The Zambian government is concerned about the many cases of pastors defiling girls; impregnating church members; swindling church funds; causing the death of congregants, by advising them against medical treatment; and so forth. At their level, they are seeking to address this matter because it is conspicuously getting out of hand. We wait to see what wisdom God will give to “the powers that be.” Other countries, such as Botswana, have already started clamping down on such pastors.
This scourge is almost exclusively among our Charismatic friends.
However, as a church, there is an elephant in the room that we seem to be failing to see—namely, that this scourge is almost exclusively among our Charismatic friends. Notice, I said “almost exclusively.” So, put those guns back into their holsters. I agree that once in a long while you hear of a pastor in other Christian circles being guilty of these misdemeanours. However, for every one of these pastors there are 99 Charismatic pastors wreaking spiritual havoc. Am I the only one seeing this discrepancy in numbers on the two sides of this fence?
Where Do These Abuses Originate?
In other church circles there seems to be self-regulatory methods that quickly kick these wolves in sheepskins out of the sheep pen. Disciplinary measures are undertaken and the individuals are speedily expelled. Across the fence, in the wider Charismatic world, it seems these systems are almost entirely absent. Partly, it is because the pastor and his wife are normally the owners of the church’s name and the church’s assets. Hence, they have the audacity to tell those who point out their wrongs that the whistleblowers are the ones who must leave. Or, if they are ever expelled, they simply cross the road and start another [insert name] International Ministries; and the rot goes on. Isn’t this ridiculous situation staring all of us in the face?
Partly, it’s because the pastor and his wife are normally the owners of the church’s name and assets.
I have been told on many occasions that when I lump the bad guys with the good ones under the umbrella of “Charismatics” I do a great disfavour to the good guys. I should perhaps use the term prosperity gospel or health and wealth preachers in order to point out who the bad guys are. More on this distinction below. But two issues concern me here.
Poor Doctrine Sows Destruction
Firstly, why is it that almost all of these heretics are being nursed in Charismatic circles, on charismatic teaching, until they are weaned and ushered upon the world’s stage as full-blown heretics? Does this not suggest that there is something intrinsic in the Charismatic milk, which, once sucked for a number of years, tends to lend itself towards these heretical views? I am simply asking.
For instance, there is the view that God still speaks to us independently from the Bible. Drink this milk for a number of years and you will soon be attributing to God the inner voices coming from your fallen self. Then there is the view of “the man of God” who is a cut above everyone else in the church. Again suck this for a few years and, before you know it, you want to be an apostle or some other ecclesiastical title forged in this factory of madness. You also close yourself off from peer accountability structures. You are a chief!
Eventually, all people will want is health and wealth at the fingers of ecclesiastical witchdoctors.
What about the emphasis on miracles, signs, and wonders? Again, does it not make sense that once this becomes a regular diet, all people will want is health and wealth at the fingers of ecclesiastical witchdoctors? Even the blood of Jesus is no longer about appeasing the wrath of a sin-hating God. Instead it is about sprinkling on cars, for safe travel; hospital beds, for healing; and wallets, for more money. This is such an obvious continuum that I’m amazed we aren’t seeing it. Charismatic teaching is breeding these spiritual mavericks.
That does not mean that everyone who holds on to Charismatic views or teaching will end up tipping over the cliff edge. I have many Charismatic friends who I deeply respect; so far, they’re keeping a safe distance from that edge. Many of them, for instance, are concerned about the Nigerian religious junk that is engulfing our continent. However, I’m still asking the question: can’t they see that intrinsic in their doctrinal positions are the seeds leading to the disaster we are currently facing on the continent? This question needs to be faced honestly.
Silence Rather Than Accountability
Secondly, I am very concerned about the failure of acknowledged leaders of the Charismatic movement on the continent of Africa to address this matter. For it’s a very serious issue. Behind closed doors, with a volume that is just slightly louder than a whisper, they assure me that they are concerned about it; that they’re addressing it. But I never hear their voice in the growing chorus of condemnation at the havoc being caused by these health and wealth preachers.
I’m concerned about the failure of Charismatic leaders to address this matter.
These assurances remind me of what my late dad used to say when you wake up with a wound on any of your toes or fingers. “It was the work of a rat,” he’d say. When you asked how come you didn’t feel pain while the rat was nibbling your flesh, he would say, “The rats blow on the wound each time they nibble. Thus you do not feel the pain. And that way, they can eat away your entire toe or finger.” Although that may not have been true, it was enough to keep me checking my limbs in the morning when I slept in a rat-infested place.
I fear that although the story of blowing rodents may be untrue, Charismatic teaching and leaders are fulfilling this story in the world of humans. Their assurances are numbing our nerve-endings while rebels within their ranks wreak havoc. It is time they admitted that their teaching is fundamentally flawed at a very crucial point and is a nursery bed that is breeding these dangerous religious fanatics.
