Viewpoint Re: Bishop Oyedepo, prosperity gospel and 419 in the church

BY DR. LEWIS  AKPOGENA

THIS is a personal rejoinder to the article: “Bishop Oyedepo, Prosperity Gospel and 419 in the Church (I)” by Dr. C. K. Ekeke in elembah.com and TheWill online. And also my perspective on the upload in (www.youtube.com) on “Major false prophets in Nigeria” uploaded by Truthbattle on September 22, 2011. This is no defense on any abuse of the grace of God, misuse of wealth, perverted doctrinal error and getting rich at the expense of the well-being of others. Whereas the article in question dwell specifically on Bishop David Oyedepo, the upload in Youtube dwells on Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor E. Adeboye, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, among others. Whereas Dr. Ekeke’s article quoted scholars’ opinion to support his view, which is one among many views that are not in tandem with the Bible, God’s word, my view is premised and based on the word of God, the Bible.

What says the Bible on this issue – prosperity gospel? First, the Bible warns: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8, NKJV). “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial) a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the word of truth. But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness. And their teaching (will devour it) will eat its way like cancer or spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus. Who have missed the mark and swerved from the truth” (2 Tim. 2:15-18, Amp. Bible). “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word it is because there is no light in them” (Isa.8:20, NKJV).

What does the Bible say or teach on prosperity gospel? Simply put the teaching on being successful, rich, wealthy. Does God want Christians, pastors inclusive to be rich, wealthy and successful? Yes! “Beloved, l wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 Jn.2, KJV). God’s will for Christians walking in the covenant of wealth as promised to Abraham and his descendants is prosperity. What is prosperity? Kenneth Copeland’s definition of true prosperity is “the ability to use the power of God to meet the needs of mankind”. In her book, Gloria Copeland, “God’s will is prosperity” further writes: “If a man needs healing, money will not help him. If his body is well but he has no money to pay his rent, God’s healing power will not cover his need. God is so generous with us that He desires His children to have the best in life on earth; just as you desire the best for your children. God’s plan for us is to have all of our needs met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. True prosperity is having every need met”.

It is obvious throughout the Bible that God is not against a man having money. Hence in the beginning God placed everything that man could use and enjoy in the Garden. God saw to it that Adam lacked nothing. He lacked no good thing. He was created in the image of God Himself, having nothing to be desired. God furnished Adam with companionship, ability, abundance, and a kingdom. He told Adam to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion over every living creature. Adam was the master of the Garden, and God was the master of Adam. God’s man was free in every way! He knew no bondage until that fatal day when he committed high treason against the Lord God. “God’s will for Adam was abundance and plenty. There was no lack. The Lordship of God provided only good. Poverty and lack came only after Adam changed gods and began to operate under Satan’s dominion. Satan is the author of poverty. God is the Author of abundance. When Adam served God, all he knew was abundance. He had the best of everything, the crown of life. God’s will for Adam was abundance. He provided that when He created the Garden of Eden. Since His will does not change, God’s will for His people today is abundance” (James 1:17).

God’s covenant men were the wealthiest men of their day. They were God’s men and He was pleased with them. Their attitude toward God’s word allowed Him to establish His covenant with them in their generation. God is the One who gave them power to get wealth (see Deut. 8:17-18 Amp. Bible). No, God is not against a man having money. He is against money having the man. He is not opposed to His people being rich, but He is opposed to them being covetous. Abraham God’s friend was rich and wealthy. God called him and blessed him (see Gen. 12:1-3). “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it”(Prov.10:22, KJV). “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Gen. 13:2,KJV).

“And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things” (Gen. 24:1). Abraham was blessed “in all things” not in few or some things only.

To show that God wants all His believing Children to be rich, wealthy and prosperous, God also blessed Abraham’s descendants: Isaac (see Gen. 26:1-14), Jacob (see Gen.30:25-43), Joseph (Gen. 39:2-3), Solomon (2 Chron.1:12-17). God’s will concerning financial prosperity and abundance is clearly revealed in Scriptures. From the beginning of time, He has provided financial prosperity for His people through obedience to His Word. It is obvious that God desired Adam to live in abundance, but by Adam’s own choice, the lordship of Satan engulfed man in a curse that resulted in poverty and lack. God’s heart yearns for His people to be free and through His infinite wisdom, He continually provided deliverance for man and freedom from curse of poverty. The unchanging principle that establishes the covenant of wealth and prosperity says: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22). This principle was predicated on and after Noah’s deliverance from the flood, he offered sacrifice in thanksgiving, God in return decreed this principle to sustain man’s existence, prosperity and safety. Man must in obedience to God’s word sow and reap. No sowing, no harvest. God’s men – pastors who are rich practice the principle, sow and they reap a harvest of prosperity. God’s prosperity reaches into every area of a man’s life.

God has “pleasure in the prosperity of his servant” (Ps.35:27). Hence, Jesus Christ came not to make poor but to make people rich. Said he, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). To settle the issue of poverty resulting from disobedience to God, “Jesus Christ that , though he was rich, yet, for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”(2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus Christ died to take away the curse of poverty and gives us the privilege to enjoy the covenant blessing of Abraham (Gen. 17:1-9, Gal. 3:13-14) by faith as covenant children of God obeys His word to sow, honour God with their substances, tithes and offerings (Prov.3:9-10, Mal. 3:10-12, 2 Cor.9:6-11). This covenant promise of prosperity is not to unbelieving believers, who do not practice sowing, giving according to God’s word but to believing Christians who practice the covenant principle of prosperity according to the word of God.

Not theological semantics, philosophy, traditions of men or theologians without understanding, scriptural insights, hollow – shallow, vain babbling – men’s opinion as represented in Dr. Ekeke’s misleading article. The Bible calls it – empty, vain babbling. Please avoid this kind of teachings and men because it will not only deprive you of God’s blessings but also it will hurt your souls (see 2 Tim. 2:16-18, 2 Jn.9-10). How is this covenant principle activated? God uses His chosen vessels, servants of God, prophets/pastors to cause prosperity to come upon those who believe God’s prophets, pastors by believing and practicing giving to God as part of worship. God’s servants are God’s appointed agents, prophets with message of prosperity not poverty agent or theologians, philosophers and hungry writers or secular humanists. See what the Bible says on this: “Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (II Chronicles 20:20).

Jesus Christ affirmed this by saying concerning those who he called and sent out to preach the Word of God: “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”(Mt. 10:40-42). Jesus Christ and his disciples were taken care of by those who He ministered to(see Luke 8:1-3). When Dr. Ekeke and his like complained the poor are there to be taking care of, Jesus said let it be – you will always have the poor among you but go ahead, let this costly alabaster of perfume be lavish on me. No wrong doing sowing, giving to pastors or having a man of God enjoy the fruit of his labour (see Mt. 26:6-13, Jn.12:1-8). Did these pastors stole from any or use dubious means to acquire wealth? The Bible teaches that Pastors/teachers of God’s word should receive wages and support from those to whom they have ministered (1 Cor. 9:7-14, Gal. 6:6).

Would Jesus Christ, if physically on earth today ride on private jet? Yes, He would. In His days on earth, he ordered for the best means of transportation. One never used by any. A donkey and a colt. (See Mt. 21:1-11). He was on a mission to Jerusalem instead of trekking he ordered for a brand new jet of His days – a donkey and a colt. Furthermore, while others on the trip with Him were trekking, they removed their clothes and furnished the donkey and with their clothes they put a red carpet on the road where He rode on the donkey. Instead of uncouth diatribe and display of theological ignorance, the people sang His praise. Why? In appreciation of the work of saving souls. Let us appreciate that these men of God, pastors being used of God to save souls, help suffering humanity – stands in the gap to pray for the wellbeing of people, nations and governments deserve honour not abuses(see 1 Tim. 5:17-19, Heb. 13:7, 17). What you don’t believe in and appreciate you can’t be blessed by it. It is not how rich you are (Lk 12:15), but what use you put the riches to. Do you distribute, share with the needy? (see 1 Tim. 6:17-19). For “your care for others is the measure of your greatness” (Lk 9:48, TLB). Do you use the riches to spread the gospel, advance the kingdom of God? The Bible say, “My cities shall again spread out through prosperity” (Zech.1:17) not gimmick or theological jargon. Nobody will accept the gospel of a poor man (Eccl.9:13-18). If these rich pastors were poor, governments, nations and people will not listen to them or allow them to invest in their nations through the preaching of the gospel.

There are false and self-serving prophets/pastors agreed. Are there no true pastors/prophets of God? Should we categorize every preacher of the gospel of prosperity fake and see them as 419 in the Church? The Bible predict they will and exist now. The Bible also tell us who they are and how we can know them. These ones – servants of God doing great work, changing lives and bettering society that Dr. Ekeke and Truthbattle write about are not the ones. These are servants of God. They should be appreciated. How do l know? Bishop Oyedepo for instance, possesses godly riches, called of God, anointed and He is doing God’s work according to Bible pattern and principles. It is not how many jets he owns, what use is he putting them to? Does he ride on the four jets at a time? Rather my investigation show these jets carries relief materials and missionaries to refugees, cares for the widows, orphans, gives scholarship to indigent students, trains and empowers so many through the various universities he has established. His wealth is ordained of God. Not ill gotten wealth of politicians, civil servants, oil and drug baron and governments that enthrones corruption and poverty in the society. Ask Dr. Ekeke and his likes that use foul languages on servants of God, how many poor people have they helped? Truthbattle how many roads, schools, hospitals, etc have you and your co critics built in your village? If Bishop Oyedepo and rich pastors are not a force to reckon with and if they are not making positive impacts this prosperity gospel would have failed and nobody would practice it. Millions of lives are being changed, empowered and by it they are living abundant life.

One distinct example of rich pastors, who are blessed of God, called of God and are bettering society is Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, the double Chairman, Rivers State, Christian Association of Nigeria and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and General Overseer, Royal House of Grace International Church, Port Harcourt. Instead of celebrating his Church anniversary with fanfare, he postponed it for the sake of the flood victims. He rather get his Church to put the money with relief materials, he and his team personally went through creeks, swamps and villages submerged to distribute relief materials and help out in different parts of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States. How many of these critics of rich pastors did this? This is a warning to such people: “Speak evil of no man” (Titus 3:2). “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand” (Rom.14:4, NKJV). From all Scriptures cited so far, it is obvious God’s will for His children is to prosper, succeed beyond measure. It is not how rich, acquired wealth but how and to what use they are put to and managed that God is concern. Dr. Ekeke and Truthbattle are in error not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God (Mt. 22:29). They are not Christians nor do they have the understanding, born again experience, perspective to understand prosperity gospel. They don’t have the authority to judge God’s servants nor qualified as such. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them; because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one” (1 Cor.2:14-15, NKJV).

Prosperity gospel is not theology, philosophy nor do traditions (opinion) of men but spiritual truth that can be understood by spiritual covenanted children of God. This truth – prosperity gospel does not line up with the world thinking or perspective. I have earned degrees, two PH.ds, three Masters, two Bachelors spanning Education Management, Religious Education, Theology, Missions/Intercultural Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Leadership, Journalism, etc. Studied Hebrew and Greek. None of t      hese gave me the understanding, insight, and true perspective to God’s word, the Bible until recently l went through three months Bible training under another rich preacher doing exploit – impacting lives and making society better, Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt. To those still in doubt and offended because of the prosperity of pastors/Christians, come learn with me and gain understanding. Stop being myopic rather be willing to learn the truth – practice it and you will also be rich.

The Daily Mail (UK) publication as well as Truthbattle upload on “Major false prophets in Nigeria” in Youtube is false as rightly observed by Afolabi Ogunde: “Where UK’s Daily Mail goofed on Bishop David Oyedepo and Winners Ministries”:  “The statistics paint a picture whereby funds are being generated by African churches where attendance is on the increase, and diminishing in British churches where attendance is on the decline.  It’s easy to see how the Charities Commission can get sidetracked and misinformed. However it would be a violation of several international and divine laws for Her Majesty’s regulatory bodies to revoke the status of a faith based institution. The Roman Catholic Church is arguably one of the richest institutions on the face of the planet. Africa’s prosperity ministries/churches are rapidly amassing the wealth that took centuries for some religious organizations to acquire. There is bound to be a conflict of interest as there are many open and hidden interests that would not want to see this scale of empowerment for the African man.”

“Living Faith Ministries owns at last count, three universities in Nigeria. In less than a decade some of the graduates are already working for globally recognised institutions like the World Bank, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, Deloitte, Mobil, Total, Chevron and a long list of other Fortune 500 companies. It is understandable why some anti-progress machineries are in motion, what is befuddling is how one of Britain’s most widely read newspapers goes about misinforming its readers about a progressive faith-based spiritual organisation that is ordained by God. The Daily Mail has been sued severally for libel in the past and has had to cough up millions of pound sterling in damages to the victims of its occasionally leaky mouth.

One would think that the publication would have done legitimately not to publish the junk it did on Sunday.

Including in the article was this, “Followers (of Living Faith) are urged to target vulnerable people such as the lonely, the sick, the homeless and the suicidal as potential candidates for conversion.”

“The only intelligent portion of the article was after it, in the comments section. A commentator from Grove Park South East London said, “Are any members of his congregation complaining about the money they pay this man and his family? Has any member of his congregation complained that they did not receive the ‘blessings’ they prayed for or that the devil was not knocked out off that woman when she received that blow to the face? Has any members of his congregation been convicted of any criminal activity? If the answer to those questions is “no” then really what harm is this so-called Man of God causing?”