The Sunday Mail
Pastor Ticharwa Nyamidzi
PASTORS are supposed to be the conscience of society. They are supposed to be God`s representative here on Earth.
Like Elisha in the Bible, they are supposed to warn people about the dangers of disobeying God and then guide them to the path of righteousness.
They are supposed to lead by example.
Today some pastors are the problems of the society. The lifestyle of some pastors is contradictory to what they preach. It has got so bad that when a man introduces himself as a pastor, he attracts immediate suspicion. Scandals and controversies have eaten to deep into the church like an incurable cancer.
Like a wild bushfire churches are mushrooming literally under every shrub and tree all over Zimbabwe. Prophets/ general overseers/ apostles/ chief executive officers are fast emerging as the richest men in the country.
Some Zimbabwean pastors represent their stomach instead of Christ. Churches have been turned into banks and investment centres. Most of these new breed churches only preach prosperity because preaching salvation will impact negatively on the church`s “Gross Domestic Product”.
In Zimbabwe the, “man of God” is becoming stinking rich as the crowds just keep on coming.
Some of today`s pastors, after their failed attempts at finding a means of livelihood, hire a classroom and start a church. Much of church worship is not Christ centred but man centred.
Furthermore, much of church leadership is not Christ centred but man centred. It is men and women with big titles (reverend, apostle, bishop, archbishop, overseer, prophet, prophetess, senior pastor, president, executive secretary, etc) that rule the church by their own authority and not under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I hear some of our so called “man of God” talking, I hear a well-rehearsed speech delivered with sugar-coated tongue. I see feigned sympathy and fake listening ears trying to milk their unfortunate audience.
I see people being washed, rinsed, dried and ironed with rehearsed miracles wooing gullible Zimbabweans to their churches.
Most often it is not Christ and God`s Word proclaimed that attracts people to their churches. It is music, rehearsed miracles and innovative stage productions that draw people who want to be entertained. You will also find plenty of testimonies that glorify men not God.
There is absolutely no effort to interpret Scripture.
By chanting phrases and making people drop under some trance, in witchdoctor fashion, they are holding sway over people’s minds.
For the love of crowds, Zimbabwean pastors have allowed African Traditional Religion to enter their churches through the back door.
For some pastors, the church is no longer the stairway to Heaven. It is more like the Harare-Chiadzwa express way to wealth.
No trick is too dirty to enslave their followers.
While many in their congregation cannot afford three decent meals a day, pastors and prophets convey offerings and tithes to their banks.
They use offerings and tithes to build schools their members cannot afford to send their children to. They cruise about town in their exotic cars, and jet off to spend vacations in the most exotic tourist destinations.
Jesus Christ fed the multitude with five loaves and two fishes (Mathew 14:13-21). He could have auctioned the fish and bread to the wealthy but instead He asked His disciples to share among all without discrimination.
Except for a few, the majority of pastors will not lift a finger to ease the suffering of the poor in their congregation.
Most of these pastors are now selling “anointed oil”, “anointed water”, “anointed wrist bands”, and so forth to their congregates at an exorbitant price.
A flamboyant prophet in Harare bought an exotic car when people in his community are financially crippled. And his followers said, “Touch not the anointed and do my prophets no harm.”
It was in the newspaper sometime ago how a Warren Park pastor has married, divorced and impregnated a young girl from his congregation and forced her to abort.
And his followers said, “Touch not the anointed and do my prophets no harm.”
Pastors should be judged by their words as well as their actions. This is a country where prophets organise a healing crusade for his members but jets off to the United Kingdom/US the next morning for a medical check-up.
In Zimbabwe, pastors pray and ask God to protect their members but employ the services of bodyguards.
It won’t be a surprise when Zimbabwean churches get listed on the stock exchange for the public to buy shares.
It is a fact that when you scare people badly enough, you can them to do anything.
We have lost the Christian faith while we are holding the Bible and using some of its words. This is really sad. What worries me is that this is so obvious that I am wondering why we are not seeing this. Or if we are, why are we not warning Christians against this.
My brothers and sisters in the Lord do not be deceived by these pastors. The Bible says you should study to show yourself approved (2 Timothy 2:15). We need to sound the warning that this is not Christianity. It does not lead to heaven.
Pastor Ticharwa Nyamidzi is with Norton Baptist Church. He is also the president of St Eric High Old Students Association
