BBC presented today a report on Prosperity Churches in Nigeria, based on the proclamation of a prosperity gospel and which have produced a good number of multimillionaire pastors. By the numbers of members and by the sums of money involved, they are very successful; but are they faithful to the values of the Gospel? Are they true witnesses of Jesus Christ?
Surely Jesus came to bring hope and relief to the poor, the suffering and the downtrodden. He said: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28). Indeed, God doesn’t feel any pleasure in poverty and suffering. In spite of that, we must remember that Jesus rejected the devil’s proposal of a Kingdom of God based on power and wealth. And he warned us in no uncertain terms about not allowing the money to become our god: “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches)." (Lk 16:13). Jesus told his disciples to put their trust in God, not in riches.
The link for the BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14713151
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