They are encouraged that as long as they give a significant fraction of their stolen money to the church, the theft is sanctified.
In effect, the offering is used by the pastor to make atonement for the sin of theft, thereby releasing the crooked donor from guilt. So, pastors receive and launder stolen money on God’s behalf.
Jesus shows nothing but contempt for this kind of thinking. He said to the Pharisees: “Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?”Thieves and robbers are Satan’s gifts to the churches. Visit the mega-churches in Nigeria and you will discover that the people seating in the front row are the big-time thieves who have robbed the country blind. Everybody knows they are crooks; nevertheless, they have pride of place in the churches.
Mega-pastors would hardly operate in the tradition of John the Baptist, calling the Herod’s of the country to repentance. On the contrary, when Herod comes to church, they lavish encomiums on him. They give him the microphone to address the congregation.I was given a fascinating report about a well-known Lagos prosperity pastor. He suddenly saw the light one Sunday and decided to preach the true gospel for a change.
It was very easy for him as a pastor to grandstand with lofty religious sentiments, while living on the money he collects from them. But how did he think they were getting the money they gave him? Let him leave the pulpit and come into the real world so he can see whether it is possible to become a “slum-dog billionaire” through the righteousness that exalts a nation.
The pastor’s ears were opened. He quickly went back to his old time-worn prosperity and motivational messages, and everyone was happy again. “Preach it, pastor; preach it,” they cheer him on, while an attendant dutifully comes forward to wipe his face with a towel.
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