10 - 9 March 2014 - The Observer
9 March 2014 - 10
Prosperity gospel taking advantage of the desperate?
“B
Christabell Chari
lessed are the poor,
for they shall inherit
the kingdom of
heaven” is now but
a verse in the Bible, no longer given the
respect due it. These days, poverty is a
curse that must be cast out, disdained,
thrown away and stamped upon.
In its place has come the Prosperity
gospel, which has drawn thousands,
if not millions, across the length
and breath of the country, let alone
worldwide.
A survey by The Observer has
shown that nowadays many Christians
prefer the type of gospel that promises
prosperity in terms of riches, good
health and success only. Preachers
who can foretell that congregants will
for instance drive a fancy car, buy a
house or that a wedding is around the
corner preach music to the ears of the
Christian of today.
Questions have however been
raised on whether the Prosperity
Gospel is Biblical, or it is a case of
preachers taking advantage of the
desperation prevailing in the country
and promising people that they would
get more money back to them if they
gave financially to the ministry.
Pastor Ishmael Mita of Potter`s
House Church said that while the
prosperity gospel was good, it
promised no salvation to man.
“The danger of the prosperity
gospel is it makes people seek God for
the wrong reasons; they seek Him for
what they can get from Him, rather
than salvation,” said Pastor Mita.
“The extent of congregants’ love
for God is as high as the extent of
the things they get from Him. But you
cannot make people love you by the
things you give them.”
Pastor Mita said while it was God`s
will for his children to be blessed, that
was not the only reason why one must
pray to God only.
“Some of the prosperity churches
have a reputation of manipulating and
alienating the poor by out of context
use of scriptures,” he said.
Another pastor who requested
anonymity, said a generous life is
found in God and not in the material
blessings God gives us.
“After all the Bible says we
must seek first his kingdom then
all these things will be added unto
us, and that includes all our wishes
and prosperity,” he said.
But Beatrice Masanzu, a
member of Prophet Makandiwa’s
UFI Church, said that she loves
the prosperity gospel because “it
is very reputable”.
“I breathe miracles, eat miracles
and survive on miracles. Wealth is
obtained through a spiritual war
of positive confession, that means
believers are speaking in faith
what God has already spoken
about them,” Masanzu said.
Moses Musaidzi, a member of
Bread of Life Ministry, said he
believed that the prosperity gospel
was designed for profit.
“This is the gospel of
materialism because it teaches that
personal wealth is an indicator of a
person’s spirituality, righteousness
or holiness,” Musaidzi said.
For 32-year old Joseph
Musekiwa, who claims he is not
a member of any church but
“strongly believed in the word of
God”: “The pursuit of wealth is a
dangerous path for Christians. For
the love of money is the root of
all evil so instead of stressing the
importance of wealth the Bible
warns against pursuing it.”
UFI