa, particularly Nigeria, people go to witch doctors and sacrificed goats or cows to get prosperity. They pour libations over the ground for the gods to hear their petitions. Similar acts persist now because prosperity preachers have taken the position of Ifa priests.
“There are stories of church preachers burying live animals beneath the floor of their churches to gain people’s favour. People who follow these prosperity preachers are reminded that their promised fortune will not materialise until they make big cash or property gifts,” he said.
Vanguard.ng