Pastors Or Imposters?

T.B. Joshua

One of the greatest offences is using the name of God carelessly, wrongly, for selfish gain and selfish fame. The single and most common factor that puts people off Christianity is Christians themselves who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and deny Him with their lifestyles.

People, pastors and evangelists claiming to be messengers of God and yet using this medium to increase their own pocket, deceiving the naïve and gullible to believe that they are sincere and humble servants of Jesus Christ. There is indeed a crisis in Christendom.

Shouting that name Jesus, preaching a powerful and stirring sermon, gathering followers around you by no means certify your genuineness as a pastor. The Bible says clearly in Mark 16:17-18 – “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Such pastors are moving around using the Bible and the name of Jesus in vain and in so doing, pouring shame on the names “Christianity”, “Christian”, “pastor”, “evangelist” etc, adding an unwelcome connotation that the genuine must do much to remove. Jesus described them as 'wolves in sheep's clothing' (Matthew 7:15).

We as Christians either try not to think too much about this or we try to blindly defend our fellow Christians in a feeble attempt to dilute the poison. But people, I believe it is time to expose such charlatans and let the world know who the true people of God are.

A recent case that came up is that of “Prophet” Benjamin Ekele from Faith Restoration Gospel Ministry, Lagos. This man was invited to hold several meetings at Grace And Faith Prophetic Ministries in Okuokoko, Delta State. This “prophet” claims to be sent by T.B. Joshua of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations.

He frequently mentions his “mentor's” name during his ministrations, claiming that he is very close to him and speaks to him daily. He prays for people for healing and prophecies for them, but not in a way you might expect of a follower of T.B. Joshua.

His methods of prayer involve violently pushing people, kicking them and rubbing oil all over the person's body. He also uses tricks to gain money from unsuspecting congregants.

For example, he gave a call to businesswomen, telling them that if they bring N1000, they can wear his shoe and then they will get their money back the next day. He also asked for 60 people to drop N2000 each telling them that if they did, they would have breakthrough.

What completely exposed “Prophet” Benjamin was that on Sunday 7th June, during the Sunday Service at The Synagogue broadcast live, T.B.

Joshua denied that he has any connections with this man whatsoever. He

said: “I don't know him, I've never met him before”. T.B. Joshua then proceeded to show those present the tape that some of his workers had recorded when they attended one of “Prophet” Benjamin's crusades days earlier.

This is not only a shame to Christianity but also our country. It is one thing to say that you are an enemy of God but another thing entirely to be an enemy and yet claim to be a friend. Benjamin Ekele and his likes need exposing for the world to see. Such masquerading as ministers of God under false pretence has to stop. Let us know who is who.

Ihechukwu Njoku - Lagos, Nigeria