Ministers emphasize material prosperity at the expense of integrity
The shameful deception of materialistic preachers with their openly-displayed richness and apparent indifference of a government that is still insensitive to the wants and yearnings of her individuals distorts the worth of African nation sectors. visible of this, Brick asserts that “Pentecostalism may be a modern industrial enterprise appareled within the cloak of a faith with deception and exploitation as its foundation; its goal being the entire monetisation of the cognitive content of its multitude of adherents.”
Some individuals in African nation currently decision Protestantism “the theology of the cash.” But, this paper posits that the matter of maximum materialism in African nation pastorate nowadays isn't restricted to the Pentecostal denominations; however Christianity at massive. Thus, this paper may be a system try that situates the matter of maximum materialism among the biblical view of first Corinthians 9:13.
Many Nigerians, rich, poor, previous and young get pastors for religious protection and fortification from identified and fanciful enemies. this is often a typical African syndrome. Those who work on the altar must eat from the altar, Ministers of God in African nation, cash in of these World Health Organization get miracles and healings in God within the recent time. Exploitation and extortion within the sense worshippers area unit being cajoled through; shopping for of unguent, holy water, holy piece of material, and so on. the actual fact remains that materialism constitutes vices like felony, corruption, kidnapping, heist, terrorism, etc. perpetrated within the Nigerian society nowadays.
Ministers emphasize material prosperity at the expense of integrity and fidelity. However, several have accumulated this downside to Nigerian Pentecostal churches; due to its unapologetic stress on the acquisition of wealth (as a part of a religious salvation), and therefore the damages that prosperity preaching has caused to the social, religious, economic and political landscapes in African nation.
This paper provides clarifications on the subsequent concepts:
Temple: this is often an area dedicated to the service or worship of God.
it's remarked as an area during which the divine presence specially resides, and during this context, the worship of The God of Israel (Yahweh).
Materialism: is theory or perspective that physical well-being and sensibles represent the best good and highest price in life. Materialism is additionally outlined because the concern for possessions or material wealth and physical comfort, particularly to the exclusion of religious or intellectual pursuits. In sensible terms it's one World Health Organization puts his physical possessions before God.
Materialism is Associate in Nursing perspective that temporal things area unit additional necessary than the eternal. Some scriptural reference that identifies materialism are;
Altar: The Hebrew word for altar is ‘mizbeah’, intending to slaughter. In alternative words, Associate in Nursing altar is any structure upon that offerings, like sacrifices area unit created for spiritual functions. it absolutely was sometimes a raised platform with a flat surface.
There area unit over four hundred (400) references to altar within the Bible. though the thought was gift as early as once adult male and Abel brought their sacrifices (Gen 4:3-4), the word altar is 1st utilized in info 8:20 once patriarch designed Associate in Nursing altar to the Lord once feat the ark. Swedenborg opines that ‘altars signify a representative of the Lord, and burnt-offerings the worship of Him thereby, is plainly evident within the Prophets.’ parliamentarian explains Associate in Nursing altar as a chosen place for consecration (Gen 12:7, 26:24).