Much has been said about the flamboyant lifestyles of Nigerian pastors. This piece, is thus, one which looks at the logic behind such un-Christlike living amongst the men of God.
Sunday morning, November 11, 2012; and I was greeted by the shocking news of Pastor Oritsejafor's private jet birthday gift.
In a country where the average citizen lives below a dollar per day, could this be said to have been a right step? Only God knows!
World over, where the rich like the Bill Gates, celebrate their birthdays by reflecting on the challenges facing the world by giving back to the society, our very own men of God do the opposite.
If Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, could set up the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in which they give half of their wealth to those in need; if our Nollywood stars likewise our musicians, find pleasure in giving back to the needy on their birthdays, then much more is expected from Ministers of the gospel that this public dance of shame to which they are all wriggling their waists to.
Have we forgotten so soon the flood that displaced people and destroyed properties worth millions in various parts of the country?
One would have expected that considering the magnitude of the damage the flood caused in its wake, alongside other societal problems facing the country, a very insightful Oritsejafor, should have used his birthday/anniversary celebration to touch such lives by complimenting the efforts of the Federal Government.
Oh! It was a birthday gift!
Am quite aware of that. Oritsejafor too cannot likewise claim ignorance of such gift before it was officially presented to him. One would have expected him to tell those "well wishers" to channel the money into touching the lives of the needy.
And what does the Bible say about laying up your treasures in heaven?
I believe the CAN president might have forgotten that in the paparazzi that culmilated to his bithday/anniversary celebration or how else do we explain this heart breaking show of reckless spending by a "Minister of God"?
Imagine what $4.9million (the estimated cost of the private jet) would have done to the lives of his church members in Bayelsa (affected by the flood) if it was used to buy only food essentials like rice, garri, beans, salt etc. What joy would have burst out of their hearts, singing praises to God and praying for their spiritual leader.
But no, our man of God preferred to toe the path of shame.
Now I ask myself, as it is now a common tradition for men of God to acquire private jets (Adeboye and Oyedepo inclusive), what kind of jet would Jesus have acquired if he were a Nigerian pastor?
Am definately sure, my Jesus, in a bid to outdo the Oyedepos and Ortisejafors would have gone for a rocket! Abi?
"But, they have a wider outreach unlike Jesus and would have to preach the gospel to all corners of the earth; acquiring a jet would make the word of God spread faster", many Christian fanatics have argued.
But seriously, does it make sense? Is acquiring a private jet part of the great commission of evangelism?
I would leave that for you to answer.
Like I previosly updated on my Facebook status, we would wake up one morning and ask our children what they want us to get for they in the nearest future, and they would tell you with a straight face:
"Mummy, I need a private jet!"
Thus, long live Pastorpreneurs who have perfected the "divine" means of squeezing their congregation dry finacially by hoodwinking them with heavenly blessings.
Long live the government who continue to turn a blind eye to taxing these holy 419ners.
Long live the country of Nigeria which has over 150 registered private jets, unlike India which spends money on its helath facilities and have over 120 globally recognized health institutions.
And God help me in my quest to become a Pastorpreneur when I grow up!
N.B.: If we all cringe at the thought of buying of private jets by these "Men of God (?)", how then do we explain the ownership of four state-of-the-art private jets by Bis-hop David Oyedepo?
(This writer can be found on twitter @olubayo1)
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