Nigeria: A Perversion of the Gospel

opinion

For many years, I heard about the famed Christian preacher, Uma Ukpai. Finally, I was opportune to see him and listen to him. It was at Pastor Josh Umechuruba's church in Lanham, Maryland (just outside of Washington, DC). His audience was Nigerian with a fair sprinkling of other Africans and Black Americans. Throughout his preaching, he did not mention repentance, salvation or godliness. He dwelt, exclusively, on prosperity: riches, luxury cars and mansions. According to him, wealth will accrue to you, if you sow (donate money) into the church and lives of pastors. He gave series of examples of people who became wealthy just by giving to pastors and churches, including his sowing his jeep, and on getting home, there were three new jeeps (gifts from people) awaiting him. That is, from sowing the seed of one jeep, he harvested three jeeps.

I was very surprised and totally dismayed by this deviation from the central motif of Christianity. Jesus Christ came to reconcile us unto God, not to make us rich. Christianity is about repentance, salvation and eternal life. The early Christians were called Christians because they were distinguished by their Christ-like manners and temperament, not by their wealth and worldly possessions. They separated themselves from the idolatry (worship of false gods and materialism) that pervaded the city of Antioch. As the light of the world, they shone before men and men saw their good works.

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