ZION B-BC NEWSLETTER. [ A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja.] Vol.22. 12-01-14. RICH PASTORS WORLD-WIDE .ORG We know how they got it all wrong! Rich Pastors read the BIBLE as a book of fables. They interpreted the verse which says that, Jesus Christ lived as a poor person, so that the believer could become rich, to mean, “earthly riches,”- a deliberate plan to propagate the doctrine of prosperity, which encourages apostasy, (the falling away from faith), in the Church! Rich Pastors deceived their flocks into parting with their monies without feeding them with messages of salvation but incorporated the churches into commercial enterprises for the accumulation of wealth and riches from various sources. They have deliberately refused to conform with the Lord’s template, the Word on Marble, ‘……freely you have received, freely give.’[Matthew.10:7-9]. Believers are not forbidden to acquire riches legitimately, but such should be spiritually converted, through philanthropic gestures to the poor, needy, destitute, orphans, and widows, while on earth, in exchange for spending eternity with God. The Lord’s riches are neither in currency denominations nor in financial Shares and Bonds, which are vanities of this world, but of eternal grace borne out of love for humanity. Jesus Christ once borrowed an empty boat for evangelism but returned it overlaid with fishes! At another time, He was besieged by a multitude during His private desert retreat where he fed them with messages of salvation. Later, He borrowed five loaves and two fishes from a little boy, to feed five thousand hungry people and twelve baskets were still left over to feed more people. The divine command is that the believer should study to show himself approved unto GOD, a workman who should not be ashamed to correctly divide the WORD of truth. [2 Timothy. 2:15]. Today’s rich pastor, like his biblical counterpart, found it very difficult to sell all his property, give the proceeds to the poor and enrol as the Lord’s disciple. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” [2Cor.8:9]. The divine truth here is that The Eternal Son of God in His incarnation and His atoning death in our place on the Cross, emptied Himself of His riches, laid aside His deity to redeem humanity. He now saves all who believe and they become heirs and joint heirs with Father and Son respectively. The entire Chapter is devoted to the Macedonian Churches, who, through the grace of God, though were in a most severe trial, expressed overflowing joy, and their extreme poverty, welled up in rich generosity of supporting the poor Saints at Jerusalem! Today, the entrepreneurs and their large wares of merchandise have resurfaced at the Temples, thereby erasing the memory of the Lord’s action of overturning the bureau-de-change tables and His stern warning against turning His Father’s House into a den of robbers! Today, Rich Pastors World Wide.Org is listed on the STOCK EXCHANGE, having clinched the TOP TEN positions among the Captain of Industries in the United States of America and Nigeria, in 2014! The richest of the rich pastors hails from Uncle Sam’s country with a total asset of $150million; while, positions five to ten are conveniently occupied by Nigerians, who are no pushovers in the art of money-making, legal and illegal! We are told that these men of God are super rich and possess large choice properties including jet aircrafts which ferry them across the length and breadth of the globe. The Rich Pastors’ aim is to compare favourably with global business icons and moguls; like Billionaires Carlos Slim, Bill Gates, Amancio Ortega, Warren Buffet , Larry Ellison, Charles Koch, David Koch, Li Ka Shing, etc, having lost the realm of their first estate by engaging in the global ‘rat race’ competition for earthly riches. Christians are enjoined not to love the world and its ephemerals, if they would remain in divine fellowship, for the lust of the flesh and eyes, including the pride of life, are not of the Father, but of the world which is gradually perishing. What would it profit any man if he gained the whole world and with such acquisition lose his soul in eternity? Where is the position of the congregation that lays the “golden eggs” in the entire unfolding scenario? Without the congregation, there can be no Church or Churches; no offerings, no tithes, “no Holy Spirit-inspired” expensive gifts of cars and houses for the Pastors, no annual all-expenses-paid overseas holiday trips for pastors and their families, etc. We understand that some of them are not, “actually depending solely” on their congregations, because they write books and print magazines, to support their ministries and we suggest, they lift ‘THE SPELL, let the people go’ and then count, what is left of their dollars! But these men of God are not ignorant of the power of digital numbers in the success of any business enterprise and will therefore guard their ‘flock’ very jealously! It is common knowledge today, that senior staff of big business concerns, have abandoned their cosy offices to woo peasants in the market places of the world in order to make huge profits for their enterprises. The Lord Jesus Christ did not exploit his multitude, instead, He gave His unflinching love, even unto death, on the Cross at Calvary. He was the Rich-Poor Vessel of God who preached without price, wrought miracles without money, He never possessed the value of one kobo, He was so poor that He had no roof over His head, though ‘foxes have holes, birds have nests’; He neither had a wardrobe nor change of clothing and sandals, He had neither wealth nor influence, neither training nor education, He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries of the world could not hold the books that could be written about Him! “He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” The Rich Pastors have not emulated the sterling virtues of holiness, righteousness, faithfulness contentment and integrity for which the Lord was and is still highly regarded and respected. They have not copied the template of the Early Church congregation who unanimously agreed that the word POVERTY should be permanently expunged from their religious vocabulary. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold. And laid them at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”[Acts.4:32-35; compare v36-37 with, 5:1-12]. Today’s super rich pastors can be likened to the Ananias’ and Sapphiras’ of the 3 Century Church; greedy, selfish, carnal, lovers of their own self, covetous boasters, blasphemers, unthankful, unholy, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of GOD while the lot of their congregation is worse than that of the proverbial, ‘church rat’! A man of God is expected to earn salaries and allowances for his labour at the ALTAR through tithes and offerings collected from the congregation and from his earnings, pay tithe of tithes to his Melchizedek, Aaron or Mentor in the Ministry of God. With this divine arrangement, there is no way any pastor would become super rich except he belonged to the Ananias’ and Sapphiras’ of this end-time world who reneged on the agreement of a common purse and kept some monies back for the ‘rainy day’! Take a glimpse of the life style of today’s church congregation and if you are God-fearing, you will weep like Jesus Christ wept over Jerusalem! The congregation, except for some who are in league with these end-time pastors, dwell in penury, abject poverty and squalor; because, from their ‘little drops’, the mighty ocean of dollars, are gathered for the pastors who are foxes in sheep clothing! As the congregation’s monies are laid at the rich pastors feet, they smile to the banks with the millions of dollars, with much relish and protect themselves with a retinue of armed body guards twenty-four hours daily, even during church services! THIS IS UNCHARITABLE, UNCHRISTLIKE, UNGODLY AND THEREFORE CONDEMNABLE! Many Christians (especially in Nigeria), have expressed shock that in spite of a conglomerate of churches, crime statistics of insurgency, arson, terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, oil bunkering, money laundering, still escalate instead of abating and the most disturbing aspect is that, frustrated members of the congregation, who are victims of ‘prosperity doctrine and messages’ of the rich pastors are in large numbers among the terror gangs, in Nigeria! They are in Police and Prison ‘awaiting trial cells’, across the length and breath of Nigeria and overseas. We are reliably informed that some Nigerian convicts, (including a former Christian, South-South Governor), would soon be repatriated, under a bilateral agreement, to complete their terms, ‘at home!’ God-fearing Christians are angry and are commenting negatively, but we will proffer two immediate solutions; first, that the FIVE listed super-rich pastors and their unlisted colleagues, be reminded that God’s judgment begins with the CHURCH and should therefore, on their volition make compulsory RESTITUTIONS; ie, by transferring all looted funds in their local and domiciliary accounts to their Churches Accounts; movable and immovable properties, aircrafts, vehicles, commercial and educational institutions, should be included in the assets transfer to be biblically distributed according to NEEDS and like the prodigal, apologize and pledge to their various congregations, home and abroad, never to covet, steal nor sin any more! Second, they should as a matter of urgency, embark on a compulsory 100-day fasting and prayer activities to which they have consistently subjected their poor, ‘over used and spiritually abused’ congregation, ask for forgiveness from the Lord, who would require the account of their stewardship and also accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. We are very certain that Jehovah, who loves sinners, will forgive and save them from damnation to eternal Hell fire! Amen. If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations. Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to: facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch]. I am, Yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon Resident Pastor and Editor.08058436756 08098194390.g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.com. rd