AFRICA, THE HOME TO “GOSPEL”
Galatians 1:6-10 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Africa has experienced more influence of missionaries from around the world from Roman Catholic missionaries to the Mormons’ missionaries with their denominational messages. African has received different revivalists every year in different regions.
The major regions where Christianity is dominated are some parts of Western, Eastern, and Southern Africa. And many African countries are very religious, especially among those that embraced Christianity. Despite the influence of Christianity in Africa; Africans are still most gullible people in the world, and where false pastors and teachers can make quick money in the name of religion.
Many sincere people in Africa have fell for the errors of these false prophets from TB Joshua in Nigeria to Bushari in Southern Africa. It is sad that Africans have already drifted from the truth they once embraced. Pentecostal and Charismatics jargon are just spreading in Africa through the agents of Satan which I believe are paving the way for the Antichrist.
People in Africa do not really believe in what the Bible says anymore, emotionalism has taken over the church of God, entertainment has taken over the church of God, and New Age Christianity is now sweeping the whole continent. The voice of men has supersede, “what saith the Scripture? And it is sad that many people are falling into the errors of false prophets in Africa. When you have false prophets, you should definitely expect false teaching. Old generations of preachers are mourning what has become the future of new generation right before their faces.
In Nigeria, one of the these popular churches has brought reggae musician into the house of God, a place where the Bible says, it is a ground and pillar of truth has turned to be a place of entertainment. Every time I see the news of comedians, and worldly musicians in Christian churches. It grieves my heart, and I just wish Christ would just come now.
Here in first Timothy, Paul was admonishing Timothy how to behave himself in the church. Do you think God would approve worldly comedians and musicians in churches in the name of entertaining the people? Listen preachers, people do not want to hear what God says anymore; but all what they are interested in is what they want to hear. Don’t sugarcoated the Word of God or don’t be lazy and preach the Word of God.
1Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The most stunning thing is, when “men of God” has been God’s business into money making business. They don’t care about the Word of God.
Is there any Gospel in Africa?
When will look at how the Bible defines the Gospel, Africa is far away from the Gospel of the Bible. I have been to five different countries in Africa, and I had the opportunity to speak to missionaries in other countries in Africa, the truth is, Africa is moving in fast pace against the Gospel of the Bible.
What is the Gospel of the Bible?
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Anything apart from this is not the Gospel of the Bible. When I was thinking about this article, I spoke to a friend of mine who has been to many countries in Africa, about sixteen countries in Africa, and here is what he said about the “Gospel” in Africa
“From the standpoint of denomination Doctrines and views of Salvation, works based salvation exists in many countries I have been to, though I have not been challenged by anyone who preaches otherwise salvation by works. The churches we are familiar with here in Nigeria are all around Africa and they promote their doctrines too especially on work salvation. I wouldn’t limit the spread of false Gospel to Nigeria, but around Africa.
Pastor Adewale Adesina.
Yes, we have remnants, there are people in Africa who have not bow down to these false prophets, and also to another gospel, and who still believe in the Gospel of the Bible, but it is not popular, instead we have another Gospel called, “Prosperity Gospel” which means, it is going to be well with you when you put “your faith in Christ”, you are not going to suffer, you are enjoy your life to the fullest without any suffering. And many churches are full every Sunday with people who want easy life. It is sad the real Gospel is now going into extinction in Africa, people do not want to hear what Bible says anymore, but they want to be told what they want to hear.
Many missionaries who have been in Africa preached salvation by faith alone in Christ, but later on, the indigenes in Africa abandoned what they were taught, and then Africanized the Gospel. The byproduct of Africanized Gospel is the salvation by works.
Right now, Africa is far away from the Gospel of the Bible.
What is happening to the Gospel of the Bible in Africa?
1. Biblical Illiteracy
Africans move away from the Gospel of the Bible because of their lack of Biblical understanding. Africans are smart people, trust me, but when it comes to Bible knowledge, many even in churches are without knowledge. When you challenged many people about what they believe in the Bible, it is sad that many do not think outside the box; but just parrot what they are told by their pastors. Wake up Christians, and get into the Book.
Proverbs 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
When there is no solid, strong, and exposition knowledge of the Word of God, people become liable to errors. It is sad that we trust Bible to keep us safe from “witches and wizard” at night; but we do not trust the Book enough to read it. Listen now, if you are a child of God, and you have the Holy Spirit of God in your heart, God will show you the truth in this Book. But if you ignore and forsake the Word of Life, you are prone to wander away from the truth into heresies.
2. Poverty
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Poverty is also contributing to Africans leaving the Gospel of the Bible. Many people do not want to suffer, and when they are told they will be rich if they come to their church, right there, people will care less about what the Bible says. They will leave.
I have seen people leave a solid bible believing church for another movement shaken church because they were presented with the opportunities to travel out. It shows me how many people do not care about God anyone. Don’t let poverty make you wander from the truth into error.
3. False Prophets
Anyone who does not teach what the Bible says is a false prophet. Bible calls them many names; the one I love is a wolf. Wolves are pastors who are devouring the sheep then pretending to be helping them. I pray that the Lord will open your eyes and be watchful. Many people today are already victims of these so called, “men of God”, but are nothing more than false prophets.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Christians are moving away from the Bible because of so called men of God who are deceiving people. They are grievous wolves, who are not helping the sheep, but hurting them by pretending to be helping.
False prophets are just numerous in Africa.
What must be done?
I call on Bible believing preachers in Africa to speak up, and to quit ye like men. Recently, an African man spoke against preachers enriching themselves through the tithing of God’s people, and by the way, I believe in tithing. But I really cherished his boldness against all these pastors; he was attacked, and threatened but he will not give up.
We must speak against the errors of these people through the authority of God’s Word. We must never keep silence about what we stand for. If we are standing for what is right; we will have countless enemies who will want to stand against that WAY. They are many coward preachers in Africa who got no backbone to speak up against those false teachers and prophets who are leading the people astray. If you can’t speak up, quit or find different vocation to do. God needs men who know the truth and speak up for what the Bible says. Jeremiah, the prophet of God, preached against the sin of God’s people; but they hated him. He was threatened and locked in the dungeon, but still he will not keep silent.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
We must also stand for it. This is not going to be easy task, speaking out is not enough, but do everything in our power to stand for it without intimidation. God needs real men of God who will not be afraid of what people think about them, but we speak and stand for what is right.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
We must be willing to suffer for it. Here comes a big deal. I don’t want to lose my friends, my family, and business associates is the reason why many people are not standing for what is right especially striving for the Gospel. if we are not willing to suffer lose of personal ease, time, friendship, money, job, and even church members for what we stand for, we are only fooling ourselves thinking I stand for this or that.
People will call you names, hate preachers, bigots, narrow minded, conservatives, old fashioned, and many more. You must be willing to pay the price for what you believe.
A man once said, “It is so hard to know what course to take.” Another man replied, “No, I do not think so. It is easy to know what you ought to do, if you are willing to pay the price doing it.” Someone said this, “Always remember that while it costs dearly to stand for right, the cost of yielding to wrong is far greater in the long run”
Another gospel is a false one; but the Gospel of the Bible is salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, this is what we must speak, stand, and suffer for, for the cause of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.