Capitalism has invaded the Church of Christ
Op-Ed | June 14, 2009
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/oped/Capitalism_has_invaded_the_Church_of_Christ_86398.shtml
Oboth David Jackson
It is amazing how capitalism has made a grand entry into the Ministry of Christ. The announcement by Pastor Robert Kayanja of the Miracle Center that those interested in attending Evangelist Benny Hinn’s ‘Fire Conference’ must first of all part with 50$ (Ush 120,000) left many of us opened mouthed.
Many thought it was a joke of some kind, but the good pastor went a head to implement the announcement.
Word making the round indicates that over 20,000 people attended the conference. That means the “Men of God’ smiled their way to the bank with a cool US $1,000,000 (Shs 2.4 billion) un taxed. Hmn!, that is not your usual sum of money, considering the current global economic hardship.
The question is, what percentage did God, the benevolent giver of miracles and free talent get? This is total deviation from the biblical teaching that warns Christians against love for money.
Now, Pastor Kayanja has made it official that there is no free thing, including listening to the word of God. Where then does this leave the poor for whom, Jesus came to save since the message of hope is now for sale.
The Bible talks of Jesus attending a church service and watched with interest as the rich Pharisees walked with a swagger to deliver their offerings.
It was only when an old haggard woman made her way to the alter and offered a coin, indeed her life savings that Jesus made his remarks. Her offertory came from the heart and pleased God. It was not a show off of wealth as Pastor Kayanja is trying to introduce.
The Bible again tells us a story in the Acts of Apostles of some unscrupulous man who came to Peter with an offer to pay money in order to receive some of the miracle working powers that Peter had.
Pastor Kayanja knows very well what happened to that man. The fact that receiving tips on how to enjoy a perfect union between mankind and God from men of God is now not free of charge, shows a clear difference between the present day men of God and Jesus, the author of miracles who freely taught multitudes and sometimes fed them without taking a cent from them.
Pastor Kayanja said at the Press Conference to announce the arrival of Benny Hinn that Ugandans should understand that there are no free things in the world today.
He said preparations for the conference cost them a lot of money and therefore the registration fee will go towards offsetting the costs.
Well, do you see any difference between a music promoter who brings in Shaggy with the aim of making a profit in gate collection and Pastor Kayanja?
Kayanja is a Pastor to one of the several Pentecostal churches with a membership of close to 30,000 people. Like any organised church, I suppose the Miracle Center has Evangelism committee responsible for the preparation and mobilisation of funds for conferences such as Hinn’s Fire Conference. Charging a fee to listen to the word of God is unforgivable.
Mr Kayanja and Hinn should realise that they shot their way to prominence, fame and wealth because of God who did not charge them a single coin for the power, God’s presence and indeed the miracles that happen in their ministries. It is therefore an insult to the Lord and a mockery of God’s word to ask people to pay to listen to the word of God.
At this rate, don’t be surprised when you hear Pastor Kayanja asking non-members of his church to first pay before setting foot in his church. It wouldn’t surprise me if he asked his fellow pastors to first make deposits before he accepts invitation to appear as guest preacher in their churches.
God, where is the world heading?
djoboth@yahoo.com
Also See
More on Ugandans and Born Again pastors
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/Allan_Tacca/More_on_Ugandans_and_Born_Again_pastors_86397.shtml
