Former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has criticized some pastors in the country, arguing that the prosperity gospel they preach does not contribute to economic growth.
Osinbajo, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), one of Nigeria’s mega churches, said that by focusing on miraculous wealth, clerics create the impression that wealth only comes through supernatural means, rather than through work and productivity.
He said this while delivering the 24th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in Lagos on Tuesday, September 2, monitored by The Christian on YouTube.
The lecture was organised to celebrate the 80th birthday of Bishop Okonkwo, the founder of The Redemmed Evangelical Mission (TREM). He was born on September 6, 1945.
Osinbajo said, “The meaning of the power to get wealth, as contained in Deuteronomy 8:18, is that God gives us the power of creativity and innovation, to be productive as we work diligently.
“This, unfortunately, is contrary to the messages that we hear sometimes on our pulpits in Nigeria and many parts of Africa, messages on miraculous wealth, messages on miracle money and wealth, anointing for wealth, and various versions of the doctrine that donations or sowing seed will automatically return as wealth.
“These types of messages do not build an economy or institutions. Rather, they create a mindset that wealth will come by supernatural means. And we ignored the work and productivity, and we focused on the miraculous. That, of course, is no way to build nations.
“And that is why the gospel that transformed other nations, transforms other societies economically, is powerless to do the same if we preach the gospel in the wrong way.”
The former vice president recounted that the preachers of the Reformation preached that every type of work and legitimate occupation was a calling through which God accomplishes his purposes.
He stated that their message was that serving God does not necessarily mean being a full-time pastor or church worker, but whatever your occupation was, so long as it was done faithfully as unto God.
“Martin Luther, for example, described a secular occupation as a misnomer, such as the army, trading, engineering, accounting, teaching, or even household chores. He said that they are seen by God as praise to Him when done faithfully and that they represent an obedience which is well-pleasing to God.
“So, the preachers of the gospel also emphasized honesty and integrity in every aspect of life. The Church in Germany, for example, had a catechism on the 10 commandments, which was taught regularly.
“So, for example, the commandment ‘Thou shalt not steal’ was broken down into various practical implications. So, if you are an employee and you use your employer’s time for your own benefit, you are stealing because you are being paid and not working for your pay.
“And they gave a practical example. They said even if you leave work to attend a church service without the permission of your boss, you are stealing because you are getting paid without working. So, taking money that does not belong to you, yes…No wonder the average German worker developed a strong work ethic and a strong value of integrity,” Osinbajo, a professor of law, added.
The former Nigeria’s number two citizen recalled that John Calvin, who established his ministry in the very important and historic city of Geneva, in the 16th Century, preached that honest and fair-trading practices were important in glorifying God.
He said, “So, he preached to the congregation of this influence on the importance of the gospel, started with the protestant reformation in Europe, beginning in the 15th Century. But it was the puritans (when I say puritans, I refer to a group of people, who are described sometimes as the inheritors of the reformation), whose teaching in Britain, later in Europe and then in America with inspired predominantly by the teachings of John Calvin who was talking on the authority of the Scripture of the disciplined Christian life and strong moral duty of the church in reforming society, that was largely responsible for the transformation of the institution of democracy as well as the institutions of the market place.
“So, first we must acknowledge that it was the message preached on the pulpit that transformed lives and then societies. The messages preached on the pulpit in those countries, in those nations of the world, transformed the lives of those who were Christians there and their societies. And the Scriptures say in Romans 10:17, so that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
Osinbajo said it is the preachers of the gospel that hold the key to the transformative experience of the gospel, noting that if it (gospel) is preached correctly, it will create renewed, regenerated men and women.
He added, “And what is preached, whatever is good or bad, can be so powerful that the Bible warns, ‘Take heed what you hear” (Mark 4:24). Because what you hear determines how you think and who you become. The Scripture says, “As a man thinketh, so is he.”