THEME: CHURCH MINISTERS CORRUPT THE GOSPEL FOR MONEY AND FAME 

We are in a world where Knowledge, Money and Human Pride have become gods, where materialism is the Way, Measure and Glory of Life and where power is sought for the race in materialism. The result has been a world of confusion and depression, exploitation, oppression and woes, violence and wars.                                       

In the mad race for power, material possessions and fame, two sets of people engaged with concern and solution for the human and life conditions and the service of people have on the whole been overtaken by the evil of the worship of money and the mad race of material possessions. As a result, instead of peace, righteous and noble service, they have been overcome by the corrupt, immoral and wicked ways of lies, flattery and fraud, graft and greed in unprecedented dimensions. the two are ministers and gospel workers of the Church on one part and Ministers of State and Politicians on the other. 

In the Church, many Minister supposed to be appointed by Christ for the service of God and Man, for the Salvation, Healing, Redemption and Restoration of the Human Soul, for Peace, Righteousness and Joy in the Worship and Household of God and Peace and Goodwill in society and nations have generally speaking become worshippers of mammon and agents of Lies, Flattery and Fraudulence.  

Similarly, Ministers of State who take oath to serve their people and politicians who ply the trade and responsibility for the control and use of state power for political administration, social progress and service of the people have not only tended to institutionalize the Abuse of Power, Graft and Greed as the basis and rationale for the trade they have also established Lies, Flattery, Fraud and Vileness as the modus operandi for the otherwise noble profession. 

These two groups can be said to have established a fraternity of practitioners of lies, flattery and fraud, graft and greed and a life of Craftiness, Vileness and Hypocrisy in the world. According to Psalm 12 of the Christian Bible the ungodly and guilty live with disdain saying, “With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is LORD over us?” 

In Part I of this article, we will deal with the operations of the Church wing of the Fraternity. We will deal with the Political Wing in part 2. 

Now, minister of the church in particular and all Gospel workers in general are people called and chosen out of millions, equipped, anointed or empower, authorized and sent out to church, nations and the world to pursue heaven defined tasks with the assistance of the Holy Spirit in, for and under Christ.  

Accordingly, for the sake of the flock ministers are expected to be sanctified by and made holy unto the truth of God, Christ, the Scriptures and ministry with the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. (2Tim 2:20-21; John 17:14-22). 

The ministers preach not and live not for themselves. The entire flock of the church are also expected to be sanctified by the Truth, so they can separate themselves from and live for Christ not for the world or by the knowledge, power, wisdom, counsel and practices of the world whose god is Satan the devil. (John 17:20-26; Ephesian 2:1 – 3; 1st John 2:15-19). 

In the end, ministers in particular and the Church members in general do not live for themselves, (2 Corinth. 5: 15-16). It may be appreciated accordingly the critical need for a clear understanding of the vision and mission of ministerial calling, the challenges of Righteous, Holy and Faithful living in the knowledge and service of God and the full dimension of the Heavenly calling, of the Father’s agenda of Christ Mission on earth and walk and work with the Holy Spirit. 

Christ in the Believer is the hope of glory in the end. How many ministers and flock know and aim at the height of glory, in perfection, holiness and performance with knowledge of Christ. The Faith, Righteousness, Holiness, Purity, and Faithfulness is Divine mission. 

In this connection, the Bible clearly declares that the End-Times will see the up staging of the Anti-Christ in the Church. With regard to Ministers who worship mammon, money that is whose concern is their belly, who corrupt the truth for advantage, who make merchandise of the flock, who seek and operate Satan-man spirit power and human knowledge to hold people in bondage, deceive, rob, kill and destroy. 

Among these are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Pastors, Archbishops, Bishops and Church Leaders whose interest and pre-occupation is the crowd, money and fame and have no interest in Christ, the truth of God, the scriptures and the Holy Spirit, the growth, maturity and standing of the flock in the Son, perfection in the knowledge of the Him, the faith, righteousness, faithfulness and holiness unto God. 

There has arisen thereby the theology and practice of another gospel of success, prosperity, miracles, breakthroughs and power with their keys, principles, laws and theories of works of salvation through Human Spirit, Mind and Imaginative Power, the Flesh in short and not of God, Faith in Christ and the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. These have not only departed from the faith, speaking lies in hypocrisy (1st Timothy 4:1-2) but have also resorted to doctrines, teachings and practices of lies and flattery itching to ears, first according to the desires of both speakers and hearers and second the dictates of the world and not according to the Will, Truth, Righteousness and Holiness of God. (2nd Tim 4:3-4).  

Thus, in the murky field of doctrines of devils and men, there has arisen a new breed of ministers, called or self-appointed and self-anointed with teachings on power, self-motivation, success and dominion, winning ways for power, promotion and advancement in the world with innate human power or Divine power diverted to the pursuit of money, gain, possessions and fame. 

These developments where human power, psychology and familiar spirits dominate the pulpit, church pews and church mission have made the Faith and Mission no more than a system of lies, flattery and fraud intended not only to gain advantage, milk and make merchandise of the flock but also to heap unto men credulous, non-taught, non-discipled followers. gospel workers become ill-equipped in the truth and faith, Christ and true worship of God.   

Truly, the Bible has stated that where carcass is there the eagles gather. (Matt. 24:24-28). The conference of the False Christ and False Prophet eagles who gather the carcass of deceived, sign, gain and fame seeking crowds to prey upon them is a common phenomenon in the church today. 

May God breathe life afresh upon and through the Church. 

God save Ghana. 

June 2007